Shotlist Tokyo, Japan - Dec 15, 2025 1. Various of discussion on opposing lifting of export restrictions on lethal weapons in progress; attendees presenting sign, holding petitions 2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Mizuho Fukushima, head, Social Democratic Party of Japan (ending with shot 3): "Japan has long adhered to the principle of not profiting from weapons, yet it has begun exporting weapons, and even weapons with lethal capabilities, and is even promoting joint research and development and investing huge sums of money in them. I believe this is extremely irresponsible, and now is the time to put the brakes on." 3. Sign reading (Japanese) "made-in-Japan weapons are taking lives of children in other countries, we don't want this to happen" 4. Discussion in progress 5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Seiken Akamine, House of Representatives lawmaker: "As a nation, Japan should uphold its stance of not possessing war-making capabilities, renouncing war, and refusing to recognize the right of belligerency. However, arms exports are now being taken for granted and are continuing unabated. To stop this trend, I hope to return to the basics, starting from the fundamental principles of the Constitution, and resolutely halt it." Tokyo, Japan - Nov 20, 2025 6. Various of National Diet building, pedestrians Tokyo, Japan - Dec 15, 2025 7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Jun Chisaka, member, Japan Peace Committee: "Next, Japan plans to take steps toward exporting destroyers, a type of lethal weapon, in its relationship with Australia. It even intends to abolish the five categories of restrictions on equipment exports, allowing for the free export of all types of lethal weapons. This is precisely the path Japan is heading down. This is an extremely serious issue and must be resolutely opposed." FILE: Tokyo, Japan - Aug 7, 2023 8. Various of buildings, entrance to Ministry of Defense Tokyo, Japan - Nov 20, 2025 9. Various of Japanese prime minister's office, security guards Storyline Several Japanese peace groups, with some key political figures involved, held an exchange meeting in Tokyo on Monday to oppose the lifting of restrictions on lethal weapon exports and submitted a petition signed by tens of thousands of people to the Diet against lifting the arms export ban. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Monday held consultations with the far-right Japan Innovation Party (NIP), a member of its ruling coalition, and confirmed that it will compile its opinions on abolishing the export restrictions on five categories of equipment under the three principles on the transfer of defense equipment guidelines by February next year, and formally submit relevant policy recommendations to the government. "Japan has long adhered to the principle of not profiting from weapons, yet it has begun exporting weapons, and even weapons with lethal capabilities, and is even promoting joint research and development and investing huge sums of money in them. I believe this is extremely irresponsible, and now is the time to put the brakes on," said Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan. "As a nation, Japan should uphold its stance of not possessing war-making capabilities, renouncing war, and refusing to recognize the right of belligerency. However, arms exports are now being taken for granted and are continuing unabated. To stop this trend, I hope to return to the basics, starting from the fundamental principles of the Constitution, and resolutely halt it," said House of Representatives lawmaker Seiken Akamine. Attendees said that the Constitution of Japan clearly stipulates that Japan cannot possess an army or other war-fighting capabilities, and that manufacturing and exporting weapons of mass destruction clearly violates the pacifist constitution. The Japanese government should immediately cease this erroneous practice. "Next, Japan plans to take steps toward exporting destroyers, a type of lethal weapon, in its relationship with Australia. It even intends to abolish the five categories of restrictions on equipment exports, allowing for the free export of all types of lethal weapons. This is precisely the path Japan is heading down. This is an extremely serious issue and must be resolutely opposed," said Jun Chisaka, member of Japan Peace Committee. Japan's current three principles on the transfer of defense equipment only permit the export of five categories of equipment in rescue, transportation, early warning, surveillance, and mine clearance. Once this policy is abolished, Japan will be permitted to export a variety of equipment, including lethal weapons. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]