- More than 50,000 people gathered in Tokyo on Constitution Memorial Day to protest against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's efforts to revise Japan's pacifist constitution.
- The demonstrations, which also took place nationwide, specifically opposed changes to Article 9 of the 1947 constitution, which renounces war and limits the country's military capabilities.
- Ms Takaichi and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) argue that the constitution needs updating to formally recognise the Japan Self-Defence Forces and address contemporary security threats from nations like China and North Korea.
- A constitutional amendment in Japan requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament and a national referendum, with the LDP and its allies close to securing the necessary parliamentary support.
- While public opinion on constitutional revision is mixed, a Kyodo News poll revealed that 73 per cent of respondents believe any amendments should only proceed with broad cross-party consensus.
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