THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
November 24, 2023 at 17:49 JST
People of Okinawa rally in Naha on Nov. 23, protesting the growing presence of the country’s armed forces in the region. (Soichiro Yamamoto)
NAHA--Thousands rallied here on a national holiday to protest the government’s decision to bolster Japan’s military presence in the country’s southwestern region in response to threats from China and North Korea.
The peace rally drew around 10,000 people at the athletic stadium in Onoyama Park on Nov. 23, according to organizers, which consisted of 65 activist groups.
“It’s been 51 years since Okinawa was returned to Japan but we are still forced to host more than 70 percent of U.S. military bases in the country,” said Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki at the event. “This is wrong and must change.”
“We need to stand up and spread our desire for peace across the country and beyond,” Tamaki added.
The governor said Okinawa, which experienced fierce ground battles in World War II, also suffered serious human rights violations during subsequent U.S. military occupation, which lasted until 1972.
Tamaki also mentioned the ongoing attack on Gaza by Israeli forces, saying, “It’s heartbreaking to see the faces of people who have nowhere to escape the crisis.”
Yukino Kuwae, 26, a participant in the rally, said, “Despite our differences in age, backgrounds and values, we are united in our wish for peace.”
The rally comes nearly a year after Japan revised its three key security policy documents to enable the country to strike enemy missile bases, in response to growing security challenges in the region, including China’s military rise and North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.
In recent years, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces have established new bases on the Okinawan islands of Yonagunijima, Miyakojima and Ishigakijima, with further development of seaports and airports in the area planned.
Kuwae said Okinawan islands “are no longer a place where we can live with peace of mind,” due to the ongoing deployment of missile units there.
The event closed by adopting a declaration urging the government to “resolve international conflicts solely through peaceful diplomacy.”
Similar rallies were also held on the day in other major cities across the country, including Tokyo and Osaka.
(This article was written by Satsuki Tanahashi and Taro Ono.)
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