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Agence France-Presse

Protesters gathered in Tokyo on Friday to rally against Japan’s decision to ease decades-old arms export curbs, which critics argue erode the country’s post-war pacifist tradition.
The new rules permitting the sale of lethal weapons overseas signal a major shift, as Japan ramps up its defence ambitions and seeks to enter the global arms market in part to boost economic growth.
The move, announced this week on Tuesday by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government, has been met with some criticism and unease among the Japanese public.
Holding placards that read “Stop exporting lethal weapons!” and “No war”, dozens of protesters assembled on Friday in front of a busy railway station in the capital’s Shinjuku area.
“The government must not decide on its own,” they chanted.

Tokyo resident Ryozo Sawada said he felt “an unbearable sense of humiliation” about the policy shift.
“Ever since I was a child, the one thing about Japan I could truly be proud of was that we renounced war,” the 74-year-old said.
“The fact that they actually decided to export weapons is incredibly frightening,” said Masako, a 29-year-old Tokyo resident who only gave her first name.
“I’m angry that, even though Japan has been a peaceful nation for the past 80 years, a small group of people did something that outright denies that,” she said.
When announcing the change, Takaichi stressed that Japan’s “core principles” and “history” as a pacifist nation remain unchanged.
At the Shinjuku rally, 31-year-old writer Yura Suzuike expressed concern that “Japan might end up taking part in … the senseless violence happening around the world”.
In World War II, “Japan committed acts of aggression, and in turn suffered enormous damage from the atomic bombs”, Suzuike said.
Japan’s pacifist constitution that followed had been drafted “with the resolve that we must never again wage war or kill people”, she said.

The change has provoked an angry reaction from China, whose escalating military activity in the region as well as persistent security threats from North Korea and Russia have increased anxiety in Japan.
Proponents argue the change, which was approved by the cabinet and the National Security Council on Tuesday, would further integrate Tokyo in the international defence supply chain, deepening ties with partner nations in the face of regional instability.
Exports had previously been limited to equipment classified under five categories: search and rescue, transport, warning, surveillance and minesweeping.
Under the new rule, Japan could export weapons only to countries that pledge to use them in a manner consistent with the United Nations Charter.
A March survey by national broadcaster NHK suggested that around half of Japanese opposed the change, with 32 per cent of respondents saying they support it.
Peace activists have staged rallies across the nation over concerns that Takaichi’s hawkish views and open support for US President Donald Trump could drag Japan into conflicts.


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Japan

A participant holds a placard reading “No War” during a protest against Japan’s lethal arms export rule change, in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district on Friday. Photo: AFP

A man holds a placard reading “No War” during a protest against Japan’s lethal arms export rule change, in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district on April 24, 2026. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

People gather with light sticks to protest Japan’s lethal arms export rule change in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district on Friday. Photo: AFP

How the Philippines became Japan’s closest security partner in Southeast Asia

A sailor raises the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force ensign on board the JS Ise helicopter destroyer as it docks in Manila last year. Photo: AFP

A Japanese Type 12 surface-to-ship missile launched at a weapons range near Jervis Bay, Australia, last year. Japan is set to export lethal weapons after removing its long-standing curbs on arms exports. Photo: AP

Military officers from Japan greet each other during the opening ceremonies of the Philippines-US Exercise Balikatan at a military camp in Quezon City, Metro Manila, on Monday. Photo: EPA

The Philippines and the US hold a ceremony in Manila on Monday to begin their Balikatan joint military exercise. Photo: Kyodo

Australia’s US$7 billion Japan warship deals signals shift from US overreliance

A Mogami-class stealth frigate from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force docks in Darwin, Australia, on June 6, 2025. Photo: Kyodo/AP

The defence ministers of Australia Richard Marles (left) and Japan Shinjiro Koizumi sign the contract for Japan to deliver the first three of Mogami-class warships in Melbourne on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Australian ships and aircraft take part in Exercise Malabar, a quadrilateral drill between India, the US, Japan and Australia, in November 2025. Photo: X/DefenceAust

A Chinese navy ship monitors an area during a Maritime Cooperative Activity between the Philippines, Australia and Canada near the Scarborough Shoal on September 3, 2025. Photo: AFP

Japan ditches decades of arm export curbs as US reliability wavers

Japanese Type 10 battle tanks operate during a military drill in Funabashi, east of Tokyo, in January. Photo: Reuters

A Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force Mogami-class frigate sailing in an undisclosed location. Photo: Australian Defence Force / AFP

A concept model of the Global Combat Air Programme‘s fighter jet is displayed during a defence equipment fair in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan, in May 2025. Photo: Reuters

Why Japan’s Takaichi is already facing resistance inside her own party

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who is also the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader, sings the party anthem with the party’s deputy president and former prime minister Taro Aso (right) and the party secretary general Shunichi Suzuki (left) on April 12. Photo: Reuters

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (centre right) sings the party anthem with Liberal Democratic Party officials during a party convention in Tokyo on April 12. Photo: AFP

News

Asia

East Asia

New rules permitting the sale of lethal weapons overseas come as Japan ramps up defence ambitions and seeks to enter the global arms market


New rules permitting the sale of lethal weapons overseas come as Japan ramps up defence ambitions and seeks to enter the global arms market.


Japanese protest ‘frightening’ easing of decades-old arms export curbs

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}New rules permitting the sale of lethal weapons overseas come as Japan ramps up defence ambitions and seeks to enter the global arms market

New rules permitting the sale of lethal weapons overseas come as Japan ramps up defence ambitions and seeks to enter the global arms market