“Otaku love peace” waves of light sticks…Japan antiwar and anti-constitutional revision protests undergo a ‘Korean-style evolution’ - 경향신문

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Participants at the Peace Festival held in front of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo on the 28th of last month chant slogans such as ‘Takaichi (Japanese prime minister), step down’ while holding light sticks and flags. X(X) @takinamiyukari screengrab

“No war, protect Article 9!” “Peace cannot be achieved by force!” “Takaichi, step down!”

These are the chants shouted by participants holding light sticks and dancing at the recent ‘antiwar’·‘opposition to revising the Peace Constitution’ protests taking place in Tokyo. Scenes of people joining demonstrations by singing along to idol group theme songs and waving the light sticks that came to symbolize the impeachment rallies for former president Yoon Suk-yeol in Korea after the December 3, 2024 insurrection through spring 2025 are being recreated in Japan.

Tokyo Shimbun reported on the 2nd that antiwar protests are growing in Tokyo as well, and that their forms are diversifying through otaku ‘oshi-katsu’ (supporting a favorite), music, and light sticks. According to the paper, about 3,800 people, by the organizer’s estimate, took part in the ‘antiwar protest by otaku’ held in front of the National Diet on the 28th of last month. Oshi-katsu refers to economic and cultural activities for a favorite celebrity, character, or athlete, including buying merchandise, attending concerts, and consuming content.

Kyodo News also reported that protesters carrying light sticks gathered at the ‘Emergency Action to Protect the Peace Constitution’ held in front of the Diet on the 25th of last month, with approximately 24,000 participants by the organizer’s estimate. The protests on the 25th took place not only in Tokyo but at 34 locations across 27 prefecture-level jurisdictions in Japan.

Thus, recent antiwar and anti-constitutional revision protests in Japan are notable for the diversification of participants, including otaku and idol group fans, and for a broad age range taking part, from children and teenagers to the elderly.

A large number of protesters carrying light sticks took part in an anti-constitutional revision rally around the National Diet in Japan on the night of the 25th of last month. Kyodo Yonhap News

Tokyo Shimbun reported that Takahashi Hiroyuki (58), who joined the protest in front of the Diet on the 28th of last month in Kamen Rider cosplay, said, “We otaku love peace. If it is not peaceful, otaku cannot carry out their activities,” drawing applause from other participants. As the theme song of the well-known anime ‘Devilman’ played at the rally that day, Takahashi added, “Among otaku, a flame of antiwar sentiment has been lit.”

At the same rally, voice actor Okamoto Maya, who served as emcee, encouraged participants to freely call out their own favorites, and from their mouths poured a variety of subjects such as theater, film, and rakugo, Tokyo Shimbun reported. Okamoto emphasized, “I want to avoid war so that what we love will not be cut off.” Rakugo refers to Japan’s traditional comic storytelling.

Also, at the ‘Peace Festival’ held in front of Shinjuku Station on the evening of the 28th, participants holding light sticks and hand signs bearing antiwar messages filled the plaza and sang together to anime theme songs such as that of ‘Anpanman.’ A club-like DJ booth was set up in the Shinjuku Station plaza that day, and participants also danced while chanting slogans such as ‘No Hate (hatred),’ ‘Trump, step down,’ and ‘Takaichi, step down.’

Tokyo Shimbun reported that after an artist who advocated antiwar views on social media (SNS) using rabbit imagery was hit with malicious comments, people stood out at protests carrying rabbit banners and plush toys, and the rabbit is becoming a symbol of the antiwar movement. Soraneko Kyabetsu (13), a middle school student who took part in the antiwar demo by otaku, said, “I want to protect the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution,” and added, “With that in mind, I urged my mother in her forties, ‘I want to go to the protest.’” Tokyo Shimbun also reported that at rallies where many women and young people were seen, there was a woman holding a flag that read ‘Constitution preamble moe.’ Moe is derived from the Japanese word ‘moeru’ (to sprout) and means developing a strong affection for a particular object.

Citizens participating in the National Candlelight March in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on December 14, 2024, wave light sticks after the impeachment motion is passed. Kwon Do-hyun, reporter

On the Japanese antiwar and anti-constitutional revision protests that have evolved to resemble Korea’s impeachment rallies, HuffPost Japan reported that “the use of light sticks, which became a symbolic presence at protests demanding the resignation of the president in Korea, has begun to spread in Japan.” The outlet explained, “In protests, light sticks symbolize an intention to protest that does not go out even when the wind blows.”

According to Tokyo Shimbun, what participants commonly put forward are anxiety over war and the oil crisis, and a sense of alarm toward the Takaichi administration that is pushing for constitutional revision. Suzuki Narisa (28), who took part in the anti-revision protest in front of the Diet in Tokyo on the 25th of last month, told Tokyo Shimbun, “It feels like this country keeps subjecting us to DV (domestic violence),” adding, “Our hope is the Peace Constitution and our companions.”

Civic groups opposing revision of the Peace Constitution are continuing demonstrations while also carrying out signature drives. Six civic groups, including the ‘Article 9 Association,’ held a joint press conference on the 1st and announced that they would conduct signature campaigns both online and offline.

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution renounces war and the use of force and stipulates that the country will not maintain army, navy, or air force capabilities, which is why it is known as the Peace Constitution. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is pushing to amend the Constitution, including by explicitly stating the Self-Defense Forces in Article 9, which has been in place since 1946. According to Japanese media, the Liberal Democratic Party plans to set a policy at its party convention on the 12th of this month to ensure that constitutional revision is realized.