Japanese Farmers' Groups Oppose Government's Increase in Defense Spending

On the 17th, Japanese farmers' organizations held a rally at the Tokyo Senate Members' Hall to oppose the Japanese government's significant increase in defense spending and the relaxation of weapon export restrictions, calling for improvements in the agricultural operating environment, ensuring food security, and safeguarding the livelihoods of the people.

Chiba Prefecture farmer Koichiro Yoshikawa: Nowadays, the Takagi government is not only continuously expanding military preparations but also exporting military equipment to foreign countries, while continuously increasing the defense budget. This clearly indicates that Japan is moving in a direction that threatens peace. Compared to these issues, I believe that true national security should be food security, and most importantly, we must not let the citizens go hungry.

Chiba Prefecture farmer Takeshi Ogura: The notion of "relying on missiles to resist various external pressures" is actually ineffective. From maintenance to upkeep, all costs ultimately have to be paid to the United States, right? Such measures cannot protect the citizens at all.

Rally participant: Although daily life can still be maintained, prices have indeed risen sharply, and I believe this is undoubtedly a problem of the Japanese government. More important than war is, of course, ensuring that everyone can eat well and live abundantly; I have always believed this.

Emeritus Professor Koichi Ikegami of Kinki University: Ultimately, rather than calling it "defense forces," it is actually "military forces." The Japanese government is trying to forcibly steer society towards a reliance on "military forces." In the past, there were some constraints, but these constraints are gradually being removed. Since the Liberal Democratic Party came to power, especially after the Abe administration, this tendency has become increasingly apparent. I believe the current government is further accelerating this trend, which is why I feel the current situation is very dangerous. Japan has confirmed the export of second-hand warships to the Philippines, and doing such things will provoke opposition from other countries, which in turn increases danger and undermines efforts to maintain peace.