GEOPOLITICS | Japanese Citizens Protest Missile Deployment in Kumamoto

On February 23, thousands of Japanese citizens gathered in front of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Kengun base in Kumamoto Prefecture to protest the government's plan to deploy long-range missiles at the site. According to Jin10, the demonstrators held signs with messages such as "No Missiles" and "Don't Turn Kumamoto into a Battlefield," while chanting slogans like "Force Cannot Bring Peace." They demanded the government halt the deployment plan and provide thorough explanations to local residents. Yasuhiko Yamashita, a representative of the protest organizers, emphasized that under the framework of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, the government's missile deployment plan is unacceptable.