Japanese anti-war groups fear Okinawa will once again become battlefield

15/11/2025 16:27

Anti-base and anti-war groups from across Japan's Okinawa Prefecture have held a seminar in Tokyo, expressing concerns and doubts about the government's military expansion in Okinawa and the southwestern islands.



More than 230 people attended the event on Friday, including members of the Japanese parliament and the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly and representatives of citizens from various parts of Okinawa, voicing their strong dissatisfaction and deep concern regarding the security environment in Okinawa and the entire Ryukyu Islands to the Japanese government.



Mizuho Fukushima, leader of Japan's Social Democratic Party, said that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's view of a "Taiwan contingency" as a "survival-threatening situation" is completely illogical. Currently, not only Okinawa, but Kyushu, western Japan, and indeed the whole of Japan, are facing the trend of becoming military strongholds. Japanese society must, under any circumstances, prevent war and stop this dangerous policy.



Former mayor of Ginowan City, Okinawa, and House of Councillors member Yoichi Iha criticized the Japanese government for inciting a "critical situation," increasing dependence on U.S. military bases, and accelerating military expansion.