May,03,2012

Report on the “5/3 Changing the Constitution and Protecting the Freedom of Japan and Asia! Citizens’ Rally & Demonstration” Constitution Memorial Day, May 3 (Thursday, national holiday) (Support and Participation at Hibiya Large Open-Air Concert Hall)

For video coverage of the day’s event, please visit: http://nakamamo.blog.fc2.com/

May 3 was Constitution Memorial Day in Japan, and the Happiness Realization Party participated as a supporting organization in the “5/3 Changing the Constitution and Protecting the Freedom of Japan and Asia! Citizens’ Rally & Demonstration” held in commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese administration at the Hibiya Large Open-Air Concert Hall in Tokyo. In spite of constant heavy rain from the day before the event, approximately 2,500 people gathered at the venue.

The event began with remarks from Hissho Yanai, representing the Group to Protect the Future of Our Children from the Threat of China, as head of its Executive Committee, who said, “In spite of threats from neighboring countries such as North Korea and China, Japan is not formulating an effective national defense policy, and it appears that our survival is dependent on the will of other nations. Now is the time for Japan to amend the constitution and reinvent itself as a nation with a strong spirit of ‘protecting our nation by ourselves.’ We must also protect the freedom of Asia.”

Setsu Kobayashi, a professor at Keio University and a leading expert on the constitution of Japan, commented, “Since Japan is an independent nation, we should be able to determine our own fate, and we should not need to feel intimidated by threats from China. As stated by Mr. Ogawa, we should not have to apply Article 9 to countries that, as the Preamble to the Constitution puts it, cannot be ‘trusted as fair and faithful.’”

Ryunosuke Megumi, a visiting professor at Takushoku University who carries out educational activities regarding the historical facts of Okinawa, stated, “The United States military has improved health and hygiene in Okinawa by such measures as the building of nursing schools there, and the population of the prefecture has more than tripled compared with before the war. Nevertheless, the contributions of the US military are not reported in the media.” Mr. Megumi thus sounded a warning regarding the strong movement against the United States in spite of the military threat of China with regard to Okinawa.

The next speaker was Weiming Chen, an artist who experienced the Tiananmen Square incident and currently resides in the United States. Mei Ka, the Chief of China Monthly, provided interpretation. Mr. Chen spoke about his experience during the Tiananmen Square incident when art students in Beijing installed a jointly created work called the “Goddess of Democracy” in the square, but which was destroyed by the tanks of the Chinese Communist Party. He stated strongly that the Japanese government is failing to say “no” to the tyranny of the Chinese Communist Party, and if the Japanese government continues to act weakly, Japan will be in danger.

There were also participants at the event from Tibet, Uyghur, and Inner Mongolia, which lost their status as nations and were made autonomous regions as a result of invasions by China.
Pema Gyalpo, a political scholar from Tibet and professor at Toin University of Yokohama, provided a message warning against “yesterday Tibet, tomorrow Japan,” and said that the people of Japan need to wake up and take a good look at the true face of China. The message was read out by Noriko Tatsunokuchi, Chairman of Women Affairs Bureau of the Happiness Realization Party.

Tur Muhammet, a representative and researcher of the Central Asia Research Institute from Uyghur, spoke about the status of the harsh clampdowns by China, stating, “The people of Uyghur are followers of Islam, but can now be charged with a crime just for having a Koran. The speaking of the Uyghur language is prohibited in schools, and an attempt is being made to eliminate the languages of minorities.”

Oruhonodo Daichin, an independent activist from Inner Mongolia who serves as the Secretary General of the Mongolian Liberal Union Party, commented, “The invasion by the Chinese Communist Party has been an attack on the land where generations of our people have lived for thousands of years, and the ethnic groups are no longer able to carry out any part of their traditions.” Supporters on stage held aloft a banner in support of the democratization of Inner Mongolia.

Furthermore, Connie Mack, a Republican National Committee member of United States House of Representatives (Head of the United States Foreign Affairs Committee [in charge of the Western Hemisphere]) was introduced by Jikido Aeba, Chairman of Public Relations Headquarters of the Happiness Realization Party, who serves as an advisor to the Republican National Committee for Asian-American Relations. Ms. Mack gave a message, stating, “I would like to express my sincere respect for your efforts to spread the word about the dangers of the leaders of North Korea and China not only to citizens of those countries, but also of Japan and the United States.”

Shugaku Tsuiki, the Party Learder of the Happiness Realization Party, stated, “In order to protect the freedom and peace of Asia and be a dependable nation, we must revise the constitution. Until it is revised, we shall develop our deterrent force based on the interpretation that ‘Article 9 of the constitution does not apply to countries that are a threat to peace.’ Taking this opportunity, I want to bring back the samurai spirit and the spirit of dedicating oneself to a cause, which are respected traditions in Japan, and bring about divine justice on earth.”

Following the assembly, the participants divided into ten groups and went on a demonstration march from Hibiya Park to Toranomon and Roppongi chanting slogans such as “The Senkaku Islands are the territory of Japan!” and “The government must strengthen the Japan-US alliance!”