Japan
Tuesday 2.4.2019 Japan - Latest Developments -
Private security company hired by authorities to research anti-base protesters in Okinawa
In January 2019, a newspaper published a report that a private security company had been hired by the authorities in 2015 to conduct research and surveillance of protesters in Okinawa opposing the U.S. military base relocation. In the previous month, a court upheld the guilty verdict against an Okinawan for his anti-U.S. base activities while two Hong Kong activists were arrested in Tokyo for protesting at a war shrine. In March 2019, Human Rights Watch published a report on abuses against transgender people Read more
Wednesday 5.12.2018 Japan - Latest Developments -
Anti-racism protests held to counteract far-right marches
In October 2018, anti-racism groups staged mass demonstrations in cities across Japan to counteract a series of marches by an openly racist far-right group opposed to immigration in Japan. Read more
Tuesday 11.9.2018 Japan - Latest Developments -
Activists alarmed by protest restrictions in Tokyo
In June 2018, the Shinjuku Ward Office in Tokyo announced plans to limit the number of parks that demonstrators could use for rallies from the current four to one starting from August 2018 Read more
Thursday 8.2.2018 Japan - Latest Developments -
Anti-US base activist faces imprisonment as Okinawa protests continue
Anti-US base activist Hiroji Yamashiro is facing a 2.5 year prison sentence as protests continue in Okinawa. Read more
Tuesday 12.12.2017 Japan - Latest Developments -
Regional tensions spur militarisation of Japan, sparking citizen protests
As previously featured on the CIVICUS Monitor, the militarisation of Japan has sparked protests throughout this year. In recent months, there have been rallies to protest the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Henoko. Read more
Thursday 12.10.2017 Japan - Latest Developments -
Escalating tensions over militarisation in Okinawa spark protests
In the context of growing tensions in the region, the last few months have seen a mass mobilisation against the U.S' strengthening of military operations to counter increasingly aggressive posturing from North Korea. Read more
Friday 7.7.2017 Japan - Latest Developments -
New law sparks fears of downward spiral in civic freedoms
On 15th June 2017, the Japanese government passed the widely condemned "Act on Punishment of Organised Crime and Control of Crime Proceeds", also known as the “Anti-Conspiracy” bill. The law's passage sparked citizen protests and comes after a sustained fightback from civil society. Read more
Thursday 15.12.2016 Japan - Latest Developments -
Protests against increased international role for Japan's military
People in Japan have protested to oppose a perceived increase in Japan's participation in international conflicts. Read more
Wednesday 29.6.2016 Japan - Latest Developments -
UN Special Rapporteur criticises Japan's freedom of expression laws
Large scale protests in June were generally peacefully observed while a UN Special Rapporteur criticises Japan's freedom of expression laws. Read more