About four hundred Japanese protesters demonstrated against the country's conservative leader Shinzo Abe's attempt to lift a constitutional ban on joining international military conflicts.

The protest outside Japan's Diet occurred while the Lower House budget committee debated a reinterpretation of the constitution which could significantly expand the role of Japan's military. The lower house session was the first opportunity opposition politicians had to formally question the government over the move. They suggested Abe requires a full constitutional amendment, which would be much more difficult to achieve.

Abe has been pushing for a set of defense reforms, that are in conflict with the nation's pacifist Constitution, which was established after World War Two. Giving the government the so-called 'right to collective self-defense' would allow its forces to fight in overseas wars declared by its allies.

Many fear the change would also allow Abe to expand other aspects of the country's military, including developing and selling weapons of war.