Protests inside and outside Japanese Diet as controversial security bills near law

Demonstrators turned out in the rain on Thursday to protest outside the National Parliament as opposition politicians inside also tried to block controversial security bills on September 17, 2015, Tokyo, Japan. Inside parliament the security bills that could allow troops to fight overseas for first time since World War Two were passed by a legislative committee amid pushing and shoving, and now only require approval in the upper house. Those opposing the bills still believe that they violate the constitution and could sink Japan into US conflicts. Protests have occurred almost daily over the past weeks outside the Diet building against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his popularity has also suffered as a result.


(Photo by Rodrigo Reyes Marin/AFLO)


(Photo by Rodrigo Reyes Marin/AFLO)


(Photo by Motoo Naka/AFLO)


Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends the upper’s house special committee on security legislation at National Diet Tokyo Japan on 17 Sep 2015. (Photo by Motoo Naka/AFLO)


Leader of the student group SELADs, Akio Okuda, encourages protesters outside the Diet building on September 17th, 2015. (Photo by Rodrigo Reyes Marin/AFLO)


(Photo by Rodrigo Reyes Marin/AFLO)


Japanese actor Junichi Ishida speaks to protesters outside the Japanese Diet building on Thursday 17th September, 2015. (Photo by Rodrigo Reyes Marin/AFLO)


(Photo by Rodrigo Reyes Marin/AFLO)