Overview

• On October 8, the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly adopted an LDP–Komeito resolution calling for residents to reject discriminatory attitudes toward Self-Defense Forces personnel and their families and to show understanding and cooperation.
• The text says social participation must not be denied because someone is an SDF member and describes the force as vital to residents’ safety, citing roles in disaster response and disposal of unexploded ordnance.
• It also affirms that criticism of defense policy and protest activities are protected as free expression.
• After Komeito objections, the original LDP language calling some actions "occupational discrimination" was changed to "discriminatory atmosphere," and references to specific incidents such as the All-Island Eisa Festival were removed.
• Prefectural ruling-coalition parties voted against the measure, warning of intrusion on freedom of thought and potential chilling of protest, and their separate motion seeking Defense Minister Nakatani’s retraction and apology over comments on "excessive" protests was defeated.