30 August 2015
Thousands of people have protested outside of Japan's parliament against new legislation that would allow the military to deploy overseas.
The changes would allow Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since World War Two.
The legislation has already been passed by Japan's lower house and is expected to be endorsed by the upper chamber.
Under its constitution, Japan is barred from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence.
But a reinterpretation of the law will now allow "collective self-defence" - using force to defend allies under attack.
Police are lining the streets and telling protesters to move along in an attempt to minimise disruption in the capital's centre.
Despite the wet weather conditions, tens of thousands of protesters poured out onto the streets demanding that their pacifist constitution be protected and calling for the prime minister to step down.
The streets were lined with police vans but given how unprecedented it is for the Japanese to be so vocal, there was never any fear that things would get out of hand.
These demonstrations have been taking place all summer, mainly led by students and young people who say they wish to protect Japan's pacifist constitution.
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