TOKYO: Japanese lawmakers scuffled on Thursday during a heated debate over a security bill that could see the military fight abroad for the first time in decades, after thousands rallied to voice their anger.
In scenes uncommon for Japan's normally sedate parliament, members of the opposition and the ruling coalition pushed and shoved each other as a committee chairman was surrounded.
Opposition lawmaker Tetsuro Fukuyama later made an emotional speech outlining why his party had submitted a motion to delay the bills, which could see Japanese troops fight abroad for the first time since World War II.
"Is the ruling party listening to the voices of the public? You can do whatever you want to do because you have a majority -- is that what you think?" he said, on the verge of tears.
Tensions were running high after the committee vote was repeatedly delayed through Wednesday night, as opposition lawmakers blocked doorways and packed the corridors of parliament in protest.
A total of 13 people were also reportedly arrested during the evening for "interfering with officers" during a rally that saw an estimated 13,000 people gather outside parliament in Tokyo.
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to vent their anger during almost daily rallies over the past weeks, a show of public feeling on a scale rarely seen in Japan.
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