95 percent against security bills in Japan's Osaka: poll

Protesters raise clinched fists towards the parliament building during a rally in Tokyo, June 11, 2015. Protesters gathered outside parliament, opposing a set of controversial bills intended to expand Japan's defense role at home and internationally. The banners read: "No war." [Photo/IC]

OSAKA - A recent poll showed that 95 percent of people in Japan's Osaka are against the security-related bills pushed by the Abe administration, local media reported.

The poll was organized by a citizen group named "Promoting Together Peace and Democracy Gathering-Osaka" between July 4 and 11. Voting boxes were set up at 15 locations in Osaka city in different time periods within the eight days.

The results were announced on July 12, which showed that 2,516 people participated in the poll. Among them, 2,409 were against the security bills, accounting for over 95 percent, and only 92 people were for the bills.

"We will send a written report of the results to the government and the parliament and pass on the people's opinions on the security bills to the government," said a member of the group.

A series of controversial security-related bills are being pushed forward in parliament by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which, if enacted, will pave a "legal way" to the country's Self- Defense Forces (SDF) to exercise the right to collective self- defense. The bills are considered by many as a violation of Japan' s post-war constitution.

Osaka is Japan's second largest city by daytime population after Tokyo, and serves as a major economic hub in western Japan.