Japan’s ruling parties are set to end the ban that has kept its military from fighting overseas since the end of World War II, and allowing the sending of troops to exercise “collective self defense” of Japan’s allies.  The new rules would relax limits on United Nations peacekeeping activities.

It’s long-held goal of hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who like the rest of the scions of privilege who currently run Japan has never served in Japan’s military in any capacity.  The change will more than likely anger officials in Beijing and Seoul, which have publicly criticized the Abe government for its increasing nationalism and attempts to whitewash Japan’s World War II atrocities.

There’s also substantial opposition at home, although you wouldn’t know it by watching television.  News reports largely ignored the thousands of demonstrators who gathered outside the Prime Minister’s official residence to object to Abe’s plans.  They did mention the poor guy whose anti-militarism protest was to set himself on fire above a skywalk at the busiest train station in the world, Tokyo’s Shinuku Station.  Self-immolation is exceedingly rare in Japan, despite the country’s storied history of Seppuku ritual suicide.