Thousands of Japanese crowded an outdoor music amphitheater near Parliament to protest the Shinzo Abe government’s drive to pass an official state secrets act.  The lower house could get the legislation as early as next week.

“Without the right to know, democracy cannot exist,” said protester Yasunari Fujimoto, “If this law comes to pass, our constitution is nothing more than a scrap of paper.”

According to the original bill, the government can classify as a secret any information related to defense, diplomacy, terrorism and intelligence.  But there are no clear standards on the process, which gives it plenty of wiggle room to stretch its interpretation of those four categories.  And critics are concerned it will be used to stifle reporters and cover-up damaging information related to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

“This law is absolutely unacceptable.  We have a right to know everything,” said Akio Hirose, a 54-year-old transport worker.  “After all, we are the voters.”

Reported negotiations to win the support of the Osaka-based nationalist Isshin No Kai party reportedly produced no significant changes to the bill.  Isshin No Kai is headed by Osaka Mayor Toru, who angered pretty much everyone in the entire world with his comments this year that seemed to justify Japan’s war crime of using “comfort women”.