Hundreds of Japanese citizens have filed a lawsuit against the government over a controversial security legislation. They say the newly-passed security law goes against the constitution, and ask the court to stop exercising Japan's collective self-defense rights.

The 550 plaintiffs, together with more than 600 attorneys, started preparation for the class action since September. Similar lawsuits are being planned in other major cities like Osaka, Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The controversial new security policy gives the government more power to utilize military forces overseas, which was previously forbidden under agreements reached after World War Two.