130,000 Took to Street in 120 Places Across Japan March 20 International Anti-War Action Day

An estimated 130,000 people all over Japan took to the street to
demonstrate their renewed anti-war resolve, joining the March 20
international anti-war action, the first anniversary of the U.S. invasion
of Iraq. Preliminary checks tell us that peace action was held in 120
places across the country by citizens¡Ç peace group coalitions, NGOs, labor
unions, and other groups.

In Tokyo, 30,000 people gathered at Hibiya Park in an anti-war rallyheld by
the coalition of broad citizens¡Çgroups, ¡ÈWorld Peace Now.¡ÉIt was chilly
cold and raining, but the park¡Çs outdoor amphitheater, a sea of umbrellas
and placards, was sonorous and vibrant with speeches and songs while
thousands were holding their rallies and other action outside it. The
participants demanded that the foreign occupation of Iraq be terminated,
that the occupation forces be withdrawn, and
specifically that the Japanese Self-Defense Force troops already dispatched
there be immediately withdrawn and additional forces not be sent. Another
strong concern of the demonstrators was the aggressive attempt by the
conservative political groups to delete the war-renouncing and non-armament
clause of the Constitution (article 9). They marched through Tokyo¡Çs main
streets chanting and dancing with banners and slogan placards including
¡ÆKoizumi, a puppet of Bush!¡Ç, ¡ÆNo war should be legitimated!¡Ç,
¡ÆReconstruction aid? Who destroyed Iraq?¡Ç, ¡ÆWe never repeat our past
mistakes.

Another thousands converged on the same park. Simultaneous with the WPN
rally, the coalition of 20 land, maritime,and air transport-related trade
unions held a rally and peace concert in the park. Also, another thousands
participated in a rally at another park under the auspices of Communist
Party-supportive trade union federation Zenroren and other groups. They
marched toHibiya Park and converged with the mass of people whofilled the
large precinct.

These three events, independently organized, were interlinked by exchange
of solidarity messages.
Action reports are arriving from other parts of the country.

Osaka, located in the Kinki region in central Honshu, was another center of
mobilization. Well over 20,000 people joined anti-war events in two parks.
The one held in Ogimachi Park that drew 10,000, a Korean guest speaker
denounced the additional Korean military dispatch to Iraq and appealed for
Korea-Japan solidarity. Speakers talked about the attempted reactionary
change in the education law, U.S. military bases in Okinawa. They went on
to march in the mains streets of Osaka. In the spacious Osaka Castle Park
another 10,000, mostly young people, drew on the ground huge human letters
reading ¡ÈPEACE¡É and went on a vigorous peace parade. In the surrounding
Kinki region, there were peace demonstrations in Kyoto and Kobe with 3,000
participantseach; in Wakayama and Shiga with 350 participants each.

In Hiroshima, 3600 people gathered in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome. An
atomic bombing survivor, appealed, ¡ÈPrimeMinister Koizumi¡Çs decision to
dispatch Japanese Self-Defense Forces to Iraq is clearly against our
war-renouncing and non-armament clause of the Constitution. The United
States says it may use of atomic bombs. We must fight against the injustice
of US unilateralism!¡Ç Two medical doctors from Iraq stepped onto the
stage. After reporting on depleted uranium hazards Iraqi people suffered,
Dr. Mohamed Hassan called for immediate cessation of Iraqi occupation by
foreign forces.

In nearby Okayama, 800 people formed human letters ¡ÆPEACE¡Ç.Then a peace
parade took with choral speaking ¡ÆWeapons of mass destruction was not
found. Iraqi war was has no legitimacy!¡Ç, ¡ÆNo justice be found in sending
Self-Defense Force!¡Ç

North in Hokkaido from where the great bulk of the Ground Self-Defense
Force soldiers have been sent to Iraq, anti-war protest was organized in
more than 12 towns with the participation of 11,000 people. In Sapporo, the
capital city of Hokkaido, 5,000 from practically all anti-war groups held a
rally and demonstrated.

In Nagoya, 500 people joined an antiwar action titled, ¡ÆWithdraw
Self-Defense Force! Kick out Koizumi! We want Peace!¡É The Nagoya action
addressed a broad range of issues, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, and
potentially in North Korea.

with warm regards,

Hikaru Kasahara

(Staff Member of APA Japan)