Peace march in Tokyo against occupation in Iraq

Protest in Ginza

On the spring equinox March 21, an event organized by World Peace Now ("Force will never bring peace ― Four years of occupation in Iraq ― Let's raise our voices and bring peace to the Middle East, Asia, and the world") was held in Hibiya Park in Tokyo. The event began with speeches and live music performances, followed by a peace parade which wound its way through Ginza. According to the organizers World Peace Now Japan, over 2000 people participated in the event. Participants, holding flags of affiliated groups, placards, and colourful hand-made signs, marched from Hibiya Park toward the Bank of Japan, a total of 3 kilometers travelled in roughly one hour.

Right-wing group being stopped by police

In the middle of the parade, a right-wing group in black vans attempted to obstruct the parade by blaring loud messages through speakers. The vans were surrounded under an elevated bridge by riot police and prevented from interrupting the parade.

On the same day as the parade in Tokyo, other anti-war demonstrations were held across the country in places such as Nagoya, Kumamoto and Ishikawa.

In a related development, on the same day, Foreign Minister Aso Taro and Minister of Defence Kyuma Fumio met individually with Chairman of the U.S. Joints Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace, who is currently on a diplomatic visit to East Asia. During the visit, Defence Minister Kyuma Fumio indicated that the approaching deadline (in July of this year) terminating the current dispatch of Japan's Self-Defence Forces in Iraq would be extended. The meeting was covered by every newspaper, however within Japan the peace march was hardly mentioned at all.