7,000 people call for opposition to war on Iraq

As public concern grows about a possible U.S. war on Iraq, about 7,000 people gathered in Tokyo's Hibiya Park on January 18 to express their opposition to the war in a concert, a march and an assembly.

The day's peace action called "World Peace Now January 18" was organized in conjunction with the international anti-war action and attended by members of a variety of groups and NGOs as well as individuals who learned about this event on the Internet.

Participants in the march, which was held from the park to the Ginza district, sang John Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance" and called on passers-by to walk together.

At the peace concert held at the Hibiya Amphitheater, rappers, drummers, and Sanshin (Okinawan three-string instrument) players performed, wishing for world peace.

In Hiroshima City on the same day, about 1,500 people attended a rally held in opposition to a possible U.S. war on Iraq and the Japanese government's proposal for contingency legislation.

Speaking on behalf of the rally organizers, Okamoto Mitsuo, a professor at Hiroshima Shudo University, said that people throughout Japan and the world are watching carefully what the citizens of the atomic bombed city are doing and called on the participants to take the lead in the movement for peace.

In Kyoto City, about 500 people took part in a "peace walk" organized by citizens organizations and religious leaders. (end)