Japan's peace activists hold rally on second anniversary of 9/11

On September 11, the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the United States, several peace demonstrations calling for no more war or terrorism were held in Tokyo.

In the downtown Shibuya district of Tokyo, popular with young people, about 160 young peace activists took part in a peace march, sponsored by the "Peace and Music Festival" organizing committee and a high school students' group refusing war cooperation.

Holding candles and banners bearing their demand that the Self-Defense Forces not be sent to Iraq, the demonstrators attracted several passers-by, who decided to join the peace march.

In front of the U.S. Embassy in Minato Ward, Buddhists of the Japan Buddha Sangha and their supporters held the "Protest of Prayer." They handed an embassy official a letter written to the U.S. President Geroge W. Bush, demanding that the U.S. forces be immediately withdrawn from Iraq. (end)