Japanese women celebrate 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Japanese women celebrate 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day

Japanese women across the country on March 8, marking the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, held a rally to call “for measures to protect employment and people’s livelihoods and create a nuclear weapons-free and peaceful world.”

The International Women’s Day Central Rally took place with about 800 participants in Tokyo. At the rally, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s message and other messages received from women within and outside Japan were distributed. Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Takahashi Chizuko on behalf of the JCP delivered a speech.

On March 8 1923, Japanese women for the first time celebrated International Women’s Day. At that time, the pre-war Japanese government pushed ahead with its attempt to invade China and Japanese women had no equal rights such as the right to vote. The first International Women’s Day rally calling for the liberation of Japanese women was held under heavy police surveillance and was forcibly stopped by the police.

It was not until 1947 when Japanese women were able to celebrate International Women’s Day again. Since then, the rally has been held every year. Japanese women have developed solidarity with women worldwide demanding gender equality and world peace.

- Akahata, March 9, 2010