Anti-monarchists hold demo in Japan

Protesters waving Japanese flags shout slogans in Tokyo.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164812.html

Japanese protestors have called for an end to the imperial system during holiday celebrations of the emperor system and the foundation of the nation.

For the more genteel sections of the society, it is a day for parades and brass bands. They march through the streets showing off their many years of practice. But on this day, all they needed to brave was the fierce cold and the heaviest snowfall of the year in Tokyo, the Press TV correspondent in the Japanese capital reported.

Across town, however, a more formidable scenario was unfolding, with protesters on the march to call for an end to Japan's imperial system.

The protesters declared that they are opposed to war and the stationing of US troops in Japan.

One of the protesters said he is worried about a new war breaking out in East Asia.

A woman told the Press TV correspondent that the imperial system lies at the root of discrimination in the Japanese society.

At one point, the protesters had a confrontation with riot police when they became annoyed with the police's efforts to videotape the protest march.

Shortly afterwards, Japanese ultranationalists appeared. Using powerful loudspeakers, they insulted the anti-war protestors and even threatened them with violence.

“Although these people talk about Japanese nationalism, they are not thinking about the problem of China and North Korea,” one of the ultranationalists said.

A nearby representative of a conservative political party gave a similar message, saying, “We believe that it's important to honor our nation on its birthday. As a political party, we also like to show our will and determination to defend our nation against political threats.”

National Foundation Day has thus become a political battlefield for left and right in Japan. Both sides say they want to establish lasting peace in East Asia, but they have very different ideas about how to achieve it.