On Japan's anti-war movement -- Akahata 'Current' Column, March 11

It's like the arrival of spring. Recent anti-war rallies are different from what they used to be.

The first signs of such change were perceived on February 28 when theatrical people held a meeting to stop the war on Iraq and Japan's wartime bills. People were standing in a long line in front of an assembly hall to attend the event. Many learned of the meeting on the Internet or in the newspaper.

People attend anti-war events not because they are told to do so. They seek information on anti-war events and voluntarily take part in them. That was how the March 8 rally became the largest action against the war on Iraq to date with more than 40,000 people assembling at Hibiya Amphitheater in Tokyo.

Since the amphitheater was too small to hold them all, many people made circles around the theater. Asked by an organizer, "Who are first-time participants?," most of the people in the theater waved their hands or placards.

"I had been wondering why we don't see big demonstrations in Japan like the ones in Europe, when I found information about this rally," said a high school student attending the rally with his three friends, all dressing in popular street fashion. A 73-year-old man said, "The last demonstration I took part in was the one against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty." He saw the advertisement of the "World Peace Now" in a paper and took part in it with his daughter and 7-year-old granddaughter.

Around Hibiya Amphitheater, young people were painting their faces or dancing to the music. Every participant seemed to feel the same way as a high school graduate who said, "It's great to be able to express myself."

Throughout the country, many young people are also taking part in peace actions held by the Democratic Youth League of Japan. Japan's anti-war movement is no longer inactive. People who used to withhold their anti-war opinion are finally starting to take action. (end)