Japanese women celebrate International Women's Day

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Japanese women celebrate International Women's Day

Marking International Women's Day, about 1,000 women on the night of March 8 participated in a central rally in Tokyo under the banner, "Let the Japanese Constitution shine now!"

Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, Horie Yuri, chair of the Japan Federation of Women's Organizations, pointed out that 60 years have passed since a rally commemorating the International Women's Day was held for the first time after WWII and that today Japan is in a tense situation in which the ruling parties are attempting to push through a bill to establish procedures for revision of the Constitution. "Let us continue our struggles without being daunted by the difficulties," said Horie.

Japanese Communist Party House of Councilors member Kami Tomoko and Tokyo Gubernatorial election candidate Yoshida Manzo gave guest speeches.

After the rally, the participants marched in demonstration with penlights lighting the way.

This year marks the 97th anniversary of the International Women's Action that began with calls for "Bread, Rights, and Peace."
- Akahata, March 9, 2007