Japan Press Weekly

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2023 February 22 - 28 [WORLD]

One year into Russia-Ukraine war, nationwide activities calling for Russia’s swift withdrawal take place in Japan

On February 24, the day marking one year since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, activities calling for a swift withdrawal of Russian forces took place in Japan at many locations, including Hokkaido, Tokyo, Saitama, Nagano, Nara, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki.

At a rally held in Nagasaki Peace Park in Nagasaki City, participants chanted in chorus, “Russia, withdraw from Ukraine now!”

The rally was called for by a civil group consisting of Hibakusha and peace activists who are working to push the Japanese government to ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

Group’s co-head Kawano Koichi criticized Russia for attacking nuclear power plants in Ukraine and repeatedly making nuclear threats, and added, “Let us work to realize a world without nuclear weapons and wars!”

The head of the New Japan Women's Association Nagasaki local, Ohashi Yukiko, said, “As citizens of A-bombed Nagasaki, we have to raise our voices: ‘Nuclear weapons must not be used!’ and ‘Put an end to the Ukraine war through diplomacy!’”

In Tokyo, in the evening of the same day, a rally organized by an anti-nuclear power organization and the All-Out Action Committee took place at Hibiya Amphitheater.

Takada Ken of the All-Out Action Committee, on behalf of the rally organizers, condemned the Russian government for continuing with its aggression against Ukraine in disregard of the UN Charter and criticism from the international community. He said, “In solidarity with people around the globe who stand against the war in Ukraine and want to pursue peace, let us increase our efforts to realize an immediate ceasefire.”

Japanese Communist Party members of the House of Representatives Kasai Akira and Miyamoto Toru, and JCP member of the House of Councilors Iwabuchi Tomo together with Social Democratic Party Upper House member Fukushima Mizuho participated in the rally.

After the rally, holding placards that read “Russia must stop the war in Ukraine!”, participants marched in demonstration through Tokyo’s famous shopping district of Ginza.

Past related article:
> Shii strongly condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine [February 25, 2022]