Anti-nuclear protesters, many wearing business suits, marched through Tokyo’s Shinbashi district in the evening of Oct. 30.
Anti-nuclear protesters, many wearing business suits, marched through Tokyo’s Shinbashi district in the evening of Oct. 30.
Most of the attendees came straight from their offices to take part in the 40-minute demo.
The group started at a park near Shinbashi Station at 7 p.m and marched nearly 2 kilometers in the business district, shouting slogans such as “No to restarts,” “Stop contaminated water” and “Stop export.”
They also passed by the head office of Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, to raise their voices against nuclear energy.
The event organizer’s aim was to increase the involvement of office workers, who generally hesitate to join demonstrations. Ordinary people are generally not taking any action, the organizer said.
Satoko Namikawa, a corporate employee who lives in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, attended the march in her black suit after finishing work.
The 31-year-old Namikawa said, “Having seen the devastation in Fukushima Prefecture a year ago, I no longer feel that nuclear power is necessary.”
She added, “I hope more people feel inclined to join demonstrations after seeing that many company employees attended this one.”
About 600 people attended the march, the organizer said.