shinbashi protest 新橋の抗議行動 (shinbashi, tokyo)

Posted by timothy sullivan (Tokyo, Japan) on 4 November 2008 in People & Portrait.

This past Sunday, I was walking along the Yamanote line somewhat near Shinbashi station (rather, somewhere between Tokyo and Shinbashi) and had heard quite a few voices shouting on megaphones--chanting something over and over. And then, literally as I turned the corner, I saw quite a few stormtrooper-esque riot gear-clad police posted along the street, and some marching alongside protesters--though whether acting as a wall protecting the protesters or trying to contain them somehow, I could not be sure.

And what were they protesting, exactly? It was a little difficult to say. The front of the line seemed to be union members protesting against changes in work conditions or something in relation to the economy; the tail seemed to be protesting against America somehow, saying that the US must get a better grip on its financial markets and regulate things better, as its irresponsibility is imposing serious damage to the globe.

Curiously, a quick search of Japanese media later that day revealed no word about the 50-60-odd protesters, police in riot gear, and heavy security along the protest route.

vfxy Photoblogs | Listed on Photoblogs.org