couple self-styled “Occupy Tokyo” protests

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It seems that there have been a couple self-styled “Occupy Tokyo” protests, based on the larger left-wing “Occupy New York” protests. Here are a couple videos from YouTube:

If the videos are any indication, the turnout was incredibly small. In one video, it almost looks like there are more journalists than protesters. Prior to the actual demonstration, there seemed to be a lot of excitement about it on Twitter, mostly from left-leaning English-speakers. They’re probably disappointed, but maybe they’ll find a way to put a positive spin on this.
According to videos and the Wall Street Journal, it was a ragtag group of people who support various different causes. Some of the people are chanting against Zaibatsu (large corporations), others are carrying anti-nuclear signs, and there were even some Free Tibet people:

The biggest signs railed against nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi accident. Several people, one wearing a giant panda costume, protested Japan’s monetary assistance to China.
“We’re here to try to spread awareness of how Japanese taxpayers’ money is being used through overseas aid to support a Chinese government that suppresses the rights of Tibetans, Uighurs and others,” said 29-year-old Hirose Tomoyuki, who described himself as a “normal salaryman” who works on the side for the nonprofit Japan Uygur Association.
Several older Japanese men held signs supporting Democratic Party of Japan heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa, who recently went on trial for alleged falsification of political funds reports.
“The problems Japan faces are essentially political, and Ozawa has stood strong for changing Japan’s political structure,” said Tomiyoshi Yamamoto, an aerospace engineer in his 60s. Mr. Yamamoto said he sees growing inequality in Japan and worries the country follows the U.S. too closely in defense and other areas.
He said he liked the nominal link between Saturday’s protests and those in the U.S. because “these issues can’t be solved by one country alone.”

Here’s an estimate on the size:

One of the organizers, Chie Matsumoto, accepted messages of solidarity via Skype and other web-based communication links from demonstrators in New York, California and South Korea. Speaking to fellow demonstrators in the United States, she said there were 100 people participating in the park demonstration.
A Ustream feed of the demonstration had been viewed by 39 people as of 1330 local time.

That’s pretty sad. Anti-China and Anti-Fuji TV demonstrations have drawn more than ten times as many participants.

Thank's for link:

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