Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Activists and citizens gathered in Tokyo on Saturday for a rally marking 15 years since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, calling for Japan to move away from nuclear power.

The event, titled “Stop Nuclear Power 3.7 Rally – 15 Years After the Fukushima Nuclear Accident,” was held in Yoyogi Park, where participants listened to speeches and discussed the long-term impact of the 2011 disaster.

About 1500 people took part in the rally, according to organizers. Participants gathered to highlight the continuing consequences of the accident and to raise questions about Japan’s energy policy.

Organizers said that more than 50,000 people remain displaced following the disaster, while the number of disaster-related deaths has exceeded 2,300.

Speakers at the gathering stressed that the effects of the Fukushima accident are still ongoing and raised concerns about nuclear safety in a country frequently affected by earthquakes.

After the rally in Yoyogi Park, participants marched through central Tokyo, carrying banners and signs calling for a nuclear-free future.

The gathering focused on several key themes, including the continuing impact of the Fukushima disaster, concerns over nuclear waste, questions about Japan’s energy policy, and the risks of nuclear power in an earthquake-prone country.

The event took place ahead of the 15th anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which followed the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.