Koenji Anti-Nuclear Demonstration by Nicholas Vroman
After the Tohouku earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 struck the northwest coast of Honshu, Japan, concern and relief efforts were focused on the human tragedy of the dead, the lost and disappeared. Even though the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant was rapidly becoming a nuclear disaster, anti-nuclear action was put on hold as the more immediate concerns of tending to people in need of food, clothing and shelter.
Within a month the immediate crisis of caring for the displaced and survivors of the disaster had become more manageable through local and worldwide efforts of volunteerism and fundraising for victims. Raising money and volunteer efforts are still needed for earthquake and tsunami relief. But the ongoing nuclear crisis remains unabated. For all intents and purposes it appears to be getting worse.
On April 10, 2011, nearly a month after the disaster, the first of hopefully many anti-nuclear rallies happened in Tokyo. An estimated 15,000 people gathered in Koenji, a neighborhood on Tokyo’s west side and approximately 2,500 folks showed up at Shiba Koen, a park near Tokyo Tower to raise their voices and concerns about nuclear power. These photographs are from the rally in Koenji.
Nicholas Vroman is a writer, photographer, filmmaker, musician and cultural explorer, originally from Seattle, USA, now living in Tokyo for the last four years. His photographs can be seen at his daily photo blog, Circadium – – and at his portfolio site –
