A public holiday in Japan today, 29 April. Originally it was for the Showa Emperor's birthday during his reign of some 63 and a bit years. When he died in 1989, rather than give up the holiday, the government renamed it Midori no Hi, green day, in recognition of his appreciation of sciences and the environment (yes, I know).
Through various permutations and a desire to keep the run of holidays known as Golden Week, it is now Showa Day.
Unrelated however, the local peace activists held a rally, followed by a march through the streets, at the Peace Park. We've been here before dear reader. There was a bit a of peace festival here six months ago. Today was very much about Article 9 and preserving the Constitution. It is always interesting to get along to these events...for research purposes of course.
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| Drums to signal the start of proceedings |
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| Banners |
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| And the choir led the singing |
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| Speakers included young lawyers... |
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| Mothers... |
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| NO to war |
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| Letters of peace |
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| Walking from Hokkaido in the north, to Tokyo, for peace |
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| Former member of the lower house, Ikeuchi Saori of the Japan Communist Party |
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| Maeda, a former candidate |
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| Preparing to march |
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| More banners |
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| Under cover |
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| The peace memorial (similar to Hiroshima) |
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| Local duck |
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| Girl with a dragonfly |
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| And off, marching |
After a couple of years of a sense of inevitability about changes to the Constitution, we seem to be stalling the shift and while it is still a long way from being settled, maybe the change won't be quite so hasty now.
Well done to all who participated on one of the hottest days this spring.
[Camera : Canon M5, 1.54pm-3.20pm; 29 April 2018]
