Tens of thousands of people demonstrated across Japan on Saturday (21 October) to mark the annual anti-war day. The emphasis again was on opposition to the continued presence of United States Military bases in Japan.

The National Police Agency said that by nightfall, 200,000 people had taken part in anti-war rallies and street demonstrations organised by left-wing groups.

In Tokyo, about 31,000 unionists and pacifists marched in rain through the streets, after attending a rally sponsored by the Socialist and Communist parties.

The demonstrators chanted opposition to the presence of U.S. bases in Japan, the recently-approved five-year programme to double Japan's defence spending, and the U.S. bombing of North Vietnam.

Some eleven-thousand riot police were on duty in the capital.