Natsuki Kimura

Natsuki Kimura
Urayasu, Japan
June 21
I live in a country known for its many earthquakes; I live 200 kilometers away from three smoldering nuclear reactors; my father saw the mushroom cloud over Nagasaki as a boy; I watch movies with titles like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gattaca; I read books with titles like Trout Fishing in America and In Our Time; I make collages about my wife and show them in Tokyo galleries; I spend weekends writing about nukes, aliens, vampires, and love child Vulcans.


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Editor’s Pick
SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 11:37AM

Tokyo Rises Against Hate

Rate: 15 Flag

On September 22, thousands of people gathered in Tokyo's Shinjuku district to protest discrimination for the March on Tokyo for Freedom. Organized by the same people who stage counter-demonstrations against anti-Korean hate marches in the nearby Shin-Okubo neighborhood, this march was held in honor of the Great March on Washington to protest all discrimination and hate, whether they be based on nationality, race, sex, sexual orientation, physical and mental disabilities, age, etc., etc.



"I am against discrimination" 


We Japanese tend to be wary of taking part in social protests. For instance, I'm a middle-aged Japanese guy who reads the papers and never forgets to vote and yet I never even dreamed of getting involved in protests until I learned of the anti-Korean marches being held in Tokyo's Koreatown. My wife is very suspicious of the way I've been spending my weekends in Shin-Okubo and wherever else racists may appear. But on September 22, people from all walks of life came together to march through Shinjuku streets to voice their messages.



"Eliminate discrimination" 



"Let's get along/We're already living together"



"I love Seung Heon/I love Korea" 



 "Let's get along (y'all)"



"Stand Against Racism/The March on Tokyo for Freedom" 



"Discrimination comes from the darkness in our hearts" 



"No racism/Let's get along" 



 "We're already living together"



 "Make peace not hate"


The march had the young and the old, a band, flag dancers, people on stilts, drag queens. There were rockers, rappers, and DJs. Famous politicians and writers marched along with housewives and office workers. On the streets of Shinjuku that day, diversity was a given. We are, after all, already living together, no matter how many may try to deny it.



The gentleman raising his hand is Taiga Ishikawa, ward assemblyman of the Toshima Ward. He is the first openly gay assemblyman in Japan.



So many marchers showed up that organizers ran out of March on Tokyo pins to pass out.



 There was so much hope and optimism while we marched -- so much that I wished the march would go on forever.  



"Imagine a peaceful future" 

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So inspiring! Thank you very much for sharing your day and photos, Natsuki!
I've spent a lot of time in Shinjuku...thanks for sharing this inspiring essay. R
No one should have to hide.
"People get ready, there's a change a-comin' !"
A standing ovation to you and all the participants of the march. I am so happy this was placed on the cover.
This is great. I hadn't heard that this had been happening in Japan. And congratulations on the cover.
I hardly ever think about discrimination in places other than the U.S.; I guess I attribute it to being naive. Thanks for this - it's really eye-opening, especially those fantastic pictures.
Thank you for posting this! It's wonderful to see.
How exciting to see those in your country who stand up against hate, against discrimination.
Imagine the power of us all, all over the globe, "imagining a peaceful future."
Omedeto! You made the cover.
I'm glad to hear that Japan is taking positive steps to eliminate discrimination. R
I already loved Japan. Now I love it a little more.

ありがとう. Thank you for the good story.

I have lived for sometime in Japan, mainly in Kyoto. I know that there is quite a lot discrimination against Koreans in Japan, I hope that it will get better.
This is wonderful and inspiring! I also love the idea of, we already live together, let's get along. So many people could do with really listening to that advice.....
What the hell is wrong with those silly people? They have unleashed the worst nuclear disaster in the history of the world and they are prancing around, doing this shit?

Make them explain why there is no sea life for 3,000 miles from their irradiated border.
This is beautiful. So glad to see it. One unfortunate thing is that because the textbooks are not truthful many young Japanese do not understand why the Koreans resent them, because of what happened during World War II.
Excuse me, but if Japan would end the silly season, snap out of their denial and do something about the greatest nuclear disaster in world history, I would appreciate it. Who cares about the never ending Japanese ability to hate?

All of our nations have been highly effective at keeping hate going on, but never before have all the nations been so ineffective and self-destructive in the face of potentially poisoning the entire planet for all life.

That is the ultimate hate. Ignoring Fukushima is as globally hateful as it gets.
Very well done. Thank you for sharing
While I laud this commendable action it is long overdue, I have to say that this post is about a movement to end racism in a very racist society.
Fukushima is not the topic. I would though, like to know how Japanese people feel about it and if they know the degree of global impact it is having and may continue to have for thousands of years.