150,000 Enraged Japanese Demonstrate In Tokyo

Tokyo on Friday saw another protest against the restart of two reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant, with demonstrators crowding the streets around the prime minister's official residence.

Beating drums and holding placards, participants chanted loudly: "Stop the Oi nuclear plant!" and "No restart!"

Rallies against the resumption of operations at the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi plant have been held in central Tokyo every week since March 29, according to members of the Metropolitan Coalition against Nukes, the event's organizer.

Kansai Electric restarted the No. 3 reactor Sunday, the first nuclear reactor to restart since the March 11, 2011, earthquake began Japan's worst nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 power plant.

The reactor is expected to attain full-capacity operations early Monday morning.

Despite the rain, large crowds gathered in front of the prime minister's residence in Nagatacho, Chiyoda Ward.