Japanese protest U.S. nuclear warships

Sasebo

When the U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier Nimitz arrived Feb. 12 in Sasebo port in Sasebo city, Nagasaki prefecture, 250 workers with their labor unions came out to protest its arrival. That morning, after 8 a.m., as the Nimitz was entering Sasebo port, 27 boats surrounded the warship and denounced its presence. At the same time on shore 120 workers angrily protested what they considered an outrage.

After noon, a protest rally was held in Shimanose Park in downtown Sasebo, where 1,200 workers gathered for a rally. After the rally, participants demonstrated against the military base.

Nagasaki

Three days later, the U.S. Aegis-class destroyer Lassen arrived in Nagasaki port in Nagasaki city. Some 200 workers protested the Lassen’s entering Nagasaki. As an Aegis destroyer, the Lassen could carry nuclear weapons. Its targets are in North Korea and China.

The anti-war forces refuse to allow this warship to enter the port of Nagasaki, site of the Aug. 9, 1945, dropping of the atomic bomb.

—Report and photos by Kikuchi Takao (Japan)