Photo/Illutration Russian expatriates protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine during a rally staged in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward on Feb. 26. A Japanese sign held by a man in the front reads, “Russian nationals do not support war.” (Shinnosuke Ito)

Russians took to the streets of Tokyo on Feb. 26 to denounce the invasion of Ukraine. Many said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was unfit to lead.

Other foreign nationals, including Ukrainians, as well as Japanese, also staged rallies in the capital and other cities.

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A Ukrainian man, 24, who attended a Feb. 26 rally in Tokyo’s Shibuya district to protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (Wataru Sekita)

More than 100 protesters gathered outside JR Shinjuku Station, a major rail hub, to chant “Stop War and Stop Putin” while holding signs reading “Peace in Ukraine” and “Putin is Russia’s Enemy.”

A 27-year-old company employee who is from Moscow was among the participants.

“A wave of antiwar rallies has been staged by Russians around the world and I wanted to show that Russians living in Japan are also opposed to the war,” she said.

Another company employee, who is 35 years old and also from Moscow, said he was concerned that the war would stoke criticism of Russian people across the globe.

“As a Russian, I am ashamed of the invasion,” he said. “Putin is unfit as our country’s leader.”

The square in front of JR Shibuya Station was packed by a similar rally, which was attended by Ukrainians, other expatriates and Japanese holding Ukrainian flags or hand-written signs reading “Stop War.” They also kept up volley of chants condemning Russia and calling on nations around the world to help Ukraine in its time of need.

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A Ukrainian woman, 28, who attended in a Feb. 26 rally in Tokyo’s Shibuya district against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (Wataru Sekita)

A 35-year-old Ukrainian woman said her mother and friends in her hometown were trying to stay safe from missile strikes that have raged since Feb. 24 by hunkering down in the basement of their home.

“I am getting in touch with my mother every day, but I am so worried about her safety that I cannot sleep very well,” she said. “I am hoping that the war will be over soon.”

Protest rallies were also held in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in response to calls from younger Japanese involved in peace movements.

“My heart aches when I think about the fact that many civilians, including children, will end up falling victim to the war,” said Kyoko Sekita, a 41-year-old Japanese mother who took part in the demonstration held in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, with her two young daughters.

(This story was written by Shuhei Shibata, Takaoki Yamamoto and Risako Miyake.)

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