(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) practitioners held marches in Osaka and Kyoto on July 14 and 15 to expose 25-year-long persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They called to end the suppression including forced organ harvesting and urged the Japanese government to pass legislation similar to the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R. 4132) recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Osaka and Kyoto are the two largest cities in Kansai, an area in the southern-central region of Japan’s main island. Because of the festival of Gion Matsuri and long weekend around July 15, both events drew many people, including tourists from other countries. Some took pictures or videos with their cell phones, and many were interested in learning more about Falun Dafa and the persecution.

Practitioners marched in Osaka on the afternoon of July 14

Practitioners marched in Kyoto on July 15, the last day of a long weekend

Speeches from Elected Officials

Yasuhide Nakayama, former member of the House of Representatives

Three elected officials spoke before the march in Osaka. Yasuhide Nakayama, a former member of the House of Representatives, also previously served as the Senior Vice Minister of Defense of Japan. As a long-time supporter of Falun Gong, Nakayama said the CCP severely violates human rights in China. He pointed out that although freedom of thought is well respected in democratic countries, it’s limited in totalitarian ruled countries such as China, where tragedies such as forced organ harvesting take place.

Shohei Okashita, former member of House of Representatives

Another member of the House of Representatives, Shohei Okashita, is also the Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Digital Agency. He thanked practitioners for raising awareness of the persecution to parliament members over the years because it helps officials understand the situation in China. He once received a Falun Gong pamphlet containing a depiction of the torture practitioners are subjected to, and he said this was why he began to pay attention to the atrocities in China. He also praised the peaceful demeanor and courage of practitioners in the march.

Osaka city councilor Yoshinobu Kinoshita

Yoshinobu Kinoshita is a long-term member of the Osaka City Council and is currently serving his ninth term. He said there are many Chinese tourists on the march route, so this is an opportunity for them to learn the facts. He also said such events are very important for the general public.

Five elected officials and social activists also sent messages of support for the event. Hiroshi Yamada, a member of the House of Representatives, believes the CCP’s repression of Falun Gong is unprecedented in history because it’s barbaric and inhumane. As a country with human rights and freedom, Japan should urge the CCP to stop the persecution immediately.

Rintaro Ishibashi, who is also a member of the House of Representatives, was surprised and upset that the CCP’s persecution has gone on for 25 years. He hopes more people will learn through the event what is going on in China, so that they can help end the persecution.

Hirasato Nakatsugawa, a former member of the House of Representatives, was excited to hear the Falun Gong Protection Act was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. He has worked with other officials in the past 10 plus years, hoping to end the CCP’s organ harvesting. He urged the Japanese government to catch up with the momentum in international society.

Hiroaki Maruyama, a member of the Zushi City Council in Kanagawa, heard about organ harvesting for the first time in 2014. He has worked hard in the past 10 years to end the brutality. He said it’s heaven’s will that the CCP will end soon for committing such terrible genocide. He hopes more people will learn what is happening in China through the event and help end the tragedies.

Kotaro Miura praised practitioners for their determination in upholding their faith amid the harsh persecution. He hopes more people will oppose the CCP, so that an era of freedom and peace will come.

Falun Dafa practitioner Zhang Yiwen

During the rally before the march, Tokyo practitioner Zhang Yiwen talked about her mother Ms. Wang Guaiyan. Ms. Wang, a practitioner from Shaanxi Province, was arrested on April 11 this year. Nine other practitioners from Baoji City were also arrested on the same day. Zhang called for the release of her mother and other detained practitioners, so that they will not become victims of organ harvesting.

Osaka

The march in Osaka started at Aizen Park at 1:15 p.m. and passed through major streets.

Yamashita (in the back)

Yamashita had heard about Falun Gong before and knew about the severe persecution practitioners suffered. He said the situation in China will change and he supports practitioners and their just cause.

Yamashita reads information about Falun Gong and the persecution.

Yamashita heard about the suppression by the CCP on television. He was sorry to hear this and believes marches are a great way to raise awareness. He hopes practitioners will hold more events like this and continue telling people about the persecution.

Hashimoto (right)

Hashimoto learned about the situation in China through Youtube. She hopes Chinese citizens can one day enjoy freedom of speech like people in Japan do. She encouraged practitioners to continue their efforts because they are helping more people to know about this persecution and can offer support.

Coco from Australia (left)

Coco is a tourist from Australia who said she agrees with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. She said the persecution, especially the forced harvesting, is too brutal. She hopes to see more events like this because they are very important.

Group exercises at Osaka Castle Park on July 14

Before the march on July 14, practitioners held group exercises at Osaka Castle Park in the morning. Many tourists were impressed by the peaceful scene. Some took pictures or accepted materials to read. Sam from the Philippines learned the exercises and said they were very good.

Kyoto

Led by the Tian Guo Marching Band, the march in Kyoto started at 3 p.m. on July 15. The starting point was the Oike Ohashi Bidge and went past Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park, Gion and major streets in the area. Many people read the information on the banners and some said they liked the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

Pedestrian reads a pamphlet during the march in Kyoto.

Kato

Having studied the CCP when he was in college, Kato said he read about the persecution in the newspapers. He believes the march is important because it can help more people understand what is going on in China and take action.

Piyush Singh

Piyush Singh from India said that organ harvesting by the CCP is vicious and legislation is needed to stop it. He thanked practitioners for raising awareness of this important matter because it can help those who are suppressed by the CCP.

Maxa Shen

Maxa Shen is from the U.S., and he said the persecution of Falun Dafa is no longer just a China issue—it involves freedom of belief and people from around the world should condemn it.

James Codold Sigsor

James Codold Sigsor is from Spain, and he said he supports practitioners wholeheartedly, because the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are precious to everyone. That’s why he hopes the suppression ends soon and he plans to follow the progress closely.

Jonathan

French tourist Jonathan said it’s wrong for the CCP to mistreat people this way and the forced organ harvesting is absolutely wrong. He also agreed with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance because he said they are greatly needed in our society.