A protester in the traditional costume Kimono shouts slogans during an anti-Chinese march in Tokyo. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
TOKYO - NATIONALIST groups rallied in Japan on Saturday against China's 'invasion' into Japanese islands, scuffling with men who tried to block the march through central Tokyo streets.
Japanese national flags fluttered in a park in the capital as more than 1,000 people gathered for the second major rally since a bitter territorial row flared up over a maritime incident last month near the disputed islands.
Banners carried such messages as 'Japan is in danger!' and 'Don't forgive invader China'.
As demonstrators left the park and started a march, two young men, believed to be Chinese, sat in the street to stop the rally.
One of their banners warned against exclusionism and read: 'Stop fuelling harassment towards Chinese residents in Japan'.
The two scuffled with Japanese nationalists and were dragged away by police officers. They were immediately released, according to police. -- AFP