Peaceful protest against APA hotel attacked by ultra-right wing activists in Japan

TOKYO - Dozens of ultra-right wing activists besieged and attacked a peaceful parade held here on Sunday by some overseas Chinese in protest against a major Japanese hotel chain which recently sparked fury over history-distorting books placed in its guest rooms.

Some 100 overseas Chinese gathered in Shinjuku Central Park in downtown Tokyo Sunday afternoon, holding banners with slogans such as "Freedom of speech shall not violate human conscience" and "Peace shall be treasured."

The demonstrators marched silently and peacefully towards an APA hotel about 2 km away at around 2:45 pm local time to protest against the hotel chain's provocative act. The parade lasted about one hour.

The Japanese APA hotel chain has sparked public outrage recently, especially among people in China and South Korea, for placing books written by its CEO in its guest rooms denying the Nanjing Massacre and the forced recruitment of "comfort women" ever happened.

The incident, after being exposed on social media by a young woman from the United States and confirmed independently by Xinhua as well as major Japanese media outlets, has also raised great controversy in Japan.

During the peaceful protest, dozens of ultra-right wing activists besieged and followed the paraders, shouting through loudspeakers and even trying to wrest banners away from the demonstrators, only to be stopped by the hundreds of local police keeping the parade in order.