ABSTRACT

On 21 March 2003, after the start of the US-led invasion of Iraq, the biggest antiwar demonstration in Japan since the Vietnam War took place in Tokyo.1

Spearheading the demonstration as it headed towards Ginza was a colourful group of some 300 people, dancing and playing music on sound systems, drums, tambourines or other instruments while shouting or holding placards with the words “Korosuna” [Do not kill]. Among them were the art critic Sawaragi Noi banging a gong, and his friend, the artist and ethnographer Oda Masanori, with a huge bass drum in a strap around his shoulder. Korosuna – as this group is called – was organized by Sawaragi in 2003 together with Oda, Yamamoto Yu¯ko and Kudo¯ Kiki.2 A few days before the demonstration Sawaragi had sent out an e-mail appeal which is noteworthy because of the mention of the artist Okamoto Taro¯ and Beheiren (Citizen’s League for Peace in Vietnam), which was a famous Japanese civic movement, active from 1965 to 1974.