Organizers of the growing weekly antinuclear demonstrations outside the prime minister's office asked a group of lawmakers Tuesday to help them arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda so they can make a direct appeal to end Japan's use of nuclear power.
The demonstrators made their pitch in a meeting with more than 10 Diet members who are pushing the government to reduce dependence on nuclear power, including former Prime Minister Naoto Kan, former Upper House President Satsuki Eda and members of opposition parties.
The meeting indicated that the rallies organized by the Metropolitan Coalition Against Nukes, a group of various nonprofit organizations, are having an impact on lawmakers. The politicians told the citizens' groups that Noda should not ignore the voice of the demonstrators, whose weekly actions continue to attract large numbers of people.