Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Wednesday morning in front of the Diet building in Tokyo in a show of measured outrage as a Lower House special committee voted on the government's defense bills.

Organized by peace organizations, the gathering took place on the heels of a rally that drew around 20,000 people to Hibiya Park in central Tokyo and a protest by six lawyers' groups near JR Yurakucho Station, both on Tuesday.

"We have to stop the 'war legislation," chanted participants from labor unions and pacifist organizations as banners flapped.