More than a thousand demonstrators have marched through the streets of Tokyo, to call for the abolition of all nuclear power in Japan.

 

The protest came after Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, asked for an immediate shutdown of the Hamaoka nuclear plant, which belongs to Chubu Electric Power Corporation, and is located 200 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. The call for a closure was over worries another strong earthquake could cause another nuclear crisis.

The demonstrators welcomed Kan's decision. It's the first time a prime minister has directly requested a nuclear facility be closed.

Nona Saito, Protester, said, "Shutting down a nuclear power plant which is in operation, and which they've said is safe, is a remarkable decision by the Prime Minister for us, who are worrying about nuclear safety."

But some didn't think Kan went far enough. They said it was only a temporary suspension that did not give a drastic enough shift in energy policy.