More than 100,000 people joined nationwide May Day rallies Thursday to voice opposition to government-sponsored legislation to reform the pension system, and at one key event, top opposition party leader Naoto Kan, a guest speaker, drew flak for failing to pay his required premiums.
The workers also called for job security and measures to boost local economic activity as the nation's unemployment rate remains at near record highs around 5 percent.
The 75th annual event was organized by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), the nation's largest labor union group. The organizers estimate that some 152,000 people took part in the one-day events held in 21 prefectures.