OSAKA -- About 260 officials, backed by 300 private security guards, evicted nine homeless people and about 150 of their supporters from Osaka's Nagai Park on Monday amid protests.
Officials moved in at 9 a.m., removing the homeless and their supporters who had gathered around a makeshift shelter, which was also razed. Angry words were exchanged between officials and protesters, and there was minor pushing and shoving but no injuries. About two dozen police officers issued verbal warnings to protesters, but no arrests were reported.
By noon, the homeless and their supporters had left the area and city officials had torn down and removed 13 makeshift shelters, built with blue tarpaulins and discarded wood. Most of the homeless were expected to go into municipal shelters in other parts of the city.