Published On 1/7/2026
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Last update: 20:18 (Mecca time)
Despite the distance and the succession of months and years, Japanese activist Yusuke Furusawa continues his solitary protest in the streets of the Japanese capital, Tokyo, maintaining his daily presence for 997 days.
Furusawa’s name has emerged in Japan and on social media platforms as one of the most prominent voices supporting the Palestinian cause and denouncing the Israeli war of genocide on the Gaza Strip.
The activist continued his demonstration despite the decline in the momentum of mass protests in a number of countries around the world, stressing that his primary motive is to defend humanity and human dignity.
Furusawa is keen to organize his vigils in the most vital locations within Tokyo, especially at train stations crowded with travelers, in an effort to deliver his message to the largest possible number of citizens, and to keep what is happening in Gaza present in public awareness.
The Japanese activist constantly documents these protests through his account on the “X” platform, where he appears carrying signs written in several languages, including: “Free Palestine,” “Stop genocide in Gaza,” and “Ceasefire Now.”
Furusawa said in a previous statement to the “Sanad” agency, affiliated with the Al Jazeera network: “I started working for Gaza on October 7, 2023. I move in the streets because I believe that my duty is to demonstrate for humanity and human rights, and I hate racism… I will continue to demonstrate until the liberation of Palestine.”
Furusawa’s continued demonstrations have gained increasing attention among those in solidarity with the Palestinians, as many passersby are keen to take pictures with him and publish them on social media platforms, expressing their support for his position, which he has maintained throughout the years of war.
Data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip indicate that the death toll from the extermination war since October 2023 has risen to more than 73,000 martyrs and 173,500 wounded, in light of widespread destruction and a worsening humanitarian crisis as a result of military operations and the siege imposed on the Strip.
