welcome to nhk world "newsline." tens of thousands of people in japan spent their holiday hollering an anti-nuclear message. they gathered in tokyo to tell them to shut down plants that produce atomic energy. japanese have been pressuring the government to phase out nuclear power since the accident at fukushima daiichi. organizers say this rally was the biggest one so far. nhk world takes us there. >> reporter: they braved the

heat and humidity to come out in historic numbers. these protesters in tokyo are demanding the government listen to citizens. tens of thousands of people are here to say no to nuclear power. >> translator: nuclear power is too dangerous for humans to deal with. >> reporter: people in japan found out how dangerous in march 11th, 2011. an earthquake and tsunami triggered exploegsss and a radiation leak at fukushima daiichi. the crisis at the facility is still ongoing. since then, japanese have held protest after protest urging the government to stop using atomic energy. a group of prominent figures called for this rally. among them, a nobel laureate and an academy award-winning musician. they told the crowd life and health are much more important than economic efficiency.

organizers say about 170,000 people came out today to listen to the message and to raise their own voices. demonstrators demanded the government stop restarting nuclear plants and decommission them. >> translator: i cannot believe they operate such dangerous things when i think about my child and other children in fukushima, i cannot help but do something. >> translator: it would be a great shame for all japanese if another nuclear accident happens again. i'm really angry with the terrible politics that politicians play. >> reporter: government officials have heard that before. but they say japan needs nuclear power for now to avoid electricity shortages. especially during summer. however, prime minister yoshihiko noda is promising to reduce the country's dependence on atomic energy. just how much and how fast,

though. it's still up for debate. he's planning to set the government's future energy policy by the end of august. these people say he should reflect their voices before he makes his final decision. c hi e yamagishi, nhk world, tokyo. the march 2011 disaster was a wake-up call for authorities in japan. they are trying to be better prepared the next time an earthquake strikes. thousands of self-defense force personnel and emergency crews started a five-day drill monday in tokyo. city officials estimate a huge earthquake hitting directly under the capital could kill more than 9,000 and destroy or damage 380,000 buildings. >> defense ministry workers put out a mock alert.

then ground and maritime and self-defense forces officials rushed to the sdf offices to lead their teams. they are practicing how sdf units and transport routes for relief supplies would be set up in the event of a disaster. sdf personnel worked on crossing a river by boat to prepare in case something blocks their access to disaster areas. the self-defense forces learned a lot after last year's earthquake and tsunami. 100,000 troops went to the northeast of japan to help out. but they had problems working with local communities and sharing duties with u.s. soldiers. later this week the sdf will set up coordination posts with u.s. forces to divide roles and operational areas. this is the first time the american military has taken part in this kind of drill. top sdf officials are currently reviewing their quake preparedness plan. they are expected to make adjustments by december.

japan's ambassador to china is back in beijing after a quick trip home to discuss a territorial issue that's driven a wedge between the two countries. he consulted his superiors in tokyo on a dispute involving the senkaku islands in the east china sea. gemba instructed the ambassador to accurately convey japan's position over the senkakus. he said he'll do that when he meets again with chinese leaders. the government policy states the senkaku islands are an integral part of the territory. it insists there is no argument over their sovereignty. then en isenkakus are inhabite. china claims territorial rights over it. taiwan also argues it owns the

territory. a top official in north korea is losing his responsibilities within the country's military and ruling workers part. ri yong ho was a mentor to new leader kim jong-un. people who watch the reclusive nation are speculating a power struggle could be behind the shake-up. but the state-run korean central news agency cited illness as the reason. it reports members of the ruling workers party leadership agreed to relieve ri of his posts. no officials have disclosed details on the 69-year-old's health. ri became military chief in 2009. he was chairman of the staff of the korean national army. in 2010 ri took the job as vice chairman of the workers party's central military commission and kim jong-un emerged as heir apparent to his father later that year.

he was also with kim earlier this month when the young leader paid respects to his grandfather, north korea's founder kim il-sung. politicians from south korea and japan often share notes when north korean leaders make a move. and so the abrupt end of ri young ho's term as military chief prompted discussions. both sides agreed to work even closer together to deal with north korea. seiji maehara is the policy chief for japan's ruling democratic party. he meet monday in seoul with south korean foreign minister. they talked about what the sidelining of ri yong ho could mean for kim jong-un's regime. they'll need to watch closely what they do next now that ri has been removed from his post. maemara said they'll try to help find peaceful solutions to

problems on the divided korean peninsula. political change isn't the only reason people are talking about north korea these days. more of those who is that girl rumors are swirling. state-run television has again aired video of a young woman with kim jong-un. korean central tv showed the women standing close to kim during a visit to a kindergarten in the capital pyongyang. she stood slightly in front of other officials when kim spoke with children. she giggled when the leader said something. the video suggests she holds a special position in north korea's hierarchy. state television has shown the woman accompanying kim at recent public events. some experts say she's his younger sister. south korea's news agency says officials in seoul are trying to confirm if she's his wife. and now here's the weather forecast.

we'll be back with more news next hour. i'm gene otani in tokyo.

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