Riots erupted in Osaka's Kamagasaki district after a day-laborer was arrested June 12, and reportedly tied to a chair and beaten in police custody. When he was released the next day and told comrades what had happened, a protest of several hundred was held outside the police station. Riot police with body armor and water cannons were mobilized. At least seven were arrested in two nights of clashes. (Infoshop, June 16; UK Indymedia, June 15)

In Sapporo—chief city of Hokkaido, the northern island which is to host the G8 summit next month—the homeless are being cleared from public places where they traditionally take shelter, including the bus terminal. (Mainichi Daily News, June 13)

See our last post on Japan.