In Tokyo on Sunday, protesters against the G8 summit marched in heavy rain, accusing the wealthy nations of causing poverty and global instability. The protests, a common occurrence at G8 summits, took place as Japan increased security measures for the upcoming summit in Hokkaido. Over 1,000 people participated in two separate rallies in Tokyo, including anti-capitalists, labor union members, and protesters from other countries like Spain and South Korea. The streets were heavily guarded by anti-riot police as the protesters carried signs with messages such as "shut down G8 summit" and "G8=hunger". There were some clashes between protesters and the police. Japanese TV network TV Asahi reported that two individuals were taken into custody, although this information has not been verified by the police. Yu Ando, a 31-year-old municipal government employee in western Japan, expressed frustration with the G8 governments, attributing issues like environmental destruction and poverty in Africa to their actions. Ahead of the upcoming summit at Lake Toya, located approximately 760 km north of Tokyo, various domestic and international NGOs, including Oxfam, are planning protests on topics such as globalization, the food crisis, and warfare. Protests are anticipated near the summit venue, with demonstrators expected to gather at three camp sites as well as in Tokyo and Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. However, strict security measures and the high cost of travel to the remote summit location may decrease the number of participants. Human rights lawyers have raised concerns about Japanese immigration authorities making it difficult for some activists to obtain visas by complicating the application process, with reports of activists being detained for extended periods at immigration. During last year's G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, approximately 30,000 protesters converged on the area, breaching a restricted zone set up for the summit and blocking land routes into the area. In Lake Toya, leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United States will hold discussions on topics including rising food and oil prices, climate change, and African development. Japan has extended invitations to eight other countries, such as Brazil, China, and India, to engage in discussions regarding climate change during informal meetings.