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July 25, 2008 7:13:46 AM CDT

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Torch Relay Fires Up Thousands in Japan

Posted Apr 25, 08 8:04 PM CDT in World 

(Newser) – A pro-China crowd peppered with protesters welcomed the Olympic torch relay in Japan today, BBC reports. Japan's national baseball manager kicked off the run in Nagano with 40 riot cops on each side, mostly blocking the view of thousands of onlookers. Cops nabbed one protester for trying to grab the torch and made two arrests, BBC reports.

Having refused the Olympics' security crew, Japan turned out 3,000 riot officers today to patrol Nagano's streets and spy from above in helicopters. Over the next few days, the torch will go to South Korea, North Korea, and then Vietnam—where a US citizen has already been expelled for allegedly plotting a protest.

Source BBC

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First torchbearer Senichi Hoshino, Japan's Olympic baseball team manager, holds the torch in Nagano, central Japan, Saturday, April 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
First torchbearer Senichi Hoshino carries the torch at the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch relay in Nagano, Japan, Saturday, April 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
Senichi Hoshino carries the torch during its relay through the streets of this central Japanese city of Nagano, on Saturday April 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Japan Pool)
Chinese and Tibetan supporters wave flags just before the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch relay in Nagano, central Japan, Saturday, April 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
A Chinese shouts slogans against Tibetan supporters before the start of the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Nagano, Japan, Saturday, April 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
A supporter of Tibet shouts as they scuffle with Chinese supporters before the start of the Beijing Olympic torch relay in Nagano, Japan, Saturday, April 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa)
Police officers stand on guard before the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch relay in Nagano, central Japan, Saturday, April 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
A man, in beige jacket, is apprehended by police officers escorting torchbearer Ai Fukuhara, a Japanese popular ping pong player, Nagano, on Saturday April 26, 2008.   (AP Photo/Japan Pool)
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