Beheiren

[6] In March 1965, political scientist Michitoshi Takabatake approached Tsurumi about the possibility of creating a new organization along the lines of the Voiceless Voices to protest against Japan's involvement in the Vietnam War.

[9] Oda agreed, and on April 24, Beheiren was officially established as an offshoot of the existing Voiceless Voices Society.

[10] In 1970, Beheiren took a leading role in organizing large-scale protests against the automatic renewal of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, which allowed U.S. troops fighting in Vietnam to be based on Japanese soil.

[11] However, these "1970 Anpo protests" failed to prevent automatic renewal, as the government of conservative prime minister Eisaku Satō simply opted to allow the treaty to continue as is.

[12] In a farewell address, Tsurumi Shunsuke told an audience of around 1,000 activists that although Beheiren was ending, "another day I think Beheiren—although not as Beheiren—will want to make an appearance once again.