Present there were members of Japan-DPRK friendship organizations, including the Japan Committee for the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea and the Tokyo Metropolitan Assemblymen's Liaison Society for the Promotion of Japan-Korea Friendship.

Present there on invitation were Nam Sung U, vice-chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, and other Koreans in Japan.

The participants listened to the New Year Address made by the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un.

Then followed speeches.

Fumihiro Himori, chairman of the Japan Committee for the Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea, called for waging a dynamic movement across Japan to make progress in improving Japan-DPRK relations and DPRK-U.S. relations despite the very difficult situation created by the "sanctions" racket against the DPRK.

Nam Sung U recalled that the atmosphere of opposing the DPRK and Chongryon and the DPRK-Japan friendship is mounting in Japanese society, stressing the need to strengthen the work to improve DPRK-Japan friendship and normalize the relations between them through unity and solidarity.

Other speakers referred to the fact that the moves to obliterate national education have reached a serious phase as evidenced by the fact that only Korean schools were excluded from the tuition-free program for senior high schools and subsidies to Korean schools were suspended in different parts of Japan. They called upon people of all social standings to take an active part in the actions to settle the issue of supporting Korean schools.