Tokyo: Tibetans and Japanese supporters gathered at Meiji Koen, a spacious park in Tokyo to welcome US President Barack Obama to Japan, who arrived in Tokyo this morning. The gathering had a big long banner and number of Tibetan snow-lion flags and placards, the message on the banner reads: "President Obama, Welcome to Japan! Don't Forget Human Rights and Tibet".

Japanese Tibet supporters and Tibetan Community in Japan organised the gathering. The organisers have sent a memorandum to President Barack Obama through US Embassy in Tokyo ahead of his visit.

Ms. Yukari and Mr. Kubo, Presidents of the Tibet Supporters said that the gathering was intended to remind the President not to forget human right and Tibet issue during his meeting with the Chinese leaders in the forthcoming visit to China. Ms. Rima Fujita, a noted designer, read the memorandum before the gathering. The memorandum urged President Obama not to let the trade and economic issue supersede the human right and Tibet issue.

"We earnestly appeal you to bring the issue of Tibet with the Chinese leaders during your forthcoming visit to China. As the leader of a great nation, epitome of freedom, liberty and justice, we request you to urge the Chinese leaders to stop the brutal regime in Tibet and to restore the legitimate right of the Tibetan people to their cultural identity, freedom and justice," the memorandum noted.

Mr. Lhakpa Tshoko, Representative of Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, thanked the organisers and participants for their wholehearted support and interest in the Tibetan issue. He updated the gathering about the current situation in Tibet. Tibetan community leader Mr. Sonam Tsering led a brief prayer in memory of the four Tibetans executed in Tibet recently, and raised slogans.

Despite Friday being a working day, coupled with cold early winter weather, around fifty people came to participate in the gathering, some even taking a day off from the work. Apart from the local media, some reporters from the Obama's entourage also come and took the interviews of the organisers and participants.

The organisers concluded that the world has great hope on Obama, and his visit will surely bring a change.