Nagano(Japan): The Japan leg of China's Olympic torch relay began today with thousands of riot police lining the streets, helicopters buzzing the skies and demonstrators rallying in a pro-Tibet prayer vigil.
Police guards in track suits surrounded the first runner, the manager of Japan's national baseball team, and another 100 uniformed riot police trotted alongside six patrol cars and two police lead motorcycles.
The starting point - a last-minute substitution after a famous Buddhist temple pulled out - was closed to the public, as were all rest stops along the way.
Japanese officials said the security was unavoidable, and called for calm. But the high-profile police presence has dissipated any festive mood in Nagano, which hosted the 1998 Winter Games.
The relay, making its 16th international stop, has been disrupted by protests or conducted under extremely heavy security since it left Greece.
The protests are largely in response to China's crackdown last month on protests in Tibet and concerns over human rights issues in China.
Japan has taken severe measures to ensure that the 18.7-kilometer relay would go smoothly. But groups including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders planned to protest peacefully throughout the day.
About 2,000 Chinese exchange students, meanwhile, swarmed Nagano to show their support.
Marchers yelling "Free Tibet" and waving Tibetan flags crowded the streets near the route.
One person was hurt in a scuffle between Chinese and pro-Tibetan supporters, and a self-proclaimed monk carrying a knife was arrested hours before the relay began.
