36th Anniversary Tiananmen Massacre Candlelight Vigil — Tokyo
- Project
- ACT-011
- Location
- House of Representatives First Members' Office Building, Tokyo, Japan
- Date
- 3 June 2025
The candlelight vigils that once defined June 4 in Hong Kong's Victoria Park ran for 32 years — until the National Security Law extinguished them and imprisoned the people who kept them alive. The flame did not die. It moved.
On 3 June 2025, despite heavy rain, dozens gathered at the House of Representatives First Members' Office Building in Tokyo for a candlelight vigil marking the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre. Attendees came from across the diaspora — some had taken leave from jobs in Hong Kong to fly out, others were students studying in Japan, and Japanese supporters joined to learn the truth of what happened in 1989.
Electronic candles were arranged on a table to spell out "8964." Beside them stood a miniature Pillar of Shame, an artwork portrait of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, and the Lady Liberty Hong Kong statue. As the vigil opened, footage from past Victoria Park June 4 commemorations was projected on screen. Participants observed a minute of silence in honour of those who died, accompanied by songs once heard at every Hong Kong vigil, including Blood-Stained Glory (血染的風采).
The gathering was a reminder that the CCP's closure of Victoria Park has not ended commemoration — it has dispersed it. This week, over 77 vigils took place in 44 cities worldwide.
"Chow Hang-tung continues to commemorate June 4 from inside prison, in the most powerful way. We are only doing what we can within our means." — Alric Lee, Lady Liberty Hong Kong
"Intimidation will not end, but we will not be silenced. We do what we must — within our limits, but with all our heart."