Olympic torch relay ends in Japan without major incident

A man, in beige jacket, is apprehended by police officers escorting torchbearer Ai Fukuhara, a Japanese popular ping pong player, rear left, during the Beijing Olympic torch relay through the streets of this central Japanese city of Nagano, on Saturday April 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Japan Pool)

NAGANO, Japan—Heavy security and a large contingent of pro-Chinese supporters thwarted protesters' efforts Saturday to disrupt the Japanese leg of the Olympic torch relay.

A sea of Chinese well-wishers, far outnumbering pro-Tibet activists who were ushered away from the closing ceremony, welcomed the final runner, marathon gold medalist Mizuki Noguchi, as she hit the finish line.

"I'm so glad that I could safely light up the cauldron," said Noguchi. "I ran as I wished for the success of the Beijing Olympics and peace."

The Chinese supporters, many of them students who live in Japan, waved China's flag and wore T-shirts that read "Welcome to Beijing."

The international route ends next week, with stops in South Korea on Sunday, North Korea on Monday and Vietnam on Tuesday. The flame arrives on Chinese soil on Wednesday in Hong Kong, for a long journey around the country before the Aug. 8 start of the games.

The relay has been disrupted by protests or conducted under extremely heavy security at many sites since it left Greece.

The protests are largely in response to China's crackdown last month on protests in Tibet, which it has governed since the 1950s, and to concerns over human rights issues in China.

On Saturday, police guards in track suits surrounded the torch bearers and another 100 uniformed riot police ran alongside six patrol cars and two motorcycles, largely preventing incidents. They were backed up by thousands of other police.

Only minor scuffles and protests broke out along the 11.6-mile route through the city that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Five men were arrested separately during the relay. Three tried to charge the torch, a fourth threw eggs, and a fifth hurled tomatoes at the flame.

All were quickly pounced on by police, police official Akiko Fuseya said.

National broadcaster NHK reported a smoke-emitting tube was thrown at the relay, but didn't affect it. Marchers yelling "Free Tibet" crowded the streets near the route. And four people were slightly injured in different scuffles, fire officials said.

The starting point -- a last-minute substitution after a Buddhist temple pulled out -- was closed to the public, as were all rest stops along the way.

The Zenkoji Temple, which was the showcase of the 1998 Olympics, last week declined to host the start of the relay, citing security concerns and sympathy among monks and worshippers for their religious brethren in Tibet. The 1,400-year-old temple held a prayer vigil to coincide with the start of the relay instead.