TOKYO -- People staged gatherings across Japan on Dec. 13 to decry discrimination against women in the wake of a writer's reference to removing the uteruses of women over 30 and an increasing number of misogynistic posts online.

Demonstrators took to the streets in prefectures and cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Sapporo. A large crowd gathered along Gyoko-dori street in front of Tokyo Station, where participants chanted phrases such as, "My body, my choice."

The move came after Naoki Hyakuta, a novelist and the head of the minor opposition Conservative Party of Japan, referenced what he called a science fiction suggestion of removing the uteruses of women over 30 during a discussion on measures to address Japan's declining birthrate. In addition to this, the phrase "Your body, my choice" had seen a significant increase in use on social media following the U.S. presidential election, among other sexist online posts about women. Japan, meanwhile, has seen countless calls for the return of a famous celebrity suspected of coercing women into sex.

A demonstration was organized in response by Akiko Matsuo, the CEO of Etc.books Inc. -- a publisher specializing in books related to feminism -- who also launched the "Flower Demo" movement to protest against sexual violence; Kazuko Fukuda, the founder of the "#Nandenaino (Why don't we have it?) project" to raise awareness of the reality of poor conditions around sexual and reproductive health and rights in Japan, such as contraception and abortion; and Yutori Takai, an ethicist and associate professor at Gunma University. The protests called for the realization of a society where "everyone can live with ownership of their own body."

Matsuo urged the crowd that turned out in Tokyo in spite of the cold weather, "Let's gather our anger and voices and present them to those who trample on us. Let's make it visible," prompting loud applause from participants holding signs and images. In a following speech, Fukuda said, "Today is a day to garner our power and bring hope to everyone. Let's pass on our strength to live and our hopes." The organizers are considering holding more rallies in the future under the name "#Watashi no Karada (My body) demo."

(Japanese original by Asako Kamihigashi, Opinion Editorial Department, and Mari Sakane, Digital News Group)