Tens of thousands of people rallied in Tokyo to protest the use of nuclear power, highlighting the growing opposition to atomic energy in Japan since the crisis at the Fukushima power plant.

The protest Monday comes as Japan prepares to restart another reactor shut down after last year's March tsunami and earthquake set off multiple meltdowns at Fukushima.

All of Japan's nuclear plants were ordered shut down after the disaster. Last month, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda decided to restart two reactors in western Japan amid concerns about looming power shortages this summer.

Organizers say more than 170,000 people participated in the rally, including Nobel-winning author Kenzaburo Oe and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto.