Japan deploys police, unplugs vending machines ahead of G7 trends now
The assassination of Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the attempted killing of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has left the nation shaken into a more robust security state surrounding this week's G7 summit in Hiroshima.
The Japanese government has brought in 24,000 security officers for the summit and taken some potentially overzealous precautions - like unplugging vending machines.
Machines were taped up - with apology notes affixed to them - as far away as Tokyo, which is nearly 500 miles away from Hiroshima - the site of one of the two 1954 nuclear blasts that concluded World War II.
Trains into Hiroshima warned travelers that limited trash cans would be available at stations. Instead a man held a trash bag up for passengers to use before they exited through the station turnstiles. Garbage bins in public places in Japan are generally scarce.
Tourists were also warned that they would be prohibited from visiting Miyajima Island, home of the Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic 'floating' gate, from Thursday through Saturday, as leaders are expected to visit it.
A group of police officers stand guard on the street Wednesday near Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima ahead of the G7 summit
Workers place barricades around the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. President Joe Biden arrives in Hiroshima late Thursday afternoon
The shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the hours before President Joe Biden's arrival Thursday afternoon, officers - wearing white raincoats and pants - were spread out about every 20 feet on the downtown streets.
There were also several planned protests ahead of the gathering,
