Crowds of Chinese students waving red flags scuffled with pro-Tibet protestors and Japanese nationalists in today's leg of the Olympic torch relay.
The global torch relay ahead of the Beijing Games in August has prompted protests against China's human rights record as well as patriotic rallies by Chinese who criticise the West for vilifying Beijing.
Four Chinese supporters were injured and five men were arrested, fire officials and police said, including one man who was wrestled to the ground after running into the relay path holding a Tibetan flag and shouting 'Free Tibet'.
More than 3,000 police were mobilised for the relay.
It comes one day after China said it would hold talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama, the exiled Buddhist leader of Tibet, whom it blames for recent unrest.
Japan was keen to avoid the chaotic scenes that marred some of the relay venues elsewhere ahead of next month's high-profile visit by President Hu Jintao.
Commenting on the turmoil that has bedevilled the global relay, International Olympics Committee President Jacques Rogge urged the West to stop hectoring China over human rights.
He told the Financial Times that 'You don't obtain anything in China with a loud voice'.
