Four people were slightly injured during scuffles and protests that broke out along the route of the Olympic torch relay in Nagano, Japan, on Saturday, police said.

Supporters of a free Tibet fly banners and shout slogans against the Chinese government in Nagano, Japan, on Saturday. (Junji Kurokawa/Associated Press)

Despite a high level of security, anti-China protesters created several disturbances along the route in the city that hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Three men were arrested separately during the relay, each having tried to charge at the torch. A fourth man was apprehended later after throwing eggs at a torch runner. A fifth hurled tomatoes at the flame.

At one point, police officers formed a line along one street to separate Japanese protesters and Chinese students shouting racial epithets at each other.

Some of the Japanese demonstrators showed up in old Second World War uniforms and shouted “Chinese go home.”

About 3,000 police were mobilized to secure the event.

The relay has sparked demonstrations in nearly all of its previous stops around the world.

Pro-Tibet activists interrupted the Olympic torch runs in London and Paris to protest against China’s policies, which they say threaten Tibetan culture.

The protests have largely been in response to China's crackdown last month on rallies in Tibet and concerns over human rights issues in China.

After Nagano, the Olympic torch heads to South Korea on Sunday and then to North Korea on Monday.

The torch is scheduled to enter mainland China on May 4 for the host country's portion of the relay.

With files from the Associated Press