{"id":14276,"date":"2016-10-30T11:49:04","date_gmt":"2016-10-30T21:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14276"},"modified":"2016-10-30T11:49:04","modified_gmt":"2016-10-30T21:49:04","slug":"debito-org-newsletter-october-30-2016-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14276","title":{"rendered":"DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 30, 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

Books, eBooks, and more from Dr. ARUDOU, Debito (click on icon):
\n\"Guidebookcover.jpg\"<\/a>\"japaneseonlyebookcovertext\"<\/a>\"Handbook<\/a>\"\"<\/a>\"\u300c\u30b8\u30e3\u30d1\u30cb\u30fc\u30ba\u30fb\u30aa\u30f3\u30ea\u30fc\u3000\u5c0f\u6a3d\u5165\u6d74\u62d2\u5426\u554f\u984c\u3068\u4eba\u7a2e\u5dee\u5225\u300d\uff08\u660e\u77f3\u66f8\u5e97\uff09\"<\/a>\"sourstrawberriesavatar\"<\/a>\"debitopodcastthumb\"<\/a>\"FodorsJapan2014cover\"<\/a>
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Table of Contents:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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GOOD NEWS<\/strong>
\n 1) Japan Scholar Tessa Morris-Suzuki reviews book \u201cEmbedded Racism\u201d in journal Japanese Studies, calls it \u201cimportant, courageous and challenging\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPECIAL ON EFFECTS OF NEW HATE SPEECH LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n

2) Mainichi: After Osaka hate speech ordinance adopted, daily xenophobic marches decrease, hateful language softened<\/strong>
\n 3) Mainichi: Effect of new anti-hate speech law spreads to executive, judicial branches<\/strong>
\n 4) Mainichi: Court orders anti-Korean group to compensate woman over hate speech<\/strong>
\n 5) Kyodo: Japan\u2019s laws against hate speech piecemeal, lack teeth<\/strong>
\n 6) Mainichi Editorial: Japan needs effective hate speech law to stamp out racist marches<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2026 and finally\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

7) My Japan Times JBC column 101: \u201cUS and Japan votes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly\u201d (Oct 3, 2016)<\/strong>
\n\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

By Dr. ARUDOU, Debito (debito@debito.org, www.debito.org, Twitter @arudoudebito)
\nDebito.org Newsletters are freely forwardable<\/p>\n

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GOOD NEWS<\/strong>
\n 1) Japan Scholar Tessa Morris-Suzuki reviews book \u201cEmbedded Racism\u201d in journal Japanese Studies, calls it \u201cimportant, courageous and challenging\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morris-Suzuki\u2019s concluding paragraph: In the final sections of Embedded Racism, the author looks to the future, without great optimism, but with some clear and cogent suggestions for steps that the Japanese government should take if it truly wishes to make Japan a more open society. These include passing strong and effective laws against discrimination, strengthening the powers of the Bureau of Human Rights, reforming the citizenship and family registration systems, and legalising dual nationality. Arudou also argues for the involvement of non-citizens in the processes of creating new policies affecting foreign residents. He expresses little confidence that the Japanese authorities will respond to such ideas, but his critique of Japan\u2019s embedded racism and his proposals for change certainly deserve to be read by policy makers, as well as by scholars of Japan. This is an important, courageous and challenging book, and it casts a sharp light on problems which are often ignored or veiled, but which have profound consequences for the present and future of Japanese society.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Full review at https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14248<\/a><\/p>\n

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SPECIAL ON EFFECTS OF NEW HATE SPEECH LAW<\/strong><\/p>\n

2) Mainichi: After Osaka hate speech ordinance adopted, daily xenophobic marches decrease, hateful language softened<\/strong><\/p>\n

Debito<\/strong>: When Japan\u2019s first actual law against hate speech was passed in January this year, critics (naturally) decried it as a means to stifle freedom of speech. I took exception to that, saying that it was a step in the right direction, at least. Recent articles in the Mainichi Shinbun seem to bear that out. Here is one, talking about the positive effects of the law, where once-daily hate rallies are down, xenophobic language is softened and made less normalized, administrative organs now have means of enforcement, and even court cases are ruling in favor of targeted victims. Good. Read on:<\/p>\n

Mainichi: Mun Gong Hwi, an ethnic Korean, [\u2026] says, \u201cIn a street demonstration by a hate group in April, there was a moment when one participant started to use blatantly offensive language to attack Koreans, and the organizers hurried to stop them. The number of hate demonstrations has also fallen greatly since around the time of the ordinance taking effect.\u201d [\u2026]<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The response of police and the government administrations to hate marches has also changed. On June 5, just after the execution of the new law, the Kawasaki Municipal Government refused to give permission for a park to be used for a protest targeting the social welfare corporation \u201cSeikyu-sha,\u201d which gives support to the many ethnic Koreans living in the city\u2019s Sakuramoto district. Additionally, the Kawasaki branch of the Yokohama District Court called the hate speech demonstrations \u201can illegal violation of human rights\u201d and prohibited them from being held near the Seikyu-sha building. Kanagawa Prefectural Police gave permission for the demonstration to be held in a different street location, but protesters staged a sit-in. The police urged the organizers to call off the demonstration for safety reasons, and it was canceled. [\u2026]<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The thinking of those putting out hate speech and the (essential) content of what they say may not change, but at least on the surface we can see the effects of the countermeasures. It seems (for example) that the organizers are not allowing demonstrators who often say extremist things to have bullhorns. Preventing hate marches through the law thus depends not on cracking down on such actions, but on government policies that put a stop to discrimination.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14139<\/a><\/p>\n

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3) Mainichi: Effect of new anti-hate speech law spreads to executive, judicial branches<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the second article of three talking about the progress being made under the recent adoption of local laws against hate speech in Japan.<\/p>\n

Mainichi: A new law aimed at eliminating hate speech campaigns, which instigate rejection of specific racial or ethnic groups from local communities, came into force on June 3. While the legislation has proven effective in some parts of the country, such as in Kawasaki where the court handed down a provisional injunction banning a hate speech rally in an area home to many Korean residents, there remain challenges that need to be addressed.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

On June 5, a hate speech demonstration in Kawasaki was called off after participants were surrounded by hundreds of citizens protesting against the rally and police urged them to discontinue the event. The organizers terminated the rally after demonstrators paraded only about 10 meters down the road, in what was going to be the country\u2019s first such demonstration since the anti-hate speech law came into effect. [\u2026] The June 2 provisional injunction issued by the Yokohama District Court\u2019s Kawasaki branch also quoted the same international treaty, as well as the anti-hate speech law that had just been enacted in May. The ruling called hate speech rallies \u201cillegal actions that infringe upon the personal rights for leading a peaceful life\u201d and pointed out that grossly illegal hate speech campaigns, such as repeating loud chants with bullhorns, lie \u201coutside the bounds of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression guaranteed under the Constitution.\u201d [\u2026]<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Signs of change are also emerging in police responses over the issue. In step with the anti-hate speech law coming into effect, the National Police Agency issued a notice to prefectural police departments across the country asking them to strictly respond to hate speech demonstrations by making full use of existing legislation such as that against defamation and contempt. [\u2026] Yasuko Morooka, a lawyer who authored a book titled \u201cHate Speech towa nanika\u201d (What is hate speech?), hails the anti-hate speech legislation, saying, \u201cThe law provides support for courts, local bodies and police in making a decision on their strict responses to hate speech.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The new law, however, has its own limits. In order to provide relief to victims who suffered damage from hate speech, they still need to prove in detail violations of their personal rights and defamation, just as they needed to before the law came into effect. The June 2 provisional injunction banning a hate speech rally became viable as there existed crystal-clear damage in Kawasaki, where the organizers of the planned rally had repeatedly staged similar demonstrations on about a dozen occasions.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14141<\/a><\/p>\n

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4) Mainichi: Court orders anti-Korean group to compensate woman over hate speech<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mainichi: The Osaka District Court on Sept. 27 ordered a citizens\u2019 group that holds hate speech rallies targeting Korean residents in Japan to pay 770,000 yen in compensation to a Korean woman over defamation carried out by the group and its former chairman. Freelance writer Lee Sin Hae, 45, filed the lawsuit against \u201cZainichi Tokken o Yurusanai Shimin no Kai\u201d (literally, \u201ccitizens\u2019 group that does not forgive special rights for Korean residents of Japan,\u201d or \u201cZaitokukai\u201d) and its former chairman Makoto Sakurai, 44, demanding 5.5 million yen in compensation for defamation by fueling discrimination against Korean residents through hate speech campaigns.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the ruling, after Lee contributed an article criticizing hate speech to an online news site, Sakurai called her \u201can old Korean hag\u201d at rallies his group organized in Kobe\u2019s Sannomiya district and targeted her on Twitter using a discriminatory word for a Korean person sometime between 2013 and 2014 when he was the head of the group. Presiding Judge Tamami Masumori acknowledged that some of the things Sakurai had said and tweeted invaded her personal rights and concluded such actions constituted insults banned under the U.N. International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14230<\/a><\/p>\n

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5) Kyodo: Japan\u2019s laws against hate speech piecemeal, lack teeth<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kyodo: Japan\u2019s first hate speech law, which took effect in June, was created in line with Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, and Article 13, which guarantees basic human rights. Experts, though, say the law is flawed because it lacks both a stated prohibition of hate speech and carries no punishment for perpetrators.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In July, an ordinance to curb hate speech took effect in the city of Osaka. It helped minimize threatening expressions, including \u201cDie!\u201d and \u201cKill them,\u201d but did little to curb slurs like \u201cthe crime rate among Korean people is high.\u201d Yet the environment surrounding offensive displays appears to be changing. Kawasaki announced on May 31 it would not allow the organizer of a hate speech demonstration to use a park following past remarks and activities. In Osaka, police called for \u201ca society free of discrimination.\u201d But perpetrators of discriminatory behavior have turned their attention to the political arena\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14254<\/a><\/p>\n

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6) Mainichi Editorial: Japan needs effective hate speech law to stamp out racist marches<\/strong><\/p>\n

This article offers a good accounting of just how much work went into getting the local governments to take a stand on the issue, and how grassroots movements do indeed influence national policy in Japan.<\/p>\n

Mainichi: In 2014, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination advised the Japanese government to take resolute action against hate speech, and to enact anti-hate speech legislation. There are also strong domestic calls for a government response to hate speech. In January of this year, the city of Osaka enacted the country\u2019s first anti-hate speech ordinance. In addition, more than 300 local government assemblies across Japan have adopted a written statement calling on the central government to take appropriate legal action against hate speech, while staying within the Constitutional right to freedom of expression. In these acts, we can see a definite fear that Japan will lose the trust of the international community if hate groups continue to peddle their poisonous polemics unhindered. [\u2026]<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The LDP-Komeito bill defines hate speech as unjust discrimination. The bill differs greatly from the opposition\u2019s version, which seeks to regulate a wider range of discriminatory acts and calls for the outright ban on hate speech. Neither bill, however, lists a punishment for hate speech violations. To the contrary, we believe that Japan needs a law that clearly defines hate speech, preventing broad interpretations that could be warped into threats to the freedom of expression. The law should also include provisions that will have some practical effect, such as giving authorities the power to deny hate groups the use of public facilities and roads for demonstrations.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=13933<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2026 and finally\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

7) My Japan Times JBC column 101: \u201cUS and Japan votes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly\u201d (Oct 3, 2016)<\/strong><\/p>\n

JBC: I love elections. Anywhere. It\u2019s fascinating to see how politicians craft public appeals. No matter how flawed the process, it\u2019s how nation-states recharge their legitimacy and publicly reaffirm their mandate to govern.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

During this season of the world\u2019s most-watched presidential campaign, JBC will assess \u201cthe good, the bad, and the ugly\u201d of how the United States and Japan run their elections. [\u2026] I want to talk about the expression of political culture and momentum that has grown from generations of campaigning, and how it brings out the \u201cgood\u201d (things that are healthy for a representative democracy), the \u201cbad\u201d (things that aren\u2019t), and the \u201cugly\u201d (the just plain ludicrous)\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Read the rest in the Japan Times at http:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/community\/2016\/10\/02\/issues\/comparing-elections-u-s-japan-good-bad-ugly\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14237<\/a><\/p>\n

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That\u2019s all for this month. Thanks as always for reading!
\nDEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 30, 2016 ENDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

=====================
\nDo you like what you read on Debito.org? \u00a0Want to help keep the archive active and support Debito.org’s activities? \u00a0We are celebrating Debito.org’s 20th Anniversary in 2016, so please consider donating a little something. \u00a0More details here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Table of Contents:
\nGOOD NEWS
\n1) Japan Scholar Tessa Morris-Suzuki reviews book \u201cEmbedded Racism\u201d in journal Japanese Studies, calls it \u201cimportant, courageous and challenging\u201d<\/p>\n

SPECIAL ON EFFECTS OF NEW HATE SPEECH LAW
\n2) Mainichi: After Osaka hate speech ordinance adopted, daily xenophobic marches decrease, hateful language softened
\n3) Mainichi: Effect of new anti-hate speech law spreads to executive, judicial branches
\n4) Mainichi: Court orders anti-Korean group to compensate woman over hate speech
\n5) Kyodo: Japan\u2019s laws against hate speech piecemeal, lack teeth
\n6) Mainichi Editorial: Japan needs effective hate speech law to stamp out racist marches
\n\u2026 and finally\u2026
\n7) My Japan Times JBC column 101: \u201cUS and Japan votes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly\u201d (Oct 3, 2016)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newsletters"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14276\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}