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Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 15:28:38 +0900
To: debito@debito.org
From: Arudou Debito/Dave Aldwinckle <debito@debito.org>
Subject: Media Update 4/13/01

Hello all. A few things that you might be interested in about happenings up
here in Hokkaido. There's a lot. Organized thus:

=========================================
THE DEFENDANTS IN THE OTARU LAWSUIT RESPOND (web link)
MORE MEDIA
MORE PUBLIC APPEALS
Appeal to the Political Parties for Anti-Discrimination Law
Appeal to the Kita Hiroshima City Govt
Appeal to the Nanporo Town Govt
Appeal to the Otaru Populace

=========================================

Here we go:

THE DEFENDANTS IN THE OTARU LAWSUIT RESPOND

If you haven't ever seen a legal court defense paper (the linguistics are
fascinating) in Japanese, it might do to have a look at the following URLs.
The documentation is up there in its entirety (with some personal details
cut out) for public reference:

Plaintiffs' (i.e. us) legal case paper (sojou)
http://www.debito.org/lawsuitsojou.html

Defendant Yunohana's Defense (toubensho):
http://www.debito.org/yunohanatoubensho.html

Defendant Otaru City's Defense (with their evidence attachment, or shouko
bussha):
http://www.debito.org/otarushitoubensho.html
It may take a little time for these to download, but the record is there in
full.

////////////////////////////////////////////

MORE MEDIA

New six-page (four of them an interview with photos) article up, entitled
"Resolving the Onsen Problem is an Improvement of Japanese Society",
(Japanese) on the Otaru Lawsuit Site.
http://www.debito.org/jijijournal040101.html

If you've a hankering for some English now, have a look at a Mar 7 Japan
Times Letter to the Editor from a non-Japanese refused at an onsen outside
of Hokkaido, who expresses support for our case:
http://www.debito.org/japantimesletter030701.jpg

////////////////////////////////////////////

MORE PUBLIC APPEALS

1) MEETING THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES IN SAPPORO MON APRIL 16:

If you are in town and are so inclined, I would like to extend an invitation
to join us next Monday, April 16, on some canvassing of political parties
(ie. LDP, Koumeito, JCP, and Minshutou) on passing a law against racial
discrimination in Japan.

Why? Because (sorry to repeat myself so many times) there is no anti-racial
discrimination law in Japan, the only OECD country without one despite
agreements under international treaty. As our lawsuit against exclusionary
onsen Yunohana and Otaru City points out, Japan sorely needs one, and it is
the job of Japan's politicians to pass it. So we would like to go to each
major party HQ up here in Sapporo (you gotta start somewhere) and submit a
model bill for their consideration.

A referential model bill was created by NGO Issho Kikaku, which has given us
permission to present it as is with appropriate disclaimer (i.e. Issho is
NOT sponsoring or involved in this event--it's just something I'm putting
together with friends). See it at the Issho website:
http://www.issho.org/kinshiho-modelhoan.html (Japanese)
http://www.issho.org/kinshiho-modelbill.html (English)

Meeting Schedule follows:
=============================
11:15 AM: We gather in front of Minshutou Dogikai HQ (Kita 4 NIshi 4-1 ph
272-8500)
11:30 AM: Meet Minshutou National Diet Rep Mr Nakazawa Kenji
(this is a major coup--he just happens to be in Sapporo and getting out
of a meeting)
1:00 AM: Meet LDP Asst Mr Imai in the Genkan of the Hokkaido Assembly
(Kita 4 NIshi 4, right next to the Red Brick Kyuu Douchou--the LDP is
currently busy picking our next prime minister, goody goody, so meeting at
the LDP Hokkaido HQ is apparently not an option)
2:00 PM: Meet JCP Asst Mr Itakura (Kita 6 NIshi 7, ph 746-1151)
3:30 PM: Meet Koumeitou Asst Mr Aokiyama (Kita 1 Nishi 19, ph 642-8388)
=============================

Who's coming? People are welcome to show up at the meeting points at the
times indicated whenever they want. More the merrier. I know of at least
one newspaper and one TV network covering the event.

////////////////////////////////////////////

2) KITA HIROSHIMA-SHI (Hokkaido) PARLAY OVER INTERNATIONALIZATION
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, from 7:00 PM


I have been invited to talk to an internationalization study panel within
the Kitahiroshima City (between Sapporo and Chitose) Board of Education
(kyouiku iinkai shakai kyouikuka , kokusai kouryuu kyougikai kenshukai.
Yes, it's a bunch of bureaucrats.) What about? Internationalization and
all that. It's just after their annual meeting, and I plan to give them an
earful of suggestions. Anyone else in the neighborhood want to attend? Let
me know by email and I'll send you the info. Thanks.

////////////////////////////////////////////

3) NANPORO ROUNDTABLE WITH MAYOR, CITY COUNCILLORS, AND CITIZENS
SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM


I am chair of the Nanporo Chihou Bunken Forum, a citizens group in my
hometown Nanporo encouraging citizens to take a greater interest in local
politics. We have put on events every two months or so for the past three
years. This time we are offering a roundtable on events troubling our town:
1) the aborted Nanporo Resort Golf Course proposal, which caused the old
corrupt mayor to lose an election (http://www.debito.org/d3s.html) and sue
our new mayor for breach of contract, and 2) an unexplained $20 million
dollar "loan" (kashitsuke) from Quango Koukyuu Kousha which will cost us
$50,000 a year in taxes). It is apparently the first roundtable of its kind
in Japan,, and NHK and others will be covering it. The mayor is a confirmed
attender, and we are working on getting more than half of the 15 hunker-down
town councilors there. I'm the emcee, question firer, and whipcracker if
somebody goes on a gabbing bender. If you want to attend, let me know again
by email.

////////////////////////////////////////////

4) OTARU SPEECH ON DISCRIMINATION AT OTARU ONSENS
SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 1PM TO 4:30 PM

Sponsored by the "Beikuubo ni Hantai Suru Shimin no Kai"
(Citizens Opposing US Ships Docking in Otaru)

Although I am relatively indifferent to the root cause of this group, it
still is a congregation of Otaru citizens who are very activist about things
they disagree with. One issue is racial discrimination towards foreigners.
I will be talking about "what then and what now" (kore made to kore kara)
etc. There will also be a different discussion about "Hinomaru, Kimigayo
Kyousei to Atarashii Kyoukasho no Mondai" (enforced patriotism through the
flag and anthem, and the new sanitized school textbooks issue). These types
of discussion groups are precisely what a healthy polity needs.

Held at Otaru-shi Tomioka 1-5-1, Shougai Gakushuu Plaza "Rebio"
Forum phone 0134-24-3363
Organizer phone 0134-62-5247 (M. Kobayashi)

////////////////////////////////////////////

All for now. Busy week next week.

Arudou Debito
Sapporo