NHK Party Leader Takashi Tachibana Calls Black and Muslim People ‘Scary'
stating
that he is 'afraid of foreigners.' He then added, 'You might not feel as much fear with white people.'
List of Contents:
Takashi Tachibana's Latest Controversial Remarks
Foreigners 'Disrespect Japanese Culture' Says Conservative Party of Japan Leader
Related Posts
Takashi Tachibana's Latest Controversial Remarks
Tachibana went on to
say
, 'It's scary when groups of Black people or people of Islamic background are gathered in front of the station. It's impossible to walk past at night when there are four or five them frolicking in front of you, and you don't know if they speak Japanese. The current law doesn't allow us to regulate them, so we can't tell them to go away.'
Tachibana, who previously suggested that genocide is the solution to overpopulation and that 'we should just wipe out races that have babies like idiots,' was attacked in March, not by a foreigner, but a Japanese national. He was cut on his head and neck with a machete-like weapon, though his injuries were not serious. Suspect Shion
M
iyanishi
,
who was arrested at the scene, told the police he 'intended to kill' Tachibana.
Foreigners 'Disrespect Japanese Culture' Says Conservative Party of Japan Leader
Tachibana wasn't the only Japanese politician to voice controversial views about foreigners over the past few days. During a stump speech on Saturday, Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the minor right-wing opposition Conservative Party of Japan,
said
that foreign people 'disrespect Japanese culture, ignore the rules, assault Japanese people and steal their belongings. In northern Kanto you see many towns like this that are no-go zones. If we don't do something about it; Japan's public safety will be threatened.'
The right-wing populist party Sanseito, meanwhile, has been gaining a lot of attention due to its 'Japanese First' approach. Speaking at the
FCCJ
last Thursday, leader Sohei Kamiya insisted that this approach was 'not based on xenophobia.' Responding to a question about immigration, he said, 'Our party is not in favor of accepting migrants to substitute for the drop in Japan's population,' adding, 'Please understand we're not intending to exclude foreign workers who are here legally. We just believe cheap foreign labor
is
not the right way.'
Related Posts
Foreign Residents Sue Japanese Government for Racial Profiling
US Embassy Tweets About Suspected Racial Profiling in Japan
Racism in Japan: A Conversation With Anthropology Professor John G. Russell
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Nikkei Asia
2 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
Stalled US tariff talks hinge on Japan's upper house election
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have been unable to reach a deal on tariffs on American imports from Japan. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Nikkei) TASUKU IKEDA TOKYO -- The results of this month's upper house election in Japan will likely determine further progress on U.S.-Japan tariff negotiations, which are apparently at an impasse, as well as the Japanese government's room to make concessions. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday released the first batch of letters to notify trading partners of new tariff rates. The rate on Japan will be 25%, he wrote. The August start date is seen as a way to pressure negotiating partners into making concessions.
The Diplomat
3 hours ago
- The Diplomat
The Battle Over Electoral Reform in Bangladesh
Islamists want a proportional representation system under which they could win more seats. The BNP prefers the current first-past-the-post system. On June 29, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB)'s Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim called for the upcoming national election to be held under the proportional representation (PR) system. Addressing a grand rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka, Karim said: 'In the next election, both houses of parliament must be elected through the proportional representation system. The number of seats a party gets in parliament should be proportional to the percentage of votes it receives.' Several other political parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and the National Citizen Party (NCP) have backed the demand for a PR system. The IAB chief also asserted that Islam is the future of Bangladesh and asked for a 'single box' for Islamist forces. 'Ahead of the election, a united and unbreakable alliance must be formed among patriotic, Islamic forces against corrupt, extortionist, and terrorist elements,' he said. Unity among Islamist forces has long been an issue of political debate. While they often appear monolithic from the outside, this perception rarely holds in practice. Instead, theological divergences are frequently weaponized in political discourse, with different factions undermining one another's legitimacy to consolidate influence. A notable attempt to unify Islamist forces in the late 1970s collapsed, giving birth to the Islami Andolan Bangladesh in 1987 as a distinct entity. After a series of extensive talks and behind-the-scenes negotiations among Islamist leaders, it now appears that the various Islamist parties are approaching an unprecedented level of cohesion and unity. The post-Hasina political scenario has served as a unifying catalyst, offering shared incentives and strategic benefits for these groups to move forward collectively. Historically, Bangladesh's political landscape has been dominated by two mainstream parties — the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League (AL) — which together secured nearly 70-80 percent of the votes. Other parties, including Jatiya Party (JP) and JI, have typically captured the remainder. However, events following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led AL government on August 5 and her flight from the country have dramatically altered this equation. The AL has been banned on allegations of mass murder. The center-left space it occupied in Bangladesh politics is now open. As for the JP, which provided unwavering support to the AL throughout its 16 years of authoritarian rule, it is facing a credibility crisis and is struggling for relevance. If in the past, the electoral contest was between the center-right (BNP) and the center-left (AL) alignments, this time is likely to be one between the right (Islamists) and the center-right (BNP). The significant and constructive role played by the Islamist forces during the July Revolution has legitimized their position in the eyes of the people. Bangladesh is likely to see a new parliamentary formation, where Islam as a value system is going to be more dominant than in the past. The long-term impact of this shift remains to be seen. The Islamists' demand for a PR electoral system is clearly strategic. While politically motivated, it carries practical advantages. For instance, in limiting the effectiveness of money and muscle power, as candidates cannot predict outcomes in advance. Securing an absolute parliamentary majority under this system will be extremely difficult, thereby reducing the risk of future authoritarian dominance akin to Hasina's rule. Currently, the BNP holds the largest share of public support, reportedly exceeding 40 percent. Under the existing first-past-the-post electoral system, they could secure an outright majority. However, the proposed PR system would prevent them from doing so. In turn, it would enable smaller political parties to obtain proportional parliamentary representation, making room for a more pluralistic and diverse political landscape. This is a demand that would go against the interests of the BNP. Not surprisingly, the BNP's response to the IAB demand was swift. BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman called on all political leaders to seriously consider the matter, pointing out that the PR system could create divisions instead of unity in the country. Echoing this concern, BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that those advocating for a PR system and prioritizing local government polls aim to delay or obstruct the upcoming national election. This emerging debate around the nature of the electoral system has become a critical flashpoint, with potential implications for political unity and stability. Without a consensus among key parties, the risk of election postponement and parliamentary deadlock looms large. Bangladesh cannot afford another parliament without a legitimate opposition presence. Therefore, the interim government must actively engage all political stakeholders to finalize an election roadmap. Only through inclusive dialogue and institutional coordination can the next national election proceed in a manner that safeguards participation, legitimacy, and democratic continuity.
Yomiuri Shimbun
6 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
‘We Will Raise Wages': Party Leaders in Japan Appeal to Voters in Campaign Speeches
On the first Sunday of the campaign period for the House of Councillors election, leaders of the ruling and opposition parties gave speeches in various places across Japan, appealing to voters with their proposals to address high prices and other issues. 'We will raise wages and strengthen the Japanese economy. The economy is definitely improving,' said Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in Yokohama. He criticized the opposition parties that are proposing consumption tax cuts, asking, 'Where are they going to find the financial resources [for social security]? Can you define such behavior as anything other than irresponsible?' He also expressed concern about his party's election campaign: 'There are serious headwinds.' LDP coalition partner Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito referenced the fiscal 2025 budget in his speech alongside the prime minister in Yokohama to emphasize his party's ability to implement policies. 'When we say we will do something, we will do it,' he said. Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, spoke about the significance of consumption tax cuts in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. 'Japan has the highest inflation rate among developed countries. The crisis is on your dinner table. We will temporarily reduce the consumption tax rate on food from 8% to 0%,' he said. During his speech in Kyoto, Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Japan Innovation Party, said: 'The burden of social insurance premiums is too great. This burden will continue to increase,' and promised to reduce insurance premiums through social security reforms. Tomoko Tamura, the head of the Communist Party of Japan, said in Yokohama; 'I would like to open the way for consumption tax reductions by any means through the power of the joint efforts of the opposition parties.' In Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, called for income tax cuts. 'We will support the working-age population. I want to restore a society where salaries and pensions increase,' he said. 'We want to increase the amount of money we can spend. We want to abolish the consumption tax,' said Reiwa Shinsengumi leader Taro Yamamoto in Saitama City. 'We are calling for 'Japanese people first.' We want to protect the people's livelihood,' said Sohei Kamiya, head of Sanseito, in Saitama City. The party leaders also engaged in a war of words over the Japan-U.S. tariff negotiations on NHK and Fuji TV programs. 'We will not make easy compromises, so it will take time,' Ishiba said. A letter from U.S. President Donald Trump may arrive notifying Japan of tariff rates, but the prime minister insisted, 'We're prepared for any possibility.' Noda said that Ryosei Akazawa, the economic revitalization minister in charge of tariff negotiations with the United States, 'is not functioning' and urged negotiations between the leaders. Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party, and Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the Conservative Party of Japan, made television appearances. The election will be held on July 20.
