Japanese politician receives over 8,000 death threats after proposing free sanitary products in toilets
A Japanese politician says she received more than 8,000 death threats after proposing free sanitary pads in public toilets.
Ayaka Yoshida, a 27-year-old member of the Japanese Communist Party, posted on X on 25 March that she had "suddenly got my period today and it was a problem".
She added: "Unfortunately, there were no napkins in the bathroom at Tsu City Hall when I stopped by.
"I couldn't deal with it properly until I got home. Even at 27 years old, this happens.
"I want sanitary napkins to be available everywhere, like toilet paper."
Ms Yoshida, who is a member of the prefectural assembly in Mie in central Japan, added in a separate post the same day: "I recall that when a question was asked at the city council about installing them at city hall as well, the city authorities were reluctant".
The Mie prefectural assembly later received more than 8,000 death threat emails directed at Ms Yoshida from Friday 28 March, the South China Morning Post reports.
All the emails came from one address and carried an identical message, according to the Mainichi newspaper in Japan.
It reportedly read: "I will kill assembly member Ayaka Yoshida, who does not bring emergency napkins with her while being old enough to know better!"
Ms Yoshida shared a post on X on 31 March saying she had received more than 8,000 deaths and added: "I felt scared".
The politician reportedly told a news conference that the threats had "the effect of intimidating me and suppressing my activities as a prefectural assembly member".
Ms Yoshida is also said to have confirmed that she had filed a complaint with police and an investigation is under way.
Chisato Kitanaka, an associate professor of sociology at Hiroshima University and an adviser in the university's harassment consultation office, has told This Week in Asia that abusive messages targeting women who speak out are becoming more common in Japan.
She said: "We are seeing similar things happening time and time again.
"Any time that a statement is made or a proposal is written by a female politician, they are almost always attacked."
Ms Kitanaka added that topics that have sparked a backlash online include support for working mothers, women's health, shortages of places at nurseries, sexual violence in Japanese society and domestic violence.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
a day ago
- Reuters
Uzbekistan earn first World Cup qualification, Australia, Jordan close in
HONG KONG, June 5 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup for the first time on Thursday as a 0-0 draw with the United Arab Emirates confirmed the nation's progress to next year's finals as Australia and Jordan moved to the verge of booking berths in North America. Aziz Behich's 90th minute strike earned the Socceroos a 1-0 win over already-qualified Japan in Perth in Group C to keep Tony Popovic's side three points clear of Saudi Arabia, who won 2-0 against Bahrain in Riffa. Goals from Musab Al-Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al-Obud earned Saudi Arabia a victory that puts Australia's celebrations on hold until the two nations meet in Jeddah on Tuesday. But Australia's vastly superior goal difference means they can lose that meeting with the Saudis by up to four goals and still advance to a sixth consecutive World Cup finals as second-placed finishers behind the Japanese. Jordan also moved to the cusp of qualification as Ali Olwan's hat-trick delivered a 3-0 win over Oman in Muscat to leave Jamal Sellami's side waiting for the result from South Korea's clash with Iraq in Basra later on Thursday in Group B. Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov made a string of second-half saves in Abu Dhabi to frustrate the UAE and earn his nation their first World Cup qualification since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Abbosbek Fayzullaev had hit the crossbar with a 54th minute header for the visitors but it was Yusupov who frustrated the Cosmin Olaroiu-coached Emiratis, who needed to win to maintain their hopes of automatic qualification. The draw means the UAE will now progress to the fourth round of qualifying as the point earned guarantees a third- or fourth-placed finish in Group A. Indonesia guaranteed their involvement in the World Cup preliminaries would continue into the fourth round as a 1-0 win over China also ended the qualification hopes of Branko Ivankovic's side. Ole Romeny's 45th minute penalty separated the sides in Jakarta to ensure Indonesia would finish in either third or fourth place in Group C, thereby progressing to the next phase, which will be played in October.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Late Behich strike puts Australia on brink of World Cup
June 5 (Reuters) - Left back Aziz Behich scored a last-minute winner as Australia moved to the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Japan in Perth on Thursday. With time running out, Behich pounced on Riley McGree's cut back and turned to lash the ball into the net to the delight of a crowd of 57,226 that had endured a laboured performance from the Socceroos. Australia remain in second place in Group C behind the already qualified Japanese and will go through to the finals if third-placed Saudi Arabia fail to beat Bahrain in Riffa later on Thursday. Even if the later result in Bahrain goes against them, Australia's superior goal difference means they will progress to a sixth successive World Cup with anything barring a heavy defeat when they meet the Saudis in Jeddah next Tuesday. "It's a great feeling," said Behich. "It was a tough game. We knew we had to grind it out. The boss at halftime said no matter how tough it gets, we'll get our opportunity if we stick to it. And fortunately enough, it fell for me." Australia's first win over Samurai Blue in 16 years and Japan's first international loss since February last year looked highly unlikely for 89 minutes until Behich struck. Japan, who were the first country to qualify for the World Cup, rested most of their top players and fielded a team with three debutants but still dominated possession as Australia struggled to get a foothold in the contest. Outworked and starved of the ball, the Socceroos won their first corner after half an hour which resulted in their first shot, a glancing header wide from Connor Metcalfe. For all their possession, the Samurai Blue produced little to trouble Mat Ryan in the Australia goal with new cap Yu Hirakawa coming closest to scoring with a low shot that flew past the post in the 37th minute. Australia coach Tony Popovic made two changes at halftime to try and secure more possession but his players continued to chase shadows as Hajime Moriyasu's young team stroked the ball around. The Japanese still lacked a cutting edge up front even after a bit more experience came off the bench and substitute Takefusa Kubo beat Ryan but missed the target with a great opportunity in the 80th minute. Australia never gave up, however, and substitute midfielder McGree finally produced a moment of quality to turn his defender and get to the byline before pulling the ball back for Behich to score the goal.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Sword attacker 'killed and skinned his own cat' before rampage, court hears
Spanish-Brazilian Marcus Arduini Monzo has been charged with 10 offences following an alleged April rampage through Hainault, north east London, after killing his cat A man accused of murdering a 14-year-old schoolboy with a Japanese sword allegedly killed and skinned his own cat first, a court has heard. Marcus Arduini Monzo is alleged to have targeted 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin, who was "simply walking to school, minding his own business" in Hainault, north east London on April 30 last year. The Old Bailey heard Monzo "snuffed out" the teen's life "in an instant", using "severe" and "extreme" force to inflict a "devastating and unsurvivable" injury on him. Monzo, who is charged with the attempted murders of four others and injuring of a police inspector, allegedly killed and skinned his own cat at home beforehand. The court heard that a search of Spanish-Brazilian national Monzo's Newham home yielded evidence of a skinned and deboned cat, as well as the presence of cannabis. While opening proceedings on Wednesday, Tom Little KC said that police found a brown-handled knife during a subsequent search of his van that had traces of non-human blood. He told the jury: "A sample of blood staining was taken from the blade which indicated that it was not human blood. It is perhaps worth noting in that context that the evidence reveals that the defendant killed and skinned his own cat shortly before the matters that you are considering." Prosecutors argued today that Monzo went on a crime spree "brought about by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs" which started when he targeted Donato Iwule. Mr Little said he had nearly killed Mr Iwule when, at 6.51am on April 30 he drove into him in his grey Transit van at speed. Ring doorbell footage showed the moment the man was sent "catapulting" through the fence of a house, with Monzo emerging at telling his first victim: "I will kill you". CCTV played to the jury captured Mr Iwule shouting at his attacker: "I don't know you, I don't know you." Monzo chillingly replied: "I don't care, I will kill you." The court heard it was "remarkable" Mr Iwule was not killed on the initial impact, and he was able to escape his alleged attacker after he was hit in the neck with a sword. Monzo is alleged to have then 'slain' Daniel, inflicting a "devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury to the left hand side of his face and neck" as he travelled to school. Mr little said the wound was "essentially a near-decapitation", with emergency services arriving at the scene after the alleged attack. PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield pursued the defendant, still armed, through a series of alleyways in a residential neighbourhood. The court heard that he struck the police officer three times with the 60cm blade, inflicting "significant" injuries, before entering a nearby house through a backdoor and walking upstairs into the bedroom of a sleeping couple. He is accused of attacking them as their daughter slept in bed next to them. Mr Little argued the two were spared "because in fact the four-year-old child woke up and started to cry". He is then alleged to have then exited the property and was backed into a garage by still pursuing police. He was eventually apprehended after allegedly striking Inspector Moloy Campbell with the sword and attempting to mount another desperate police. Monzo is charged with 10 offences in total, including the murder of Daniel Anjorin, four counts for the alleged attempted murders of Donato Iwule, Sindy Arias, Henry De Los Rios Polania and PC Yasmin Margaret Mechem-Whitfield, a count of wounding with intent, and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon. Monzo - who has no previous convictions - has pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an offensive weapon - a katana sword and a tanto katana sword. He denies the remaining eight.
