Staff writer YOKOHAMA -- Military marching songs and yells blasting out of rightists' black loudspeaker trucks broke the holiday silence here Monday morning, which was Coming-of-Age Day. Since Fumihiro Joyu, former spokesman for Aum Shinrikyo, moved into the cult's Yokohama branch Dec. 29 after his release from prison, the neighborhood has been thrown into turmoil. While riot policeman stand at every street corner, rightists drive around blaring loud music and hurling verbal assaults at Joyu and his cohorts almost daily. Rightwingers in blue uniforms swagger at the intersection where traffic is obstructed by their trucks. The street leading to the apartment complex where Aum is located is barricaded by police. "We will kick Aum out on our own, without the help of Kanagawa Prefectural Police!" the rightists chant to a crowd of mainly elderly day laborers. Despite the rightists' relentless cacophony, the police remain passive. The upheaval in Isezaki-cho -- one of Yokohama's busiest entertainment districts -- has dealt a serious blow to businesses here. "Our customers are all gone now," said a woman at a take out lunch shop, outside of which stands a phalanx of cops. She fears her regular customers will be gone by the time the turmoil ends. The manager of a gas station facing the road where a number of police vehicles are parked said he had to close the station Monday afternoon because traffic was blocked. He said sales are down 30 percent since the end of last year. A flower shop owner also suffered a drop in sales of New Year decorations at the end of last year. Although the losses are not significant, she said she lost some bulk-purchase customers who usually come to the shop by car. According to Toshiyuki Murata, who runs stationary shops in the Isezaki-cho Shopping Center and serves as chairman of the local community association, business losses have been reported at the center, which is also near the cult office. Shops selling nonessential goods such as jewels, furniture and kimono have been "badly hit," he said. Representatives from the community visited the Aum office Tuesday to demand that Joyu and his fellow cultists leave. Many residents and business owners, however, said their immediate concern is the rightists hovering in the area, rather than Aum itself. "Because we are scared to complain to the rightists, we have no choice but to blame Aum for everything," one local business owner said. "To tell you the truth, I really don't care if Joyu leaves or not," as long as the community can become peaceful again, another shopkeeper said. Some said they wonder why police allow the rightists to make a nuisance with their loudspeaker trucks and traffic disruptions. Police reckon the rightists are cleverly dodging crackdowns by turning the volumes of their loudspeakers down when driving near police devices to measure noise levels. As for traffic obstructions, police said they bend to the rightists to some extent so they won't demonstrate directly in front of the cult office. But police have not shown any leniency when it comes to Aum. Saitama Prefectural Police have repeatedly raided Aum's Yokohama office since Saturday in connection with an al leged forgery of official documents regarding a car parking certificate. Police also searched six Aum facilities around the country Thursday in connection with the case. In addition, a new law targeting Aum, but not in name, that took effect Dec. 27 is highly expected to be applied to the cult after the Public Security Examination Commission hears opinions from Aum next week. The procedure is part of the process to determine whether to invoke the law, which is designed to monitor and control the activities of any groups that have attempted or carried out indiscriminate mass murder. Koji Fukagawa, who represents the district where the Aum office is located, and other community leaders said they need to wait and see how the cult changes after the law is applied. After talking for 40 minutes with Joyu earlier this week, Fukagawa said Aum's former mouthpiece did not leave a bad impression, however, he cannot wipe away his anxiety if the cult stays here. Fukagawa said he hopes to continue talks with the cult to seek a realistic solution. Until then, "if the media inflame the issue by rumor-mongering, it will create further distrust between the two sides (residents and Aum)," he said.
