Editorials Jun 10, 2017
Make hate speech law stronger
Lawmakers should take new steps that will contribute to building a society free from hatred and prejudice.
Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Jan 8, 2017
Japan's human rights issues fared better in 2016
by Debito Arudou
Welcome back to JBC's annual countdown of the top issues as they affected Non-Japanese (NJ) residents of Japan. We had some brighter spots this year than in previous years, because Japan's government has been so embarrassed by hate speech toward Japan's minorities that they ...
National / Crime & Legal Oct 12, 2016
High court rejects Inada appeal over magazine defamation case
The Osaka High Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal filed by Defense Minister Tomomi Inada in a defamation lawsuit against a magazine. Inada had sought compensation for an article that linked her to an anti-Korean group known for hate speech. The case dates from before ...
National / Crime & Legal Sep 27, 2016
Zaitokukai ordered to pay damages for defaming Korean resident of Japan
The Osaka District Court has ordered an anti-Korean group and its former chairman to pay ¥770,000 in damages to a Korean resident of Japan for defaming her. Lee Shin-hye, a 45-year-old freelance writer, was seeking ¥5.5 million in damages, claiming that she suffered emotional pain ...
National Aug 3, 2016
Ministry warns Kawasaki event organizer over hate speech against Korean women
The Justice Ministry said Tuesday it has warned a man for making discriminatory remarks deemed as hate speech against Korean women during a demonstration he organized in Kawasaki in January. The move came as Japan is stepping up efforts to tackle human rights violations stemming ...
National Apr 25, 2016
High court doubles damages owed by anti-Korean group, labels attack against Japanese as racist
The Takamatsu High Court has nearly doubled the damages that the anti-Korean group Zaitokukai must pay for making a racist attack against a teachers union.
National Mar 30, 2016
Japan's first-ever hate speech probe finds rallies are fewer but still a problem
by Tomohiro Osaki
The Justice Ministry finds a “significant” number of xenophobic rallies held by nationalist groups still occur regularly.
National / Social Issues Feb 14, 2016
Websites deleted hate speech videos at government request
Two websites that posted hate speech videos against Korean residents deleted the content at the request of the Justice Ministry, which is cracking down on racist propaganda.
National Jan 15, 2016
Osaka assembly passes nation's first ordinance against hate speech
by Eric Johnston
The city of Osaka passed the nation's first ordinance by a major city against hate speech late Friday. The text is a watered-down version of a proposal that the assembly made last year and will serve merely to name and shame perpetrators. It does not provide ...
National / Social Issues May 25, 2015
With hate speech bill, Osaka grapples with freedom of expression
by Tomoko Otake
The Osaka Municipal Government has proposed an ordinance aimed at curbing hate speech against racial and ethnic minorities in the city, where verbal and other attacks against Korean residents have intensified in recent years. The bill was introduced to the municipal assembly on Friday. If ...
National / Social Issues May 20, 2015
Video posting site shuts down anti-Korean Zaitokukai activists' channel
Japanese video streaming website niconico has shut down the official channel of the anti-Korean activist group Zaitokukai, citing violations of the terms of service. Dwango Co., which runs the site, said that content on the group's channel fell under a category of material banned by ...
National / Social Issues Feb 19, 2015
Kids' booklet aims to explain Zaitokukai hate-speech ruling
by Naho Iwahara
Notorious hate-speech demonstrations outside a Kyoto school run by pro-Pyongyang Koreans have prompted a group of lawyers and others to set about trying to ease the distrust the pupils may feel toward Japanese society. They are distributing illustrated booklets that explain in pictures and clear ...