A Japanese member of the National Assembly, who was pointed out by the authorities as a “violation of human rights” after posting a post mocking a woman wearing hanbok on her social networking service (SNS) account, claimed that she “did not discriminate.”
According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 1st, Mio Sugita, a member of the House of Representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party, posted a video on social media on the 27th of last month and said, “I don’t think there should be discrimination against the Ainu and Koreans in Japan.”
He continued, “There are people who use reverse discrimination, pseudo-discrimination, and the interests and discrimination that come with it to disparage Japan,” and added, “We have been fighting against those who will be in trouble when discrimination disappears. “I don’t discriminate,” he claimed.
He added, “I will continue to work hard in political activities for Japan without wavering.”
In 2016, Rep. Aps Skeeta said on social media, “Even a woman wearing a skirt and jeogori and a cosplay of Ainu national costumes appeared. “There is a complete issue with dignity,” he posted.
Accordingly, Koreans living in Japan and the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, applied for human rights relief to the Osaka and Sapporo Legal Affairs Bureaus, respectively, and received a conclusion that it constituted a human rights violation.
Japanese experts also criticized Rep. Sugita’s remarks.
Sociologist Takahiro Akedo, a professor at Osaka Public University, told Asahi, “Modern-day racism is condensed.” “It is a typical expression of incitement,” he pointed out.
Critic Furuya Tsunehira also pointed out, “The content of Rep. Sugita’s video is a regular expression of the net right (far-right netizens),” and added, “It is depressing to think that these are the remarks of a sitting member of the National Assembly.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was asked at the Budget Committee of the House of Councilors whether he would ‘ignore’ Rep. Sugita’s remarks, saying, “Please act with a sense of responsibility,” adding, “Unfair discrimination that excludes people of specific ethnic groups and nationalities cannot be tolerated.” He said.
However, regarding specific responses, he stated his general position, saying, “I will make efforts to clearly demonstrate the idea that the party and government must also worry about human rights.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.