December 11, 2019

The Abe Cabinet on December 10 approved a government response stating that it is “difficult” to define what “antisocial forces” are, which conflicts with the first Abe government’s position.

The government statement was made in response to a written question submitted by a pro-constitutionalism opposition lawmaker.

In the last extraordinary Diet session, a scandal over the Prime Minister Abe-hosted cherry blossom-viewing party aroused public criticism. The Abe government particularly came under fire when opposition parties’ questioning revealed that persons linked to “antisocial forces” were invited to the state-funded event at the recommendation of PM Abe. Among the invited persons in question, there was a former executive of a company which received an administrative penalty for using a fraudulent pyramid scheme in its business.

The Cabinet-approved response explains that it is difficult to clarify the term “antisocial forces” in advance in a limited and unified manner as they assume varied forms and may take a different form in accordance with changes in the social situation.

The government under the first Abe Cabinet, however, established a definition of the term “antisocial forces”. In June 2007, directors of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures Against Crime agreed on guidelines for preventing damages from antisocial forces in industry. In the guidelines, the term “antisocial forces” refers to “groups or individuals who seek economic profit through violence, force and fraudulent means”.

The Cabinet approved the written answer regarding the definition of antisocial forces, maybe because it intends to endorse Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga’s remark that it is difficult to give an unambiguous definition to the term “antisocial forces”. Suga made this remark after the revelation of antisocial forces’ participation in the taxpayers-funded cherry blossom-viewing party.

Past related articles:
> ‘Antisocial forces’ invited to Abe gov’t-hosted cherry blossom-viewing party [November 28, 2019]
> Consumer Affairs Minister admits that head of disgraceful firm was invited to cherry blossom-viewing party [November 28, 2019]