October 21, 2020

Facing fierce public criticism, Liberal Democratic Party member of Tokyo’s Adachi Ward Assembly Shiraishi Masateru on October 20 ostensibly retracted and apologized for his discriminatory remarks against sexual minorities which he made at a plenary meeting of the assembly last month.

On this day at a plenary meeting, Shiraishi said, “My remarks included notions which some may find discriminatory. So, I would like to offer my apologies to those who were hurt by my remarks.” He, however, added, “The remarks were based on my values.”

At the meeting, opposition parties including the Japanese Communist Party and the Constitution Democratic Party of Japan jointly proposed a censure motion against Shiraishi. Speaking in support of the motion, JCP lawmaker Nukaga Kazuko said that the LDP assembly member disgraced the dignity of the Adachi Ward Assembly by making biased remarks attaching the label of “abnormal” to those who do not fit his definition of “normal” men and women. The censure motion was rejected by a majority vote of the LDP and Komei Party.

Commenting on Shiraishi’s apology, Nishiyama Chieko, who co-heads a group of LGBTQ people and their families and supporters in Adachi, said, “He has yet to reflect on his prejudice against sexual minorities. We will keep a close eye on him.”

Past related article:
> Opposition parties in Adachi Ward Assembly demand retraction of LDP member’s insult to LGBTQ people [October 8, 2020]