September 8, 2019

With the mainstream media flattering the Abe government by fanning anti-South Korean sentiment, concerned citizens on September 7 held a rally in Tokyo and Osaka to protest against racism and xenophobia and to promote grassroots-based solidarity with people in South Korea.

In Tokyo, responding to calls in social media, 300 people assembled in Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s popular shopping districts, by holding placards written in both Japanese and Hangul characters, “Live together,” and “We need friendship, not discrimination or hate”.

Speaking through a microphone, a third-generation Korean Japanese woman expressed her hope that people will have the courage to publicly disapprove and oppose the growing racist onslaught.

A senior high school student said, “My school friends are averse to talk about historical issues between Japan and South Korea, but I think we have to face up to those issues.”

One of the organizers of the action, Hayashida Mitsuhiro, criticized the weekly magazine Shukan Post for recently carrying an anti-Korea feature article. He said, “Japan may have political disagreements with South Korea, but it cannot justify hate speech. That is what I wanted to point out through this event.”

Past related articles:
> Shii: Japan’s remorse for its colonial rule essential to ease tensions with South Korea [August 27, 2019]
> End of Japan-ROK GSOMIA represents worsening in bilateral relations [August 23, 2019]