Japan Press Weekly

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2023 September 27 - October 3 [POLITICS]

‘Ishin’ party executive makes abusive comments on civil protest against tax-invoice system

“Nippon Ishin no Kai” party lawmaker Otokita Shun, who is the Ishin party’s Policy Research Council chairman, on September 25 posted on his Youtube channel a video in which he took a hostile attitude toward a demonstration held near the Prime Minister’s Office opposing the implementation of the consumption-tax-invoice system, and made abusive comments such as “It’s annoying!” and “That put me off having to engage in dialogue with them.”

To hold a demonstration is guaranteed under the Constitution as freedom of expression which forms the foundation of democracy. Otokita’s act of lashing out at demonstrators may lead to an act of suppressing dissenting opinions.

The anti-invoice system demonstration took place on September 25 with more than 1,000 people, including dairy farmers, manga artists, voice actors, and rakugo storytellers, participating.

As of September 26, the number of signatures on the online petition opposing the controversial invoice system reached 533,880. This indicates a groundswell of opinion that the introduction of the invoice system should be cancelled.

The Ishin party should listen to the people and revise its stance to push forward with the controversial system together with the Kishida government.

Past related articles:
> Over 360K signatures opposing implementation of sales tax invoice system submitted [September 5, 2023]
> Freelance workers rally to oppose introduction of consumption tax invoice system [October 27 & 28, 2022]