"Be Cautious When Visiting Osaka, Japan on the 21st-22nd"...Why?

Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka Safety Notice
Right-wing Group Protest Scheduled on Takeshima Day

The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chuo, Osaka, issued a notice on February 21-22 advising Koreans staying in the Osaka area of Japan to be cautious about their personal safety.

According to the consulate, from 9 a.m. to noon on the 21st and 22nd, Japanese right-wing groups plan to hold demonstrations in observance of "Takeshima Day." In particular, on the 21st, a street protest is scheduled near the consulate located in Chuo Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture. The street protest is planned near the consulate.

The consulate posted on its official website, "We ask our nationals planning to visit the Osaka Consulate General to pay close attention to their personal safety," adding, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consular call center provides various overseas Korean safety services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If any safety issues arise or assistance is needed, please contact the consulate or the Japanese police emergency number."

Takeshima is the Japanese name for Dokdo. Japan holds the "Takeshima Day" event annually on February 22. Shimane Prefecture established "Takeshima Day" in 2005 to assert its claim over Dokdo and has held events on the same day every year since February 22 of the following year. Since 2013, the Japanese government has sent vice-ministerial level officials to attend the event. The Takeshima Day commemorative ceremony is held in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, but large-scale rallies also take place in front of the consulate during the same period.

Ongoing Hate Crimes by Japanese Right-Wing Forces

Osaka, Japan. [Image source=Pixabay]

Previously, hate speech and actions centered around right-wing forces in Japan have been a continuous source of controversy. In particular, crimes motivated by anti-Korean sentiment have also occurred. A representative case is the arson incident in August 2021 in the Utoro village of Kyoto Prefecture, where many Korean residents live.

At that time, Shogo Arimoto, a man in his 20s residing in Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, entered Utoro village in August 2021 and set fire to an empty house, burning down seven nearby homes. In July of the same year, he also set fire to a Korean school located in Nagoya City. Upon arrest, Arimoto reportedly stated that he "disliked Korea."

Meanwhile, in Osaka, a right-wing group leader once sparked controversy by openly staging an anti-Korean protest. In December 2021, Daiyo Kawahigashi, the leader of a far-right political group called "Association for a Japan Without Koreans," distributed flyers in a residential area of Ikuno Ward, Osaka City, stating that "approximately 500,000 Korean and Chosenjin residents live in Japan, and most of them have the privilege of special permanent residency status, which means they are not deported even if they commit crimes. Therefore, Korean and Chosenjin residents in Japan commit crimes with impunity."

Meanwhile, although Japan has enacted laws to eliminate hate speech to prevent public discrimination or hate speech against specific groups, hate speech and actions centered around right-wing forces in Japan continue unabated. Some critics argue that these laws lack effectiveness.