Before Criticizing Hate Speech

Words sometimes return to the speaker. The Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, criticized hate speeches against Koreans frequently exercised in a Korean town in Tokyo. “It is extremely regrettable that there are speeches that exclude a part of countries and nations,” told Abe at the Committee of Budget in the House of Councillors on Tuesday. Wasn’t it Abe who closed the door to hear opinions from South Korea, which protested against the visit of Yasukuni Shrine or the comfort women issue? We regret to have a prime minister who insists on his own cause, ignoring the sensitivity of neighbors and the reality of international politics.

Hate speech increased in Shin-okubo Korean town in Tokyo, since when the President of South Korea landed disputed island, Takeshima, in August last year. Young people, joining right wing activists, parade on a boulevard, raising banners and placard reading “Koreans, go away,” or chanting “Kill the Koreans.” Although the town has been the popular place for pro-Korea Japanese, mainly women who liked Korean TV or movie stars, the number of visitors is decreasing as those protests against Korea became frequent.

Mr. Abe strangely criticized those activities. “The Japanese must have been evaluating harmony, and not been exclusive nation. It is the Japanese who think to be always polite, tolerate and humble,” said Abe. But he ignored that his overtly narrow mind on historical issues with neighbor countries has been encouraging those extremist activities. Even though Abe has no intention to let them do that, the protestors recognize this conservative Prime Minister as supporting them in heart, or not disturbing their “freedom of speech” at least.

The reason why the Prime Minister of Japan should not be aggressive to neighbor countries is that it encourages those kind of movements based on prejudice and send wrong messages to the neighbors as its result. Even how many times the leaders express the regret about the World War II, the neighbor nations will not tolerate as long as those hostility and discrimination are coming up from another side of Japan. To stop this vicious cycle is true job for Japanese leaders.

Abe took no action against the President of South Korea, Geun-hye Park, who told US President Barack Obama that Japan needed to face true history. He failed to invite the Foreign and Trade Minister of South Korea to Japan by visiting Yasukuni. He still insists on reviewing Murayama Statement in 1995, which admitted colonial rule and aggression by Japan. Before criticizing young activists, Abe needs to stop eroding national interest of Japan.