Over the past few months, hate speech in Japan and efforts to address the situation with legislation have drawn domestic and international attention.
Currently no law bans hate speech. While some local- and national-level politicians have criticized groups like the ultranationalist Zaitokukai when its members spew inflammatory rhetoric against Korean residents, others have balked, saying a rush to outlaw hate speech could have dire consequences overall for freedom of expression.
With pressure on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to call a snap election next month, serious Diet debate about legislation against hate speech will most likely get shelved until the political situation stabilizes or until some conspicuous event puts the issue back on the political radar.
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