With regard to Tomohiro Osaki's Nov. 6 article titled "New justice minister against outlawing hate speech," I'd like to add my two-pence worth. First, I wonder what Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa means by "freedom of expression." It seems that many politicians in Japan believe that freedom of expression means saying whatever you like without regard for the damaging impact of one's words. The anti-Korean rallies by unsavory right-wing elements in Shin-Okubo and elsewhere is not freedom of expression. It is lunacy, bigotry and racial prejudice, and does nothing for Japan's international image.
Second, Kamikawa mentions that "criminalizing hate speech would risk infringing on the legitimate right to free speech, a position taken by other ministers in recent times."
One might wonder whether these other ministers hold unsavory views of their own about Korean residents of Japan or World War II "sex slaves" — views that they fear would be curbed if Japan introduced laws against hate speech.
Finally one has to wonder whether Kamikawa would agree to allow probing questions about the Fukushima disaster or the health condition of Princess Masako.
That to me is what "freedom of expression" is about — not the vile comments by right-wing groups
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
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