Jake Adelstein's Blog, page 82
June 13, 2011
Police close in on former mob boss Goto Tadamasa on murder charges; Japan's third largest crime group splits/gang war looms
Tokyo Metropolitan Police tightening up investigation of Goto Tadamasa, former yakuza boss, on suspicion of murder
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is tightening up their investigation of former mob boss Goto Tadasmasa on charges of murder. Goto Tadamasa was the head of the Yamaguchi-gumi Goto-gumi (山口組後藤組）until October 14th 2008, when he was forced out of Japan's largest criminal organization, the Yamaguchi-gumi, which has 39,000 members. In his prime, he controlled over a thousand gangsters and affiliates, one hundred front companies and assets of over a billion dollars. However, his back-door deal with the FBI to get a liver transplant at UCLA, along with liver transplants for three other yakuza, his insubordination, and his habit of condoning and/or ordering attacks on innocent civilians resulted in the organization council deciding to force him into retirement.
In December of 2010, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police (TMPD) arrested a former member of the Yamaguchi-gumi Goto-gumi (Nobuyuki Yamamoto) for killing a real estate consultant, Kazuoki Nozaki, in a dispute over a valuable building in Shibuya ward. The murder took place in 2006. A Goto-gumi front company was laying claim to the building and Nozaki-san was an obstacle in their plans. He was stabbed to death on the streets of Minato-ward. Yamamoto has denied receiving direct orders from Goto Tadamasa, his former gang-boss. An international arrest warrant for the superior of Nobuyuki Yamamoto was issued after Yamamoto's arrest, a man known as Kondo Takashi (近藤毅) also a former Goto-gumi member. The TMPD felt they had a strong case on circumstantial evidence alone that Goto had ordered the hit but no direct testimony from someone receiving orders. Kondo, they felt, was the key to making their case.
on April 27th, a Thai tour guide was arrested after he confessed to shooting to death one Japanese tourist and wounding another while they were trekking in northern Thailand. The two "tourists" are believed to be former yakuza members.
Apichart Inphisak, the 41-year-old guide, was arrested Tuesday at a friend's house 30 kilometers from Chiang Rai. The pistol he said he used to shoot the two Japanese was confiscated, according to local Thai press sources. Japanese police sources assert that the two Japanese individuals were both members of the Yamaguchi-gumi Goto-gumi. One of the individuals is believed to have involved in the murder of real estate agent, Nozaki Kazuoki, in 2006.
On conditions of anonymity, Japanese police sources said, "It's clear that the two were assassinated on orders of former members of the Goto-gumi, possibly Goto himself. This makes prosecuting the case or taking it all the way up to the top extremely difficult." The Thai English Newspaper, the Nation reported one of the victims as being "Takashi Kodo, age 44, of the Sedu-kai gang in Tokyo". In all likelihood, it is probably Kondo Takashi (近藤毅）of the Yamaguchi-gumi Yamaken-gumi Seiryukai. (山口組山健組誠竜会）which has 120 members. The Goto-gumi was closely tied to the Yamaken-gumi in the past. Other law enforcement sources place him as having been in the Yamaguchi-gumi Rachi-gumi Seiryukai (山口組良知組政竜会). Kondo was lured to Thailand from China where he had been in hiding. He allegedly was promised via a Goto emissary a new passport, a reward for keeping quiet, and a new life. He just ended up very dead.
Earlier this month, the TMPD sent police officers to Thailand inquire into the death of Kondo and positively identify the body. The TMPD believes that Kondo was killed on Goto's orders. The Tokyo Prosecutor's Office is reconsidering charging Goto with murder based on circumstantial evidence alone and possibly newer evidence as well. Goto Tadamasa renounced his life of crime and became a Buddhist priest in 2009, and has been doing charitable acts. It may not be enough however to escape a lifetime of bad karma in the metaphysical world or justice in this world.
Goto's biography, 憚りながら (Habakarinagara), was issued last year by Takarajima Publications last year and was a huge best-seller. In the book, Goto brags of his political connections and shows no remorse for the attacks his own gang members made on the film director Itami Juzo in 1992. Itami had made a movie, The Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion, depicting the yakuza as a cancer on society and this had offended Goto. In the book Goto denied ordering the director to be attacked but praised the guts and initiative of his underlings who slashed up the face of the film director. Former Goto-gumi members also assert that Goto was responsible for later having the director killed, by forcing him to jump off a roof-top at gun-point as to make it appear as if he committed suicide. Itami's wife is still under police protection. Whether Goto will be arrested for the murder of Mr. Nozaki or Mr. Kondo is an unknown. What is definitely known is that he is a major suspect in both murders.
Japan's Third Largest Crime Group, The Inagawa-kai (稲川会）splits into two faction; Gang war looms
The main members of the the Inagawa-kai Yamanashi-ikka (山梨一家 ー300 people), located in Kofu city, split apart from the parent organization the Inagawa-kai (10, 000 members) at the end of May and formed their own independent organization the Yamanashi Kyoyukai (山梨侠友会) creating chaos within the yakuza world. The Inagawa-kai has split into factions in the past over succession issues, but this split appears to also be a deeper rift than any previous one. The Inagawa-kai was once the most powerful crime group in the Kanto area. Goto Tadamasa, former gang boss, also got his start in the Inagawa-kai before jumping ship to the rising Yamaguchi-gumi. He was also involved in trying to arrange a liver transplant for Inagawa-leader, Inagawa Chihiro, at UCLA. The deal fell apart when Goto reneged on his promises to the FBI to give them all the information he promised.
The "rebel faction" left after complaining that the current Inagawa-kai ruling commission has no respect for gang tradition and has failed to honor the ancestors of the organization. The current leadership of the Inagawa-kai is backed by the Yamaguchi-gumi Kodokai (山口組弘道会). However, it is not clear whether the Kodo-kai is now backing the current leaders or the rebel faction. The newly formed Yamanashi Kyoyukai emblem greatly resembles the crest of the Yamaguchi-gumi.
The Yamanashi Kyoyukai formerly part of the Inagawa-kai. Their new symbol mirrors that of the Yamaguchi-gumi crest.
The Yamanashi-ikka was very strong locally and in some senses the new independent organization has the sanction of the Yamanashi Prefecture Police Department. The Yamanashi PD have surrounded the offices of the Yamanashi Kyoukai to prevent any gang attacks from the Inagawa-kai or their allies which would put the Yamanashi Kyoyukai back under Inagawa-kai control. In fact, in order to ensure there is no bloodshed, the Yamanashi Police Department is asking the rebel gangsters to stay inside their compound and on at least one occasion, they even took food orders from the gang members and brought them box lunches. (Which the gangsters paid for).
The back-stabbing and violence associated with gang factional splits rivals that of anything seen in movies, like Kitano's OUTRAGE. At this point in time, no blood has been spilled, but there are unconfirmed reports of hands grenades being thrown and armed gangsters sent from Tokyo hiding out in Kofu City, ready to cap a few members of the Yamanashi Kyoyukai. Unfortunately for them, outside gangsters are not as welcome as the local boys. No casualties have been reported yet. But it is hard to imagine that any yakuza group can sever ties without some blood spilling.
June 3, 2011
Positive correlation discovered between asthma attacks and exposure to Japanese government's bullsh*t
According to an NHK online article published on May 25th, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment announced last week its findings that children who were exposed to higher amounts of automobile exhaust fumes had a higher probability of being diagnosed with asthma. Previously, the ministry refused to accept the correlation, claiming scientific evidence on the subject was lacking (despite studies that for years have suggested so: here in Environmental Health Perspectives, a cross-continental study here published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, and here in the American Journal of Public Health).
Japanese government finally admits correlation between exhaust fumes and asthma in children; staunchly resolves to do absolutely nothing about it.
In the first study of its kind ever done in Japan, the researchers looked at 12,000 children living near 10 different highway spots in large cities across the country between 2005 and 2010. They administered a yearly questionnaire, asking parents to estimate how much time the child spent outside and in what areas. From this information, researchers estimated about how much exhaust they had inhaled. 309 of those children were diagnosed with asthma during that time period; further analysis of the numbers (taking into account previous history of respiratory illness) indicated that living near the highways did increase the likelihood of getting asthma.
Those hoping for policies or solutions that might arise in light of the study shouldn't (or should?) hold their breath – the ministry states in the NHK article that they "would like to continue researching the influence of exhaust fumes on health".
Positive correlation discovered between asthma attacks and exposure to Ministry of Environment's bullsh*t
According to an NHK online article published on May 25th, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment announced last week its findings that children who were exposed to higher amounts of automobile exhaust fumes had a higher probability of being diagnosed with asthma. Previously, the ministry refused to accept the correlation, claiming scientific evidence on the subject was lacking (despite studies that for years have suggested so: here in Environmental Health Perspectives, a cross-continental study here published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, and here in the American Journal of Public Health).
In the first study of its kind ever done in Japan, the researchers looked at 12,000 children living near 10 different highway spots in large cities across the country between 2005 and 2010. They administered a yearly questionnaire, asking parents to estimate how much time the child spent outside and in what areas. From this information, researchers estimated about how much exhaust they had inhaled. 309 of those children were diagnosed with asthma during that time period; further analysis of the numbers (taking into account previous history of respiratory illness) indicated that living near the highways did increase the likelihood of getting asthma.
Those hoping for policies or solutions that might arise in light of the study shouldn't (or should?) hold their breath – the ministry states in the NHK article that they "would like to continue researching the influence of exhaust fumes on health".
June 2, 2011
Hidden love hotels come out of the closet thanks to law revisions; It's a love fest in post-quake Japan
It seems business is booming for the love hotel industry. The number of registered businesses has jumped by a whopping 2,700 hotels since the beginning of the year, a hefty number considering that, at the end of 2010, there were only 3,692 love dens on the books. (Jake's note: It turns out that the new love hotels are great earthquake shelters as well. Solidly built and once you're in bed with your partner and you turn on the "body sonic" *–the earthquake tremors won't bother you at all or become indistinguishable from other more intimate tremors. The earthquake has also resulted in a rise in marriages and hook-ups as the confrontation with mortality has made people realize the importance of carnality, and intimate relationships.)
While it looks like the entire country has decided to tackle head-on Japan's infamous declining birth rate problem, the apparent boom in love hotels is less due to demand than it is to changes in the adult entertainment law that we reported on last December.
The 2011 revised adult entertainment law is aimed at regulating the operation of deai-kissa and gisou love hotels, or establishments registered as hotel or ryokan that are effectively operating as love hotels to get around legal restrictions on things like location. Gisou love hotels have managed to park themselves far beyond the borders limiting normal adult entertainment venues to certain areas. Some are even located within spitting distance of elementary schools and municipal buildings such as libraries, and many believe this may contribute to child prostitution, such as enjo kosai, despite the fact that people under 18 are not supposed to be allowed in.
The revisions have broadened the definition of love hotel, and closed many of the loopholes previously used by gisou love hotels. New hotels must, of course, be planned, constructed and registered according to regulations. The 2011 revisions contain a vested rights clause, however, allowing all existing gisou love hotels to be exempt from legal action if they formally registered as love hotels before January 31. Needless to say, many took advantage of the opportunity.
And residents are saying, what's the point? The law, meant to keep love hotels away from things like schools and hospitals has instead given the go for thousands of the businesses to operate openly.
A representative from the "Rid Japan Of Gisou Love Hotels" party told Sankei News, "By allowing for vested rights, nothing changes, and now hotels that hide near schools before can operate out in the open." Uh huh.
The owner of a love hotel argued against the accusation that gisou hotels can contribute to the rise in child prostitution, saying, "There's been a big increase in 'city hotels' that are aimed towards couples, not just traditional love hotels." With regards to minors using the facilities, he added, "We can't ask everyone's age. All we can do is post a sign saying under-18s aren't allowed."
*body sonic-vibrating speakers built into the bed in a love hotel linked to the audio levels of the tv/stereo. A classier vibrating bed. That and colored lighting in the deep jacuzzi bathtubs, the vending machine full of sex toys and lubricants, in addition to a creative use of mirrors, are par the course in any three star love hotel. Rental costumes are not yet standard.
Read the original article here.
Hidden love hotels come out of the closet thanks to law revisions
It seems business is booming for the love hotel industry. The number of registered businesses has jumped by a whopping 2,700 hotels since the beginning of the year, a hefty number considering that, at the end of 2010, there were only 3,692 love dens on the books.
While it looks like the entire country has decided to tackle head-on Japan's infamous declining birth rate problem, the apparent boom in love hotels is less due to demand than it is to changes in the adult entertainment law that we reported on last December.
The 2011 revised adult entertainment law is aimed at regulating the operation of deai-kissa and gisou love hotels, or establishments registered as hotel or ryokan that are effectively operating as love hotels to get around legal restrictions on things like location. Gisou love hotels have managed to park themselves far beyond the borders limiting normal adult entertainment venues to certain areas. Some are even located within spitting distance of elementary schools and municipal buildings such as libraries, and many believe this may contribute to child prostitution, such as enjo kosai, despite the fact that people under 18 are not supposed to be allowed in.
The revisions have broadened the definition of love hotel, and closed many of the loopholes previously used by gisou love hotels. New hotels must, of course, be planned, constructed and registered according to regulations. The 2011 revisions contain a vested rights clause, however, allowing all existing gisou love hotels to be exempt from legal action if they formally registered as love hotels before January 31. Needless to say, many took advantage of the opportunity.
And residents are saying, what's the point? The law, meant to keep love hotels away from things like schools and hospitals has instead given the go for thousands of the businesses to operate openly.
A representative from the "Rid Japan Of Gisou Love Hotels" party told Sankei News, "By allowing for vested rights, nothing changes, and now hotels that hide near schools before can operate out in the open." Uh huh.
The owner of a love hotel argued against the accusation that gisou hotels can contribute to the rise in child prostitution, saying, "There's been a big increase in 'city hotels' that are aimed towards couples, not just traditional love hotels." With regards to minors using the facilities, he added, "We can't ask everyone's age. All we can do is post a sign saying under-18s aren't allowed."
Read the original article here.
May 20, 2011
Lingerie designer by day, yakuza by night: Shizukanaru Don (The Quiet Don)
By Gilles Poitras
Screenshots courtesy of Michelle A. Hoyle
Nitta Tatsuo's Shizukanaru Don (静かなるドン), translated into English as The Quiet Don, began publication in November 1988 in the men's manga magazine Shukan Manga Sunday (Weekly Manga Sunday) and, at nearly 100 tankobon, is still running. This is a tale of a tough young yakuza boss who is head of the largest organization in Kanto, and of a mild-mannered salaryman who works in the design department of a lingerie company. The salaryman is the bottom man in his office—meek, picked on, yelled at. His incredibly slight size and habit of producing bungled designs don't do him any favors either.
The contrast between these two is interesting because, in reality, they are one and the same person. Born into a high-ranking yakuza family, Shizuya Kondo wanted to distance himself from the life of his parents and walk in the light of day as an ordinary person. He created a life for himself as a designer at a lingerie company, but fate had something different in store for him. One day, after scolding him for another failed design, Shizuya's boss turns on the office TV to watch a broadcast of the company's new commercial. A news alert comes on: Isamiashi Kondo, the head of the Shinsengumi, has been shot by members of the Choshu-kai. After work Shizuya rushes to the hospital, only to find his father has just passed away.
At the funeral, the tension is thick between the major oyabun as they vie for the organization's most prestigious seat. Shizuya's mother explains that the only way to prevent a bloody internal struggle is for him to take command. He reluctantly does so on the condition that he keep his day job and carry out his role as a yakuza boss at other times. Comedy ensues as Shizuya works to balance the two sides of his life, and the two sides of his persona.
This is a story that will delight Japanophiles of all kinds. As seen above, the story contains characters and groups named after many famous foes from the Bakumatsu period of the mid 19th century. On a more contemporary front, The Quiet Don began near the end of the bubble economy of the 1980s, giving readers a glimpse of a booming Japanese economy, the glitter and glam of hostess clubs included. We're also taken to see small neighborhood eateries, middle ranking yakuza operating modest enterprises, and salarymen trying to do their job in a very competitive environment. Another interesting touch is Shizuka's mother. She's drawn in a dramatically different style that manga fans will identify as the high realism of Ryoichi Ikegami, a manga artist who has drawn yakuza manga such as the Sanctuary series.
The yakuza are portrayed as competitive, both between gangs and internally, trying to rise up the ranks. Shizuya Kondo comes off at first as eccentric and weak, but those around him soon start to realize just why his mother says he is most capable of leading the organization. There is in fact a beast lurking inside this mild office worker, one more than capable of handling the fiercest opponents, one-on-one or in a showdown against other bosses at a major event. But then, as a salaryman, he is also capable of dancing in his underwear to amuse drunken coworkers at a hot spring resort.
For all of the drama contained in The Quiet Don this is a gag manga filled with slapstick, very earthy humor, humorous situations, and great mix of 19th century history with late 20th century reality.
The English translation of the first two volumes is available in the US, and possibly other areas, as an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Each volume is broken up into four parts that are sold separately. It will also display on an iPad in a small window. There is a free app that gives a preview of the manga, so it's easy to try out some of the early story.
The downside is that reading manga on handheld devices leaves plenty to be desired as you are basically doing it one frame at a time, making it hard to maintain a reading rhythm as you have to tap to go to the next image (or in the case of large frames, for the system to scan across). Also, don't expect to pick up yakuza related vocabulary from this translation. The translation is rough with many terms in English that could have been left in Japanese. These days readers of English translated manga are used to Japanese terms left un-translated when there is no real English equivalent. One example of a word that could have been left untranslated is oyabun consistently translated as "father".
All in all, the story of The Quiet Don is compelling, the characters full of depth, and it's easy to understand how this continuing series has continued running for over 20 years. There have even been adaptations of the story, including an OVA (straight to video anime), a TV drama series and two movies, both of which have been released in subtitled versions through iTunes.
(Jake's note: In addition, there is a long out of production computer game/interactive manga based on the book that in some ways may have been the model for Sega's popular Yakuza series. I don't know any yakuza with sons that went into the apparel business but I do know one mid-level yakuza enforcer who's son became a hairdresser. He is not interested in taking over "the family business", and his father seems very happy with that decision.)
May 15, 2011
Tokyo Prosecutor Special Investigation Unit Takes Lead on TEPCO case, as new evidence contradicts TEPCO claims.
As reported on April 4th here, Japanese law-enforcement continues their investigation into TEPCO, the managing entity of the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor for charges of professional negligence resulting in death or injury, but now the Tokyo Prosecutor Special Investigation Unit has begun their own independent investigation.
The investigation is focussing on what TEPCO did after the Tsunami as well as before (in terms of criminal negligence). The two individuals most likely to be charged with criminal incompetence resulting in death and/or injury are the CEO at the time and the current chairman. During the first 24 hours after the accident, the chairman and the president were both unaccounted for and/or unreachable considerably delaying countermeasures which could have prevented death, injury and the meltdown. There are also reports that putting sea water into the reactor were delayed as TEPCO executives used political connections to buy time to try and save the reactors, rather than focussing on saving lives and the environment around the reactor.
One thing that is now increasingly coming into question is TEPCO's assertion that "this accident was beyond the scope of our imagination" (想定外）. This only holds true if the cause of the reactor meltdown was due to the flooding of the emergency generators by the tsunami (tidal wave) which were supposed to power down the reactor. There is a great possibility that the earthquake itself immediately did so much damage to the containment vessel and parts of reactor 1, that the tidal wave influence was negligible. There are reports that for several years TEPCO was warned by the original manufacturers to replace the core of the reactor and failed to do so.
There is a distinct possibility that what happened was not "beyond imagination" but was simply a case of what had been predicted happening just as predicted. The Fukushima Nuclear Reactor accident is not a natural disaster; it's a man-made disaster, created on several levels. How far the prosecution will go is an unknown. In light of recent arrests of prosecutors for forging evidence, and allegations that the prosecutor's office in Fukushima trumped up charges against the former Governor of Fukushima, who was one of TEPCO's most vocal opponents–national trust for the prosecutor's office is at an all time low.
A source close to the Ministry of Justice, on conditions that his name not be used, said, "This is a chance for the prosecutor's office to show that we are instruments of justice and not tools of whatever administration assumes power in Tokyo. We have a chance to regain public trust and we won't squander it. All we have to do to prove criminal negligence resulting in death or injury is to show that the the parties involved had an understanding of a great danger which they did little to prevent. We don't think that will be hard to prove on multiple levels."
The May 25th edition of SAPIO also touches on the current investigation, although, I think that they are a little off the mark, it's worth a read.
May 12, 2011
Child pornography, government corruption color 2010 US Report On Human Rights in Japan
One that totally flew under our radar:
On April 11, the US State Department released their 2010 Human Rights Report for Japan, detailing human rights conditions on everything from the right to collective bargaining to institutionalized hazing. While Japan is hardly a major violator like, say, friendly neighbours China and North Korea, it is surprising (and in some cases, unfortunately, not so surprising) to see some of the areas where the country falls short of ideal.
As brought to our attention via Polaris Project:
"Child prostitution is illegal, with a penalty of imprisonment with labor for up to three years or a fine of up to one million yen ($12,150) for offenders, including the intermediary and the person involved in solicitation. However, the practice of enjo-kosai (compensated dating) and easy facilitation by means of online dating, social networking, and delivery health (call girl or escort service) sites made de facto domestic child-sex tourism a problem.
"The country continued to be an international hub for the production and trafficking of child pornography. The distribution of child pornography is illegal; the penalty is imprisonment with labor for not more than three years or a fine not exceeding three million yen ($36,460). … The law does not criminalize the simple possession of child pornography, which often depicts the brutal sexual abuse of small children. While this continues to hamper police efforts to effectively enforce existing child pornography laws and fully participate in international law enforcement in this area, child pornography investigations increased 40 percent in 2009 to 935 cases. New measures announced in July included instructing Internet service providers to voluntarily block Internet access to child pornography, increased cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, and boosting resources for investigations … But children's advocates criticized the measure to block access, noting that it does not require Internet service and cellular data providers to block the images and, in fact, the law prohibits providers from censuring any user access.
"The new measures also do not address the unfettered availability of sexually explicit cartoons, comics, and video games. While the NPA maintained that no link has been established between these animated images and child victimization, other experts suggested the situation harms children by creating a culture that appears to accept sexual abuse of children."
This one is hardly a revelation, as any long-time JSRC reader would know. Other highlights:
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
"The government continued to deny death-row inmates and their families information about the date of execution. Families of condemned prisoners were notified of the execution after the fact."
"An NGO reported that prisoners facing the death penalty were sometimes kept in solitary confinement for decades and concluded that a number of these prisoners had become mentally ill as a result but that requests for mental health records of death-row inmates were summarily denied."
Trial Procedures
"According to NGOs, the majority of indicted detainees confessed while in police custody. Safeguards exist so that suspects cannot be compelled to confess to a crime or be convicted when a confession is the only evidence. In 2009 the National Public Safety Commission issued regulations prohibiting police from touching suspects (unless unavoidable), exerting force, threatening them, keeping them in fixed postures for long periods, verbally abusing them, or offering them favors in return for a confession. Defense counsel is not allowed to be present during interrogations.
"NGOs asserted that the new rules were not adequately enforced and that prisoners continued to be subjected to interrogation sessions of eight to 12 hours in length, during which detainees were handcuffed to a chair for the entire period and aggressive questioning techniques were used. NGOs also stated that, although the practice is illegal, interrogators sometimes offered bail in exchange for a detained person proffering a confession."
"The language barrier was a serious problem for foreign defendants. No guidelines exist to ensure effective communication between judges, lawyers, and non-Japanese-speaking defendants. Several foreign detainees claimed that police urged them to sign statements in Japanese that they could not understand and that were not translated adequately. No standard licensing or qualification system existed for court interpreters, and trials proceeded even if no translation or interpretation was provided, despite the government's claims that trials cannot proceed unless translation or interpreting is provided."
Protection of Refugees
"The UN CAT, NGOs, and lawyers criticized the indefinite and often long period of detention between the rejection of an application for asylum and deportation. The UN special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants expressed concern about the policy of detaining asylum seekers and other irregular migrants for prolonged periods, in some cases for as long as three years."
"Refugees faced the same patterns of discrimination that other foreigners did: reduced access to housing, education, and employment. Except for those who met the conditions stated above, persons whose refugee status was pending or on appeal did not have the legal right to work or receive social welfare, rendering them completely dependent on overcrowded government shelters, illegal employment not subject to labor law oversight, or NGO assistance."
Official Corruption and Government Transparency
"Independent academic experts stated that ties between politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen were close and that corruption remained a concern. During the first half of the year, the NPA reported arrests in 20 cases of bribery and four cases of bid rigging. There were regular media reports of investigations into financial and accounting irregularities involving high-profile politicians and government officials, including a decision by a civilian panel requiring that prosecutors indict former DPJ secretary general Ichiro Ozawa."
Persons With Disabilities
"According to NGOs there were an estimated 20,000 homeless persons who could not receive old-age pensions, disability pensions, and livelihood protection allowances because they were considered to be without residence. NGOs reported that, due to inadequate protection by the social safety net and the social stigma against homelessness, a significant number of elderly citizens and homeless individuals committed petty crimes to obtain the food and shelter provided by life in prison. Surveys showed that persons with mental disabilities may have accounted for up to 60 percent of the repeat-offender population in some prisons. Surveys also showed a significant percentage of repeat offenders were homeless persons who were not receiving social services. Police and prison authorities were particularly slow providing treatment of mental illness and had no protocol for offering psychiatric therapy."
And the list goes on. Despite these infringements, Japan received positive remarks on things like "Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life", "Internet Freedom", and "Acts of Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity". According to the report, anti-Semitism was absolutely no problem in Japan as of last year, meaning Jake is safe in Japan from Jew haters.
Jake–Mazel tov, Sarah-cham! Wow, that's a depressing read. I wonder if freedom from being recklessly exposed to nuclear radiation by a criminally negligent power company that rhymes with KEPCO is also a human right? Because if it is, wow, our human rights have all been violated.
Child pornography, government corruption in Japan, Ozawa Ichiro admonished in 2010 US Report On Human Rights
One that totally flew under our radar:
On April 11, the US State Department released their 2010 Human Rights Report for Japan, detailing human rights conditions on everything from the right to collective bargaining to institutionalized hazing. While Japan is hardly a major violator like, say, friendly neighbours China and North Korea, it is surprising (and in some cases, unfortunately, not so surprising) to see some of the areas where the country falls short of ideal.
As brought to our attention via Polaris Project:
"Child prostitution is illegal, with a penalty of imprisonment with labor for up to three years or a fine of up to one million yen ($12,150) for offenders, including the intermediary and the person involved in solicitation. However, the practice of enjo-kosai (compensated dating) and easy facilitation by means of online dating, social networking, and delivery health (call girl or escort service) sites made de facto domestic child-sex tourism a problem.
"The country continued to be an international hub for the production and trafficking of child pornography. The distribution of child pornography is illegal; the penalty is imprisonment with labor for not more than three years or a fine not exceeding three million yen ($36,460). … The law does not criminalize the simple possession of child pornography, which often depicts the brutal sexual abuse of small children. While this continues to hamper police efforts to effectively enforce existing child pornography laws and fully participate in international law enforcement in this area, child pornography investigations increased 40 percent in 2009 to 935 cases. New measures announced in July included instructing Internet service providers to voluntarily block Internet access to child pornography, increased cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, and boosting resources for investigations … But children's advocates criticized the measure to block access, noting that it does not require Internet service and cellular data providers to block the images and, in fact, the law prohibits providers from censuring any user access.
"The new measures also do not address the unfettered availability of sexually explicit cartoons, comics, and video games. While the NPA maintained that no link has been established between these animated images and child victimization, other experts suggested the situation harms children by creating a culture that appears to accept sexual abuse of children."
This one is hardly a revelation, as any long-time JSRC reader would know. Other highlights:
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
"The government continued to deny death-row inmates and their families information about the date of execution. Families of condemned prisoners were notified of the execution after the fact."
"An NGO reported that prisoners facing the death penalty were sometimes kept in solitary confinement for decades and concluded that a number of these prisoners had become mentally ill as a result but that requests for mental health records of death-row inmates were summarily denied."
Trial Procedures
"According to NGOs, the majority of indicted detainees confessed while in police custody. Safeguards exist so that suspects cannot be compelled to confess to a crime or be convicted when a confession is the only evidence. In 2009 the National Public Safety Commission issued regulations prohibiting police from touching suspects (unless unavoidable), exerting force, threatening them, keeping them in fixed postures for long periods, verbally abusing them, or offering them favors in return for a confession. Defense counsel is not allowed to be present during interrogations.
"NGOs asserted that the new rules were not adequately enforced and that prisoners continued to be subjected to interrogation sessions of eight to 12 hours in length, during which detainees were handcuffed to a chair for the entire period and aggressive questioning techniques were used. NGOs also stated that, although the practice is illegal, interrogators sometimes offered bail in exchange for a detained person proffering a confession."
"The language barrier was a serious problem for foreign defendants. No guidelines exist to ensure effective communication between judges, lawyers, and non-Japanese-speaking defendants. Several foreign detainees claimed that police urged them to sign statements in Japanese that they could not understand and that were not translated adequately. No standard licensing or qualification system existed for court interpreters, and trials proceeded even if no translation or interpretation was provided, despite the government's claims that trials cannot proceed unless translation or interpreting is provided."
Protection of Refugees
"The UN CAT, NGOs, and lawyers criticized the indefinite and often long period of detention between the rejection of an application for asylum and deportation. The UN special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants expressed concern about the policy of detaining asylum seekers and other irregular migrants for prolonged periods, in some cases for as long as three years."
"Refugees faced the same patterns of discrimination that other foreigners did: reduced access to housing, education, and employment. Except for those who met the conditions stated above, persons whose refugee status was pending or on appeal did not have the legal right to work or receive social welfare, rendering them completely dependent on overcrowded government shelters, illegal employment not subject to labor law oversight, or NGO assistance."
Official Corruption and Government Transparency
"Independent academic experts stated that ties between politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen were close and that corruption remained a concern. During the first half of the year, the NPA reported arrests in 20 cases of bribery and four cases of bid rigging. There were regular media reports of investigations into financial and accounting irregularities involving high-profile politicians and government officials, including a decision by a civilian panel requiring that prosecutors indict former DPJ secretary general Ichiro Ozawa."
Persons With Disabilities
"According to NGOs there were an estimated 20,000 homeless persons who could not receive old-age pensions, disability pensions, and livelihood protection allowances because they were considered to be without residence. NGOs reported that, due to inadequate protection by the social safety net and the social stigma against homelessness, a significant number of elderly citizens and homeless individuals committed petty crimes to obtain the food and shelter provided by life in prison. Surveys showed that persons with mental disabilities may have accounted for up to 60 percent of the repeat-offender population in some prisons. Surveys also showed a significant percentage of repeat offenders were homeless persons who were not receiving social services. Police and prison authorities were particularly slow providing treatment of mental illness and had no protocol for offering psychiatric therapy."
And the list goes on. Despite these infringements, Japan received positive remarks on things like "Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life", "Internet Freedom", and "Acts of Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity". According to the report, anti-Semitism was absolutely no problem in Japan as of last year, meaning Jake is safe in Japan from Jew haters.
Jake–Mazel tov, Sarah-cham! Wow, that's a depressing read. I wonder if freedom from being recklessly exposed to nuclear radiation by a criminally negligent power company that rhymes with KEPCO is also a human right? Because if it is, wow, our human rights have all been violated.
Child pornography, government corruption color US report on human rights in Japan
One that totally flew under our radar:
On April 11, the US State Department released their 2010 Human Rights Report for Japan, detailing human rights conditions on everything from the right to collective bargaining to institutionalized hazing. While Japan is hardly a major violator like, say, friendly neighbours China and North Korea, it is surprising (and in some cases, unfortunately, not so surprising) to see some of the areas where the country falls short of ideal.
As brought to our attention via Polaris Project:
"Child prostitution is illegal, with a penalty of imprisonment with labor for up to three years or a fine of up to one million yen ($12,150) for offenders, including the intermediary and the person involved in solicitation. However, the practice of enjo-kosai (compensated dating) and easy facilitation by means of online dating, social networking, and delivery health (call girl or escort service) sites made de facto domestic child-sex tourism a problem.
"The country continued to be an international hub for the production and trafficking of child pornography. The distribution of child pornography is illegal; the penalty is imprisonment with labor for not more than three years or a fine not exceeding three million yen ($36,460). … The law does not criminalize the simple possession of child pornography, which often depicts the brutal sexual abuse of small children. While this continues to hamper police efforts to effectively enforce existing child pornography laws and fully participate in international law enforcement in this area, child pornography investigations increased 40 percent in 2009 to 935 cases. New measures announced in July included instructing Internet service providers to voluntarily block Internet access to child pornography, increased cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, and boosting resources for investigations … But children's advocates criticized the measure to block access, noting that it does not require Internet service and cellular data providers to block the images and, in fact, the law prohibits providers from censuring any user access.
"The new measures also do not address the unfettered availability of sexually explicit cartoons, comics, and video games. While the NPA maintained that no link has been established between these animated images and child victimization, other experts suggested the situation harms children by creating a culture that appears to accept sexual abuse of children."
This one is hardly a revelation, as any long-time JSRC reader would know. Other highlights:
Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
"The government continued to deny death-row inmates and their families information about the date of execution. Families of condemned prisoners were notified of the execution after the fact."
"An NGO reported that prisoners facing the death penalty were sometimes kept in solitary confinement for decades and concluded that a number of these prisoners had become mentally ill as a result but that requests for mental health records of death-row inmates were summarily denied."
Trial Procedures
"According to NGOs, the majority of indicted detainees confessed while in police custody. Safeguards exist so that suspects cannot be compelled to confess to a crime or be convicted when a confession is the only evidence. In 2009 the National Public Safety Commission issued regulations prohibiting police from touching suspects (unless unavoidable), exerting force, threatening them, keeping them in fixed postures for long periods, verbally abusing them, or offering them favors in return for a confession. Defense counsel is not allowed to be present during interrogations.
"NGOs asserted that the new rules were not adequately enforced and that prisoners continued to be subjected to interrogation sessions of eight to 12 hours in length, during which detainees were handcuffed to a chair for the entire period and aggressive questioning techniques were used. NGOs also stated that, although the practice is illegal, interrogators sometimes offered bail in exchange for a detained person proffering a confession."
"The language barrier was a serious problem for foreign defendants. No guidelines exist to ensure effective communication between judges, lawyers, and non-Japanese-speaking defendants. Several foreign detainees claimed that police urged them to sign statements in Japanese that they could not understand and that were not translated adequately. No standard licensing or qualification system existed for court interpreters, and trials proceeded even if no translation or interpretation was provided, despite the government's claims that trials cannot proceed unless translation or interpreting is provided."
Protection of Refugees
"The UN CAT, NGOs, and lawyers criticized the indefinite and often long period of detention between the rejection of an application for asylum and deportation. The UN special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants expressed concern about the policy of detaining asylum seekers and other irregular migrants for prolonged periods, in some cases for as long as three years."
"Refugees faced the same patterns of discrimination that other foreigners did: reduced access to housing, education, and employment. Except for those who met the conditions stated above, persons whose refugee status was pending or on appeal did not have the legal right to work or receive social welfare, rendering them completely dependent on overcrowded government shelters, illegal employment not subject to labor law oversight, or NGO assistance."
Official Corruption and Government Transparency
"Independent academic experts stated that ties between politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen were close and that corruption remained a concern. During the first half of the year, the NPA reported arrests in 20 cases of bribery and four cases of bid rigging. There were regular media reports of investigations into financial and accounting irregularities involving high-profile politicians and government officials, including a decision by a civilian panel requiring that prosecutors indict former DPJ secretary general Ichiro Ozawa."
Persons With Disabilities
"According to NGOs there were an estimated 20,000 homeless persons who could not receive old-age pensions, disability pensions, and livelihood protection allowances because they were considered to be without residence. NGOs reported that, due to inadequate protection by the social safety net and the social stigma against homelessness, a significant number of elderly citizens and homeless individuals committed petty crimes to obtain the food and shelter provided by life in prison. Surveys showed that persons with mental disabilities may have accounted for up to 60 percent of the repeat-offender population in some prisons. Surveys also showed a significant percentage of repeat offenders were homeless persons who were not receiving social services. Police and prison authorities were particularly slow providing treatment of mental illness and had no protocol for offering psychiatric therapy."
And the list goes on. Despite these infringements, Japan received positive remarks on things like "Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life", "Internet Freedom", and "Acts of Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity". According to the report, anti-Semitism was absolutely no problem in Japan as of last year, meaning Jake is safe in Japan from Jew haters.
