Ex-lawmaker GaaSyy arrested upon return to Japan

The chicken is coming home to roost...

Japanese former lawmaker and social media personality GaaSyy was arrested Sunday for allegedly threatening to defame some individuals, including a celebrity, after returning to Japan from the United Arab Emirates, where he had been residing, police said.

He was arrested, not detained, which means a warrant was issued, and the prosecutors have evidence that he did actually do the "alleged" crime. Otherwise he'd be a free man.

But on the other hand, the Diet was embarrassed by his actions so, one will never know the "real" reason he was put in cuffs

Arrested? Really?

"allegedly threatened to defame three people in his YouTube videos"

Along the lines of, "if you don't watch out, I'll criticize you on Youtube?

He is also suspected of interfering with the business activities of one of the three people.

That's kinda vague. These allegations smack of trumped up charges against an individual who embarrasses "the system" and gives it a hard time. Much like in Putin's Russia.

Japanese former lawmaker and social media personality GaaSyy was arrested Sunday for allegedly threatening to defame some individuals, including a celebrity, after returning to Japan from the United Arab Emirates, where he had been residing, police said.

Quite an effort by police and prosecutors over such nebulous charges.

I wonder if the real ones being "defamed" were the Diet and Japanese lawmakers in general for being exposed as a farce and it mattering little whether one is present or not.

In that case GaaSyy's case could be considered one of political activist performance theater and be protected under laws ensuring freedom of political speech?

My fishy-smell meter is turned to 11 here.

Arresting political opponents on bogus charges, surely can't happen in the beacon of democracy and human rights, Japan. Right?

He was placed on an international wanted list in April through the International Criminal Police Organization, or Interpol, according to investigative sources.

For the alleged crime of ‘defamation’ ?

Surely, there are crimes which warrant this type of attention no?

An international wanted list for gun running, murder, drug smuggling etc would make sense but slagging someone off?

The authorities in Japan clearly show disregard for serious matters impacting the majority of people here by their overreaction.

And the best part about it is his smile, he probably thinks its a prank or a bad joke.

There was so many officer, escorting him. What was his crime again?

What was his crime again?

Causing embarrassment to the establishment.

He refinitely asked for a slap down. But these days people will do anything for attention.

*definitely

For the alleged crime of ‘defamation’ ?

Surely, there are crimes which warrant this type of attention no?

An international wanted list for gun running, murder, drug smuggling etc would make sense but slagging someone off?

The authorities in Japan clearly show disregard for serious matters impacting the majority of people here by their overreaction.

It just another way to show how things is really work in Japan, in other country such a waste of resource.

This scumbag makes jimin look competent. That's frightening.

I read the news today, Oh! Boy! but he did nothing wrong in a Democratic country. So...

He took advantage of the government's stupid loopholes, so they are mad. The government decides to arrest him on "defamation" which is another way to say "criticize truthfully" in Japan.

There is very little left that actually works fairly and properly in Japan.

Trumped up charges.

LDP don't like criticism.

"Threatening to defame some individuals, including a celebrity".

Crime of the century (although it has not happened yet). Arrested at the airport, rather similar to another individual (no names mentioned, of course) who was treated the same way. Obviously, Rule of Law is just not fit for purpose in Japan. But we know that now, don't we!

He knew he would be arrested if he returned to the Motherland, so why did he do so?

Japan is so thin skinned. Seriously, so. This guy was arrested for what, free speech?

He will be in prison for a very long time, at least 20 years is my guess

This guy is such a clown, and he really did push the wrong buttons. Murder? Maybe a couple of years. Money scandal? suspended sentence at best. But threaten rich celebrities and mock other lawmakers? Big trouble!

On the other hand, the clowns voted him in despite his arrogance and stupidity, so in a way they all deserve it.

Libel laws in this country are ridiculous. More likely to get punished for calling out a pedo than actually being a pedo.

A public relations event designed to distract attention away from the ongoing Kishida family scandals, the role of nepotism in Japanese politics and the whitewash of investigations into the Unification Church. Japan winning the WBC was a godsend to the LDP but that's slowly fading into the past now.

What a waste of taxpayers money.

Hey, he was probably the most productive member of parliament.

Never voted to raise taxes.

Never met for dinner et al with lobbyists.

Never made any embarrassing remarks.

Whats not to like?

And the best part about it is his smile, he probably thinks its a prank or a bad joke.

Actually, I find that smile impressive. They want him to look dour because that makes him look like a criminal. With a smile like that, and he's causing embarrassment to the most destructive and corrupt members of society - what's not to like?

This is purely a political arrest and jealousy of his great success. There is no real crime.

Do we have ourselves a provocateur here? His clothes and expression suggest that he doesnt give AF and is enjoying himself. Japan could do with more brave souls willing to put the big mirror up and to the culture for some self-reflection. The system of course will by nature try and take him down, as a warning to others. Looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. Omoroi.

GaaSyy was elected to the Diet under the proportional representation system, whereby seats are distributed in accordance with the total votes cast for each political party and its candidates.

sooooo, who's fault was that

He was a member of the Seijikajoshi48 Party, which roughly translates to politician girls 48 party.

IDK, this sounds very professional to me. But he was still elected despite this.

Again...............who's fault was this?

And of course, he has no right to express to the media for his defense.

We know in fact nothing of his opinion on the defamation and supposedly interference of business activities.

If it is obvious, why hide it in the media while it is its role to explain.

Looks like (again) another political arrest.

At worse he should have been stripped of is role of lawmaker,. But no more for such petty crimes.

Going on the social networks to check by myself !

Putting someone on an international wanted list for defamation. This sets an extremely dangerous precedent. Behavior I would expect from Xi Jingping, not behavior I would expect from a member of G7!

It’s an amazing game LDP played here. Went after the guy for defamation against other people, but you know, not the whole “collected 6 months of paychecks while never going to work” physically anyway. Then again they can sleep on camera or check their business stocks in the diet so, not sure why they demanded he be there so badly.

Either way this sets a precedent and example the LDP should keep going. Next time one of the oyaji screams “shut up and go back to having babies” or “of course I touched her she looked cute heheh” they should be held accountable for their words right?

… right Kishida!?

Japan winning the WBC was a godsend to the LDP but that's slowly fading into the past now.

Slowly? It's long forgotten! But there are always "things" that pop up when heat gets turned up.

Prrostucters

Ex-lawmaker GaaSyy could be lined up for a political punishment beating to an inch of his life.

I not sure if he will find the experience amusing.

As soon as he stepped off the plane prosecutors were waiting.

Authorities in Japan...dysfunctional as always, overthinking - creating problems that are not there!

he looks like a fun guy.

Japan, unfortunately isnt known for fun. at all.

I like Japan, but the corrupt justice system is one of its dark sides. This is ridiculous.

Who really cares? The country will survive it, and he has got a supporting base and will survive it well too. In the worst case he sells it again on TV or in an own book. The good thing is, he showed and proved that there are quite some loopholes in the voting, election and parliamentary system. There should be some fixing, so that it’s not possible again, that someone with below zero qualifications gets an upper house seat such easily and for no detectable reason.

Remember the Ghosh affair. So much conservative, the Last millennium affair..

Based and redpilled.

When your country is governed by total clowns, well, you might as well put on your makeup and big red boots.

Not sure if it's the same guy, but I noticed a @gaasyy2126 on YouTube with a meager four thousand subscribers? All this hype and media attention over such a small channel? It's like swatting a fly with a hammer.

Also just goes to show there is absolutely no free speech in Japan and if you try criticizing the wrong people, they will come gunning for you. Now they have solidified it into law with the Hana Kimura law. Shame on these fools!

@Wolfshine Apparently he deleted most of his content and his 2 accounts were then suspended by YouTube.

"“There's no such thing as bad publicity, as long as they spell your name right”

“There's only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

Sounds like the kid in class who’s always letting one go. Watch out, here comes Gassy. Oh sorry, I mean GaaSsy”.

Japanese former lawmaker and social media personality GaaSyy was arrested Sunday for allegedly threatening to defame some individuals, including a celebrity, after returning to Japan from the United Arab Emirates, where he had been residing, police said.

The 51-year-old, whose real name is Yoshikazu Higashitani, became a popular YouTuber posting videos about celebrity scandals on his channel. He was stripped of his status as a lawmaker in March by the House of Councillors for not attending any sessions since being elected last year.

Some would suggest what this hapless fool is accused of, defamation, are in essence civil claims. I suggest this grinning fool has seriously rubbed up a person/s with the influence to kick him where it hurts.

The last person, that comes to mind, treated to such a public media beasting, hint ex-Nissan Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn, needed to be whisked away in a box.

GaaSyy, or whatever the fool is calling himself today is being set up for a fall, perhaps of Tokyo Skytree.

The dude seems like kind of a dick. But, that really shouldn't be against the law.

If the celebrities feel they've been "defamed", whatever that means (I guess it's akin to slander and/or libel), it should be a civil matter between them, not a criminal one.

In most normal democratic countirs, a judge (72 hours after arrest in Japan) would just throw this "case" out, and probably order an inquiry into the arrest. What will Japan's imbecile judges do - rubber stamp the police and prosecutors automatic demand for a 10 day extension of custody. A pathetic legal system with no sense of law / rule of law.

Taking a closer look at this photo, it's clear that Mr. GaaSyy doesn't fit that well into Japanese society; the dyed blonde hair, the lack of a facemask, the 5 o'clock shadow, the Pikachu T-Shirt, the "overseas lifestyle" all point to that reality. He looks like an aimless and unsuccessful almost-middle aged man who could never really be molded into a subservient corporate soldier; a square peg, if you would.

We've seen this same movie many times before. School of hard knocks guy never finds his stride, until he gets online and starts doing a little trolling. When the going gets tough, the tough get grifting. People love it, laugh, and then the guy who was once a loser in the eyes of society finds wealth and fame. And then the entitled, thin-skinned, humiliated upper class of society have to knock him off his high horse and teach him a lesson by getting his channel banned. It's a story we've heard so many times before.

People need to wake up and understand they are living in the matrix.