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Marchers in Ikebukuro fete Hitler's 125th birthday anniversary

121 Comments

A group of demonstrators paraded through Tokyo's Ikebukuro district last Sunday, criticizing China and South Korea while advocating the restoration of the "Great East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" proposed by Japan in the 1940s. The procession this time was different from those organized by other groups seen marching on Tokyo's streets, as, in addition to the 16-ray rising sun flag of Japan, the participants spearheading the march openly waved the Nazi flag -- an act that's illegal in Germany.

The demonstration, including the flags, can be viewed in the YouTube video below.

According to J-Cast News (April 23), Sunday's demonstration was organized by an organization that calls itself the "Gokoku Shishi no Kai" (Group of Warriors Protecting the Nation). They assembled in a small park in East Ikebukuro, the location of the gallows in the former Sugamo Prison, where former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and six other Class A war criminals were executed by hanging in December 1948.

"To keep the achievements of our illustrious predecessors from going to waste, we advocate the restoration of the Great East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere, minus participation by China and the two Koreas," one of the organizers told the assembled demonstrators. Referring to the date as coinciding with the 125th anniversary of Adolf Hitler's birthday, he also noted that "The empire of Japan and Nazi Germany have been portrayed as villains, and in Germany glorifying the Nazis will get a person jailed. We would like to re-investigate the 1993 Kono Statement and Nazi Germany as well, to rehabilitate their good acts and restore their honor."

When asked to name the Nazis' good acts, the speaker was able to come up with the autobahn, but not much else.

Approximately 40 marchers, who also carried the flags of Tibet and the Taiwan Independence Party, chanted slogans such as "Let's tie up with Asia, excepting 'Shina' (China) and 'Chosen' (Koreans)," "Japan should learn from the Nazis' good points" and "Long live the Chancellor (Hitler)!"

A smaller group of counter-demonstrators also showed up and the two sides exchanged taunts, but did not exchange blows.

As the demonstration broke up, the organizer was quoted as saying that the police had requested they delay the march due to President Obama's impending visit to Tokyo.

"But I told them, "It can only be this day (Hitler's birthday), and kept pushing for a permit. We should all tell the police how much we appreciate their consideration."

© Japan Today

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121 Comments
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I have no words.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Well hurrah for freedom of speech. :-/

12 ( +17 / -5 )

This is embarrassing/painful/shocking to watch... They have no idea....

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Wonder if they'd feel the same after a visit to Auschwitz. Though I guess we shouldn't be too worried. 40 people out of 127,000,000 is a ridiculously small percentage of the population.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Why? Just why?....

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Nazism is the ruthless extermination of the impure and unfit. Nazism usually appeals to isolated, disaffected individuals who for some reason don't fit into a larger whole. Adolph Hitler operated under the cloak of secrecy in the 1930's and 1940's. Had a free press been allowed to expose his plans and his early acts, perhaps his nation might not have permitted the millions of unfortunate souls to perish in the concentration camps and ovens.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

"Group of Warriors Protecting the Nation"

We can rest easy.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

One of the best examples of 'Stupid is as stupid does' that I have seen in a long time.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

the restoration of the Great East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere, minus participation by China and the two Koreas

They were so eager to participate the last time around...

8 ( +9 / -1 )

"Great East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere, minus participation by China and the two Koreas"

So basically the Great Japan Uni-Prosperity Sphere.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

You have the right to be stupid

9 ( +10 / -1 )

If these are the "Warriors" who are supposedly protecting the nation, well... Japan's in deep doo doo.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

This is actually quite farcical. Sure, maybe they fall somewhere in the same vicinity of right-wing-nutbaggery, but imagine the outcome if this group met a group of neo-Nazi skinheads, and tried to embrace them (figuratively) as brothers of the same political sphere. Oh the fireworks...

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Party Guest: Oh,but really biting satire is always better than physical force. Isaac Davis: No,physical force is always better with Nazis. Insults or bats or both?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Ignorant and delusional. And I'll bet even right wingers wouldn't go this far.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I've tried several times to type something here, and I can't.

It's too profoundly ridiculous to describe.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

This is what led to them to lose WWII!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

In another post on another thread I mentioned the connection between the Axis powers of the Imperial Japanese Army and Nazi Germany and was voted down and rebuffed with comments that such assumptions were a logical fallacy...and that they were completely different...I was oversimplifying the issues etc.

Well, it seems clear that I'm not the only one guitly of 'oversimplifying' historical actuality.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Well, the right to free speech never included a provision guaranteeing that the speaker must be intelligent. What a bunch of ignorant clowns.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

This is what led to them to lose WWII!

So true. And yet if the Chinese want to protest about Japan's Unit 731 in China or other countries that suffered under the so called "Great East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" they get upset and say that it is all wrong and it wasn't their (Japan's) fault. If they need to learn anything, it would be that if the Nazi's had won, Japan would have been next to fall under Germany. After all, they did invade their one time alley Russia during the war.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Baka!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

xenioApr. 25, 2014 - 08:15AM JST You have the right to be stupid

Unfortunately. It is what makes democracy the biggest joke of all time, the intelligent votes cancelled out by the drooling morons until you end up with the average vote representing the marginally informed "average" citizen.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

Why give them the attention they so desperately seek?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

They speak Japanese like uneducated thugs. This is what happens to mentally damaged goods. They are just trying to act like big tough men. They are little cockaroaches. Every society has its total looser fringe.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Is this the strong counter to Obama's TPP agreement? I wonder if they can eat the 20 ??

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just look at them. You can see they're a bunch of uneducated, childish, idiots. Ignore them.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

They're definitely not the sharpest tools in the box. But perhaps this is a mixed blessing in terms of showing what the logical conclusion of Japanese nationalism leads to. There is no escaping the Nazi connection-just ask Aso. He'll smirk about it as a means of changing the constittution. For those who want to whitewash Japan's role in WWII, that connection will always be a self-evident truth so blatant that even morons like these know it.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Freedom of expression? Scuse me? I think anyone that uses this excuse to grab a chance of hate speeching and gloryfying the horrendous events from world war 2 should be waterboarded. Makes me sick these people still exist.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Yeah, and I bet these uneducated cowards would run for cover if they were ever conscripted to fight for Japan!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think if they met holocaust survivors, and allowed them to share their experience and listened to their story I don't think this kind of demonstration would be as easy to perform. They are so far away from Nutzi Germany that they can utilize the shock value for notoriety. Same thing with the every day folks in Japan who had to suffer the ambitions of the oyaji in charge. Ask anyone who suffered through WW2 in Japan even before the Americans retaliated for Pearl Harbor and I am sure you would have a hard time finding one person who would justify that war.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

See this is why you shouldn't be too concerned when right-wingers on this site come up with their historical arguments about Nanking and atrocities. These people think Hitler was a good guy too.

I wonder if some of the right-wing revisionists who comment here were in the crowd.

But which is more embarrassing? That these people don't realise how ridiculous they are? That they are allowed to do it? That Japanese don't care?

Or that Japanese TV will cover any trivial thing that's going on, but something like this doesn't make the news.

I wonder what Obama would have thought? I don't think he celebrates Hitler's birthday.

What would have been really funny is if Abe told Obama he had to change the time for a meeting because he was going to the park to celebrate with his patriotic friends on this auspicious day.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

A few cards short of a full deck, or perhaps like their hero, one testicle short of a pair.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Pathetic doesn't even begin to describe this lot of lost souls ...................

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If I were Chinese or Korean I'd be trying to spread this video around as much as possible. Hopefully it will be picked up my foreign media.

I love the way they express their thanks to the police.

I wonder if Abe, Hashimoto, Ishihara, and the NHK board think of this video.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The issue here is about what lead to these so called :"low information voters" and others to be out there supporting Hitler. I submit to you, that if you were to ask the average "Tanaka" in the street, they would have no clue as to what happened during WWII, and that the only thing they know is that an A-bomb was dropped on Japan twice. So I submit that it is not just the far right who fall for this stuff, but a lot of regular people. They may not be out there marching with them, but if you were to do random polls, you would find that some have similar thoughts and beliefs. Just ask somone what they think of Koreans or Chinese or other non-Japanese and I rest my case.

Nationalism is not a bad thing, though too much of it can be. Not saying I support these clowns they are way off, but they don't scare me with their beliefs. If they wish to remain ignorant of the facts, then that's their life.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Dear Group of Warriors Protecting the Nation: I just watched your video from my bunker here beneath central Buenos Aires, and must say I was tickled pink that you remembered mein geburtstag. Herzlichen danke! Best wishes, Adolf

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I wonder if they support Abe.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Alphaape

So there's obviously something wrong with the Japanese education system isn't there.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Japan Today shouldnt advertize this king of stupid groups..

2 ( +4 / -2 )

"Ikebukuro Nazis? I hate Ikebukuro Nazis."

6 ( +6 / -0 )

It reminds me of listening to BNP supporters back in the UK. Not really much happening in their heads and spout nonsense without actually knowing historical events or facts.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Benny@I disagree. Some Japanese have a strongly developed sense of shame, and by publicly exposing such groups to people outside Japan, it may work to discourage them. A few members of right-wing groups have three-digit IQs and understand that their image would suffer even further if people form an association between Japan's own brand of nationalism and Nazism.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If I were Chinese or Korean I'd be trying to spread this video around as much as possible. Hopefully it will be picked up my foreign media.

WHY?? Don't give these idiots any more exposure, and don't give those idiot ultra-right wingers in Korea and China any more ammo.

Just ignore these idiots. They're seeking attention like bratty children, so don't give it to them.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Alphaape,

I am with you on this one. Kinda. While I agree with you that many Japanese wouldn't oppose these jokers' ridiculous views and that many people might even agree, I don't think they're completely harmless. Japan is horribly docile and apathetic when it comes to politics and if too many agree with people like these, the pendulum could swing quickly.

This is what lack of proper education does. These guys are probably uneducated, relatively poor, without much going for them. In any field. So they get together, down a few happoshu and feel good about being horrified together about the horrors of foreigners. And they want to something. So someone comes up with this ridiculous idea and they feel like they have accomplished something.

If they instead would have been encouraged to do something good for mankind, I doubt they would have chosen this offbeat path. Populists (everywhere) appeal to people's fear and discontent, with promises of things getting better. I bet these boys were lured into this BS that way.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Put this in context. it was just 40 of them.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

garbage, what does strike me crazy is normal citizens not beating the hell out of them

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"In thirty years' time China and Korea will have disappeared from the map".

This is so far beyond delusional, I don't know where to begin....

I wonder how many of them are wearing clothes made in China.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Japan should learn from the Nazis? Didn't Hitler want everyone to be arian? Just wondered...

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Before I begin let's put this march into reality....

40 people Marching out of a City of nearly 14,000,000 people is considered newsworthy or controversial?

Something doesn't sit well or for that, something doesn't smell well either. Why try and make this into a news story unless you have an agenda to promote?

Now, I wonder how long it will be before my post is deleted due to it's content?

I give it 2 minutes.

Approximately 40 marchers, who also carried the flags of Tibet and the Taiwan Independence Party, chanted slogans such as “Let’s tie up with Asia, excepting ‘Shina’ (China) and ‘Chosen’ (Koreans),” “Japan should learn from the Nazis’ good points” and “Long live the Chancellor (Hitler)!”

40 silly people marching down the streets chanting silly slogans is newsworthy?

Now, if instead of 40 there were 4000 that would actually be worth something. Must be a very slow news day, or someone is trying way too hard to make some sort of leftist political point.

40 silly youths doesn't make a nation.

Alex EinzApr. 25, 2014 - 11:18AM JST garbage, what does strike me crazy is normal citizens not beating the hell out of them

In a nation that respects Freedom of Speech and Expression even the silliest of people have the right to express themselves. If, as you say normal citizens were to attack these silly people then those normal citizens would find themselves in jail.

But really, what normal citizen runs around the streets beating other people they don't agree with? Your idea of what it means to be a normal citizen sounds a bit abnormal.

So, it is better and wiser to laugh at these silly people and to allow them to have their say than it is to get yourself thrown in jail.

PandabelleApr. 25, 2014 - 10:48AM JST WHY?? Don't give these idiots any more exposure, and don't give those idiot ultra-right wingers in Korea and China any more ammo.

You nailed it, but, one must ask who would make these silly 40 people into a newsworthy story? Easy answer, someone who wants to give the other side ammunition.

Whoever thought this unworthy tale was worthy was someone who wants or wanted to stir the pot.

40 don't make a nation, but 40 do give Communist China and South Korea something to use against Japan. With the right photo-shopping skill these 40 can be made to look like 40,000.

PeacetrainApr. 25, 2014 - 10:11AM JST If I were Chinese or Korean I'd be trying to spread this video around as much as possible. Hopefully it will be picked up my foreign media.

Of course you want foreign news medias to use the 40 marchers as propaganda against Japan. Anyone with a bias opinion against Japan looks for any excuse to try and blame the whole of the citizenry.

Let me try and say this one more time, 40 people doesn't make a nation. But, it makes a nation to those that hate that nation.

It is so typical of the extreme leftist.

-8 ( +6 / -14 )

@fukuppy

Yes, Hitler did want everyone to be Aryan, but he had a great admiration for the way the Japanese got things done and said as much. He then added as an afterthought that it was a shame they werent white. But the philosophies of racial superiority were staples of both regimes, and they enjoyed a very warm and cordial relationship with a mutual admiration for each others methodologies.

It is interesting to speculate how things would have turned out between them had they been victorious. I, for one, am eternally grateful that neither were.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Ignorant Barstardos need to go to Gulag for reducation

2 ( +2 / -0 )

JoeBigs - I was nodding along all the way through your post, cursor poised to click 'good' - until I came to the last sentence. It negated everything you wrote previously.

The people who want to make something of 40 unweaned, unloved losers making a spectacle of themselves are probably as far from being extreme leftists as it is possible to get.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

As for the new greater east asian coprosperity sphere, its plausible it might be what Japan would like to do with Vietnam, Phillipines and India. I dont think you can count on Singapore, Koreas or China to ever be a part of anything "joint" with Japan. Tawain is on the fence I think.

I dont think these people are that far off, they are only expressing what many Japanese people think. I dont think its coincidence that they chose Ikebukuro either, being that there is a China town and many Koreans near there.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Stupid? Or just ill-informed?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I find this spectacle disturbing and comical. It is disturbing because these morons have absolutely no clue what the Nazis stand for. It is comical because these "men" would be classified as untermenschen (subhuman) in Nazi Germany. However, after watching the video, any intelligent person can tell these "men" are a few fries short of a Happy Meal.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Let's be fair to Japan, this is a handful of very angry, socially inept scum.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Actually these people are not that fringe, many Japanese share and admiration for Hitler

Did they ever find out who vandalized the "Diary of Anne Frank" books in Tokyo? I know Abe received a bunch of copies fro from his last visit to Europe.

Like some have posted, these people are probably not the norm, but you would probably be surprised at how many people here may have just as extreme views and not fully understand the background of the Nazis. Still as some have pointed out, 40 out of 14,000,000 is a small number, but then again, how really open and honest is the Japanese press? Some have stated that if it makes Japan looks bad, it probably will not get much air play of publicity. .

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Damn Japan. You used to be cool.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

A new Aum cult?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Good, honest, hard working and peaceful Japanese...don't let misled fools like these embarrass Japan. These are dangerous times we live in. These cretins are doing untold damage to your peaceful reputation.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

All it really takes to catch the media's attention is to be flamboyantly obnoxious.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

They speak Japanese like uneducated thugs.

They look that way too.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

These guys seem to be pretty young, and aren't affiliated with the Uyoku-Dantai in any obvious way. But fascist political leanings seem to have more and more political clout these days in this tiny, insular and largely mono linguistic island nation. The workings of the government are a mystery to the vast majority of the populace and of the thousands I've met, I've only known of two Japanese people who have ever voted (whom were forthcoming about it). It seems apathy is the one thing that allows the tacit approval of how things are run in Japan today. Without any political representation for gaijin, and a stronger movement for Japan's political leaders to assume a more communicative role in the global community, it's not such a stretch of the imagination to think that this sort of fascist right wing politics to become a diet majority in the future. I'm sure we all recall, it has happened before. The emperor was given the only power he had by those who listened, followed and believed, after all. I'll shut up now.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Forgive me, but I really dont understand the shock or disbelief that this could happen in Japan. I have witnessed this several times in Japan, regardless of the economic situation. Ive had to endure spats of anti foriegner right wing nut talk at places I worked also. It is puzzeling, I admit, being that Japan says it must import massive foriegn labor for the Olympics, but it just shows us that the anti foriegner movement is alive and well, regardless of any 3rd arrow of immigration reform talk. I think the foriegn labor will come from the new coprosperity sphere members (vietnam, burma, etc). Many of these nationalistic Japanese work in construction and other jobs that dont require much education or skills. From the looks of these ugly losers, they are either unemployed are employed in undesirable jobs. The chances of a gaijin working with one, however, are quite good, as many of us gaijin are employed in these places.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@Joebiggs.

A group of 40 people carrying swastikas on Hitlers birthday around the 2 biggest station in the world, and saying that Hitler was good, and Japan should bring back the Great East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere is pretty newsworthy to me.

I think lots of people in the world would be surprised that a group of 40 could do that, and also not be hassled at all.

You think the latest AKB member is more important? Or that Justin Bieber urinated somewhere?

The Westboro Baptist Church is about 40 and they made the news. The big difference is that everyone condemned them and the public abused them. What's interesting here, is that a group of 40 people with huge flags can venerate probably the worst individual in history in the middle of Tokyo.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

To put it into context, you could probably find forty people in Tokyo who think that they have been abducted by aliens. I just cant see the point in giving them any publicity at all.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I always found it interesting how the purist Japanese eugenics crowd or Japanese only nationalist align themselves with the neo nazi pro hitler groups or thinking of the West. you can find the same loser drop outs at a Klan rally in the U.S. but their agenda is anti anything non white. A Japanese persons origins are not Caucasin, but of Mongolian or Korean, some even argue Chinese. When we travel to Korea we can see almost identical customs, like the funeral (soshiki) ceremony, Confucious values and many other similiarities. If a Japanese person were to mingle in a white majority country, he/she is looked at to be of Asian origin, with little if anything in common with Anglo people. That Japanese person would be closer aligned to anyone of Asian origins in a white majority society. Im not trying to be racist, rather, Im trying to understand the mentality of these haters.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

double-facepalm

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

The Westboro Baptist Church is about 40 and they made the news. The big difference is that everyone condemned them and the public abused them. What's interesting here, is that a group of 40 people with huge flags can venerate probably the worst individual in history in the middle of Tokyo.

@ Peacetrain: That's a good point! You did see a large amount of outspoken rage against them than you will see here in Japan against these people. As with other groups that expouse controversial views in America at least they are tolerated, and reported. Granted that it depends on what Administration is in power to suit the news media agenda, but more people will know about these types and it will at least be discussed more openly than here in Japan.

Again some commentors have said that these may be low classed people, so does that mean that only the "enlighted" people have the right to opinions and that if you don't agree with them then you are somehow deemed not worthy? Just like we in America like to say that most Muslim terrorists come from poor families, but we have seen with the 9/11 actors, they are from middle class families with means and not just some bottom feeers.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

JoeBiggs: agree that 40 people in no way represent the nation (even though we know there are more that support them and such events or protests are limited to 40 people in order to get permission to do it), but even one is too many. As for the "people who hate this nation" and "ultra-leftist" nonsense, it's a shame you take a comment about how 40 people don't represent a nation then turn around and label EVERYONE opposed to what they are doing under one roof. Ah, hypocrisy!

0 ( +6 / -6 )

“The empire of Japan and Nazi Germany have been portrayed as villains, and in Germany glorifying the Nazis will get a person jailed. We would like to re-investigate the 1993 Kono Statement and Nazi Germany as well, to rehabilitate their good acts and restore their honor."

What good acts and honor?? I just woke up, and I read this, and I already want to go back to sleep because I cannot believe this is happening, and I don't WANT to believe.

Someone needs to educate them, they're too young to embrace this kind of belief, probably are too disenchanted and detached, or maybe think it is cool? :( I cannot listen to the video, but the swastikas and the guy in the uniform sent enough chills down my spine without hearing sounds.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No doubt that idiots like these are being coaxed out of the social "woodwork" by politicians like Abe.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

What's interesting here, is that a group of 40 people with huge flags can venerate probably the worst individual in history in the middle of Tokyo.

Have you missed the huge counter-racism protests lately? Basically anytime these idiots march, the counter protestors show up and dwarf them in number.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I cant believe how idiotic that person with nazi flag is, that person is doing bad for Japan with that, he is like a gift for Chinese and Koreans, bravo, brainless idiot .

4 ( +4 / -0 )

When asked to name the Nazis’ good acts, the speaker was able to come up with the autobahn, but not much else.

What an ignorant fool - what about the Volkswagen Beetle?

How people get kicks out of celebrating evil is beyond me, but I think that just about any country could come up with about 40 far right nutters to celebrate Hitler's birthday. Were this even 400 people, it would send a far deeper warning about the state of the country, once you extrapolate that to sympathisers.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I wonder if the LDP will denounce these kinds of rants...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Freedom of speech is not about allowing much of inbreds hurl racist abuse at people, you have very very strange concept of freedom of speech. Yes a proper, well intelligent citizen would take a baseball bat and clear this garbage off the streets, because it makes the nation as a whole ( yes no matter how many of inbreds there are ) look very very bad internationally.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Look, they are a dopey, nervous, awkward looking bunch at best and are in no way indicative of a wider Japan.

Their identification with Nazi ideals is ironic and comical and shows very clearly how ignorant they are.

Their views are offensive to most.

It does, however, bother me that they are allowed to parade through the streets pretty much un-harried by all of the people on the streets. You can see how morons got hold of Japan in the 1930's and sent them all off to war without too much fuss.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Now the counter point.....

Alex EinzApr. 25, 2014 - 05:26PM JST Freedom of speech is not about allowing much of inbreds hurl racist abuse at people, you have very very strange concept of freedom of speech

Your concept of Freedom of Speech appears to be inline with that of Totalitarians and Authoritarians. If you don't like what people say you prefer to do bodily harm to them. The Brown Shirts and Red Guard used those very same tactics you seem to approve of.

Alex EinzApr. 25, 2014 - 05:26PM JST Yes a proper, well intelligent citizen would take a baseball bat and clear this garbage off the streets, because it makes the nation as a whole ( yes no matter how many of inbreds there are ) look very very bad internationally.

Wow, that make the point clear and resounding as to where you stand. A words come to mind as I read your venom and none of them are no where near Freedom of anything.

Rethink where you truly stand on Freedom of Speech and Expression.

budgieApr. 25, 2014 - 05:06PM JST I wonder if the LDP will denounce these kinds of rants...

These are 50 individuals that most likely don't vote LDP, so why would they even care what they spout?

If you give them a platform then they will be heard. So the less spoken of them the better.

PandabelleApr. 25, 2014 - 04:52PM JST Have you missed the huge counter-racism protests lately? Basically anytime these idiots march, the counter protestors show up and dwarf them in number.

That isn't newsworthy to many here, they want to shine a light on the silly wannabe extreme far right wingers who could light a match without help.

Also, how can papers keep up circulations if they don't give Communist China and South Korea more fodder?

I just can't believe that some folks actually believe that this bit of nonsense is worth writing about.

Oh wait that's right, certain people need to find fault with all of Japan and pointing a finger at these 40 helps them keep their hate going.

BTW folks, did you know that the population of Japan is around 128,000,000.....

MagnetApr. 25, 2014 - 04:29PM JST No doubt that idiots like these are being coaxed out of the social "woodwork" by politicians like Abe.

So you have proof that Prime Minister Abe is behind these 40? By all means, please provide you evidence, I won't hold me breath though.

Opinions and facts are not the same thing.

smithinjapanApr. 25, 2014 - 03:43PM JST JoeBiggs: agree that 40 people in no way represent the nation (even though we know there are more that support them and such events or protests are limited to 40 people in order to get permission to do it)

In one part of your sentence you tried to be impartial, but then you put in WE KNOW as if there is a great amount of Japanese support these simpletons.

Your opinion and the facts are opposing figure in this scenario.

smithinjapanApr. 25, 2014 - 03:43PM JST As for the "people who hate this nation" and "ultra-leftist" nonsense, it's a shame you take a comment about how 40 people don't represent a nation then turn around and label EVERYONE opposed to what they are doing under one roof. Ah, hypocrisy!

No smith, this is what you don't want to get, I am using the very posts of the people and pointing out the obvious. Each and every time a non-worth news story like this comes out the leftist come out huffing and puffing. They say the same old same old, point their fingers at all of Japan and blame Prime Minister Abe for this.

But the fact of the matter is that these simpletons do this each and every year and they have done it way before Prime Minister Abe came to power. Like clockwork the far left uses this as proof that all of Japan is evil.

Get it now?

PeacetrainApr. 25, 2014 - 01:55PM JST A group of 40 people carrying swastikas on Hitlers birthday around the 2 biggest station in the world

Giving these 40 silly kids a platform is worse than just laughing at them. Take a good look around the world and see what truly matters. 40 kids walking down the street carrying anything is as important to me as reading a cartoon.

These kids only mean something to folks that want to vilify Japan and most of those are Far-Left wingers.

cleoApr. 25, 2014 - 12:12PM JST JoeBigs - I was nodding along all the way through your post, cursor poised to click 'good' - until I came to the last sentence. It negated everything you wrote previously.

If I was writing to be popular I would join the rest of the folks and claim that these 40 kids were a perfect example of what is wrong with Japan. But, I could careless about thumb ups or downs so I write about what I see.

And in this case I see the usual suspects trying to vilify Japan, and yes most of them are leftists.

So, if the Mao suit fits them I point it out.

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. Winston Churchill

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

I cant believe how idiotic that person with nazi flag is, that person is doing bad for Japan with that, he is like a gift for Chinese and Koreans, bravo, brainless idiot .'

Only brainless idiots/haters would see this as representative of Japan. Just as some brainless idiots over here see every act by minorities in other countries as representative of the people. These people rank slightly above the monstrosities in the picture above in my estimation.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Trouble with today's youth in Japan is, they are bored, know very little about history ( nor do they care ), lack family values and desperately seek attention, one way or another. The minority perhaps, are as insensitive as this idiotic group displays but, it's sad when a leading nation is home to pathetic creature like the ones in this ghastly video! I'd like to see them try this stunt in another country!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@JoeBigs, you're right. I have no evidence. But, given that Mr. Abe so defiantly goes to worship at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, a place dedicated to honoring those who died from the Boshin War to World War II (when, at the time, Japan was aligned with Nazi Germany, in case you weren't aware), it's not far fetched to think that when the leader of the nation is pretty obviously supportive of a re-armed Japan with offensive capabilities, that those in the crazy, Nazi-supporting minority would gain a little confidence to make themselves heard. This group by no means represents all of Japan, but they are there nonetheless. A bunch of low-life idiotic scum, who obviously don't understand a thing about what they're supporting. Under Nazi Germany, they too would have been exterminated. They're basically waving a "Kill me please" flag.

Given the cicumstances, I hardly think Winston Churchill's quote applies. Nice try though. So relax. Not everyone's trying to vilify Japan. I, for one, truly love the country and think their people are some of the most wonderful on earth. Just not their government.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

In every society there must be loonies, it is inevitable. In some societies the loonies have the right to express themselves and in other societies they are silenced by norms, psychological oppression, incarcerated or beaten. So tell me is this miniature demonstration a sign of something bad or possibly something good, maybe both? Since japans is a democracy I certainly expect to see something like that. However should the numbers increase into thousands I would be worried.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Racist and ignorant Japanese?? Oh my god! Say it ain't say so! Every country has good people and BAD people, guess what folks! Japan is NO exception but as some people mention here, 40 fools out of a city 12 million plus?? Anyway, it would be nice to have them all arrested and dropped off in the middle of Beijing! Or better yet, over by Nangking! Our Chinese amigos would know EXACTLY what to do with racist J NAZI scums like these fools.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Actually, I think it reflects very well on Japan that this tiny group were allowed to express themselves without any bother from the police or physical violence from counter-protesters. It shows what a peaceful, mature and respectful society Japan is, and that freedom of speech genuinely exists. This is rare nowadays.

Freedom of speech is one of the most important liberties of all, so well done Japan. Now just ignore these people and turn to more important matters.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@Joebigs I sincerely doubt anyone criticizing aspects of Japan, in this case criticizing idiots admiring nazis, is a communist stooge.

'So, if the Mao suit fits them I point it out.'

Mao suits? Not very fashionable in China these days. Time to join the 21st century. Do you know Mao died?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Freedom of speech is one of the most important liberties of all, so well done Japan. Now just ignore these people and turn to more important matters.

VERY well said.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Well, obviously offensive. That being said, I slowed it down and really examined the people. Not to excuse them, but they warrant being listened to if only to realize that they are somehow representative of a part of Japan that does not make it through the education system, cannot form logical or correct sentences, are in poor health and even malnourished and to me seem to be brainwashed (duh) and manipulated by someone..... and it would be interesting to even follow them home and see where they live.....I'm guessing the blue tents along the rivers maybe....who may be being taken advantage of and told that it is the ferners who are causing them to have a sucky life? One mentioned some "sensei" and that warrants investigation ....as does the recycled military uniform that is several sizes too small for the guy with the pony tail. Not enough to cause me great concern but PM Abe might want to take notice before these vids go abroad and become the faces of Japan.......

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Freedom of speech is a good thing. I lets you keep a eye on these sorts of nutters. Offensive or not, you know they exist

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This reporter forgot to tell how big this group was There rmore tan 120 mio population in this country

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Well, it seems clear that I'm not the only one guitly of 'oversimplifying' historical actuality.

Gee Boweevil. It looks like both you and the organization above is using the same logical fallacy of association.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

They look kind of pathetic and ragged and not scary.

They deserve to be ignored and forgotten.

The funniest part was all forty of them (!) ganging up on one (!) lone heckler who had the temerity to challenge them. They respond by chasing the guy and shouting at him "Are you Japanese? What country are you from? Are you Chinese? Are you Korean? Are you Japanese?" Trying to shame a foreigner (who was probably actually Japanese).

On the day of their demonstration for a German dictator's birthday…. whatever.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Why does Axis Powers Hetalia come to mind when I see this? Could it be the overwhelming buffoonery?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I don't like this video. :(

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Good grief, these morons are really helping their cause. What`s next, a celebration of Pol Pot?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

You call that a demonstration? There may be ten people involved. Ignore them and they'll go away. They only picked hitler's birthday so the could get on the news.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

When asked to name the Nazis' good acts, the speaker was able to come up with the autobahn, but not much else.

As is common in Japan, they dress the part, but lack substance, (which in this case, is a good thing).

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Bravo to them, not fearing "Pollitical Correctness" in this soft world. 14/88 !!

-13 ( +0 / -13 )

@nigelboy

Even those morons have a better understanding of the association of Imperial Japan and the Third Reich than you do. Your idea of a logical fallacy by association is only fellati-sorry, I mean fallacious if you don't examine the dynamics of a given association.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

The silver lining in the cloud of this exercise of the freedom of speech is that we now know who the sickos are.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Extremely disturbing. When people protest like this, and they have no idea the meaning/history behind their protests. Then they are no better than sheep to be led astray.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Did you hear what one guy says when they arrive at the park? "You can tell he is Chinese by the face". Sheesh....

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If they want be so high and mighty, they should go join the JSDF and be productive member Japan's sovereignty .

1 ( +2 / -1 )

There is a big difference between FREEDOM OF SPEECH and HATE SPEECH!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It's always a great idea to take away the rights of folks you don't agree with. But, it's another things when folks try and take your rights away when they don't agree with you.

Freedom of speech and expression are the right of all humans as long as they aren't trying to incite real violence against others.

If you sit by and cheer when someone's rights are taken away, well then who will be there to stand up to help defend your rights when someone tries to take them away?

lynnkApr. 25, 2014 - 11:40PM JST This reporter forgot to tell how big this group was There rmore tan 120 mio population in this country

Facts never get in the way of a story that might sell. 104 posts and most of them are completely against Freedom of Speech.

John Michael WhiteApr. 26, 2014 - 12:26PM JST Bravo to them, not fearing "Pollitical Correctness" in this soft world. 14/88 !!

Ah, 14/88 haven't heard that one in a long time. Most folks here don't know what you just said or it's true meaning. Even though I don't agree with what you believe I still believe it is your right to believe it.

Crimson and CloverApr. 26, 2014 - 01:41PM JST The silver lining in the cloud of this exercise of the freedom of speech is that we now know who the sickos are.

Exactly.

ohayo206Apr. 26, 2014 - 03:43PM JST Extremely disturbing. When people protest like this, and they have no idea the meaning/history behind their protests. Then they are no better than sheep to be led astray.

Most of the folks marching appeared to be young and with most youths they change their opinions more often than they change their underwear.

bannedacctsamApr. 27, 2014 - 01:23AM JST There is a big difference between FREEDOM OF SPEECH and HATE SPEECH!

What exactly is hate speech to you? Before you go all out on this question let me just say that I am just asking you to explain what you define as hate speech.

To me, let me say it one more time, this is just my opinion, hate speech is/are words to insight real/actual violence towards any group(s) be they Religious, Ethnic or Sexual.

With that said, saying that you don't like or trust someone isn't hate speech. If it were most of the worlds population would find themselves locked away in some hell hole. Being a bigot isn't a crime, it's just someone's fears and misunderstandings being expressed.

Only way to end bigotry is through education, no not that touchy feely sitting around a campfire singing Kumbaya far-left re-education. I mean real education into cultures and religions.

Real education ends bigotry, but state sponsored propaganda promotes hate.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

10 people , no biggie, they have the right, but I think Hitler was rolling on his grave, thinking, "Not Aryan Race ,,,,why??? "

5 ( +5 / -0 )

These are the kind of losers that the naive actions of China, Russia and North Korea encourage.

Wish I had know about this march - I would have gone there and burned their Nazi flags.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The sweet irony that these creeps fail to realise is that their celebrated "hero" - Hitler - actually considered them inferior based upon their race. Would love to have witnessed their parade of hate and thrown some "pleasantries" toward these halfwits.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

If the Nazis had won, these people would now be slaves to Germans, or never even have been born.

The Japanese aren't really fit to join the Arian master race, are they? There are no blonde, blue eyed Japanese people as far as I know if you don't count the Gyaru who are on the decline anyway ;-)

But joking aside, these people have no clue what would have happened to Japan if the people they worship had won the war. It wouldn't exist anymore.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Misguided, misinformed and dead wrong!!! This is called terminal stupidity.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So they are agreeing with China and Korea that the Japanese acted exactly like the Nazi during WWII.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

When the State censors all of the text books in schools nation wide, this results in citizens who know nothing about the past, fisheries that continue the killing of dolphins and whales just for the sake of tradition and racists and bigots who rally against their fellow citizens of Korean and Chinese ancestry.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Shame.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Maybe NK needs a few more language teachers? Round these jerks up and send them over, then they can experience Hitler first hand.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

These people are idiots, but every country has lunatics like this. Basically, this is not unique to Japan by a long shot.

Unfortunately, Freedom of Speech, and all that. The overwhelming majority of Japanese don't feel this way and would be appalled much like how the overwhelming majority of Americans hate White supremacists and KKK members.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It is ironic. Nazis perceived Japanese and other Asians as inferior race, if they ruled all the world, they would be slaves. Now failed-to-be-slaves are missing ther failed-to-be-masters.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

you can documentation online that shows how the Nazis admired Japans rejection of captialism and imperilism and their "miraculous" transfomation into a world power. They were awed by their domination of less advancing countries and their ability to transform Manchuria into an industrial state. The Nazis felt that the Japanese shared their same ideaology and in fact, the Japanese brand of facism was appealing to the Nazi regime.

After reading the documents, however, you can feel, that the Nazis, being European, were a bit ignorant of these "mysterious people in the East" and they shared that ignorance with the rest of the Western world. Its some of the same disconnected awe of Japan that many outsiders you meet have today.

If the Axis, (japan/germany alliance, I dont think Italy had much to offer) would of captured and held territory, avoided invading Russia and Japans overextension into China, the outcome of the war might of been different. Japan, even today, looks abroad to invest and continue its expansion. They lost this support after the U.S. begin taking it back from them

Perhaps these two regimes would of coexisited for some time, but according to their ideology, war was a constant neccesity, and peacetime was just an interlude between the two. They would of surely had conflicts over who had rights to what, and Japans bizarre coprosperity sphere dream of all races reporting to the emperor would have to be modified. When you see these nuts march and speak, you must wonder what the world would of been like if they got their way back then. It would of surely collasped in short time. I think that the Nazis, once awakened by Japans real intentions. would of made war with them.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Further evidence that more educating at the history level needs to be done.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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