Public expresses anger, concern at Kishida aide's anti-LGBT remarks

I know exactly how Kishida’s secretary, Arai, feels since I don’t want to live next to a bigot such as him either. Gay neighbors, however, would not be a problem.

The title of the article is misleading, the average public doesnt care much at all about this issue.

IF the public really was angry and upset, Kishida would actually DO something about it and put forth a bill to the Diet making same-sex marriage legal in Japan! All it's takes is legislation, and the courts would no longer be making decisions for him.

I think Asai has done the cause of same-sex marriage a big favour here. He may have sped up what is inevitable anyway.

He has forced the LDP into an almost panicked response to his unpleasant ideas which he phrased in a very unpleasant way. This response was very telling. They had to distance themselves from it sharpish.

The LDP are close to an incoherent mess of factions, but like all parties, they are interested in power. Opposition to or inaction on same-sex marriage will become more of a liability over time.

That will bring the change.

*But one in 3 Japanese citizens who express an opinion on the matter disapprove of homosexuality, so why does this article not reflect that significant segment of the populace at all?*

Commonly known as a ‘minority’.

Do you share what is known as a ‘minority view’ in this case?

Sorry to repeat the word, but it fits very well into discussions about public opinion.

’Majority’ and ‘majority view’ can come in handy in these situations.

should be about the media disregarding “off the record” comments.

Yes, Black. I too am outraged that the media has the audacity to accurately report comments politicians make. They should have right to be as bigoted and hateful as they want and there should be no accountability. How dare the media!

the actual takeaway from all of this is find the accepted public opinion of the day and regurgitate it to the letter anytime you are asked.

Any proof these people aren't sincerely offended by his bigoted remarks?

let others crow that everyone accepts their fringe opinion as true to all.

lol I think the fringe opinion here is: "I hate to see LGBT couples."

a propaganda piece pushing a personal agenda.

That definition could be applied to any religious text.

almost 9 out of 10 in Tokyo won’t allow foreigners. Likely worse for outed LGBT who don’t say “roommates”

Tokyo isn't all of japan, and I suspect the group that did a survey, Ichii Real Estate company, probably benefits from the "discrimination" of foreigners. I have never had a problem finding housing, and no one I know has either.

Regardless, discrimination against foreigners by private companies is entirely different than issue than a Japanese politician making bigoted comments against other Japanese citizens. These two aren't the same thing. Not by a long shot.

I personally don't feel that religious views should play a role in how we treat each other, as one human being to another.

It is when our religious view crosses a line that wishes to enforce those views from one community on another.

Or descends into outright discrimination.

Arai's open prejudices, by his own admission, are shared by his colleagues.

Maybe Japan should look to Taiwan as a model. Most public places there have 3 bathrooms anyway: men, women and an everybody toilet. Gay marriage hasn’t seemed to have ripped apart their society. Most countries that oppose gay anything try to tie it to a religious narrative. Japan can’t do that because Buddhism and Shintoism teach no shame regarding homosexuality. So in Japan they try to tie it to a social cohesion/ family unity narrative, which holds up to scrutiny even worse than the religious angle.

A gay member of the House of Councillors, Taiga Ishikawa, called the situation "beyond one's patience" on Twitter and noted that Arai had also said that all of Kishida's executive secretaries are against same-sex marriage.

This paragraph is disturbing, the discriminatory behaviour is deep seated and institutionalized

Quite a few people are already abandoning Japan for social and economic reasons, which are mainly due to the LDP'S mismanagement and foot-dragging. Legalizing same-sex marriage would have no such effect.

Sure about that one? Or just speculating again?

lol you've been wrong about pretty much every "fact" you've pointed out today.

now only a fringe opinion don’t? so what’s the problem now?

Yes. I'd say it's a pretty fringe, which is precisely why he's under fire for saying it. Gay marriage not being legal yet doesn't mean people aren't upset about the bigoted comments Arai made.

The word marriage in not inclusive of all human partners and should be excluded to the realm of old useless word and replace with an inclusive term for all human when they partner up legally. Any glues to what this new inclusive word should be. I like Pairage

Nah, ‘marriage’ does the job.

In the past, some societies didn’t allow interracial marriage. After they did, the word ‘marriage’ was retained. Same in countries where same-sex is allowed.

‘Pairage’

Nah. No cigar.

I suggest it is not whether an opinion supports or shuns alternative lifestyles.

The choice here is when a powerful elite bureaucrat in a position of influence prejudice, openly expresses discriminatory behaviour.

Millions don’t believe in any form of marriage and are content to just enjoy life long relationships.

The Bible and the Quran both mention sexuality but it is not mentioned in Buddhism or Shinto.

I love this so much.

The Japanese public is absolutely pillorying this guy. Every Japanese-language news site I've seen has comments like those in this article, and Twitter also is trending with positive remarks about marriage equality.

It's fantastic to see this kind of broad support from the Japanese public.

You know, this guy voicing his bigotry has been a good thing, since it's galvanized the public against him, which has been seen and acknowledged by the PM. The government now understands better that the Japanese public is overwhelmingly in favor of LGBTQIA rights, and supports gay marriage. This will be a push in the right direction. They can't keep ignoring or pushing this issue to the side.

Find the acceptable public answer and regurgitate it when asked. 

Yay everyone supports the new thing! 

Yet no one is “talking” about anything.

You can speak for yourself. Or speculate.

The facts are that plenty of people are talking about this. If you watch TV, read the news or even read this thread, there are people talking about this.

Whether you like it or not you can’t dismiss it.

Find the acceptable public answer and regurgitate it when asked.

Yes, anyone who disagrees with you is being insincere. All the world secretly agrees with you.

Yet no one is “talking” about anything.

lol Who is this "no one?" It's all over the Japanese media.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/6af8ce55312ad7f2b59be4c90932a708d5fec2c7/comments

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/search?p=%E8%8D%92%E4%BA%95%E7%A7%98%E6%9B%B8%E5%AE%98&ei=UTF-8&x=nl

Lastly, I've gotta say: It's funny how "no one" is talking about it, yet we can know people actually agree with Arai. That doesn't make sense.

Sure about that one? Or just speculating again?

lol you've been wrong about pretty much every "fact" you've pointed out today.

now only a fringe opinion don’t? so what’s the problem now?

Yes. I'd say it's a pretty fringe, which is precisely why he's under fire for saying it. Gay marriage not being legal yet doesn't mean people aren't upset about the bigoted comments Arai made.

But is that supposed to make me abandon my principles? Is that supposed to make me do a one-eighty and suddenly start supporting a radical re-definition of the sacred concept of marriage?

It’s not supposed to do anything. You have your principles and good luck with them. But they shouldn’t discriminate against others’ principles as those who follow the Bible are prone to doing.

Your ‘sacred’ concept of marriage is just an idea that not everyone shares. If you want to decide the value of things by popularity then sorry, Christianity is a minority group

Nobody is talking about this because they have no interest in being “cancelled”. So everyone repeating the required answer and moving on.

the article found a few anonymous people with predictable responses to a question that has an obvious public answer of “that’s a terrible thing to say”.

as we see for this ex-side, the private answer from a lot of people is not as “supportive”.

Nobody is talking about this because they have no interest in being “cancelled”. So everyone repeating the required answer and moving on.

lol What are you talking about? They were just talking about on the news this morning.

Public expresses anger, concern 

people blabbing on TV aren’t “the public”- they are the narrative pushers to shape the acceptable public response.

which they have just confirmed for us is NOT what the ex-aide said. Has one member of the public changed their mind on this issue based on TV this morning?

Nope! Just reinforced what not to say to the “off record” media or anyone in the street.

The remarks seem accurate to the effect that same-sex marriage is not legal in Japan so anything said against same-sex marriage would be in line with the current laws.

The majority of people either support or are indifferent to gay rights. Those that voice opposition to it are a minority.

Those that voice opposition to it here are a minority and in smoke clear cases just multiple account log-ins.

EastmannToday 08:26 am JST

who is that "public" exactly?

i beleive majority of population have much more important things to care about here than to "be angry" from someones opinion?

You mean it's hard to believe that the public would have feelings about whether the ruling party is full of bigots or not?

"I am horrified by the fact that a person involved in making rules that affect all citizens thinks that way," 

Unfortunately, Masayoshi Arai  is a universal type, bureaucrats who make up rules thereby creating more "crimes" to give governing bodies more (imagined) authority to satisfy their lust for power and groom their egos. Many individuals involved in this infernal machinery of power sooner or later will suffer from the occupational hazard of a chronic narrowing of the mind, which is why in a democracy the people have to be vigilant to ensure their rights are protected and human dignity is not trampled upon by narrow-minded bigots zealously beavering away in bureaucracies. Fortunately, the response of the Japanese public so far to LGBTQ issues has been gratifyingly tolerant.

The public are angry?

I'm sure some are but I also know many who agree with Mr Arai.

Their views are to be ignored?

That’s odd, I never shared my own personal opinion on this issue.

It's obvious from your comments here on which side you stand on this issue.

So no, I'm not going to engage in this insincere, "WeLL, AcTuAlLy YoU Can'T Know my opinion." Please the, they're afraid of being cancelled gives your stance away to anyone with two synapses to rub together.

No progress ? Kishida just weeded a bigot from his own office . So that not progress ? Japan have tendency to take society changes slowly which is progressing but slowly. I would worry if Japan was going backward like International swimming, International weight lifting and international boxing where they did allowed transgenders now they did a 180 and now will not allow transgenders. Give Japan credit for slow change at least.

Awa no GaijinToday 09:44 am JS

I agree 100%

Should he have lost his employment that he uses to support his heterosexual traditional family just because he made a comment of opinion ?

Yes. Anyone who voices bigotry should not have a job where they have the chance to influence public policy.

Find the acceptable public answer and regurgitate it when asked.

Yay everyone supports the new thing!

Yet no one is “talking” about anything.

The word marriage in not inclusive of all human partners and should be excluded to the realm of old useless word and replace with an inclusive term for all human when they partner up legally. Any glues to what this new inclusive word should be. I like Pairage.

The remark sounded more like an anti-same-sex-marriage comment.

Which makes sense because only male-female marriage is allowed in Japan.

In other words, the aide is speaking out against something that is not permissible by Japanese laws.

Nothing of concern here.

Thomas TwattToday 09:01 am JST

Good grief, this makes it sound like everyone except Kishida is 100% behind (pun unintended) gays. But one in 3 Japanese citizens who express an opinion on the matter disapprove of homosexuality, so why does this article not reflect that significant segment of the populace at all?

Hey Twatt! Thanks for your comment, but the fact remains that the majority of the comments from the public regarding LGTBQIA rights are overwhelmingly positive. Sorry Twatt, but that's how it goes.

...during an off-the-record conversation with reporters...

Lesson learned once again. "Off-the-record" means absolutely nothing to the media.

And if they cannot be trusted, how can we trust the reporting of this article? Members of the public interviewed on the streets all had the same view? Did anyone not "lambast" the comments made by the aide? Did anyone lambast the sexual political agenda to eviscerate marriage of its normative content and create an entirely new institution with the label "marriage" slapped on it? Did the writer(s) of this piece interview any groups that support marriage? If they did, why are there no quotes?

I am sorry but this article has really no value other than a propaganda piece pushing a personal agenda.

lol I think the fringe opinion here is: "I hate to see LGBT couples."

In old people as more than half the population Japan? Where sane sex marriage isn’t even legal?

Sure about that one? Or just speculating again?

i though the whole problem is that Japan is bigoted and wont support LGBT like “everywhere else”?

now only a fringe opinion don’t? so what’s the problem now?

GazmanToday 07:25 am JST

I don’t agree with his comments at all but I wonder if his ‘views’ have been formed on seeing the trans issues in the US & UK?! It’s getting confusing to separate now it’s LGBQT+4&FZ-3…

If you're confused, the best way to sort that out would be to Google and then read a few articles on the topic. The internet is full of information on a wide variety of topics. But since you already must know this, then you are not confused - you are purposefully remaining ignorant.

.If he’s seen male rapists being sent to women’s prisons & 60yo men getting changed in the girls swimming pool changing room (when school girls are in there)

This is not a thing that ever, ever happens, or would happen. This is scare-mongering, and has nothing whatsoever to do with this article anyway.

just because they ‘ID as a woman’ I can see how he’d develop a bad opinion.

Unrelated to the topic.

Maybe Japan should look to Taiwan as a model.

Anyone who has lived here long enough intimately knows that Japanese bureaucrats/governments, loathe using or "following" something that is successful somewhere else.

Better to not use the name "Taiwan" and make it sound like an original idea, better chance of it happening, after years of teeth-sucking meetings.

Yes, anyone who disagrees with you is being insincere.

That’s odd, I never shared my own personal opinion on this issue.

so how would someone disagree with me already?

more of that speculation huh? Which is totally different from that other thing you do too, right? Synonym.

“Public expresses anger, concern”

should be about the media disregarding “off the record” comments.

the actual takeaway from all of this is find the accepted public opinion of the day and regurgitate it to the letter anytime you are asked.

let others crow that everyone accepts their fringe opinion as true to all.

then keep your job.

Online, LGBT people expressed concern that the remarks by a high official in government could be used to excuse discrimination.

Japanese literature scholar and TV personality Robert Campbell, who is gay, tweeted his anger and dismissed Arai's apologies.

The official's remarks were "not 'expressions that gave a false impression.' They were abusive words that threaten people's dignity and peace," he wrote.

A gay member of the House of Councillors, Taiga Ishikawa, called the situation "beyond one's patience" on Twitter and noted that Arai had also said that all of Kishida's executive secretaries are against same-sex marriage.

Good grief, this makes it sound like everyone except Kishida is 100% behind (pun unintended) gays. But one in 3 Japanese citizens who express an opinion on the matter disapprove of homosexuality, so why does this article not reflect that significant segment of the populace at all?

TT

I don’t agree with his comments at all but I wonder if his ‘views’ have been formed on seeing the trans issues in the US & UK?! It’s getting confusing to separate now it’s LGBQT+4&FZ-3….If he’s seen male rapists being sent to women’s prisons & 60yo men getting changed in the girls swimming pool changing room (when school girls are in there) just because they ‘ID as a woman’ I can see how he’d develop a bad opinion.

Are Japanese women ready to accept the possibility of self identified transwomen with complete male bodies entering places like onsens?

Are men ready to have women standing next to them at the urinal too?

There will always be "one" who comes up with an off the wall example that more than likely wont happen with a Japanese person. Some foreigner might, just to stir something up, but Japanese generally speaking wont go out of their way.

who is that "public" exactly?

i beleive majority of population have much more important things to care about here than to "be angry" from someones opinion?

What a queer thing for him to say. Sometimes think the politicians here need to reflect on the response to what they say more than they do.

If he doesn’t want to live next to a gay couple it’s his choice and he’s free to speak about it unless he says they should be hurt or punished. The people will judge him for that and that’s how things work.