Comments on: Meeting the anarchist http://blog.japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/ Japan... A whole lot more than raw fish Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:48:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Global Voices Online » Japan: Toyama Kouichi calls for revolution, bloggers reflect on freedom of speech http://blog.japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/comment-page-1/#comment-371305 Global Voices Online » Japan: Toyama Kouichi calls for revolution, bloggers reflect on freedom of speech Wed, 25 Apr 2007 03:34:37 +0000 http://japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/#comment-371305 [...] So began the five minute political speech of gubernatorial candidate and street musician Toyama Kouichi, aired live on Japan’s public broadcaster NHK as part of a series of election broadcasts formally allotted to each contender in the Tokyo city elections earlier this month. In the now-famous speech, the 36-year-old “extreme left-wing activist”, formerly imprisoned for two years for “political crimes”, declares that he has not “a single constructive proposal” and that “there is no choice but to abandon this country”, calling on the “people of the minority” to rise up against the majority and “overthrow the government”. Within his anti-establishment tirade, Toyama also made a somewhat endearing request to “please give me a call”, an offer that some people actually took up. [...] [...] So began the five minute political speech of gubernatorial candidate and street musician Toyama Kouichi, aired live on Japan’s public broadcaster NHK as part of a series of election broadcasts formally allotted to each contender in the Tokyo city elections earlier this month. In the now-famous speech, the 36-year-old “extreme left-wing activist”, formerly imprisoned for two years for “political crimes”, declares that he has not “a single constructive proposal” and that “there is no choice but to abandon this country”, calling on the “people of the minority” to rise up against the majority and “overthrow the government”. Within his anti-establishment tirade, Toyama also made a somewhat endearing request to “please give me a call”, an offer that some people actually took up. [...]

]]> By: Japundit » Campaign video deleted http://blog.japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/comment-page-1/#comment-366281 Japundit » Campaign video deleted Sun, 08 Apr 2007 14:26:26 +0000 http://japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/#comment-366281 [...] it has been mentioned in the comment section of the previous entry about Kouichi Toyama, the Tokyo metropolitan election management committee [...] [...] it has been mentioned in the comment section of the previous entry about Kouichi Toyama, the Tokyo metropolitan election management committee [...]

]]> By: overoften http://blog.japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/comment-page-1/#comment-365961 overoften Sat, 07 Apr 2007 22:23:16 +0000 http://japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/#comment-365961 I'm not sure it's as sinister as that. I think it's just silly old political duffers having no understanding of the internet. In a general election, for instance, you're limited to the number of postcards you can distribute to canvass support, and you're not allowed to use your website to promote yourself at all under AFTER the election. Brilliant. So in a panic they probably reckon YouTube messes with that last bit of electoral law. They also don't seem to realise that probably the majority of people who'll get to see the YouTube videos are people having a giggle about them, not people seriously investigating the candidates. I'm not sure how these videos could seriously affect an election result. They should do more about increasing the voter turnout before this though. That should be a much higher priority. I’m not sure it’s as sinister as that. I think it’s just silly old political duffers having no understanding of the internet.
In a general election, for instance, you’re limited to the number of postcards you can distribute to canvass support, and you’re not allowed to use your website to promote yourself at all under AFTER the election. Brilliant. So in a panic they probably reckon YouTube messes with that last bit of electoral law.
They also don’t seem to realise that probably the majority of people who’ll get to see the YouTube videos are people having a giggle about them, not people seriously investigating the candidates. I’m not sure how these videos could seriously affect an election result.
They should do more about increasing the voter turnout before this though. That should be a much higher priority.

]]> By: tlxtftrf http://blog.japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/comment-page-1/#comment-365911 tlxtftrf Sat, 07 Apr 2007 16:56:15 +0000 http://japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/#comment-365911 Wouldn't ya know it, the Tokyo Electoral Commission is attempting to have these videos removed from youtube. Their stated reason: It hinders information on the election to have fringe politicians gain attention on the internet and isn't fair to the candidates who aren't crazy/cool. http://techdirt.com/articles/20070406/113054.shtml http://www.physorg.com/news95008106.html Leave it to the government to ruin everything fun as usual. Real reason they did this: If people actually were interested in the Tokyo election they might actually bone up on the candidates and their positions before they vote; and an educated, active electorate is the last thing the mayoral candidates want. Wouldn’t ya know it, the Tokyo Electoral Commission is attempting to have these videos removed from youtube. Their stated reason: It hinders information on the election to have fringe politicians gain attention on the internet and isn’t fair to the candidates who aren’t crazy/cool.

http://techdirt.com/articles/20070406/113054.shtml
http://www.physorg.com/news95008106.html

Leave it to the government to ruin everything fun as usual.

Real reason they did this: If people actually were interested in the Tokyo election they might actually bone up on the candidates and their positions before they vote; and an educated, active electorate is the last thing the mayoral candidates want.

]]> By: alexpappas http://blog.japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/comment-page-1/#comment-365844 alexpappas Sat, 07 Apr 2007 12:38:56 +0000 http://japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/#comment-365844 WOW! :shock: WOW! :shock:

]]> By: haafu http://blog.japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/comment-page-1/#comment-365710 haafu Sat, 07 Apr 2007 05:00:39 +0000 http://japundit.com/archives/2007/04/07/5636/#comment-365710 that was amazing that was amazing

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