Sanseito Leader Sōhei Kamiya's 'Chon' Remark Sparks Major Outcry

Sōhei Kamiya, leader of the Sanseito Party, has drawn significant criticism for using the terms "baka da, chon da" during a campaign speech for a House of Councillors election candidate in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture, on the 18th.

During his speech, Representative Kamiya referred to criticisms of his party's proposed constitutional reform, stating, "We are ridiculed as 'ahō da, baka da, chon da'." Among these terms, "chon" is widely recognized as a derogatory word for people of Korean descent and has been pointed out as potentially violating the Act on the Promotion of Efforts to Eliminate Discrimination against Persons from Specific Countries or Regions (commonly known as the Hate Speech Elimination Act).

Following the remark, Representative Kamiya immediately apologized and retracted it, stating, "I apologize for the discriminatory remark. I will correct it."

However, the remark instantly drew a flood of criticism on social media. Harsh opinions poured in, such as "Unfit as a Diet member," "A disgrace to Japan," "The epitome of vulgarity," and "Their sensibilities are so warped, it's as if they time-leaped from before the war." Concerns about "promoting discrimination" and questions about his qualifications as a politician, like "Does he not know the Hate Speech Elimination Act?," were also raised. While some comments questioned the background of the word or the media's intent, the overwhelming majority criticized the discriminatory expression.

As a discriminatory remark by a party leader during an election campaign could influence voters' decisions, future developments are being closely watched.

The context

The Sanseito Party (参政党) is a relatively new conservative political party in Japan, founded in 2020, known for its nationalist and populist stances. Sōhei Kamiya is one of its prominent figures and serves as its leader. The term "chon" (チョン) is a highly derogatory and discriminatory slur primarily directed at people of Korean descent, particularly Zainichi Koreans (ethnic Koreans residing in Japan), who are descendants of those who came to Japan, often forcibly, during Japan's colonial rule of Korea. Its use is widely condemned as hate speech. The Act on the Promotion of Efforts to Eliminate Discrimination against Persons from Specific Countries or Regions, commonly known as the Hate Speech Elimination Act, was enacted in 2016 to address and deter discriminatory speech against specific groups in Japan. The House of Councillors is the upper house of Japan's bicameral legislature, the National Diet, with elections typically held every three years for half of its members.