Outside a train station near Tokyo, hundreds of people cheer as Sohei Kamiya, head of the surging nationalist party Sanseito, criticizes Japan’s rapidly growing foreign population.

As opponents, separated by uniformed police and bodyguards, accuse him of racism, Kamiya shouts back, saying he is only talking common sense.

Sanseito, while still a minor party, made big gains in July’s parliamentary election, and Kamiya’s “Japanese First” platform of anti-globalism, anti-immigration and anti-liberalism is gaining broader traction ahead of a ruling party vote Saturday that will choose the likely next prime minister.

  • k0e3@lemmy.ca
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    2 days ago

    That’s so awesome that you call us by that name. I wish we still used that as our official name as kind of a fuck you to the Japanese government, but it’s all 沖縄 now for government stuff. We do still see 琉球 used in the private sector though (as well as one of our universities). Are you Taiwanese? I’ve visited Taipei a few times and I really love it there.

    • jaschen306@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      Ya, I live in Taipei and it’s only a 1ish hour flight to 琉球. I feel the cultures of both our countries is very similar.

      The people of 琉球 are super polite and their love for children is nothing like Tokyo or Osaka. My kids are welcomed.

    • randint@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz
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      2 days ago

      Cool, so people there actually like the name Ryukyu? I used the word Ryukyu in a Japanese class one day but I got corrected by the teacher saying that Okinawa is the new name.

      (I’m Taiwanese btw)

      • k0e3@lemmy.ca
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        2 days ago

        I think your teacher was just trying to be correct and didn’t mean she didn’t like it. Some locals might feel shy/awkward about it, but it’s not a taboo or anything — especially if you’re talking to a Ryukyuan :)

        • randint@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz
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          2 days ago

          Glad to hear it’s not a taboo! I had been always under the impression that Ryukyu was some sort of taboo word that was never to be mentioned of. I had somehow connected it with the once-Chinese influence over the Ryukyu Islands and thought it would anger locals or something haha.