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.
You have your experience as a local and I have my experience as a tourist and both of us is right in our own view of Japan.
I experience the assholeness of Japanese people towards my young family. Making us feel like a second class citizen for disturbing them with my crying kid. Being turned away from restaurants for having a kid. Not letting me rent a stroller because my kid is 5 days older than the cutoff birthday at Universal studios. From security guards asking me to quiet down my kid because he is having a tantrum.
You’re right, maybe it’s not that they hate kids. Maybe they just hate tourists. Whatever is the case, those places I have visited are not family friendly.
I will say that the people of 琉球 doesn’t act like this.