Poster pranks cause chaos in Tokyo gubernatorial election campaign

Blithely accept the mask of democracy which is promoted in Japan?

The NHK party (intentionally or not) has blatantly exposed (even more so) the deficiencies of the Japanese electoral system.

it really is quite embarrassing to see how dependent it is on money.

Maybe voters are starting to see how easily they are being manipulated.

Not once in Japan have I wver seen (in decades) a political candidate canvassing door to door.

And very little actual discussion is seen in the media of pressing political issues.

Japanese people are steered away from or never taught about two subjects.

One is politics and the other is investment.

Why is that?

A record 56 people have entered the race ahead of the July 7 election, including 19 from the fringe NHK Party which called on its candidates to "hijack" campaign boards with their posters.

This is some gonzo disruptive discordianism of the farce of Japanese elections. I approve and their should be some way to do a similar thing with the farce of this year's US elections.

Another candidate received a warning from police for allegedly violating the Tokyo government ordinance against public disturbances after putting up posters which featured a nearly-naked woman in an erotic pose.

I like anarchy that highlights the contradictions of the system but these groups and the anti-NHK need more of an ethos than simply anarchy or making some money.

In response, an online petition against "campaign board hijacking" had garnered more than 27,000 signatures as of Friday.

They are mostly just freaking out the oldsters who vote at this point.

Democratic capitalism at it's finest. If people don't like it, we can also go back to imperialism :)

Some candidates in Tokyo's upcoming gubernatorial race have been criticized for making a mockery of the electoral process

Some might consider the true “mockery” to be the election restrictions put in place by the ruling party to make it terribly challenging for its members to face a competitive challenge by an opposition candidate.

That will only help current ruling Governor, voter will confuse and will only vote names that familiar with them.

This is really very disgusting. This is very official posters for election. Moron candidates are using it wrong way.

I am not sure about buying multiple spots on the board, but according to this article

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/04/23/national/politics-diplomacy/right-wing-candidates-nude-campaign-poster-skirts-election-law/

"nudity is not banned because there are no restrictions on poster design"

So, I say, let the NHK party compete however they like, so long as it's within the rules.

I for one would welcome Dr. Nakamats as Mayor of Tokyo as he seems like someone who would at least have the impulse to invent something new . Even at the age of 96.

@kurisupisu

I believe canvassing door-to-door is illegal as it used to result in bribery. I may be wrong however

As part of its disruptive plan, the NHK Party also offered to allow anyone who donated to the group to use space on the boards, installed by authorities around neighborhoods for the election campaign, to push any issue they please.

What could possibly go wrong?

Not once in Japan have I ever seen (in decades) a political candidate canvassing door to door.

A handful of the many electoral restrictions:

No door-to-door house visits. 

Candidates can speak only in certain public areas, such as outside busy train stations, and the campaigning cannot exceed 45 minutes.

The number of pamphlets each candidate can distribute is restricted.

Election posters can be displayed only in specified places and may not exceed a certain size.

No mail-in ballots.

"It feels like they are making a mockery of the election."

The elections are a mockery. The people are starting wake up and revolt to that.

Renho should have used one of her old gravure idol photos on her poster! Might help her to win the election!

@kurisupisu

“Not once in Japan have I wver seen (in decades) a political candidate canvassing door to door.”

Of course you haven’t. Door-to-door canvassing by election candidates is prohibited by the Public Office Election Law. It seems like you’ve lived in Japan but you haven’t bothered to learn much about your host country.

“What starts with a tingle of excitement, is followed by a surge of activity, frantic yelling and empty promises, but is quickly spent, leaving you feeling just as empty and unfulfilled as before? Answer: A Japanese election.” —

Colin P.A. Jones, “Electoral dysfunction leaves Japan's voters feeling impotent”

The system as a whole is a mockery.

How does a bunch of mainly grumpy men’s faces make anyone want to vote?

Some in my area, the guy looks flat out angry… but angry at what? The gravy train he has lived his life off for barely doing anything?

Or angry at the smiling lady poster next to his? (I have no idea what policies either is pushing by looking at their generic posters)

Instead of the bulletin boards, maybe they could use that money to hold debates , so we could actually hear their policies instead of just seeing their faces & names.

Putting "faces" to "names" is important for voters.

Not surprised that this fine "journalistic site" didn't care to do more research than to say the line that the government is saying about what the NHK party is doing.

The NHK Party has said that the MAIN reasons why they did this whole hijack thing is because

They oppose the wasteful expending of the electoral billboards, because believe it or not, even though those boards should cost nothing, in reality the government is paying hundreds of thousands of yen for EACH board, and it is a waste of money.

As another way NHK Party has to make publicity for themselves. They being an small grassroots party without any support from the establishment, they have choose to make stunts to get recognition, even if negative, instead of just falling into obscurity.

The NHK Party's Tachibana has publicly endorsed Renho's candidacy because of her position on the NHK, so it isn't as if they are even trying to win.

I would start worrying, if that party candidate gets elected. Otherwise, it will just be a nuisance of a rabble-rouser party.

> MeiyouwentiToday  08:07 am JST

@kurisupisu

“Not once in Japan have I wver seen (in decades) a political candidate canvassing door to door.”

Of course you haven’t. Door-to-door canvassing by election candidates is prohibited by the Public Office Election Law. It seems like you’ve lived in Japan but you haven’t bothered to learn much about your host country.

 In the past, Japanese elections were marred by vote-buying and other corrupt practices (still are). Politicians would often distribute money or gifts directly to voters in exchange for their support.

By banning door-to-door canvassing, the law reduces opportunities for direct bribery and undue influence. This regulation is part of broader efforts to ensure clean and fair elections in Japan.

And very little actual discussion is seen in the media of pressing political issues.

Ahh, gubernatorial silly season rolls around and the farce that is democracy here is center stage once more. Those who make the rules evince no desire to rock the boat and the masses are complicit in allowing them to get away with that. Soon enough, the party hats and props will all be put away, the music will die down, and things will go on just as they did before.

 "It feels like they are making a mockery of the election."

HAH. The LDP already does that.

Chaos? Hardly. If it were anywhere else those stupid posters would be quite rightly defaced.

SpeedToday 07:57 am JST

"It feels like they are making a mockery of the election."

The elections are a mockery. The people are starting wake up and revolt to that.

This. A bunch of Oyaji's that all sound the same / do the same thing. Also, the public has become pretty apathetic, because regardless of who's in nothing changes.

They oppose the wasteful expending of the electoral billboards, because believe it or not, even though those boards should cost nothing, in reality the government is paying hundreds of thousands of yen for EACH board, and it is a waste of money.

Interesting. I would ban noisy election cars, which cost the public nothing but are a big nuisance, before getting rid of the noticeboards.

Been so tempted to put up posters of myself over the years,with the obligatory clenched fist.

If I could vote, probably wouldn't bother!

Does anyone even stop, and take the time to look at each picture?

And what do you even go by as far as choosing goes?

All you can do is see if you know the person, the name or which has the prettiest picture.

Waste of time.

kurisupisu

Japanese people are steered away from or never taught about two subjects.

One is politics and the other is investment.

You may or may not be correct about politics. But, you are 100% incorrect about investing.

There are many sources for learning investing in Japan - in classrooms, online, and from hundreds of books. The government encourages investing. And, banks are constantly pushing those NISA accounts for tax-free investment savings.

I have J family and friends with stock holdings. And, we have accounts with Nomura and Rakuten brokerages, with many stock holdings, ourselves.

hiro:

If people don't like it, we can also go back to imperialism :)

Back? It exists now. Look at USA and Europe (especially UK and France).

A collection of such posters appeared on an election board near my place. It featured that Doge shiba inu. Kinda brightened the same dreary faces that adorn the election board each election season,

Renho should have used one of her old gravure idol photos on her poster! Might help her to win the election!

Why not make some new ones? Lotta guys out there like jukujo.

It's confusing enough with everyone and their mothers running for office. There should be a law that weeds out he unqualified.

> @kurisupisu

“Not once in Japan have I wver seen (in decades) a political candidate canvassing door to door.”

Of course you haven’t. Door-to-door canvassing by election candidates is prohibited by the Public Office Election Law. It seems like you’ve lived in Japan but you haven’t bothered to learn much about your host country.

.

Well, if true then that is part of the problem, isn’t it?

What is being hidden by having a prohibitory law preventing discourse with voters?

How secretive!

Instead of politicos being driven around in cars with white gloved lackeys screaming 宜しくお願いしますat high enough volumes to send my cat into hiding, how about some Q &A sessions on the television?

Never seen those either!

Lastly, I am so delighted to meet a poster who is the fount of all matters legal.

However, , I’m sure that I experiences and knowledge of Japan that even ‘an expert’ of Japanese law such as yourself, does not possess….

By banning door-to-door canvassing, the law reduces opportunities for direct bribery and undue influence. This regulation is part of broader efforts to ensure clean and fair elections in Japan.

.

> And the get around?

Now that happens at ‘cherry blossom parties’

after paying extortionate ticket prices for an audience.

majority of have voting rights in Japan so why should we care about this visual smog?

I like to see the faces of all the candidates on the election boards but there should only be one photo per candidate and not making a mockery of the system. Visual brainwashing.

I believe canvassing door-to-door is illegal as it used to result in bribery. I may be wrong however

It's not illegal. In smaller towns and village elections, and even local district elections, it is quite common to see individual candidates with a few supporters, walking around the neighborhood, going door to door, "introducing" themselves and handing out flyers.

Older people are less likely to make a mistake with their voting selections when they can put a face to a name.

I'm not so bothered about the posters that go up a few weeks before elections, what hacks me off is all the politicians' posters that are stuck up everywhere all the time. A lot of them would quite rightly get ripped down, spraypainted or defaced anywhere else.

Be nice if they could get 56 candidates for the US presidency. They might find someone who could run the country

Those NHK party clowns are something.

I agree with many that there is plenty of room for improvement in Japan's system of political elections, but this is no way to go about it. Idiotic acts like these only lower the entire process further, not elevate it. It's the lazy way for the unintelligent to bring about change.

At least we know who’s paying the politicians

Civil unrest is happening as the general public are exhausted at being dictated to, shamed and blame programming and led to believe their a peacefully democratic pacifist nation that's supposedly highly advanced and modern

Unfortunately the election process is basically a circus and dysfunctional anyway

Perhaps acts like these might be a blessing in disguise

Pukey2Today 03:18 pm JST

ossan:

my country doesn't have a simple common sense law preventing convicted felons from running for President so who am I to pass judgement?

Yes, there is something wrong in your country where you need lots and lots of money to run, and then you spend half the time raising more money and having to do things for lobbyists and not for the citizens. And unlike a normal country, you have an election period which lasts for nearly two years. I also suggest having UN observers at US elections.

Your hero China's elections are a complete sham. Pointing out oddities about the US won't change that.

"Some candidates in Tokyo's upcoming gubernatorial race have been criticized for making a mockery of the electoral process by posting sexually explicit posters or covering large parts of official campaigning boards with their materials."

I think it's great! The election campaign boards are a thing of the past, as with election cars and people driving around and waving at empty rice-fields, blaring loudspeakers all day. They are also an eye-sore, so if people jazz them up and have fun with them, others will ACTUALLY pay attention. And I absolutely LOVE the complaints -- "You can't just BUY a space and put whatever want... on the spaces our taxes buy and politicians... ummm... put whatever they want," or, "How dare they infringe on our activities," which they actually say while shouting it through loudspeakers while others are working in the same space and can't hear or work as a result! The Japanese system is so rigid, out of date, and out of touch, they can't deal with people taking advantage of and clowning it.

And why didn't JT post a photo of the sexually explicit poster? Oh well.

 It seems like you’ve lived in Japan but you haven’t bothered to learn much about your host country.

In his defence, not knowing a fairly esoteric part of Japanese election law doesn't seem to be that big a deal. You could be very well informed in Japan and not this.

I doubt my wife or my in-laws know this despite being Japanese. It probably has not occurred to them one way or the other.

Personally I hate door knockers, be they electoral candidates, salesmen or God botherers

Seeing stuff like this makes me wonder if monarchy, rather than democracy, is the better way.

It‘s not just the NHK Party making a mockery of it. Hordes of ignorant voters, biased media that claim to be objective, big-money special-interest groups - there has to be a better way.

We are always visited by the party candidate we vote for.

Another candidate received a warning from police for allegedly violating the Tokyo government ordinance against public disturbances after putting up posters which featured a nearly-naked woman in an erotic pose.

Jt, where's this image on this page?

I love those freak Japan news..

Political campaigns should be reinvented not only in Japan, but worldwide. The price of electing bad politicians is high, so, something better than the existing system must be conceived. Existing politicians should make a monthly report of their work, and candidates must explicit in detail their targets.