Uyoku Dantai

Now. Many people think of Japan being a calm, peaceful country. People working together, carrying the latest digital cameras. However, Japan, like any country, has many groups from all over the political divide. Whilst Japan itself could be considered moderately conservative, the political scene has shifted a little to the left with the election of the DPJ, who want to focus on social welfare, rather than helping big business (various big business groups have begun to hammer the government to get them to ease off the eco taxes they where thinking of).

The Communist party has a small but loyal following, which is surprising, given Japans fraught history with 2 communist nations. It has been relatively OK with China, but after the war, The USSR occupied all the Kuril islands off the coast of Japan. Even though, under the terms of surrender, the islands where to remain an integral part of Japans territory. Also, of course, North Korea, who has happily kidnapped many Japanese!

However, the one group who do cause trouble, are the Uyoku Dantai. These are the ultra nationalists.

Easy to spot, they drive around in modified black, khaki, or olive vehicles with their groups name displayed prominently, along with various slogans. Another hallmark of the group is to drive around shouting ultra nationalist slogans, and playing what they thing is patriotic music.

There are 2 major threads that run through the various groups around Japan.

1) Kokutai, or belief in the country. In the UK it is described as a unification of the power of the judiciary, the legislative, and the monarch, to combine to make the power of the sovereign. In Japan, this grew into a belief that the Emperor WAS the sovereign. That he was the sole source of power in Japan. And many of the gorups advocate a return to a powerful emperor, and a doing away with the Diet.

2) A major hatred of Communism (look at previous reasons!).

3)A deep mistrust of "outsiders."

I could go on, and on, and on about this lot, but there are plenty of people who have written more weighty tomes than I.

Now, of course, here in Japan, there is little chance of a direct confrontation. It will take a lot to drive them to direct action. Instead, most of the action that they will take will be to drive around blaring music, or park up outside the target and harass them and their customers until they get the response they want.

The amazing thing though, is that whilst all these things are hallmarks of ultra-nationalist groups, there are is a good deal of blaring hypocrisy. For example, one main plank is Japanese self dependency (Non-reliance on the US for defence, domestic nuclear capability, etc.), however, many groups seek to promote a deepening of the alliance with the US, and extending it to S. Korea!

Another is that the groups dont like foreigners. However, there are some groups that draw a good deal of support from foreign groups!

Finally, one major drive has been to call for the return of absolute rule for the Emperor. Though this demand has been toned down, and replaced with a demand for Japan to "go it alone."

These groups do cause a nuisance, but thankfully, are not a unified voice. Japan does not have groups like the BNP in Britain, which is slowly building a political voice. This is a good thing, as if they where to get political power, then the older conservative members of Japans government would make life deeply uncomfortable for those like me! Foreigners who want to build a life here in a deeply confusing society, but are willing to jump through the ridiculously pernickity hoops that the government is willing to set in front of us.

It is worth noting I have been on the receiving end. 2 vans turned up in Kashiwazaki and drove around, and upon seeing Geos, decided to orbit us for a while. However, I did take great delight in scaring them. I went outside to get a picture and see what was going on, and upon seeing me, they pulled over. Rather than park outside Geos and shout at us for an hour or so, they ended up parking outside the watch shop!

I was gladdened to see that whilst the vans made a lot of noise, no-one paid a blind bit of attention, and several could be seen moaning about them! Most gratifying when one of the khaki-clad boys tried to talk to an old lady, only for her to shoo him away! It was the same lady I helped earlier at the local supermarket, just by putting her shopping in the basket on her bike!