Japanese can be a bit weird as it often adopts foreign terms when adequate Japanese terms exist. For example, this Kumanichi article uses the katakana ヘイトスピーチ (hate speech) but then must restate it with kanji, which is zōo hyōgen (憎悪表現) - note that zōo is not pronounced as the Engish “zoo,” though perhaps those who engage in it belong in one.
A new law exists criminalizing hate speech, and its first application in Kumamoto was announced on 10/30 against a right-wing “party” (the “Japan First Party”) who were blaring from one of those black trucks in front of Kumamoto Station on 10/14. The article does not clarify whether the statute is being brought against the ten members who participated or the party itself.
Kumanichi writes: “The Prefectural Human Rights Policy Division stated, ‘It is the first time that a hate speech was confirmed in the prefecture, and the appearance of citizens who engage in hate speech is regrettable.’ Meanwhile, the Japan First Party states that it is only discussing problems regarding immigration policy and thus does not consider it as hate.” Full article at the link. - William
