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.
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.
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)
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 :)