Each week, here at Osaka.com, we bring you a selection of some of the top stories about Osaka making the local and national news here in Japan. Sometimes it’s serious, sometimes it’s funny, but it’s always direct to you, from Osaka.
Group Rallies in Support of Osaka’s Foreign Residents
It’s a troubling time for Osaka’s foreign residents at the moment. The recent election of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, on a platform of toughening immigration rules, and the recent gains made by the far-right Sanseito Party have left many worried for their futures.
To counter this, a group of Japanese supporters of foreign residents in Osaka staged a rally and protest recently to show support for their neighbors.
The “Osaka NO Hate” group held their first public demonstration back in August. However, with the recent political moves by the Takaichi administration and their junior coalition partners the Japan Innovation Party, organizers felt it was time for another public show of support. Supporters rallied last weekend, and said they will do so again in the near future.
The JIP have demanded that Takaichi’s government place a “total volume control” on the admission of new foreign residents to Japan. In other words, they want numerical restrictions placed on the number of new immigrants admitted into Japan each year.
Such policies have already been tried, and mostly failed, in a number of other countries across the world in recent times.
Foreign Residents Concerned as Onoda placed in Charge of Foreigner Relations
One of the main driving forces behind recent rallies in Osaka is the appointment of Junior Minister Kimi Onoda. Ms Onoda recently assumed the post of “Minister in charge of harmonious coexistence with foreign nationals”.
Despite being half-American by birth, Onoda has a long record of inflammatory statements regarding Japan’s foreign residents.
During the Covid pandemic, she publicly called on local municipalities not to use the “My Number Card” system to validate residents claims for financial support. She said on social media that this would “allow foreigners to get money they don’t deserve”.
Despite backlash, Onoda doubled down on this rhetoric. She demanded that no covid relief funds should go to foreign residents. Onoda claimed, without evidence, that foreigners were “sucking money” from Japan’s social care system. This compelled the administration of the late Shinzo Abe to issue a statement that “all residents of Japan” were indeed eligible for emergency Covid aid.
Foreign Residents Highlight Hypocrisy
Onoda has repeated in recent weeks her desire to crackdown on “unlawful activity and violation of rules by some foreigners,”
That’s quite ironic considering both her American heritage and the fact that she herself violated these same rules back in 2016.
Onoda ran for election and was duly elected to The House of Councilors in mid-2016. Only Japanese nationals are allowed to hold such political office.
However, Onoda withheld the fact that she, at that time, held two passports, American and Japanese. Japanese law prohibits dual nationality. Onoda finally confirmed that she had given up her US citizenship in May 2017. This came almost a year after being elected in a vote she shouldn’t have been eligible for.
No disciplinary action was taken, and this is one of a number of hypocritical actions from the junior minister that critics have highlighted in recent weeks.
Osaka Senior Resident Highlights Teleshopping Concerns
One Osaka resident is calling for greater governmental support and consumer awareness this week, after his mother became addicted to teleshopping.
The 77-year-old woman developed an addiction to overspending on products advertised on TV after illness led to her spending long periods at home. Her husband who is 78, still works, as does her son.
The victim’s son believes that talking with the staff of these shopping channels on the phone gave his mother much needed social interaction. However, it also decimated her personal savings.
However, he says he is unsure who can help despite having several consultations with various governmental services on the issue.
Despite her advanced years, his mother has not experienced significant cognitive decline.
There is also no question of fraudulent or exploitative practices from any of the vendors she has bought from.
Nonetheless, it is a problem that has created both financial strain and arguments at home.
The victim’s son is aware that he can block TV shopping channels at home, but is reluctant to do so, as he worries about the mental impact this would have on his mother.
The problem of excessive orders by elderly citizens from these shopping channels has drawn record numbers of enquiries to the National Consumer Affairs Center. However, officials remain in a bind as to what to do. Is it an addiction, or merely a symptom of long periods spent alone, at home?
And Finally…
The Osaka based Japan Meteorological Corporation reminded residents this week to “watch out for bears!”
Across Japan there has been a recent surge in bear attacks. Experts cite both deforestation and lack of food sources as reasons for these usually docile animals to wander into suburban neighborhoods and, at times become aggressive.
The JMC’s survey, released this week, showed that 80% of Osaka hikers are concerned about being attacked by bears during hikes this winter.
They advised hikers to be sure to take bells, radios and other noise-making equipment with them. Noise is known to drive bears away. Hikers should also carry bear spray, and keep to recognized tracks and avoid hiking alone.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of this week in Osaka!
