Japan's Prime Minister Mocks TPP Protestors On Facebook

from the taking-concerns-seriously? dept

Mon, Jun 17th 2013 10:13pm — Mike Masnick

Japan recently agreed to join in the negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that has many significant problems, which we've been highlighting for years. Apparently, Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has no interest in listening to those concerns. Some TPP protestors showed up at an Abe event in Tokyo, and his response was to mock and belittle them and their concerns on Facebook.

“I was touched that so many of you came to Shibuya,” wrote the prime minister, whose frequent Facebook posts cover everything from a college reunion to a foreign policy debate. “There were some leftists with microphones and drums in the audience who tried hard, with hatred, to interrupt our speeches. But I must say that gave us fight. Thank You. A child in front laughed them off, saying ‘Quiet!’ Admirable. Please remember that those are representatives of embarrassing adults.”

The Facebook post has since been deleted, but it raises serious concerns about how seriously the Japanese government will listen to the widespread concerns about the excessive nature of the TPP. Making things even more bizarre, when a reporter asked a spokesperson from Abe's office about why the post had been taken down, the person said it hadn't and was still available on his own computer.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: japan, shinzo abe, tpp

23 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

That One Guy (profile), 17 Jun 2013 @ 9:31pm

Well, I'll give him this much
That has got the be the most blunt and downright honest 'It doesn't matter what concerns people have over this trade agreement, as I plan on ignoring all of them'-type statement I've yet heard relating to TPP 'negotiations'.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 17 Jun 2013 @ 10:21pm

If he had mentioned milk in his comments I would almost be convinced that AJ is the Prime Minister of Japan.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Manok, 17 Jun 2013 @ 10:22pm

Yes indeed, he's just being honest. All the other democratic "representatives" who keep their mouths shut, or brush it aside, THOSE are the ones doing the mocking.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 17 Jun 2013 @ 10:29pm

The Japanese government actually doesn't want any input from anyone.

Japan have one of the most exaggerated copyrights in the world, recently they even passed some more laws that nobody knew about it because it was done in secret behind closed doors and disclosed after the fact.

So no, don't expect the Japanese government to listen to anything, they are the ones that designed and proposed to others these treaties.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 17 Jun 2013 @ 10:48pm

http://boingboing.net/2012/10/01/japan-competes-with-panama-to.html
http://boingboing.net/2012/06/2 1/the-beatings-will-continue-unt.html
https://torrentfreak.com/anti-downloading-law-hits-japan-up-t o-2-years-in-prison-from-today-121001/
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/06/japan-download-copyrig ht-law/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/22/japan-passes-jail-for-dow_n_1618479.html

Japan listen to reason about monopolies?
Ya right.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 1:11am

this just shows that the Japanese government, like so many others today, are not in the least bit interested in listening to their own people. they get into power on false promise after false promise only to reject every concern raised by those they are supposed to be representing. it is nothing less than a dictatorship but to put a post like this up shows to me how childish the actual poster, the Prime Minister himself, really is! he should be ashamed of himself and start doing his job, not just what the USA tells him to do!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 1:33am

Re:
It IS his job to listen to USA. The people doesn't so he has to.

Japan is the only country who has officially ratified ACTA, which leads me to the conclusion: The problem in Japan is not USA, it is the lack of "democratic tradition" including wider strikes and protests...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Shadow Dragon (profile), 18 Jun 2013 @ 3:36am

He might be gone by doing that.
PM Abe might be ousted his Party lose alot of seats after the election next month
[ link to this | view in thread ]
This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it

Masnick = Total Fake, 18 Jun 2013 @ 4:36am

Japan recently agreed to join in the negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that has many significant problems, which we've been highlighting for years.

Have you? All I've seen is you whine about all of it and then run away when anyone wants to discuss your concerns in the comments. It's all you just tilting at windmills and none of you having a productive conversation about it.

But this is TechTurd and you're Mike Whiny Boy Masnick, so what would anyone expect?

Apparently, Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has no interest in listening to those concerns.

You know who else doesn't care about listening to anyone else's concerns? You, Chubby!! It's amazing how you're critical of others who do the same shit you do. It's hilarious. And sad. Just like you!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 4:43am

The arrogance of so called "leaders" is amazing. They could take the high road, but no. Apparently the puppet masters will not allow it. They all seem to enjoy the confrontation between shock troops and pedestrians. Sick bastards. I think there is a medical term for that type of condition.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 4:51am

Re:
"You know who else doesn't care about listening to anyone else's concerns?"

Answer: Most all of our "world leaders".

Some leaders we got here. They should be out in front leading the way ... but where do we find them? Cowering in corners, so afraid of their own citizens that they send in troops. Wow, great leadership qualities you got there.

"It's amazing how you're critical of others who do the same shit you do"

You complain about the lack of productive conversation whilst not providing any productive conversation. Go deeper.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Real Michael, 18 Jun 2013 @ 5:33am

Re: Re:
Japan is under more pressure than other nations to join in the discussion. After all, they wouldn't want to bite the hand that feeds them.

Sad really.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 6:45am

The Facebook post has since been deleted, but it raises serious concerns about how seriously the Japanese government will listen to the widespread concerns about the excessive nature of the TPP.

Consider that perhaps the "concerns" aren't actually widespread enough for the Japanese government to give a flying fuck. Kind of like it is in the US.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 9:03am

Re:
Can you tell us which school you went to? I'd like to sit in on the "Argument in the Style of Toddlers" class that you obviously took.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John Fenderson (profile), 18 Jun 2013 @ 9:25am

Re: Re: Re:
Who's feeding who? Japan is the #2 holder of our foreign debt -- they have almost as much as China.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John Fenderson (profile), 18 Jun 2013 @ 9:26am

Re:
No, it's more meaningful than that. If you have a group of insignificant opponents, you simply don't acknowledge them at all. Mocking them means that they pose a threat to you.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Groove Tiger (profile), 18 Jun 2013 @ 9:54am

Re: Re:
He teaches that class. It consists of him crying for his milk for 45 minutes straight.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 10:33am

Whoever willfully causes an act to be done which if directly performed by him or another would be an offense against the United States, is punishable as a principal.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 10:36am

We are a not-for-profit group that believes everyone should be able to read and understand the laws that govern them, without cost. We carry out this vision by:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 11:40am

Come on!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 12:16pm

Wow
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 12:20pm

Really?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2013 @ 9:58pm

Lip Service
Abe wants to join the TPP because not doing so, in his mind, means losing our preferred status with the US. Once we have joined of course there will be the usual foot dragging, wrangling, wringing of hands and not one solid step will be made to adhere to the treaty on our part.

Remember we promised to liberalize the rice trade decades ago. How much American rice does Japan buy? How much American rice can you see on the shelves in Seiyu, Jusco or Aeon supermarkets?

I'm more worried about Abenomics! Anybody need a bridge built in the middle of nowhere or a nuclear reactor that is almost guaranteed to fail critically?

Here's what 70yrs of the LDP gave us http://regex.info/i/JEF_027676.jpg
[ link to this | view in thread ]