Demagogue Prevention Day

It is the Disaster Prevention Day, marking the centennial of Great Kanto Earthquake. While it reminds most Japanese people of the importance of preparing for natural disaster, some remember the dark side of the event: massacre of foreign residents mostly the Koreans. Soon after the devastation of the earthquake, fanatic people affected by demagogue, such as “Koreans put poison into waterworks,” killed a number of the people they suspected. The victims’ families or protesters held rallies demanding the Japanese government apology and compensation. But the government does not approve its responsibility.

With estimated magnitude of 7.9, Great Kanto Earthquake, on September 1st, 1923, caused about 105,000 of deaths or missing people with fire skipping around the city of Tokyo. In 1965, the government of Japan determined September 1stto be the day for preventing disasters, also considering September was the season of typhoon. Prime ministers in the past have been conducting the drill of hypothetic disaster and the government asked the nation to be always ready for any natural disaster happening. Supposing M7.3 earthquake which epicenter was in Tokyo metropolitan area, Kishida on Friday delivered TV message about the situation soon after the emergency meeting with all the Ministers, and had a video conference with a mayor of Sagamihara, Kanagawa, to reconfirm necessary measures for local community.

 

It is known that the people passed the days after Great Kanto Earthquake with deep fear of next disaster or deteriorated security. That unstable mentality caused believing in baseless accusation against strangers or foreigners. The demagogue then spread included “Thousands of lawless Koreans are coming,” or “They set fire.” The people organized groups of vigilantes and some killed foreign residents for self-defense. The families of victims still seek responsibility of Japanese government that did not make efforts to stop the massacres.

 

According to a report of Central Disaster Management Council, an organization in Cabinet Office, in 2009, fear about Koreans’ protests against Japan’s colonial rule and lack of understanding and discrimination against Koreans were in the background of the persecution. “It is necessary for history study or ethnic coexistence to consider and reflect what caused the persecution,” proposes the report. In the press conference in August 31st, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told that the report was made by some experts and not represented the recognition of the government. The government still does not approve the fact of massacre.

 

Every time the Japanese were suffered from natural disaster, they hear some kinds of demagogue. In the Great Northeast Japan Earthquake in 2011, there was saying that water system was poisoned by radiation from Fukushima. In the Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016, wrong information that a lion escaped from zoo spread around. What Japan needs to prevent is not disaster but demagogue.

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