ABSTRACT
The practically countless number of books and other publications bordering on hate speech towards Koreans and Chinese accelerated efforts by the government to deny its human rights abuses during the war, and the overall rise in political power of Nippon Kaigi and other extremist organisations are evidence to the effect. Hate speech in Japan is directed mainly towards Koreans in the country, predominantly those with permanent residency status. Hate speech in Japan, therefore, is inextricably linked with the public debate surrounding Japan’s human rights violations during the War, and in particular with increasing efforts on the part of the right wing to deny outright that violations even took place. International human rights law is clear that states must prohibit hate speech. One only needs to look at the promotional material of the Human Rights Bureau of the Ministry of Justice to see Japanese narrative at work.
