In the video, a former prosecutor says

I think this critique is a discrimination against Asia. Discrimination against Asia from the West. They despise Asia. 'Oh it's just an Asian country anyway I don't think there can be such a modern criminal justice in Asia like ours'. That's what they are thinking. It's extremely unpleasant, to be honest with you.

I have seen this tactic used very frequently, not just in the context of Japan or its legal system. Orientalism is of course real and there's no doubt in my mind that some Westerners who criticise the Japanese criminal justice system are relying on the orientalist "Asian people are backwards" trope.

But the critique remains justified and there are plenty of people who are not just attacking Japan because of their internalised orientalism. So what is the counter to that guy's tactic? My initial thought about this example was to let Japanese people themselves speak up about it, but even those Japanese people are attacked by the reactionaries and are said to not be "real" Japanese people (something that was also discussed by the Against Japanism podcast).

  • Azarova [they/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    In Japan you have the kisha, or press club, and they write their articles based on what the police tells them. They actually have their offices in police stations, and the rent and the phone bills are paid for by the police. So if they were to criticise the police, they would just be biting the hands that feed them.

    :what-the-hell: