Opinion

Pro-rape politicians? Only in Japan

By Joseph LaPenta

Rape is a serious crime in most countries, but apparently not so in Japan. At least that is the impression one gets from recent statements by certain senior Japanese politicians. Mr. Seiichi Ota, a member of the Diet, said that young men who commit gang rape are "virile," and that he considered them "rather normal." Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda was then quoted as saying that many rape victims were "asking for it."

I myself have lived in Japan for 30 years. I read the newspapers and watch TV, and so naturally I have come to assume that the only people who commit rape in Japan are American soldiers.

Imagine my surprise then, when members of a Japanese group associated with Waseda University were arrested recently on gang-rape charges. Fortunately Mr. Ota and Mr. Fukuda sprang to their defense, implying in their arguments that cases of rape between Japanese are somehow more acceptable than those involving barbarian foreigners.

The rape victims in the news were university students, but experts say molestation and statutory rape are commonplace in junior and senior high schools across Japan. But the victims rarely come forward.

Women are told that if they talk about it to anyone else, they are going to be tainted for the rest of their lives. Even when the molesters are identified and caught, they seldom get more than a slap on the wrist. The attitude seems to be "boys will be boys."

Mr. Fukuda was also quoted as saying that women with a "provocative ... appearance are at fault because men are black panthers." If you have seen Mr. Fukuda on TV, you will realize he is no black panther.

The irony doesn't stop there. Not only is he the chief spokesman for the Japanese government, but he is also the minister in charge of gender equality. It is as though Adolph Hitler were put in charge of improving race relations.

In most countries, these crackpot statements would be tantamount to political suicide. Any politician who defended rapists and blamed their victims would be out of a job. But will Mr. Ota and Mr. Fukuda be re-elected? Of course. Will many women vote for them? Probably. This is Japan, and it is a little different from other countries.

According to a recent report by the U.N. Development Program (UNDP), Japanese women's participation in society ranked 44th in the world, one of the worst among industrialized countries. The ranking is based on many factors, including the number of female politicians, and the ratio of women having senior posts in the private and public sectors. Japan lagged far behind in all categories.

Will Japanese women demand more equal treatment? Will they organize and use their votes to throw sexist politicians out of office? Will they take more control from bureaucrats, doctors and the other male "experts" who are running their lives? Maybe someday, but don't hold your breath.

Shukan ST: Aug. 1, 2003

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