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Naoki Hyakuta

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The native form of this personal name is Hyakuta Naoki. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Naoki Hyakuta (百田 尚樹, Hyakuta Naoki, born February 23, 1956) is a Japanese former novelist, television producer and politician who is the co-founder and leader of the Conservative Party of Japan.[1] He is known for his right-wing political views and denying Japanese war crimes prior to and during World War II.[2] He is particularly known for his 2006 novel The Eternal Zero, which became a popular 2013 film,[3] his controversial period as a governor of government broadcaster NHK, as well as his support of Nanjing Massacre denial.[4]

Naoki Hyakuta
百田 尚樹
Hyakuta in 2017
Leader of the Conservative Party of Japan
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 September 2023
DeputyTakashi Kawamura
Preceded byPosition established
Personal details
Born (1956-02-23) February 23, 1956 (age 68)
Higashiyodogawa, Osaka, Japan
Political partyConservative Party of Japan
Alma materDoshisha University (dropped out)
Writing career
LanguageJapanese
Period2006–2019
GenreWar, historical fiction, non-fiction, fiction
Notable works
Notable awardsJapan Booksellers' Award (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Hyakuta has written a number of other books, several of which have been turned into films, such as Bokkusu[5] and Monsuta.[6]

The Eternal Zero

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In 2006 Hyakuta's novel The Eternal Zero was published. It became a best-seller, with four million copies sold.[7] It was made into a popular 2013 movie.[8] The novel was criticised by famed Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki as being "a pack of lies" about the war,[9] leading to Hyakuta speculating that Miyazaki "wasn't right in the head".[10]

 
Hyakuta met Kiyoaki Kawanami, Commander of the 9th Air Wing, Air Self-Defense Force (on 29 October 2017)
 
Hyakuta visited Naha Airbase, Air Self-Defense Force (on 29 October 2017)

As NHK governor

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In 2013, Hyakuta was selected by Shinzō Abe as one of 12 members of the board of governors of Japan's national broadcaster, NHK. This came after the re-election of the Liberal Democratic Party led by Abe. Hyakuta had supported in his bid to re-assume leadership of the LDP the previous year. The selection of Hyakuta as an NHK governor caused some criticism,[11] but the diet approved Hyakuta's appointment in November 2013.[12][13] His historical views denying the Nanjing Massacre sparked extended controversy[14][15] after his speech in support of Toshio Tamogami's bid for the Tokyo governorship in 2014 bought renewed attention to his rightist views.[16][17] He resigned as a governor in 2015.[18]

Political career

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On June 12, 2023, Hyakuta declared that if the LGBT Understanding Promotion Act, which was still being discussed and debated in the National Diet, were to pass, he would run for the Japanese House of Representatives and form a new political party.[19] Four days later, on June 16, the bill was passed by the House of Representatives and became law.[20] Consequently, he announced the formation of the Conservative Party of Japan on September 1, 2023 with Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura as its Vice President and journalist Kaori Arimoto as its Secretary General.[21][22]

Historical views

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During a speech on March 3, 2014, in support of Toshio Tamogami's bid for the governorship of Tokyo, Hyakuta stated that the Nanjing Massacre "never happened", and stated that the Tokyo War Crimes Trials were a "sham" to cover up US war crimes such as firebombing and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He also stated that he didn't see a need to teach such things to children, as they should be taught what a great country Japan is.[23] He said that claims about the Nanjing Massacre were brought up at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunals only to cancel out the war crimes the US had committed.[24] A press officer at the US embassy in Tokyo described Hyakuta's views as "preposterous".[25][26]

In 2014 as an NHK governor he claimed that it was wrong to state that ethnic Koreans were forcibly brought to Japan during the Japanese colonial period.[27]

Defamation suits

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Hyakuta wrote a book called Jun'ai (2014) in memory of his recently deceased friend, the radio and TV show host Yashiki Takajin. The book, written as if it were a work of reporting, portrayed Takajin's daughter and his manager as callous, cruel individuals who abandoned him in his final days. Takajin's manager and daughter both sued for slander. Hyakuta claimed that although all the persons named were real, the book was a "fiction." He had relied heavily on uncritical interviews with Takajin's widow, and did not mention her bigamy in the text of the book, only admitting to it later.[28] After multiple appeals, in December 2017 the Supreme Court of Japan found that Hyakuta had slandered Takajin's daughter and ordered 3.65 million yen paid in compensation.[29] In November 2018 the Tokyo District Court found that Hyakuta had slandered Takajin's manager as well, ordering an additional 2.75 million yen in compensation and a written apology.[30][31]

Plagiarism

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His 2018 book Nihon Kokuki (日本国紀), hailed by the publisher as "the ultimate overview of Japanese history",[32] was discovered to contain fictitious statements as well as plagiarism from sources such as Wikipedia articles,[33] the latter being admitted by the author himself.[34] Author Yasumi Tsuhara [ja] criticized it as "a book praising one's own country filled with copy-and-pasted excerpts from the web."[32]

Promoting forced hysterectomy to encourage child birth

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On November 8 2024, Hyakuta discussed the declining birth rate issue on the program "News Asahi 8 o'clock!" He stated that the only way to reverse Japan's rapidly falling fertility rate is to change the social structure.

Hyakuta suggested policies such as "prohibiting women from not attending university after the age of 18," "banning women who are single at 25 from ever getting married," and "performing a hysterectomy on women who have not given birth by the age of 30."[35]

The suggestions prompted public criticism, Hyakuta claimed that the media misinterpreted his words and he is merely "making suggestions based on science fictions".[36]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "百田 尚樹 プロフィール - 日本保守党｜日本を豊かに、強く。". hoshuto.jp (in Japanese). 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  2. ^ "Is Japan sorry for World War II?". 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  3. ^ Lee, Maggie Film Review: ‘The Eternal Zero’ April 12, 2014 Variety Retrieved March 29, 2016
  4. ^ Schilling, Mark Debate still rages over Abe-endorsed WWII drama February 20, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 30, 2016
  5. ^ "青春ボクシング小説「ボックス！」映画に続きコミカライズ". Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  6. ^ "モンスター | あらすじ・内容・スタッフ・キャスト・作品情報". Eiga Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  7. ^ Eternal Zero claims number one spot in Japan December 24, 2013 Retrieved March 30, 2016
  8. ^ Mission accomplished? A film about kamikaze pilots gives a worrying boost to nationalists March 1st, 2014 The Economist Retrieved March 30, 2016
  9. ^ Schilling Flights of fancy - box office smash The Eternal Zero reopens old wounds in Japan with its take on wartime kamikaze pilots May 11, 2014 South China Morning Post Retrieved March 30, 2016
  10. ^ Author Naoki Hyakuta Thinks Hayao Miyazaki's Got a Few Screws Loose November 18, 2014 Anime News Network
  11. ^ Mr. Abe stacking the deck at NHK November 6, 2013 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  12. ^ Diet OKs Abe-linked NHK board picks, raising specter of potential bias November 10, 2013 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  13. ^ NHK president says he will step down in January December 6, 2013 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  14. ^ Senior NHK manager’s denial of Nanjing Massacre not a problem: Suga February 4, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  15. ^ Yoshida, Reijii NHK governors reveal rightist views: Praise of nationalist 'martyr,' denial of Nanjing Massacre roil broadcaster February 5, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  16. ^ Mie, Ayako Tamogami finds right-wing niche: Message may also be reaching younger voters February 5, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  17. ^ NHK’s credibility at stake February 7, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  18. ^ Nanking Massacre denier Hyakuta to resign NHK governorship in February January 31, 2016 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  19. ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2023-06-12). "百田尚樹氏が「保守政党」結成を宣言 ＬＧＢＴ法案成立なら「日本が破壊される」 安倍氏の暗殺後に「自民党は音を立てて崩れた」（1/2ページ）". zakzak：夕刊フジ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  20. ^ "Japan passes watered-down LGBT understanding bill". CNN. Reuters. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  21. ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2023-08-29). "「百田新党」９月１日にＳＮＳで発信開始 百田尚樹氏と有本香氏出演の「あさ８」で発表". zakzak：夕刊フジ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  22. ^ 日本放送協会 (2023-10-17). "名古屋 河村市長「日本保守党」共同代表に就任 | NHK". NHKニュース. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  23. ^ Tiezzi, Sharon NHK Governor: Nanjing Massacre ‘Never Happened’ February 7, 2014 Retrieved March 30, 2016
  24. ^ NHK governor campaigns for revisionist in Tokyo election February 4, 2014 Archived January 31, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Asahi Shimbun Retrieved March 30, 2016
  25. ^ U.S. raps board member’s remark on Tokyo Tribunal February 8, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 30, 2016
  26. ^ Hyakuta’s Nanjing denial prompts chilly response from U.S. Embassy: sources February 15, 2014 Retrieved March 30, 2016
  27. ^ Kingston, Jeff Are forces of darkness gathering in Japan? May 16, 2015 The Japan Times Retrieved March 30, 2016
  28. ^ 酒井まど (2014-11-13). "二股発覚! たかじん未亡人は人妻だった! 百田尚樹『殉愛』の嘘 2". LITERA (in Japanese). 株式会社サイゾー. Retrieved 2014-12-11.
  29. ^ 百田尚樹氏の「殉愛」で名誉毀損、幻冬舎の敗訴が確定 朝日新聞デジタル 2017年12月22日
  30. ^ "百田氏と幻冬舎に賠償命令 「殉愛」で名誉毀損を認める：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  31. ^ "百田尚樹氏「殉愛」に賠償命令、東京地裁が名誉毀損認める 百田氏「判決を精査し対応を検討」". SANSPO.COM（サンスポ） (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  32. ^ a b "Author claims publisher cut ties after he criticized book by writer close to Japan PM". The Mainichi. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  33. ^ 売り上げ好調 百田氏「日本国紀」に「コピペ」騒動 専門家の評価は？. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  34. ^ 【速報】百田尚樹が「 #日本国紀 」でWikipediaなどからのコピペを自供. Buzzap (in Japanese). 2018-11-20. Archived from the original on 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  35. ^ "「下品でどぎつい」日本保守党・百田尚樹代表「30歳超は子宮摘出」発言を撤回・謝罪…河村たかし氏も「わしも成り代わっておわび」". FNNプライムオンライン. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  36. ^ "百田尚樹｢"子宮摘出"発言｣どれほどヤバすぎたか". 東洋経済オンライン (in Japanese). 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
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