Akiyo Asaki (朝木明代, Asaki Akiyo, 1944–1995) was a Tokyo councilwoman who committed suicide following allegations of petty theft. The circumstances of her death were initially thought to have been "mysterious." Asaki was notable in Tokyo for making comments critical of Soka Gakkai.
Akiyo Asaki | |
|---|---|
朝木明代 | |
| Born | 1944 |
| Died | 1995 (aged 50–51) |
| Occupation | Tokyo councilwoman |
Scandal and death
editAs a councilwoman, Asaki repeatedly questioned why city garbage collection contracts went exclusively to Soka Gakkai-affiliated companies. She received death threats after raising the issue.[1]
In July 1995, she was accused of stealing a T-shirt from a clothing store. Asaki was never actually convicted of shoplifting, but Soka Gakkai claims that she was guilty, explaining, "In recent years, shoplifting by housewives has become a social issue."[2] She offered a restaurant receipt as an alibi, but police discovered that it was forged.[3] Several newsweeklies reported that the clothing store proprietor was a member of Soka Gakkai who could have invented the shoplifting charge. All of the newsweeklies were later sued for defamation for their reporting. On September 1, 1995, Asaki fell to her death from a sixth-story apartment building next to Higashi-Murayama Station. Police ruled the death a suicide. She was 51.
Conspiracy theory and lawsuits
editOn September 23, 1995, Asaki's widower and surviving daughter, as well as her coworker in the Tokyo city council, all made statements to the press to the effect that they believed Soka Gakkai was involved in Asaki's death.[4] Their statements were reported by Time and several Japanese newsweeklies. Soka Gakkai's president compared the bereaved family to Aum Shinrikyo, a religious cult famous for dropping poison gas into the Tokyo subway system.[5] The Gakkai sued Asaki's family and the newsweeklies that reported their allegations, and in 2001, courts awarded the Gakkai 2 million yen.[6] In 2008 and 2009, Asaki's coworker Hozumi Yano won two defamation suits brought by Soka Gakkai for expressing his opinion that she was murdered. The Gakkai continues to claim that it has "prevailed in every defamation case in which Asaki's death was at issue."[7]
The case was taken up by Zaitokukai and other right-wing groups.
References
edit- ^ "Death Watch". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
- ^ "Higashi-Murayama Demagogue Incident: Point 4: A Cunning Alibi Scheme". justiceproved.com. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
- ^ 『潮』(November 1995)
- ^ Japan Times. "Politician’s Kin Target Soka Gakkai Archived 2011-05-04 at the Wayback Machine". 25 November 1995.
- ^ ""Q & A with President Akiya" - No.13". Archived from the original on 2011-05-04. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
- ^ "Courts Rule Against Weeklies, Asaki Families in Higashi Murayama Libel Suits". Archived from the original on 2011-05-04. Retrieved 2014-01-15.
- ^ The Asaki Case Resurfaces