Key Facts
• June 27, 2025: Tokyo District Court ruled on defamation case.
• Former Daio Paper Chairman Mototaka Ikawa ordered to pay ¥55,000 in damages.
• Ikawa’s post on X (formerly Twitter) deemed defamatory against SDP Vice Chair Yuko Ototsuki.
• Court ruled Ikawa’s statement “not Japanese” exceeded social norms.
• Ototsuki sought ¥5.5 million in damages and post deletion.
• Court dismissed claims of specific rights violations from hate speech.
• Incident stemmed from May 24, 2024, post criticizing Ototsuki’s stance on immigration law reforms.
Summary
The Tokyo District Court ruled on June 27, 2025, that former Daio Paper Chairman Mototaka Ikawa must pay ¥55,000 in damages and delete a defamatory post targeting Social Democratic Party Vice Chair Yuko Ototsuki. The post, made on X (formerly Twitter) in May 2024, accused Ototsuki of not being Japanese and criticized her opposition to immigration law reforms. The court deemed the statement defamatory and beyond acceptable social norms but rejected claims of specific rights violations from hate speech. Ototsuki initially sought ¥5.5 million in damages. This case highlights ongoing legal challenges surrounding online hate speech and defamation.
