Sound trucks in Japan

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Right wing sound truck, demonstrating in Kyoto, Japan on Constitution day. The large white characters read from the right (the front of the vehicle) 敬愛倭塾 kei ai yamato juku, literally translated as "respect ancient Japan school".

Sound truck, operated by the Communist Party of Japan, seen in Aichi, Japan

Sound trucks in Japan (gaisensha, (街宣車) are used by political parties and candidates to express their views. Vendors also use sound trucks for the purpose of selling goods, collecting recyclable materials, and other purposes. The trucks have one or more loudspeakers which play a recorded message or recorded music.

Many right-wing political groups drive around city streets in sound trucks, play nationalistic music at high volume and communicate their political views to the citizenry. They also sometimes station themselves on a street, while one of the group's members address the public.

Many Japanese people are annoyed with these displays by the right wing groups; however, few Japanese openly challenge or complain to those who operate the trucks. The Japanese police tend to ignore them or allow them to operate freely, in the interest of free speech.

The right-wing sound trucks in Japan often disregard stop signs and stoplights, even on busy streets, and can have a negative effect on businesses they regularly pass or station themselves in front. Many of the right wing groups who operate the sound trucks are assumed to have Yakuza connections.

To a lesser extent the Communist Party of Japan also uses sound trucks to advertise its political views.

See also

• Japanese nationalism
• Uyoku dantai