Wikipedia

GaaSyy

Yoshikazu Higashitani(Đông cốc nghĩa cùng,Higashitani Yoshikazu,born October 6, 1971),also known asGaaSyy(ガーシー,Gāshī)is a former Japanese politician, formerYouTuber,and former businessman.[1]He was elected into theHouse of Councillorsin2022as part of theNHK Party,[1][2][3]but was expelled on March 15, 2023 for not attending any sessions of Parliament. The following day, theTokyo Metropolitan Police Departmentsought an arrest warrant for alleged defamation of celebrities in his YouTube videos. On June 4, 2023, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested Higashitani immediately upon his arrival atNarita Airporton suspicion of habitually threatening celebrities and others.

Yoshikazu Higashitani
Đông cốc nghĩa cùng
Member of theHouse of Councillors
In office
July 26, 2022 – March 14, 2023
Succeeded byKenichiro Saito
ConstituencyProportional
Personal details
Born
Yoshikazu Higashitani

(1971-10-06)October 6, 1971(age 53)
Itami,Hyōgo,Japan
Political partyNHK Party(2022–2023)
Alma materHannan University
OccupationMedia personality
Criminal information
Criminal statusOnprobation
Criminal charge
Penalty
  • Suspended sentence (2024)
  • 3-year imprisonment

Career

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GaaSyy rose to prominence in 2022 after starting aYouTubechannel where he spoke about alleged scandals in the entertainment industry. Of note was his coverage of theJohnny Kitagawa sexual abuse scandal,where GaaSyy was described by the sexual abuse victim and formerJohnny's Jr.member Kauan Okamoto as "the only person in Japanese media to cover the story at the time".[4]His channel gained 1.3 million subscribers before being shut down in July of that year. His success ledTakashi Tachibana,the leader of the fringeNHK Partythat focuses on reforms to theJapanese public broadcaster,to recruit him for the2022 Japanese House of Councillors election.GaaSyy's platform included a pledge to work from overseas, and won the election with over 287,000 votes.[5]

At the time of his election, GaaSyy lived inDubai,United Arab Emirates.[6]In August 2022 he skipped what would have been his first day as a lawmaker because he feared arrest, on grounds of alleged fraud and defamation against celebrities, if he came to Japan.[7][8]GaaSyy skipped all futureHouse of Councillorssessions, instead continuing to post on his social media channels.[9]

In January 2023, locations linked to GaaSyy and his advertising revenue management company were raided by police to investigate alleged defamation and intimidation of celebrities as well as obstruction of business. TheTokyo Metropolitan Police Departmentalso requested GaaSyy to appear for an interview.[10]

In February 2023, GaaSyy was asked by the House of Councillors to fly to Tokyo and deliver an in-person apology for his continued absence during an open session, the penultimate disciplinary step before expulsion. GaaSyy initially promised to do so, but backtracked, citing fear of prosecution despite sitting parliamentarians in Japan havingimmunity from prosecution.His reversal led to party leader Tachibana resigning in favour of actressAyaka Otsu.[9]GaaSyy instead posted a video about going toGaziantep,Turkey to help in the recovery efforts after theFebruary 2023 earthquake.[8][11]

The disciplinary committee of the House of Councillors voted to expel him on March 14, which was made official by the whole body the following day. The final expulsion vote passed 235–1, with the only "no" vote being his fellow party member,Satoshi Hamada.The expulsion was the first in over 70 years, and the first ever instance of expulsion for non-attendance.[11]After the expulsion vote, party leader Ayaka Otsu expressed disappointment, noting that he had openly campaigned on working from abroad, so his constituents would not be upset by remote work.[11]

The expulsion meant that GaaSyy no longer had immunity from prosecution afforded to parliamentarians while parliament was in session.[5][12]On March 16, 2023, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department requested an arrest warrant for GaaSyy over alleged defamation in his social media videos, as well as for his editor. It also requested that theMinistry of Foreign Affairsdemand the return of GaaSyy's passport.[5]

On April 14, 2023, theMetropolitan Police Departmentannounced that it had issued an international arrest warrant for him throughInterpol.[13][14]On June 4, 2023, the Metropolitan Police Department arrested Higashitani immediately upon his arrival atNarita Airporton suspicion of habitually threatening celebrities and others.[15]He was later indicted with habitual intimidation and forcible obstruction of business.[16]On July 12, 2023, his request for bail was denied byTokyo District Court.[17]On September 21, 2023, he was released on bail.[18]On March 14, 2024, GaaSyy was convicted by the Tokyo District Court and was given a suspended sentence of three years' imprisonment.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ab"【 tỉ lệ 】NHK đảng “ガーシー” đông cốc nghĩa cùng thị が được tuyển xác thật ユーチューブ sinh xứng tin “あざーす. いえーい” - xã hội: Ngày khan スポーツ ".Ngày khan スポーツ.July 11, 2022.RetrievedJuly 11,2022.
  2. ^"NHK đảng の ガーシー thị, tỉ lệ で được tuyển Tham Nghị Viện tuyển cử".Nhật Bản kinh tế tin tức.July 11, 2022.RetrievedJuly 11,2022.
  3. ^"ガーシーこと đông cốc nghĩa cùng thị が được tuyển xác thật ４７ の bại lộ lời nói が bỏ lệnh cấm へ【 tham viện tuyển 】 | đông スポ の ニュースに quan するニュースを yết tái".Đông スポ.July 11, 2022.RetrievedJuly 11,2022.
  4. ^"ガーシー bị cáo, biện hộ sườn chứng nhân にカウアン・オカモト ジャニーズ tính làm hại を cáo phát “ガーシーさん の công tích が đại きい” ".ORICON NEWS.RetrievedNovember 6,2023.
  5. ^abcTakahara, Kanako (March 16, 2023)."Police seek arrest warrant for expelled lawmaker GaaSyy".The Japan Times.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  6. ^"ＮＨＫ đảng の ガーシー thị が được tuyển xác thật".Sản kinh ニュース. July 11, 2022.RetrievedJuly 11,2022.
  7. ^"Diet rejects request by NHK Party lawmaker to remain abroad".The Asahi Shimbun.August 3, 2022.RetrievedMarch 15,2023.
  8. ^abKhalil, Shaimaa (March 14, 2023)."GaaSyy: Japan YouTuber MP expelled for never going to work".BBC News.
  9. ^abMay, Tiffany; Ueno, Hisako (March 15, 2023)."How to Get Kicked Out of Parliament: Livestream Instead of Legislating".The New York Times.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  10. ^"Tokyo police search locations linked to YouTuber lawmaker GaaSyy".The Japan Times.Jiji Press,Kyodo News.January 13, 2023.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  11. ^abcYamamoto, Arata; Gupta, Kamakshi (March 15, 2023)."Japanese YouTuber loses seat in Parliament after not showing up to work".NBC News.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  12. ^Ninivaggi, Gabriele; Takahara, Kanako (March 14, 2023)."Upper House committee votes to expel GaaSyy from Japan's parliament".The Japan Times.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  13. ^"Ex-Japanese Lawmaker GaaSyy Placed on Int'l Wanted List".Yomiuri Shimbun.April 14, 2023.RetrievedApril 16,2023.
  14. ^"ガーシー nguyên tham viện nghị viên を quốc tế tay xứng cảnh coi sảnh ICPO thông じ".NHK.April 14, 2023.RetrievedApril 16,2023.
  15. ^"Trước Tham Nghị Viện nghị viên の ガーシー dung nghi giả を bắt thường tập hiếp bức など の nghi い".Nippon TV(in Japanese). June 4, 2023.RetrievedJune 4,2023.
  16. ^"Ex-Japan lawmaker GaaSyy indicted over celebrity threats".Arab News Japan.RetrievedJuly 12,2023.
  17. ^INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (July 12, 2023)."ガーシー bị cáo の bảo 釈 nhận めず Đông Kinh mà tài".Sản kinh ニュース(in Japanese).RetrievedJuly 12,2023.
  18. ^"Ex-lawmaker and YouTuber GaaSyy released on ¥30 million bail".The Japan Times.September 22, 2023.RetrievedNovember 17,2023.
  19. ^"Ex-lawmaker GaaSyy given suspended sentence for online intimidation".NHK.March 14, 2024.RetrievedMarch 15,2024.
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