Lone Japanese activist attracts attention from foreigners through videos posted online
TOKYO -- In late May, a 49-year-old man was seen speaking to passersby in front of JR Shinjuku Station in the Japanese capital, with a handmade sign that read "Stop Gaza Genocide."
"We have remained silent without raising our voices against war crimes while living in a country where freedom of expression is guaranteed," said Yusuke Furusawa, a Tokyo resident. "Perhaps you think it's simply because you're not interested or because it doesn't concern you," he continued. His husky voice faded into the evening crowd.
He began his solo street activities in October 2023. After contracting COVID-19 and returning to work, he experienced three months of poor health. When browsing social media on his smartphone, he was constantly bombarded with videos depicting the devastation in the Palestinian territory of Gaza that has been attacked by the Israeli military. He couldn't sit idly by.
Since then, come rain or wind, he has been demonstrating daily in front of stations like Shinjuku and Shibuya. Furusawa works as a day laborer creating sets for television programs. He dedicates about an hour to his activities after work on weekdays and whenever possible on weekends. "My voice has become hoarse. But since I work in set construction, it doesn't affect my job," he said.
The turning point in his solitary struggle was video. He started recording videos on his smartphone for "security" after facing violence from foreigners believed to be Israeli and being harassed by drunk people during his activities. When he posted snippets on social media, he received reactions from around the world. Over the past year and a half, his Instagram followers have increased by 170,000.
Being interviewed by a television station in the Middle East also accelerated the spread of his activities. In reality, most people who approach Furusawa on the street are foreigners. It's not uncommon for them to say, "I learned about you on social media and came to meet you." Almost every day, he receives direct messages from foreigners staying in Japan saying things like, "Where are you today?"
He communicates with these foreigners using simple English and body language. His keffiyeh, a traditional Arab scarf he wears around his neck during his activities, and the bag adorned with the Palestinian flag are gifts from people he connected with on social media.
Furusawa discovered his passion for theater while attending a private university in Kanagawa Prefecture. He graduated during the early "employment ice age," and chose to continue pursuing his love of theater while working part-time. His acting activities continue to this day.
Observing him standing in front of the station for a while, a pair of young women engrossed in their smartphones cast harsh glances at Furusawa, who didn't stop speaking. A man in a suit on the phone hurriedly covered one ear and rushed past, clicking his tongue.
A foreigner with tears in her eyes approached him, and they exchanged words for about a minute. The woman, who told Furusawa that she also thought the current situation was wrong, was Israeli. He conveyed his thoughts to her, saying, "I am complaining to the government. This is not a criticism of you."
Through his activities, he has experienced both solidarity and conflict. "I believe human connections are also a part of politics," he commented.
When he uploads videos to social media, complaints fly in. "This is pointless," "Go there yourself," "It's annoying,"... He's even been told directly, "You're noisy."
"I'm aware it's noisy. If possible, I want to forcefully intrude into your silence and field of vision. I don't think it will have an effect, nor do I believe I can change anything alone, nor do I intend to change the awareness of passersby," Furusawa said.
So why does he stand on the street every day? He commented, "I live with fundamental human rights guaranteed by the Constitution. If there are people whose rights are being violated, I believe I must raise my voice, even if it's in another country. Whether it has meaning or not is irrelevant; it's just the right thing to do, isn't it?"
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