Makoto Sakurai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Makoto Sakurai
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桜井 誠
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Makoto Sakurai in front of Ueno Station on July 24, 2016, during the 2016 Tokyo Gubernatorial Election
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| Leader of the Japan First Party | |
| Assumed office February 26, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
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Makoto Takata (髙田 誠, Takata Makoto)
February 15, 1972 Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan |
| Political party | Japan First |
| Residences | Tokyo, Japan |
| Known for | Founder and former leader of Zaitokukai |
Makoto Sakurai (桜井 誠, Sakurai Makoto, born February 15, 1972) is a Japanese political activist, blogger, and writer. He was born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. He used to work for the government in a local office.
Sakurai is known for starting and leading a group called Zaitokukai. This group is known for its strong messages against foreigners and for holding public demonstrations. After trying to become the governor of Tokyo in 2016, he started a new political group called the Japan First Party in August 2016. He is currently the leader of this party.
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Who is Makoto Sakurai?
Sakurai uses the name "Makoto Sakurai" when he is in public and for his writings. For a while, people thought his real name might be "Makoto Kimura." This was because he was introduced by that name on a TV show in 2005.
However, in 2017, he shared a picture of a document. This document showed his real name as "Makoto Takata" (髙田誠, Takata Makoto). It also showed the public name he uses, "Makoto Sakurai."
How Makoto Sakurai Connects Online
Sakurai is very active online. He uses the username "Doronpa" and similar names. You can find him on his blog, Twitter, and TwitCasting accounts.
His Early Online Interests
When Sakurai was working for the government, he became very interested in South Korea through the Internet. He felt that "South Korea is a rare country that one hates more the more they learn about it."
He then talked a lot with South Korean internet users on a Japanese-Korean online message board. Because of these discussions, he was invited to talk about South Korea on a TV show. On the show, he was the only one who spoke against the country's popularity in Japan.
What is Zaitokukai?
On December 2, 2006, Makoto Sakurai started a nationalist political group called Zaitokukai. The full name means "Association of Citizens against the Special Privileges of the Zainichi." The group had its first meeting the next month.
Why Zaitokukai Was Formed
Sakurai started Zaitokukai after seeing a TV news report. The report was about a group of Japanese citizens who supported Zainichi Koreans. These Koreans were able to get national pensions without paying into the system.
Sakurai was worried this could harm Japan's pension system. He looked for a group fighting against special rights for Zainichi in Japan but found none. This led him to create Zaitokukai. The group aims to end special rights for foreigners, especially Koreans. They believe this is important for Japan's laws and national identity.
Public Debates and Leadership Changes
Makoto Sakurai had a public debate with Osaka mayor Tōru Hashimoto in October 2014. They discussed hate speech. The meeting was very short, lasting only eight minutes. Both sides shouted and insulted each other, and Mayor Hashimoto eventually left.
In November 2014, Sakurai announced he would step down as the leader of Zaitokukai. He also said he would leave the group at the end of that month.
Makoto Sakurai's Political Journey
Before he decided to run for governor of Tokyo in 2016, Sakurai had often said he would not get involved in politics. In 2009, he said he would not change his life to enter politics.
Later, during his debate with Mayor Hashimoto in 2014, he also said he was not interested in becoming a politician. Even when he left Zaitokukai, he repeated that he would not become a politician.
Running for Tokyo Governor in 2016
After the previous governor of Tokyo resigned, Sakurai announced in June 2016 that he would run for the position. A record 21 people ran for governor that year.
Sakurai did not get much media attention during his campaign. He spoke out against the media for treating candidates unfairly. He received 114,171 votes, which was about 1.74% of all votes. He finished in fifth place.
What Were His Promises?
Sakurai made seven main promises to the people of Tokyo:
- Stop welfare payments for foreigners.
- Cut the number of illegal immigrants in Tokyo by half.
- Create a law to ban anti-Japanese hate speech.
- Regulate Pachinko, which is a type of game similar to gambling. Gambling is illegal in Japan.
- Stop the building of a new Korean school in Tokyo.
- Make the Tokyo Olympics smaller.
He believed that keeping these promises would bring money and pride back to the Japanese people. His main slogan was "Japan First" (日本第一・ジャパンファースト).
Sakurai also criticized the Liberal Democratic Party. He said they supported the previous governor, who used public money for personal things. He also urged young Japanese people to vote. He asked everyone to take time to vote, even if it was not for him, to bring change to politicians.
Running for Tokyo Governor in 2020
On June 4, 2020, Makoto Sakurai announced he would run for the 2020 Tokyo gubernatorial election. He ran as a candidate supported by the Japan First Party. This time, he had three main promises:
- Zero Tokyo resident taxes and property taxes.
- Regulation of Pachinko.
- Immediately stop welfare for foreign citizens.
Campaigning During the Pandemic
Because of the coronavirus, Sakurai changed his campaign style after June 18, 2020. He canceled regular street speeches that gathered crowds. Instead, he focused on online broadcasts and virtual interviews. He also held some protest events without telling people beforehand. This was to avoid large gatherings.
Before the election, he asked the government to postpone it due to the virus.
Election Results in 2020
In the 2020 election, Sakurai received 178,784 votes. He again finished in fifth place. Even though fewer people voted overall compared to 2016, his percentage of votes increased from 1.74% to 2.92%.
Sakurai said he was defeated but hoped for the success of the winner, Yuriko Koike. He also felt that this election showed the power of virtual campaigning and the internet. He believed this would be important for future elections.
Running in the 2021 General Election
Makoto Sakurai also ran in the 2021 Japanese general election. He was a candidate for the Japan First Party in the Tokyo 15th district. He received 9,449 votes, which was 3.96% of the total. This was the highest percentage of votes he had received in an election so far. His party also received 33,661 votes in the Tokyo area.
Election Results Overview
Tokyo Gubernatorial Elections
| Election | Candidate | Result | ||
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| Votes | % | |||
| 2016 | Makoto Sakurai | Lost | 114,171 | 1.74 |
| 2020 | Makoto Sakurai | Lost | 178,784 | 2.92 |
| 2024 | Makoto Sakurai | Lost | 83,600 | 1.20 |
See also
- Ultranationalism
- Uyoku dantai
Images for kids
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Makoto Sakurai in front of Ueno Station on July 24, 2016, during the 2016 Tokyo Gubernatorial Election
