Comments on: News to Me: Brooklyn native elected to Inuyama, Aichi Pref. City Council in 2003

By: Japan Probe -Japan News & Culture Blog » Blog Archive » Will Anthony Bianchi become the first foreign-born mayor in Japan?

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 07:53:25 +0000

[...] [Want to find out more about Anthony Bianchi? Check out this informative post about Bianchi at Mutant Frog or his official website (in Japanese). ] Help Japanprobe Grow by sharing this post:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

By: ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » Japan in the 21st century

ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » Japan in the 21st century — Wed, 31 May 2006 05:22:53 +0000

[...] Success in national politics is the most surprising development, but it is by no means isolated. Adamu noted a few months ago that a Brooklyn native was elected to the the city council of Inuyama in Aichi Prefecture. The founder and CEO of Softbank (the Yahoo of Japan) is a naturalized Zainichi who kept his Korean last name. The current CEOs of Nissan and Sony are foreigners. And “non-Japanese” have made inroads into almost every sector of public life as entertainers, civil rights activists, lawyers, and even Sumo champions. The foreign population reached a record high of 2 million in 2005, and the declining birth rate means this number will continue to climb. [...]

By: Does that mean he eats bagels? at The Marmot’s Hole

Does that mean he eats bagels? at The Marmot’s Hole — Fri, 19 May 2006 03:51:37 +0000

[...] Hey, if it makes him Oh feel any better, the whole New Yawker-schtick seemed to work for one Japanese city councilman. [...]

By: Adamu

Adamu — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 17:45:09 +0000

Wow, what an honor! I feel like I met a celebrity or something.

Hope you’ll find time soon to respond!

By: Anthony Bianchi

Anthony Bianchi — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 01:22:52 +0000

Aye Yo How ya doin’?

A friend of mine told me about this post by Adamu. I read it with great interest. I appreciate that Adamu took the time to check up on my situation and not just offer off the cuff analysis. He even took the time to listen to my some of my speeches at the council session – apparently without falling asleep. I enjoyed the comments also – I always welcome comments and opinions. There are a few things that I would like to respond to or comment on – maybe one day if I can find the time. By then I hope to find a way to type my entire comment in a Brooklyn accent. Until then, youz guys – take it easy.

By: Younghusband

Younghusband — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 08:12:26 +0000

He added: “My slogan would have been: `Vote for me, or I’ll hit you with the bat!’ ”

That is the greatest campaign slogan ever!

By: moorethanthis

moorethanthis — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 12:49:23 +0000

>Almost. A Japanese-American has US citizenship.

My mistake. I meant US citizens with Japanese heritage.

By: Adamu

Adamu — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 11:53:00 +0000

If you want to hear him in Japanese, go to the city council video site (requires IE):

http://inuyama.gijiroku.com/

By: Mulboyne

Mulboyne — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 09:17:03 +0000

Taro on the FG Forum found this:

He almost broke campaign protocol by posing for his poster wearing a Yankees shirt, standing in a batting stance. He added: “My slogan would have been: `Vote for me, or I’ll hit you with the bat!’ ”

By: Aye, yo, I’m Japanese at The Marmot’s Hole

Aye, yo, I’m Japanese at The Marmot’s Hole — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 05:54:24 +0000

[...] Adamu posts about Tony Bianchi, the Bensonhurst-born former English teacher who was elected to the city council of Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. In particular, you want to listen to his 2003 interview with NPR (linked to Adamu’s post), where, among other things, he explains–in Brooklynese–how his native accent helped him learn Japanese. Adamu also contrasts Bianchi’s style of “expat activism” with that of a better-known foreign-born Japanese activist: Bianchi’s political style stands in stark juxtaposition with that of a better-known Western-born activist in Japan, Debito Arudo (Pictured below). Debito, also a naturalized Japanese citizen who was born and raised in the US (California), is much more confrontational, divisive, and preoccupied with identity politics. While Debito demands to be accepted as a “Japanese person” as part of his multiculturalist vision for Japan, Bianchi seems to relish his status as an American who made a life for himself in small-town Japan. He even uses his “New York-ness” to make himself more accessible (See picture on right). Bianchi is also much less of an “activist,” even to the point of not wanting to be called a politician as that would distract from his goals as a servant for the town of Inuyama. That’s certainly an understandable desire as “politician” is an much crueler epithet than “gaijin,” but it reflects his decidedly provincial aspirations. [...]