Shimamoto town assemblywoman Risa Kawakami speaks at a press conference after the first oral arguments in court, saying, “I believe that taking a firm stand against hate is the appropriate attitude both as a public official and as someone directly affected,” in the city of Osaka’s Kita Ward, June 10, 2026. (Mainichi/Mizuki Hayashi)
OSAKA — The first oral arguments in a lawsuit filed against a man in his 50s over his repeated discriminatory, defamatory posts against a transgender town assemblywoman on social media was held at the Osaka District Court June 10.
Risa Kawakami, 43, an assemblywoman of Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, is seeking 2 million yen (approx. $12,500) in compensation. She stated in court before Judge Kentaro Hayashi that she had “been driven into a situation where it was difficult even to maintain myself due to his heartless attacks.”
The defense asked the court to dismiss the claim.
Kawakami was elected in 2025. Registered at birth as male, she changed her legal gender to female in 2005 and has lived as a woman for more than 20 years.
According to the complaint, in March to April 2025 — during the election campaign period and immediately after being elected — the male defendant made 17 discriminatory social media posts including referring to Kawakami as “a fake assembly member disguised as a woman” and “a hopeless cross-dressing pervert,” causing her mental suffering.
In her statement to the court, Kawakami said, “I felt as if my right to live and my existence as a human being were being denied. Abusive comments posted online are widely disseminated, spreading throughout society and repeatedly reaching me. I want people to understand that defamation is an issue that concerns everyone.”
(Japanese original by Mizuki Hayashi, Osaka City News Department)
AloJapan.com