Arab News Japan

TOKYO: TACHIBANA Takashi, leader of the NHK Party, said at a press conference on Friday that absentee member of the House of Councilors HIGASHITANI Yoshikazu “will return to Japan in January or February and appear in the Diet.” 

Higashitani, a 50-year-old YouTuber known as GaaSyy, has not attended a single Parliamentary session since he was first elected in July last year, but there is a possibility that he will attend the regular session of the National Parliament scheduled later this month. 

Higashitani, under his pseudonym GaaSsy, is famous for exposing celebrity scandals on his YouTube channel. Despite being elected to parliament, he has been staying overseas in the United Arab Emirates. “I am concerned that I may be arrested unjustly and put in detention,” he said, adding mysteriously, “Threats and attacks have implied murder on SNS that I received.” 

The House of Councilors’ Steering Committee may call a disciplinary meeting if he continues to be absent from the Diet. 

On Wednesday, the House of Councilors released the asset reports of 125 people who were elected in the House of Councilors election last July. 

It noted that Higashitani, who has gained popularity for showing “behind the scenes of the entertainment world,” has no assets such as land, buildings, deposits or securities.

However, there were two cars and loans of 17.11 million yen (about $136,000) and 70 million yen (about $538,000), local media reported.

The Metropolitan Police Department has requested Higashitani present himself for voluntary questioning on suspicion of threatening celebrities with YouTube videos.

He has indicated that he will return to Japan and comply with this request, saying, “I will neither run away or hide.”