Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Metropolitan Police Investigators have raided several places in Tokyo related to absentee member of the House of Councilors HIGASHITANI Yoshikazu at present residing in the UAE.

The raids were on suspicion of violating the Act of Violent Punishment Law and forcible obstruction of business. The raid reportedly included properties of the former and current representatives of the company that manages the proceeds of GaaSyy’s video posting site.

Higashitani, a 50-year-old YouTuber known as GaaSyy, is a member of the Party to Protect the Citizens from NHK, and the leader of this party TACHIBANA Takashi, told Arab News Japan he doesn’t know when absentee GaaSyy will return to Japan.

GaaSyy has not attended a single Diet session since he was first elected in July last year. He 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.

Several celebrities have filed a complaint against GaaSyy for alleged slander and damage to their reputations. Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has already questioned them to confirm the allegations, and is seeking voluntary questioning of GaaSyy, who is currently in Dubai.

According to a legal expert, since at this stage, Japan has only requested voluntary return and cooperation from GaaSyy and as his alleged attempts to intimidate a few people was apparently a personal response to a few he said caused him harm, GaaSyy can only be accused of “excessive and inappropriate” behaviour but not an organized group attack, which would be illegal. The expert also pointed out that GaaSyy has not demanded or extracted anything of value from his supposed victims which makes his risk of being forced to return, very small.

Japan has a good relationship with the Emirates but unless GaaSyy has caused problems with the local Emirate authorities, they are not expected to take any action against him, the expert told Arab News Japan in Tokyo asking not to be named.

The expert has suggested that GaaSyy reaches out to the Japanese police by communicating with them through a UAE-based lawyer and ask for their help and understanding. The Police might then agree to a video conference or say that they will wait for his arrival making an arrest when he lands at Narita less likely