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# Update: Tokyo politician apologises for LGBTQ+ remarks
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/update-tokyo-politician-apologises-for-lgbtq-remarks/
- Published: 2020-10-21T13:10:02.000Z
- Updated: 2020-10-20T15:21:51.000Z
- Description: 78-year-old Masateru Shiraishi, an 11th term politician in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward, has publicly apologised for saying the LGBTQ+ community were responsible for falling birth rates.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, LGBTQ, Tokyo

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/shiraishi.jpg)

78-year-old **Masateru Shiraishi**, an 11th term politician in **Tokyo’s Adachi Ward**, has publicly apologised for saying the LGBTQ+ community were responsible for falling birth rates in the area which sparked backlash from many. At an [assembly](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/tokyo-politician-blames-lgbtq-community-for-falling-birth-rates/) on September 25, he posed the question: *“if all Japanese women were lesbian or all Japanese men were gay, then do you think the next generation would be born?”* during a conversation about birth rates in Japan.

According to **[The Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/10/20/national/tokyo-ward-assemblyman-apologizes-remarks-opposing-lgbt-rights/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**, Shiraishi apologised during a more recent local assembly session, saying he regretted his actions and would make an effort to be more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community in future. It also reported a protest of around 30 people gathering outside the ward office building before the assembly in response to his comments.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tokyo-pride-600400.jpg)

Shiraishi continued: *“I sincerely apologise to all the people who were hurt by my remarks,”* after being urged to address his comments. Despite his apology, **Satoko Nagamura**, chair of Japanese LGBTQ+ organisation **Kodomap** – said they were ‘disappointed’ by Shiraishi’s remarks. She added: *“Even among non-LGBTQ+ people, there are couples who do not want to have children or who are currently undergoing fertility treatment. Shiraishi’s remarks also hurt those people.”*