Japan steps boldly into the sewer

Together with its latter-day push to build up a military held in check since the end of World War II, Japan has added a sweeping 'anti-terrorism' law that smells suspiciously like the 'anti- terrorism' efforts in other countries like the U.S.

Japan has passed a controversial law targeting conspiracies to commit terrorism and other serious crimes, despite a warning by the UN that it could be used to crack down on civil liberties....
Japan has passed a controversial law targeting conspiracies to commit terrorism and other serious crimes, despite a warning by the UN that it could be used to crack down on civil liberties....
[C]ritics point out that offences covered by the law include those with no obvious connection to terrorism or organised crime, such as sit-ins to protest construction of apartment buildings or copying music.
Opponents see the legislation as part of Abe’s broader mission to increase state powers, and fear ordinary citizens could be targeted, despite government assurances to the contrary.

How nice to see that a country that credits itself with an elevated culture, can get down into the sewer with the rest of us.