They are cloth sun shades not umbrellas. Very common for the ladies in hot weather. They oddly tend to be black. If it was rain they you would more likely be seeing a lot of those see through plastic brollies, they are cheap and they are everywhere, sometimes I think they are even left around as part of an umbrealla share scheme.
It will be interesting to see how this unfolds, it's so random and rare when a politician is targeted. More likely, though still rare, are the grudge holding ex employees or those males who have felt wronged. The arson attack on a manga company is the most recent, iirc.
I was thinking a while back about how you never hear of the Moonies any more: I can remember when they were the number one evil cult that was going to come and steal your children.Interesting twitter thread here which includes this:
As the thread points out however the Moonies aren't the only religious group supporting elements of the coalition government.
I have no idea about any of this but this seems to be what internet speculation is focussing on.
. . . and a gun. That's got to be pretty rare outside of yakuza films.
Yeah, there will be a press conference where those in charge of security will bow deeply and apologize following the outcry and maybe change will happen.
Yeah that guy seems to have a decent handle on things. Quick check - lecturer at Kanda international, studies nationalist politics and has written a few papers on that. Probably worth keeping an eye on... my instinct was 'why the fuck would a Japanese nationalist have links to a Korean cult?'. But that's a bad take... Moonies are also very heavily focussed on pushing their message in the US and Japan, and their deep anti-communism gives them traction with nationalists in those countries.
Here's that thread unwrapped:
Thread by @mrjeffu on Thread Reader App
@mrjeffu: More reports about the assassin's motivations, with more vague wording about a "certain group" (特定の団体) that he hated and associated with Abe. This is even more vague than earlier reports that suggested it w...…threadreaderapp.com
Tbf, North Korean society is a long way from any reasonable definition of communism.
As is usually the case with absolute monarchies.
I can't imagine cartridges or powder a great obstacle to someone who has the wherewithal to make a gun. Even in Japan I imagine it's not too tricky to get charcoal, saltpeter and sulphur
Some of the Americans I have met in Japan have been well weird. I only really hang out in fairly liberal lefty Japanese punk (and outsider music) circles, but only about 25% of Americans in the same circles are anything less than right wing, gun and freedom lovin', socialist hating shouters (man they are loud).
Oh, man. It's fucking mad. Can't even begin to elaborate on the (right wing)type who are drawn here..
