A screenshot of YouTuber DaiGo's video is seen in this photo.

       TOKYO -- DaiGo, a Japanese celebrity YouTuber who calls himself a "mentalist," has sparked fierce criticism with comments belittling the lives of homeless people and individuals on welfare during a livestream.

       The Mainichi Shimbun spoke to a support group representative and an expert in hate speech to hear their interpretations of the events.

       Warning: The following article contains references to and quotes of discriminatory statements made against homeless people and individuals receiving public aid.

       DaiGo made the problematic statements on Aug. 7, in a livestream entitled "'Super spicy' Q&A for people who want to be crushed scientifically." In it, DaiGo responds to a viewer's question by saying, among other things: "I don't pay taxes for it to go to paying for people on welfare. If we have money to feed people on welfare, I want them to use it to save cats."

       He went on to say, "The lives of humans and the lives of cats, I don't think human lives are more valuable at all. For me, unnecessary lives aren't worth much. So I think the lives of homeless people are just, whatever."

       As of Aug. 13, DaiGo's official YouTube channel had about 2.46 million subscribers, and the video in question had been viewed about 190,000 times by 10 a.m. that day. Once his statements began being shared, numerous comments on Twitter labelled them as "inciting discrimination."

       Tsuyoshi Inaba, representative director of the Tsukuroi Tokyo Fund, is seen in Nakano Ward, Tokyo, in this April 27, 2020 file photo. (Mainichi/Naotsune Umemura)

       Tsuyoshi Inaba, representative director of the Tsukuroi Tokyo Fund, a group supporting the needy in search of jobs and housing, excoriated the remarks, saying, "If these kinds of statements are tolerated, society will crumble." Inaba said that there are already deep-seated prejudices against people receiving aid, enough that supporters who recommend people with only a few hundred yen (less than $10) in their pockets to apply are often told, "I'll do anything but go on welfare."

       "Given the societal conditions, if we then have remarks like these from influencers whose words hold a lot of sway, we'll see more people distance themselves from using these services. The statements have the potential to kill indirectly," Inaba said.

       There have been numerous past instances of homeless people being attacked and losing their lives. "Words like 'homeless people's lives are just, whatever' could spark hate crimes," Inaba said. "The thought that denies the right to exist to people you can't empathize with could incite violence and perpetuate discrimination against people in a weak position. All of society needs to show that they think this is unacceptable."

       Journalist Koichi Yasuda told the Mainichi Shimbun: "Categorizing human lives as superior or inferior is the very thought process of a eugenicist. To put out a video like this without shame, for us to be in a social environment where this can be posted, is completely shocking to me."

       Journalist Koichi Yasuda is seen in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, in this Feb. 10, 2020 file photo. (Mainichi/Emi Naito)

       But because a section of society does engage in verbal attacks on people who receive public assistance, Yasuda added, "It's possible to say that DaiGo picked up a prejudice that exists in part of society, and spoke on its behalf. I think the government and the administration have an unavoidable responsibility in the way they have come to accept people's ignorance, prejudice and intolerance toward the welfare system. If a society which has become complicit in attacks on social welfare and the poor does not separate itself from these thoughts and criticize them, then the same things will repeat."

       Late on Aug. 12 and into Aug. 13, DaiGo showed he has no intention of apologizing for what he said in his video, declaring, "I was stating an individual point of view so it's not something to apologize for."

       He continued, "If I had thought to do it as a way to make those views common in society, it would be terrible and a problem, I think if I had it would be not good and like the Nazis. But just like everyone has people in their lives they value more than others, like the way we see family as more important than complete strangers, all I said was that for me, cats are far more important than people. And how is this a problem, is what I'm asking."

       But on the night of Aug. 13, during another livestream, he said, "That way I spoke was no good after all. It was discriminatory, and on reflection I'd like to apologize. I am deeply sorry."

       DaiGo performs as a "mentalist" who sees through human psychology. He has several books to his name, including titles translating to "the power of concentration to manipulate yourself," "the forbidden writing arts that influence people," and "ultra-decision-making ability." He has also appeared on TV panel shows, and is active as a YouTuber, frequently posting videos where he expresses his views. As of 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 13, his official Twitter account had some 760,000 followers.

       (Japanese original by Harumi Kimoto, Chie Yamashita and Aya Shiota, Digital News Center)

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