You are proceeding to a page containing mature content. Is this OK?

check Yes, show me everything
close No, hide anything sensitive

Gaisensha at Kashihara Shrine: “Itasha for Crazy Nationalists”

kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-001

The auto-vehicular event of the year for Japan’s flag rubbing nationalists has brought all manner of “gaisensha” – propaganda trucks, usually of the “uyoku” or right wing variety – out into the open for the annual “National Foundation Day” rite.

The trucks gather every year on the 11th of February at the Kashihara Shrine in Nara prefecture to show off their vehicles to other emperor worshipping maniacs, though their attendance is ostensibly to celebrate an obscure Shinto rite with some elderly folk with nothing better to do.

Fortunately, some suspiciously knowledgeable photographers were in attendance to document the spectacle for those unfortunate enough to have missed this fascinating celebration of noise pollution masquerading as political speech:

kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-002
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-003
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-004
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-005
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-006
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-007
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-008
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-009
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-010
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-011
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-012
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-013
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-014
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-015
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-016
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-017
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-018
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-019
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-020
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-021
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-022
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-023
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-024
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-025
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-026
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-027
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-028
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-029
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-030
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-031
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-032
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-033
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-034
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-035
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-036
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-037
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-038
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-039
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-040
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-041
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-042
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-043
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-044
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-045
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-046
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-047
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-048
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-049
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-050
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-051
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-052
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-053
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-054
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-055
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-056
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-057
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-058
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-059
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-060
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-061
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-062
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-063
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-064
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-065
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-066
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-067
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-068
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-069
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-070
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-071
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-072
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-073
kashihara-shrine-propaganda-trucks-074

Although the classic use of such vehicles is for loudly spewing ultra-nationalist propaganda at hapless bystanders, as with most such things in Japan, there may be an ulterior motive – owners of vehicles classified as “special use automobiles” (including propaganda trucks) can apparently dodge most vehicle taxes by the simple expedient of mounting various speakers and microphones on their vehicle.

Leave a Reply to Anonymous X

All comments must abide by the commenting rules.

74 Comments