騒音公害反対 Against Noise Pollution
Recently all around Japan there have been loads of election candidate vans running around with HUGE load speakers that are pretty annoying.
Instead of just complaining about it, I thought it’s a good opportunity to have some fun!
Enter the 騒音公害反対 (Souon kougai hantai), Campaign Against Noise Pollution mobile!
Yes. It’s my car with a giant banner on top! It took me five hours to make!
Here I am joined by the wonderful ALTs, Tyler, Travis and Gareth from Takikawa. Yes I’m going to campaign in someone else’s town!
Our first encounter! なかた (Nakata)!
They were certainly surprised to see us, and we followed them around a few blocks. The problem was that the pedestrians didn’t have time to read our sign.
The lads decided that we needed to stick some banners behind and on the sides of the campaign mobile.
Right back to campaign headquarters.
Simple banners would have to do for now.
Time for one more photo before setting off though.
Our next encounter was 田村 Tamura.
I think Mr. Tamura can see us! But why doesn’t he turn off the speakers? Ah well, next.
Mr Sekitou had a car behind his van with extra substitute campaign people in. Just as well really, since it must be pretty tiring to have to speak into the mic continuously. You can see that they’ve noticed us here, they’ve stopped briefly to come up with a plan. Eventually when they headed off again the behind car slowed down to try increase the distance between us and their van.
So we over took that car and got even closer to the van!
Yes we’re coming for yeah 水口 Mizuguchi. Muahahaha!
The man stuck in the window works for 堀しけお Hori Shigeo.
Occasionally the vans would stop and be quiet. When that happens we would stick our hands out of the window and applaud. Then they’ll start off again and I’ll rev my engine.
Funny that car’s called a “Chaser” when its the one being chased! みかみ Mikami seems to only have one speaker.
Haha.
やまき Yamaki seems to be taking a break.
Back to the more noisy candidates.
Our tenth and last catch of the day! 本間やすあき Honma Yasuaki.
After two blocks he decided to come out and talk to us!
It was all friendly, and we had explained that we didn’t like the noise, to which he asked us for alternative methods for campaigning.
We thought it was fair enough for him to continue with the noise since it was the last day, although we pleaded to him to discuss with the other parties about quieter ways to campaign in the future.
やまき Yamaki
しばた Shibata is the lucky dude who got off our hook. But check those speakers!
I was questioned by two police officers regarding my motives. Asked if I had any other political objectives. It was kind of flattering I thought.
Later on in the evening while going to pick a friend up for Tyler’s party I saw Honma walking to my car! Apparently I had parked right outside Honma’s campaign headquarters!
April 22nd, 2007 at 11:09 am
Great stuff Joe! You’re actually doing something real and political, but it’s really cheeky and mischievous at the same time! Lovin’ it!
April 22nd, 2007 at 3:33 pm
haha… you’re a total joker! i applaud you – you are now my hero! XD
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:27 am
Ok…this is worth linking up to. =)
April 24th, 2007 at 4:00 am
Wow thanks for the kind words everyone. Spread the the post, and let this be a national movement next time!
By the way, I’m just wondering how many of you know about the RSS feed on this site? Do most people know about RSS these days?
April 24th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Haha finally the floppy-haired philanthropist you’ve always aspired to be. Good stuff, keep fighting the power.
Mandela
April 24th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
haha, omae ha honto baka na ?
getsu yobi nihon ni iku yo !!!
May 10th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Sinjoro Honma Yasuaki demandis pri aliaj metodoj por sia kampanjo politika. Jen, en Japanio mem, estas metodo kiu estas pli efekiva kaj sen bruo.
[Mi bedauras ke mi ne povis enmeti la bildon, mi e-majlos g^in al vi /Users/Jim/Documents/DSCF3992.JPG]
May 26th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I’m excited for you guys. It’s necessary for our humanbeings to take actions to combat against various pollutions, among which noise pollution is a bad one.
June 8th, 2007 at 7:06 am
Hey,
Not been on your website in ages. Good stuff you’re doing, great catching up on it all.
But it seems like you’ve forgotten who the real Lads are:
“The lads decided that we needed to stick some banners behind and on the sides of the campaign mobile.”
I’m disappointed Joe…
June 8th, 2007 at 7:11 am
Oh man, no I haven’t forgotten who the real lads are. In fact I miss you all very much that’s why I desperately tried to recreate the lads here. It didn’t work though.
Hey Twinny, you got a website?
October 14th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
No I’ve no website. Got a bebo though, use that to keep in touch with everyone now that I’m gone.