Draft:Hirano Uryu

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Hirano Uryu (1994 January 31 – )[1] is a Japanese female kimono model [ja], social activist and stage actress. She previously worked under her real name, **Suzuko Hirano**, but officially changed her name to Hirano Uryu on 2021 January 31[2]. She is the representative of the political group “Uryukai”[3]. Her legal name is **Suzuko Ogino**[4].

She came to prominence during the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, and has been described as “Japan’s leading figure opposing the 2019 Hong Kong extradition bill”[5]. She has campaigned on issues such as Uyghur human rights and a review of Chinese immigration policy, and has been covered by media in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

In the 2025 27th House of Councillors regular election, she ran as an independent candidate from the Tokyo constituency, becoming the youngest candidate while advocating for stricter regulations on Chinese immigration and closer ties with Taiwan and Hong Kong[6].

In Taiwanese media, she is sometimes referred to as the “Goddess of the Anti-Extradition Movement”[7].

Background

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Born in Chiba Prefecture, she has two siblings. Her maternal great-grandfather (her maternal grandfather’s father) was **Yoshiharu Kato**, who served as executive director of Saga Kyoritsu Sangyo and managing director of Wintec (formerly Ship Radio Telegraph and Telephone, now Comsys Engineering [ja])[8][9][10][11]. His sister Masako married Sueo Doi [ja], who became the 2nd head of Saga Bank [ja][8][11]. Her maternal great-great-grandfather (her maternal grandmother’s grandfather) was Otokura Hasegawa [ja], former auditor of Kashima-gumi (now Kajima Corporation)[8][12].

During junior high school, she suffered unreasonable domestic violence from her father, struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and even attempted suicide. As an adult, she left her home, decided to live independently, and began a new life under her new name. In her junior high days, she loved following stars and often dressed in the style of Shibuya-type gyaru, but while at university she became a stage actress, later leaving school in pursuit of freedom. After being fascinated by traditional Wa culture [ja] of Japan, her thinking gradually changed. From age 20, she began studying tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and kimono, obtained beginner certification in the Urasenke school of tea ceremony, as well as a kimono-dressing qualification. She is also a ryuteki player in gagaku, and taught at the Ginza campus of Kyoto Hakubi Kimono Academy [ja]. In daily life, she spends half of her time wearing kimono. In 2016, she applied to become a kimono model and was accepted. Through photography, she promoted Wa culture abroad. On the occasion of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she expressed her wish to volunteer by helping visiting tourists wear kimono[13][14][15].

She is a lover of history and has also acted as a jidaigeki actress, including playing the role of Ryo Narasaki [ja], wife of Ryoma Sakamoto[14]. She is also a big fan of Japanese anime[15]. She has served as an ambassador for the TOKYO Wa Culture Project and as a director of the youth division “Asanagi” of the Yasukuni Shrine Worshipers Association [ja][13]. She has also been involved in visiting retired soldiers. While she believes that Japan’s acts of aggression during World War II were wrong, she nonetheless expresses respect for those who fought for their country, regardless of the justice of the war itself[14]. Triggered by the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar in 2016 and the situation in the Xinjiang internment camps of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, she also became concerned with international social issues, continuing to donate ¥5,000 per month to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees[16].

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Support for the Anti–Extradition Bill Protests in Hong Kong

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She had visited Hong Kong several times even before the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests began, and she has many friends who are Hongkongers. She has expressed her affection for Hong Kong—especially enjoying the night view of Victoria Harbour—and has said frankly that Hong Kong is beautiful[15][17][18]. Learning about the protests by Hongkongers via Twitter and other social networking services, and after seeing Agnes Chow explain the 2019 Hong Kong extradition bill on TV, on 2019 June 13, at age 25 she joined the “Emergency Action to Defend Hong Kong’s Freedom and Democracy [ja]” held in Shibuya. This was also the first protest she had ever attended. The next day, she learned that there would be a protest in Nagoya six hours later; she paused her work, took the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya, joined the protest in front of Kanayama Station (Aichi) and delivered a speech. A translated version of the speech was later uploaded online and viewed more than 400,000 times. She stated her concern that, if the amendment passed, Hong Kong would no longer be Hong Kong, and that the Chinese Communist Party might expand its influence over Taiwan, East Asia as a whole, and even Japan’s Okinawa and Tokyo[14][15][18].

On 2019 June 29, she organized an anti-extradition bill protest in Tokyo—her first time applying to hold a demonstration[15]. She declared that every Saturday she would hold a “Solidarity Action to Protect Hong Kong with the World,” marching from Hibiya Park to Tokyo Station. To make this happen, she even declined modeling jobs and paid out of pocket to produce banners. Attendance often fell short of expectations, and she lamented the cold attitude toward politics in Japan. She said she would never regret cheering for Hong Kong and that she was prepared to die to protect it[14][16][17][19]. She also expressed anger at actions by some mainland Chinese such as erasing the words “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” written on ema (votive tablets) [ja] at a Shinto shrine, and obstructing others from voicing support for the anti-extradition movement[20][21].

Beyond organizing marches, she also introduced the situation in Hong Kong online as a form of encouragement, engaged in fundraising, and joined the “#eye4hk” challenge by posting a selfie with her right eye covered[20]. Her support drew the attention of netizens, and her Instagram followers tripled within an hour[5]. On 2019 August 11, at Comiket (C96), she and several international students in Japan wore helmets and masks to cosplay Hong Kong protesters[22]. On September 6, she attended the Civilian Press Conference [zh] in Hong Kong and stated that the Hong Kong Police Force arbitrarily arrested Japanese people on August 31 and did not allow them to contact the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong [ja]. She also said that she was at Prince Edward station (MTR) on the night of September 3, and later saw on Twitter that a 21-year-old had suffered a cervical spine injury, which made her extremely angry. She declared her determination to fight thoroughly alongside the people of Hong Kong, and stated that because she supported the anti-extradition movement she was constantly attacked by pro-Chinese-government 50 Cent Party accounts and even received death threats[23][24]. In July, Hirano Uryu began fundraising in Japan and, by early November, successfully raised 1.7 million yen, donating HK$100,000 to the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund [zh][25].

In 2024 June, she attempted to enter Hong Kong but was refused entry by the immigration authorities under Section 11 of the Immigration Ordinance and was deported [ja].

Views on Okinawa

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Geopolitical security

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See also: Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow Taiwan, Day After Tomorrow Okinawa

She emphasized that as China’s military and political pressure on Taiwan intensifies, Japan’s security in regions adjacent to Taiwan—such as Okinawa and Yonaguni Island—would be directly threatened.[26]

Rebuttal to China’s claim that Ryukyuans are part of the “Chinese nation”

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In China, a narrative has been spreading that “Ryukyuans are not Japanese but part of the Chinese nation, and they wish to return to their motherland (China).”[27] Hirano points out that China is deliberately expanding the scope of the Zhonghua minzu to include Ryukyuans, expressing a heightened sense of caution toward China.[28]

Views on Taiwan

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Consistently in her social and political activities, Hirano Uryu has centered her actions on “defending democracy” and “ensuring information security.” From this perspective, she has shown strong interest in information warfare and public-opinion warfare in Japan–Taiwan relations, repeatedly warning both societies that a cross-border, multi-platform “silent war” affects individuals’ daily lives and decision-making.[26]

Recognition of security and information warfare regarding Taiwan

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See also: United_front_in_Taiwan

Hirano is acutely aware of the interlinked security environment of Taiwan and Japan, stating that “if Taiwan were invaded by China, it would have a grave impact on Japan’s future.” This indicates her view that Taiwan’s fate is directly connected to Japan’s security due to geographic proximity and strong economic and political ties. In her past activities supporting Hong Kong, she has also positioned the three regions (including Taiwan and Japan) as a common defensive line against China’s expansion.[26]

Regarding Taiwan’s information security, publicly available Taiwanese government data indicate that, as of 2024, government networks in Taiwan face an average of more than 2.4 million cyberattacks per day—double the previous year. Most are presumed to originate from Chinese cyber units, which Hirano frames as “not a theoretical issue but a real, digital pressure.”[26]

Information Warfare and Individual Responsibility

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Hirano Uryu views information warfare in the digital age as a critical battlefield in international politics, emphasizing that the destinies of Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong are closely interlinked. She also warns that the dangers of information warfare lie not only in being directly attacked, but also in users being unconsciously placed in situations where they receive only selective information.[26]

At the same time, she notes that it is possible to strengthen defense through individual attentiveness and action, maintaining access to truth-based information. She describes this as the form of “sovereignty” that each person can exercise in the context of information warfare.[26]

Japan–Taiwan Cooperation and the Defense of Democracy

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On August 22, 2025, at a symposium in Taipei hosted by a private think tank entitled *“Japan–Taiwan Resonance: The Current State and Countermeasures of Chinese Infiltration,”* the need for solidarity among democratic nations, including Japan and Taiwan, was emphasized.[29][30]

In her speech, Hirano Uryu pointed to the possibility of “demographic invasion,” whereby China expands its influence through immigration and naturalization policies, thereby undermining the institutions of democratic states. Using the 2019 protests in Hong Kong as an example, she warned that the Chinese Communist Party should not be trusted to keep international promises.[29]

She argued that Taiwan and Japan are positioned on the front lines against China, and that democratic nations must cooperate to resist the encroachment of authoritarian states, thereby safeguarding freedom and democracy.[29]

Other Activities

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On issues related to the Xinjiang internment camps, she organized the *“Uyghur Testimony Manga Booklet Project”* to publish Tomomi Shimizu [ja]’s Uyghur testimony manga in booklet form.[31] She has also spoken at events related to the Tiananmen Square massacre.[32][33]

Elections

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In the 2025 July 27th House of Councillors election [ja], Hirano Uryu ran as an independent candidate in the Tokyo at-large district, campaigning under slogans such as “Bring a Heisei-born woman to the National Diet!”[3][34] However, she was not elected.[35] Among the 32 candidates in the Tokyo district, Hirano received 235,411 votes, ranking 14th overall. This was the highest number of votes received by an independent candidate without the backing of a political party.

Street Campaigning and Harassment

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In July 2025, while giving a campaign speech at the south exit of Shinjuku Station, Hirano Uryu was harassed by individuals believed to be Chinese—being shown the middle finger, splashed with a drink, and nearly having her microphone snatched. The incidents spread on social media and drew public attention. Such disruptions were reported multiple times, and Hirano stated, “Because these events are being covered on Weibo and Bilibili, Chinese tourists are deliberately visiting the sites.” During the campaign, she was subjected to harassment and disruptions by people identified as Chinese, yet she continued her activities. False information regarding her nationality also circulated on social media, leading her to publish her family registry to prove she holds Japanese nationality.[36]

On July 16, in front of the Chinese Embassy, she declared that Japan must not allow itself to face situations similar to those in Xinjiang, Tibet, Southern Mongolia, or Hong Kong. Hirano criticized the Chinese Communist Party for ethnic oppression, cultural destruction, and demographic infiltration, asserting that Japan belongs to the Japanese people, and that its culture and way of life must not be violated.[37] She also pointed out that China’s immigration policies were disrupting Japanese society and criticized the reality that, under the name of multiculturalism, some Japanese cannot voice opposition. She argued that Japan must rise to defend its dignity, refuse to allow China to weaken it, and oppose turning Japan into a nation that prioritizes ethnic Chinese.[37]

Policies and Positions

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Hirano Uryu made foreigner-related issues the central theme of her campaign, with particular emphasis on restrictions targeting Chinese nationals.[6] Her six key policy proposals were as follows:

  • Restrictions on entry for Chinese nationals
  • Restrictions on land purchases by Chinese nationals
  • Tightened standards for naturalization of Chinese nationals as Japanese citizens
  • Restrictions on management visas for Chinese nationals
  • Enactment of an anti-espionage law

On these policies, Hirano argued that “the issue is not immigration as a whole, but the need for measures specifically addressing Chinese nationals,” citing concerns about “demographic invasion.” She noted that “the number of Chinese nationals in Japan exceeds one million, and in the future, their political influence may reach a level that cannot be ignored.”[6] She also criticized the current “five-year residence requirement for naturalization” as too lenient and called for stricter standards.

When questioned by liberal journalist Isoko Mochizuki, Hirano responded: “I have never once said, ‘expel them.’ Nor have I said, ‘their naturalization should be revoked.’ What I’m calling for is stricter standards.” When asked whether her statements risk causing division or discrimination, Hirano replied, “I do not wish for that.”[38]

She further stated to Mochizuki, “It is precisely because I have worked with oppressed peoples and heard their voices that I must speak out.” She added, “I had already sensed the threat of China, but through my involvement in the Hong Kong protests, I felt China’s threat firsthand. Next, it will be Japan’s turn.”[38]

International Attention and Activities

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Hirano Uryu has been frequently featured in Taiwanese media and stated that she has received support from local communities. In 2024, she visited Taiwan to observe the presidential election. Regarding being denied entry into Hong Kong, she commented that it was “to be expected,” but affirmed that “seeing things with my own eyes on the ground” is her principle, noting that she has observed political situations in various countries.[6] In 2024, during her visit to Taiwan to observe the presidential election, she expressed sympathy for young Taiwanese politicians and stated her intention to work toward strengthening Japan–Taiwan relations.[36]

Civic Awareness Campaigns

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On the issue of the Uyghurs, Hirano Uryu produced a booklet that turned testimonies into manga and distributed them free of charge. She funded the project through crowdfunding and continued it for about three years. The initiative also attracted attention in Taiwan.[6]

Personal Identity

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Hirano Uryu identifies herself as part of the Yamato people and stated that the concept of a Hong Kong nation [ja] influenced the formation of her own consciousness. She has called for a “willingness to risk one’s life to protect one’s country and people,” and expressed her intention to continue political activities with a long-term perspective.[6]

Allegations and Rebuttals Regarding Nationality and Name Usage

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See also: Cognitive warfare

After her unsuccessful independent candidacy in the Tokyo constituency of the House of Councillors election in July, Hirano Uryu addressed online speculation about her background and career via X (formerly Twitter). She denied the rumors as groundless, apologized for any impact on those involved, and declared that she would “move forward with [her] own words and actions.” She had previously released her birth family register under her legal name, “Suzuko Ogino,” and explained the use of her stage name.[39]

Possibility of Chinese Cognitive Warfare

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See also: Chinese information operations and information warfare

Akio Yaita [ja] shared on his Facebook page that social activist Hirano Uryu—known as Japan’s “Goddess of Anti–Extradition”—was scheduled to visit Taiwan and attend a think tank seminar on the theme of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific. At that time, some users claimed that “Hirano Uryu is originally from Hong Kong, naturalized as Japanese, and is concealing her past from Japanese society.”[7]

Yaita acknowledged that there had been extensive debate in Japanese online spaces about the possibility of Hirano being from Hong Kong but explained this as connected to “Chinese cognitive warfare.” Her main political stance is “anti-Communist, anti-China.” According to Yaita, her alleged Hong Kong origins and past statements were amplified by her supporters and some media figures as doubts about her “honesty toward Japanese society” or claims that she was “not truly Japanese,” with the intent of influencing her election campaign.[7]

Hirano herself made public her family registry and lineage during the election campaign, showing that all her grandparents were Japanese and that she herself was born in Chiba Prefecture. However, her past public expressions of support for Hong Kong and the use of the name “Uryu,” uncommon as a Japanese given name, were cited as sources of misunderstanding and speculation.[7]

Yaita also drew a comparison with a case in Australia where a person, though related to a senior Chinese Communist Party official, was misidentified as Taiwanese. He argued that in Hirano’s case, despite being Japanese, she was falsely portrayed as Hong Kong-born, making it an example of so-called “cognitive warfare.” This case was presented as underscoring the importance of Japan and Taiwan cooperating to resist China’s information warfare and political pressure.[7]

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On August 20, 2025, in response to continuing slander following the House of Councillors election, Hirano Uryu announced on her official X account that she intended to take legal action. She stated that she was preparing in consultation with lawyers and promised to “respond calmly and responsibly.”[40]

Stage Performances

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  • VOAT Actors Studio 2nd Main Performance *“After the Big Rainbow: The Fudo Brothers”* (2012)[41]
  • Tokyo Actor Market [ja] 2013 *“Challenger’s High!”* (2013)[42]
  • *Girls Museum Presents: Short Sweet Story – New Semester Edition “Oto Tamajakushi♪”* (2013)[43]
  • Gekidan Spookies *“Ōkini Ryoma”* (2015)[44]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Report on nationality and publication of family tree
  2. ^ Hirano Uryu 平野雨龍 2021年1月31日
  3. ^ a b "雨龍会". 雨龍会. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  4. ^ "Results of the 27th House of Councillors regular election (速報)" (PDF). Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  5. ^ a b "「日本反送中第一人」 和服模特兒IG粉絲1小時暴增3倍". Liberty Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2019-08-21. Archived from the original on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  6. ^ a b c d e f 独占インタビュー》Despite interference from Chinese nationals—Hirano Uryu, the leading figure of Japan’s “anti-extradition” movement, challenges the 2025 House of Councillors election as the youngest candidate, attracting Japan–Taiwan attention. Storm Media Japan Edition
  7. ^ a b c d e Japanese ‘Goddess of Anti-Extradition’ falsely rumored to be Hong Konger; Akio Yaita reveals source of rumor – Liberty Times
  8. ^ a b c admin-itm-uryu. "Report on nationality and publication of family tree". Uryukai (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  9. ^ Jinji Koshinjo, ed. (1965). All Japan Directory of Gentlemen, 1965 Edition. Jinji Koshinjo. p. Ka-16.
  10. ^ Diamond Company Employee Directory, Non-listed Companies, 1967 Edition. Diamond Inc. 1967. p. 28.)
  11. ^ a b Chuo Detective Agency Publishing Bureau (ed.). Directory of Japanese Women, 2nd Edition. Chuo Detective Agency. p. 434.
  12. ^ Jinji Koshinroku, 14th Edition (Vol. 2). Jinji Koshinjo. 1943. p. Ya-34.)
  13. ^ a b "Profile page of Suzuko Hirano". profile.ameba.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  14. ^ a b c d e "蘋人誌： 與港人同行 日模活出武士道 平野鈴子". Apple Daily Hong Kong (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-08-08. Archived from the original on 2019-09-07. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Why I support Hong Kong in Japan". JAPAN Forward (in Japanese). 2019-07-05. Archived from the original on 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  16. ^ a b Takahashi, Ryusei (2019-08-26). "Japan conspicuously silent as protests and violent crackdown roil Hong Kong". The Japan Times (online edition). Archived from the original on 2019-09-14. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  17. ^ a b "日模東京每周辦反送中遊行 至《逃犯條例》撤回為止". 立場新聞 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-07-07. Archived from the original on 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  18. ^ a b "「反送中」陰霾 日人重新了解香港命運共同體". 明報周刊 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-08-26. Archived from the original on 2021-03-06. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  19. ^ "我願意為了守護香港而死！日本女模自發辦集會「撐」香港". 自由電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 2019-07-06. Archived from the original on 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  20. ^ a b "神社求「光復香港」遭改「一個中國」 日模特兒：不要破壞日本 - 國際 - 自由電子報". 自由電子報 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  21. ^ "香港之路 21萬人牽手響應". 香港蘋果日報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-08-25. Archived from the original on 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  22. ^ "【逃犯條例】平野鈴子Cosplay香港示威者 頭盔口罩寫滿標語". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-08-12. Archived from the original on 2019-09-03. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  23. ^ "眾新聞 | 民間記者會：五大訴求只撤修例是「糖衣毒藥」 籲美通過《香港人權與民主法案》". 眾新聞 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-09-06. Archived from the original on 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  24. ^ "【逃犯條例】民間記者會批撤回修例「以退為進」 日本模特兒反修例接死亡恐嚇". 明報 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2019-09-06. Archived from the original on 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  25. ^ "平野鈴子捐10萬助612基金". 蘋果日報 (香港). 2019-11-03. Archived from the original on 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2020-01-02.)
  26. ^ a b c d e f 台灣有事，就是日本有事？日本「抗中新秀」平野雨龍，解析跨境資訊戰真相｜蔡子稘／臨床護理師在病床旁寫給社會制度｜換日線
  27. ^ 「沖縄は独立したがっている」「琉球人は中華民族だ」…中国が進める「沖縄工作」の最前線 （安田 峰俊,週刊現代） 現代ビジネス 講談社
  28. ^ 字幕132 「琉球人は中華民族と言い出した！」#平野雨龍 4月12日 新宿駅南口
  29. ^ a b c 平野雨龍氏、台湾のシンクタンク主催のシンポで講演 民主主義国家の団結訴え - フォーカス台湾
  30. ^ 日本社運人士平野雨龍來台 籲不可輕忽中國滲透 ｜ 公視新聞網 PNN
  31. ^ ウイグル証言漫画を小冊子に！30万部印刷プロジェクト（平野雨龍 2022/12/09 公開） - クラウドファンディング READYFOR
  32. ^ 8964天安門虐殺追悼集会 - 平野雨龍（ヒラノウリュウ） ｜ 選挙ドットコム
  33. ^ 東京で「天安門事件35周年」追悼集会　議員ら160人参加 | 6.4天安門事件 | 香港 | モンゴル | 大紀元 エポックタイムズ
  34. ^ "平野雨龍". 選挙ドットコム. イチニ. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  35. ^ "東京選挙区、無所属の平野雨龍氏が落選…政治団体代表". 読売新聞オンライン. 読売新聞社. 2025-07-21. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  36. ^ a b 為何反抗中國？平野雨龍：受香港與台灣啟發的日本政治素人
  37. ^ a b 日本參議院大選　候選人重砲嗆北京「洗人口」：台灣有事不能坐視不管
  38. ^ a b 平野雨龍氏がリベラル記者に答えた中身は「SNSじゃ分からない」望月記者と参院選（上） - 産経ニュース
  39. ^ 平野雨龍氏「出自や経歴に関して、流言にある様な後ろめたい事実は一切ありません」（日刊スポーツ） - Yahoo!ニュース
  40. ^ 参院選落選の平野雨龍氏、誹謗中傷に法的措置「今後も冷静に、責任ある対応を」 - 政治写真ニュース : 日刊スポーツ
  41. ^ Shunsaku Fukuba (2012-08-22). "〈Cast Introduction〉Ms. Suzuko Ogino. Shunsaku Fukuba OFFICIAL BLOG". CyberAgent. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  42. ^ "Tokyo Actor Market 2013 Spring". Tokyo Actor Market. Archived from the original on 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  43. ^ "☆Girls Museum☆". ☆Girls Museum☆. Archived from the original on 2013-06-02. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  44. ^ Spookies OFFICIAL SITE * #14 “Ōkini Ryoma”

See Also

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