In Japan, LA protests are dividing people as much as in the US. Here’s why

US President Donald Trump’s deployment of thousands of military personnel to Los Angeles in response to protesters rallying against his administration’s immigration raids has split public opinion in Japan, where debates have escalated in recent years over an influx of foreigners into the country.

The protests in Los Angeles – now in their third day – have prompted Trump to order around 4,000 National Guard personnel and 700 Marines to the city. Clashes between both sides have led to rubber bullets and flash grenades being used.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a lawsuit against the deployment, calling it unconstitutional, while LA Mayor Karen Bass said the city was being “used for an experiment” in asserting federal authority.

In Japan, where the protests have been widely covered in the press and dissected on social media, reactions have been swift and polarising, mirroring the division among Americans about the unrest.

“The protests started mostly peaceful, as far as I could tell from the news coverage, but have become a series of riots now,” said Ken Kato, a Tokyo-based small business owner, who describes himself as deeply conservative in his outlook.

“I’ve seen footage of people throwing bricks and stones at police cars, and that is completely unacceptable to a Japanese person,” he said.