Japan's National Police Agency is said to have requested the foreign ministry to order GaaSyy, who is now living abroad, to return his Japanese passport. The YouTuber-turned-lawmaker was stripped of his Diet member status on Wednesday and faces allegations that he repeatedly threatened celebrities.
Tokyo police obtained an arrest warrant for GaaSyy, whose real name is Higashitani Yoshikazu, on Thursday. He is alleged to have slandered or intimidated several prominent figures on his gossip channel between February and August of 2022.
GaaSyy was expelled from the Upper House after failing to appear at any Diet sessions.
He is said to be staying in the United Arab Emirates to avoid prosecution in Japan.
If the foreign ministry issues the order, his passport will eventually expire, at which point his stay abroad will become illegal. He will not be able to request a visa extension.
Sources say the police hope to work with authorities in the UAE to have him deported so they can arrest him upon his return to Japan.