Sugita

On Jan. 11, Sugita dropped off 10,000 more signatures - 1,000 sheets of paper, stretching the bag he carried them in.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011

Sugita has now become the central character in the grass-roots effort to prevent a sale from the Tokai Local Finance Bureau to the Chinese Consulate General.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011

But an enduring shift in public opinion had been harder to measure - at least until Sugita, the teacher in Nagoya, started collecting signatures and delivering them, folder by folder, to the local finance bureau, protesting the sale of the land, which China hopes to use to build a new consulate.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011

On Jan. 11, Sugita dropped off 10,000 more signatures - 1,000 sheets of paper, stretching the bag he carried them in.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011

But an enduring shift in public opinion had been harder to measure - at least until Sugita, the teacher in Nagoya, started collecting signatures and delivering them, folder by folder, to the local finance bureau, protesting the sale of the land, which China hopes to use to build a new consulate.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011

Sugita, however, heard of the possible land sale only in October, thanks to a comment posted on his personal blog.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011

Sugita, however, heard of the possible land sale only in October, thanks to a comment posted on his personal blog.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011

Sugita considers himself a nationalist but not a right-winger.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011

At home, Sugita printed 10 sheets, then 50, then 500, and every time he went back to the train station, he found residents willing to sign their names.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011

At home, Sugita printed 10 sheets, then 50, then 500, and every time he went back to the train station, he found residents willing to sign their names.

Proposed sale of Japanese land for Chinese consulate stokes anti-Chinese views Chico Harlan 2011