July 22, 2016

The Japan Federation of Newspaper Workers’ Unions (Shimbun Roren) held its regular convention in Tokyo on July 20 and 21. Reflecting on the historical fact that the newspaper industry had supported Japan’s past war of aggression, the convention adopted a new action program committed to fight for freedom of the press.

Shimbun Roren Chair Arasaki Seigo referred in his opening speech to a wave of attacks on the Asahi Shimbun as well as remarks made by lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party which encouraged the suppression of two local papers in Okinawa. “Now, labor unions should work as a shield against the pressure on the media,” he said.

Noting that Shimbun Roren has branches in about 80% of newspaper companies in Japan, Arasaki called for reinforcing the union organizations and passing them on to the next generation.

In the floor discussion, a delegate from the Miyako-Mainichi Shimbun said, “The company management often obstructs the coverage of the deployment of Self-Defense Forces units to the Miyakojima island in Okinawa and refuses to carry articles on the issue.” He added, “We are also working on the power harassment issue in the workplace and are fighting back against the management attacks on the union.”

The Okinawa Times and the Ryukyu Shimpo have consistently reported about problems associated with U.S. military bases concentrated in Okinawa. In the debate, union members at the two local dailies introduced the fact that around 65,000 Okinawans took part in a rally held in June to mourn for a Japanese woman who was raped and killed by an ex-U.S. marine and that the participants unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the withdrawal of the U.S. Marine Corps from Okinawa.

The convention also elected its leadership. The newly-elected Chair Kobayashi Motohide, a correspondent at the Hokkaido Shimbun, had worked in the Middle East until last year. “When I returned to Japan, I was surprised by the atmosphere in which people find it difficult to express their opinions freely. In order to protect Japan’s democracy, it is essential for newspaper reporters to keep a close eye on those in power and report the facts without hesitation,” he stressed.

Past related articles:
> UN human rights expert shows concern over independence of the press in Japan [April 21, 2016]
> News media raise voices in opposition after ‘Destroy Okinawa newspapers’ remark at LDP study meeting [January 28 & 30, 2015]