Japan Press Weekly

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2016 January 20 - 26 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

News media should not tone down criticism of Abe gov’t: critic

Three well-known newscasters in Japan, who have made critical comments about the national security legislation, are reportedly going to step down from their positions on the programs sometime soon. Regarding this move, Tozaki Kenji, a broadcast critic and former NHK director, contributed an article to Akahata. The following is an excerpt of his article:

Right after the House of Councilors held public hearings on the Abe government-sponsored security bills in mid-September 2015, TV Asahi’s newscaster Furutachi Ichiro, one of the three anchorpersons, said in his program, “Almost all the media is reporting that Diet deliberations on the bills have entered the ‘final stage’, but it is better to report that the deliberations will continue.”

After the ruling coalition railroaded the war bills through the Upper House on September 19, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide insisted in Furutachi’s program that it is far from a “forced passage” because three “opposition parties” voted for the legislation along with the governing parties. The three “opposition parties”, however, are very small and have no influence. Furutachi said in response, “I know you have your own views on this issue, but in my opinion, this is nothing but steamrolling.”

Kishii Shigetada, an anchorperson of a TBS news program, has consistently pointed out that the Diet failed to discuss the security bills thoroughly. “The more the Diet discusses the measures, the clearer it becomes that the legislation is unconstitutional,” he said.

Kuniya Hiroko has for years served as anchorperson of a news analysis program of NHK, Japan’s sole public broadcaster. Her probing questions posed in the program have gained the respect of many viewers.

A couple of days after the Abe Cabinet adopted the decision enabling Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense on July 1, 2014, Abe government spokesperson Suga appeared on the NHK program. Kuniya asked Suga, “How will the government put the brakes on the use of force by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces?” “How do you respond to the public concern that the Cabinet decision would weaken Japan’s image as a peace-loving nation?” and “If Japan makes an attack on another country which is at war with the United States, it will be regarded as a preemptive strike. What do you think of this?” The spokesperson was hard-pressed to provide an answer.

In recent years, the moves to monitor and suppress activities of civic groups criticizing the Abe administration are expanding in every field. Many news organizations are imposing self-restraint on their reports out of consideration for the government. The reported replacement of the three anchorpersons is a kind of voluntary restraint.

It is a serious situation that the press is voluntarily refraining from criticizing the Abe government when the date of enforcement of the war legislation is approaching. Workers at the TV networks concerned, especially the unions, should raise their voices with courage.

Past related article:
> PM Abe’s supporters call for suppression of free speech [November 30, 2015]