2018/04/20
The following is from a unique feature on a conversation between Shinichiro Suda, Eri Higashijima, Rui Abiru, Eitaro Ogawa, Ryusho Kadota, and Kazuyoshi Hanada that appeared in the recently released monthly magazine HANADA Selection.
Asahi is now in the realm of paranoia
They have turned against Prime Minister Abe.
Higashijima
These are Nippon Broadcasting System, "Shinichiro Suda's News Outsider" public recording.
Today, we would like to discuss the theme of "media's manipulation of impressions and biased reporting.
Suda.
First of all, I am concerned about the recent "Abe bashing" by so-called "liberal newspapers," which seems to be excessive.
If there is a specific matter, theme, or behavior that deserves criticism, we should not hesitate to pursue the government strictly, but what the media is currently doing seems to be "criticism for the sake of criticism."
What are your thoughts on this?
Abiru
Recently, it has become well-known to the public that there has been a lot of "Abe bashing."
However, the same happened ten years ago during the first Abe administration.
The day after the first Abe Cabinet was inaugurated, the headline in the Asahi Shimbun was "Class Meeting Cabinet."
Suddenly, a headline mockingly called the newly formed cabinet a "class meeting.''
Since then, they have been criticizing Abe endlessly, up to the present day.
Suda
Why do the Asahi hate Mr. Abe so much?
Abiru
There is a long history behind this.
The Koizumi visit to the DPRK took place in September 2002.
On January 26 of the following year, Mr. Abe, then Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Koizumi Cabinet, gave a speech.
"The Asahi Shimbun's New Year's Day editorial said, "Don't just talk about principles, think about the point of compromise.'' This kind of tone is becoming an obstacle to negotiations."
The editorial of January 1, 2003, titled "In the Spirit of 'Spirited Away,' Thinking at the Beginning of the Year," read as follows
"It is natural that there was an outpouring of sympathy for the abduction victims and anger towards North Korea, but reports that only inflame such feelings are repeated every day." Although we can have such rich sympathy for the tragedy of our fellow countrymen (the abduction issue), we have little compassion for the oppressed North Korean people."
"We will keep our eyes firmly on the harsh international environment. At the same time, we always remember our composure and flexibility. In this crisis year, we should keep that in mind."
Abe's point is an "editorial," and since the editorial is equivalent to saying nothing, it should be criticized.
However, on the 27th, the day after Mr. Abe's lecture, the Asahi Shimbun published an editorial entitled "Mr. Abe, Read Carefully: Editorial Criticism'' and criticized him by name.
The content also reveals hostility, such as "First, I would like to ask Mr. Abe whether he has read the editorial properly." "Now, does Mr. Abe mean this editorial will also be an "obstacle to negotiations"?
Since Mr. Abe became prime minister, the Asahi Shimbun did not "bash Abe'' but "destroy Abe'' during his first administration.
The first Abe administration was short-lived, just as Asahi had hoped, but Abe was revived.
Of course, he did not listen to Asahi.
Even after the second administration came to power, Asahi was busy beating Abe, but the Abe administration has turned out to be rather a long-term one.
For Asahi, it must be frustrating.
As for Asahi, it must be frustrating.
The Asahi Shimbun has reached the point where it has become paranoid with an aggravated hatred of Abe.
Terrible TV impression manipulation
Suda.
Higashijima does a morning radio news program.
Every Friday through Monday.
Do you think Prime Minister Abe was involved in the Moritomo/Kakei issue?
Higashishima.
Ummm.
It is difficult to say for sure, but I experienced every day reading all the papers that "the news changes so much" after one night.
So we wondered where we should base our judgment, and our listeners wondered the same thing.
Suda.
Most people would assume that the prime minister was involved if the news was reported that much every day, wouldn't they?
Hanada
In the March issue of the monthly HanadaJ, former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Hagiuda told the following story.
During the House of Representatives election at the end of October 2005, he was making a street speech in his hometown, and someone shouted, "Explain the Kakei issue! It yelled at him.
Mr. Hagiuda's involvement in the Kakei Gakuen issue has been pointed out because of a problematic photo of him enjoying a barbecue with Prime Minister Abe and Kakei Gakuen President Kotaro Kakei.
He was not involved at all, but the "Hagiuda Document" was being discussed in the newspapers and on TV, which must have provoked this kind of criticism.
After his speech, Mr. Hagiwada went to the person who had yelled at him and asked, "What do you want me to explain? Please tell me what I don't understand. I will explain anything."
The person replied, "I don't know 'anything. But you must have done something wrong; I saw it on TV."
Asahi's "Hidden Sentence"
Kadota.
If exposed to much media coverage, public opinion will be swayed in one direction without realizing it.
When news coverage begins to concentrate on a single topic, viewers and subscribers should reset their minds and examine the coverage without preconceptions.
Otherwise, you will be caught in a whirlpool of information flood and unable to decide calmly.
Take, for example, the "Prime Minister's Intention" document report of May 17, which was mentioned earlier.
The Asahi Shimbun shadowed the document and reported it in a way that did not show the part where it said, "If we put it in the form of a 'decision by the National Strategy Special Zone Advisory Council,' it would look like an order from the prime minister since the prime minister is the chairman.
Many people, including Mr. Ogawa, have pointed out this is incorrect.
If one reads it honestly, it is clear that there was no directive from the Prime Minister but that he was trying to persuade the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, which is opposed to the establishment of a new veterinary school in the special zone, by saying, "If we do this, it will look like the Prime Minister wanted us to do it so that we will have no choice but to do it."
Suda.
In short, MEXT, which had opposed the establishment of the new veterinary school, lost the argument and was forced to accept the policy.
When they brought it back to MEXT, they wondered what excuse to give and how to convince everyone. Then they thought, "If we say that the prime minister had his own intentions, it won't be a problem within the MEXT," right?
Kadota
That is correct.
However, the Asahi Shimbun did not quote this part of the article even once in its report on the alleged Kake problem.
Not even once.
Hanada
The editorial department checked the newspaper article search database (provided by Nifty) and found that this sentence first appeared in the Asahi Shimbun article about the lawsuit against Mr. Ogawa and Asuka Shinsha.
Here is what it says.
In his book, Mr. Ogawa writes that in a document marked "Prime Minister's Intent,'' "If we write it in the form of "Decision of the National Strategic Special Zones Consultative Council,'' since the Prime Minister is the chairperson, it will look like an instruction from the Prime Minister.'' "Because there was no instruction (from the prime minister), it is necessary to operate in a way that makes it look like an instruction from the prime minister.' - that's how this document can be read,'' he said.
He claims that the Asahi Shimbun concealed that part of the document and continued to report on it.
It is the first and last time it was published in this article.
Readers who only read the Asahi Shimbun probably needed help understanding the meaning of this article about the lawsuit.
Ogawa.
This part is the best part of the complaint (laughs).
Furthermore, the Asahi Shimbun says casting shadows on the document is "a standard method widely seen in newspapers.
Since the document is only about 600 words, they should publish it fully.
Abiru
If it is a "scoop document," why not?
This article continues
5/22/2024 in Kyoto
