Written on June 29, 2019.
Based on a dialogue between Masayuki Takayama and Kadota Ryusho published in the August issue of WiLL, this essay discusses criticism of newspapers in the age of social media, the structure of online amplification, and the reality of a condemnation system linking Asahi, Mainichi, and the net left.
Using concrete examples such as the uproar over a handshake with President Trump, the typical method that led to the suspension of Shincho 45, and the use of net-print systems for protest mobilization, it sharply exposes organized opinion manipulation in Japan’s contemporary media space.

2019-06-29
They are all linked together, and it is systematized.
Even if they go to a demonstration empty-handed, they stop by a nearby convenience store, enter the designated reservation number for net printing, and then leaflets for the demonstration

The following is from a featured dialogue between Masayuki Takayama and Kadota Ryusho published in the August issue of the monthly magazine WiLL under the title, “The Disease Called Newspapers, Asahi’s ‘Deep Embarrassment’ Exposed by Social Media.”
Is social media the “Kiheitai” of the present age?
Even the smallest voices, if united, can create a great current.
A handshake with Trump.
Takayama　
I read your latest book, The Disease Called Newspapers (Sankei Select).
There are many books criticizing newspapers, but most of them illuminate only one part.
If someone like you seriously and loudly enumerates the problems of newspapers to this extent, I think it will resonate with readers.
Every point strikes at the essence.
Kadota　
I am honored that someone regarded as the foremost critic of the media would say that much.
Takayama　
After all, you are the man who even shook hands with Trump in the Kokugikan with your booming voice（笑）。
Kadota　
The bashing afterward was terrible.
It was on April 12 that the Sankei Shimbun scooped the story, “President Trump to watch the final day of the Grand Sumo Tournament.”
The moment I saw that article, I contacted an acquaintance, Dr. Takashi Fuke, who had belonged to the Jikei University sumo club, and asked, “Can you do something about a box seat?”
He said, “Understood.”　
That said, it seems this time it was truly difficult, and he told me, “I couldn’t secure the usual place, but I managed somehow.”
So I invited Ms. Kin Birei and Ms. Yoshiko Sakurai, to whom I am always indebted.　
When we got there, it turned out to be beside the aisle（笑）。
It could not really be called a very good seat.
But while we were waiting, the number of security personnel kept increasing.
Surely not… when I asked, “Will President Trump pass through here?” they said, “He will.”　
When President Trump was leaving after the award ceremony, I shouted loudly, “Mr. President!”
Other people were also calling out, but it seems my voice was the loudest（笑）。
Perhaps he heard me, because Abe, who was beside him, looked toward us and urged President Trump, saying, “Please.”
Takayama　
So it was something accidental.
Because you were shown right in the very center of the television screen, it looked as if there had been advance preparation.
Kadota　
There was absolutely none.
Ms. Kin, who shook hands with President Trump, instantly said in English, “I came from Taiwan.
Please take good care of Taiwan.”
That surprised me.
I thought, her preparedness is on a different level.　
As for me, President Trump looked into my eyes, shook my hand firmly, and kept repeating, “Thank you, thank you,” while I did nothing but reply, “Thank you, thank you,” and everyone burst out laughing）。
Takayama　
What impression did he give you?
Kadota　
The President’s hand was large and rough.
It was like the hand of a baseball pitcher.
Come to think of it, President Trump is a single-digit golfer, so it must have been a golfer’s hand.　
After the sumo ended, the four of us, Ms. Kin, Ms. Sakurai, Dr. Fuke, and I, had a meal together.
As I was drinking and feeling good, I got a phone call from my wife.
“It’s terrible! On the Internet, people are criticizing you, saying you were invited with taxpayers’ money,” she said（笑）。
In short, it was being spread that Prime Minister Abe had invited his own acquaintances using the people’s tax money and had them shake hands with President Trump.　
When I relayed this on the spot, everyone said, “Mr. Kadota, since you finally started Twitter, write the facts immediately.”
So I immediately tweeted, “I finally managed to secure a box seat for the Grand Sumo Tournament, so I invited Ms. Kin Birei and Ms. Yoshiko Sakurai, who are always so kind to me, and we watched the final day.
As they were leaving, Prime Minister Abe and President Trump came near us, and to our amazement we shook hands with both of them.
I, standing next to them, was also allowed to shake hands.
It was a surprising scene typical of Mr. Trump’s abundant spirit of service.” (quoted as in the original), and that calmed things somewhat.　
However, after a while, the voices of criticism saying, “Don’t lie.
There is no way something this perfect could happen,” would not stop.
The next day, the Mainichi Shimbun also contacted me and asked, “Was this not by invitation from Prime Minister Abe?” but of course it was not.
Takayama　
A newspaper company investigates even something like that?
It is appalling.
The covert activities of the net left.
Kadota　
It was from the web edition of the Mainichi Shimbun.
Still, I thought Mainichi was better than the others simply because they at least conducted an interview.
I explained the circumstances in detail, and because I feared that even if it became an article, they might manipulate the impression, I made it a condition that “I want to check the comment section.”
Although part of it was deleted, the main point was not altered.
But it was published in the form of a verification article, together with three photographs, under the headline, “Writers Who Shook Hands with Trump ‘Invited’? Ms. Yoshiko Sakurai and Others ‘No Prior Arrangement’”
(May 28, 11:39 a.m.).
The photograph showed Prime Minister Abe noticing us and urging President Trump toward us.
They clearly wanted to suggest that there had been some kind of “special favor.”　
To begin with, I am a journalist, and I always criticize Prime Minister Abe severely on a case-by-case basis regarding the issue of child abuse deaths, the declining birthrate, sanctions against South Korea, and so forth.
There is no way such a man would be invited.
Takayama　
Where is the epicenter of this?
Kadota　
Ordinary people.
It was spread all at once on Twitter.
In the online world, the speech and behavior of the net right are often discussed, but in fact the net left overwhelmingly outnumbers them.
They know perfectly well how to conduct denunciation.
Shincho 45 was forced into suspension by that very typical method.
First, the net left starts clamoring on social media, “This is a problem, this is a problem.”
As it spreads, Asahi and Mainichi follow up and make it into articles.
Those articles enlarge the issue further, and then direct actions such as demonstrations are called for online, expanding the commotion.
It was exactly the same method with the security legislation and the designated secrets protection law.
Takayama　
I think there is also the possibility that reporters from Asahi and Mainichi are spreading it together with them.
In 2015, Tadasu Tominaga of Asahi’s news division tweeted in English and French, along with a photograph of people demonstrating with Nazi flags and Rising Sun flags, something to the effect of, “A demonstration by Japanese nationalists in Tokyo.
They support Prime Minister Abe and the conservative government.”
Criticism poured in that it was misleading, and Tominaga was forced to delete the tweet and apologize.
Is this not of the same root?
Kadota　
This time as well, a reporter from the Asahi’s Nagaoka bureau sent out a tweet saying, “Well then, did Prime Minister Abe himself call President Trump over so that he would shake hands? ‘Surprised’ So if you are friends with Prime Minister Abe, you get all kinds of preferential treatment…” (quoted as in the original).
Takayama　
Sometimes someone appears as if she were an ordinary housewife, and in fact turns out to be an activist（笑）。
Kadota　
They are all linked together, and it is systematized.
Even if they go to a demonstration empty-handed, they stop by a nearby convenience store, enter the designated reservation number for net printing, and then several kinds of demonstration leaflets come out, from which they choose whichever one they like, and can print it immediately.
Takayama　
Aha, so that is how they are able to hold up all sorts of slogans like “We will not forgive Abe’s politics.”　
Certainly, when for example the Korean issue begins to stir online, there are times when before one realizes it, it has been replaced by the opinions of the net left.
It is like Asahi’s “Yes, but” articles, and even within the Internet it ends with some kind of inconclusive conclusion.
They are deliberately cutting in and throwing cold water on it.