Published on July 14, 2019.
Through Masayuki Takayama’s commentary, this article examines how The Asahi Shimbun treated the abduction of Yokota Megumi. It records the circumstances under which the paper finally placed “Megumi-chan” prominently on its front page amid changes in the North Korean situation, and presents a severe criticism of its reporting posture.

July 14, 2019.
“Megumi-chan” finally appears.
What would happen if things came to that?
The editorial bureau, which had clung to its beliefs, must also think about it.
If the North collapses, many things will come out.
The diary below is a continuation of the previous chapter.
“Megumi-chan” finally appears.
What would happen if things came to that?
The editorial bureau, which had clung to its beliefs, must also think about it.
If the North collapses, many things will come out.
There may also be the rescue of Megumi.
Did it think that things would become dangerous if it continued as before?
In its November 4 edition, The Asahi Shimbun probably treated Megumi-chan on its front page for the first time since the abduction occurred, and on the society page it carried, in color, a family photograph of her with Sakie and the others.
As far as I remember, I think this was the first photograph of its kind ever shown in Asahi.
From that day onward, Asahi began treating Megumi-chan as though it had always carried stories about her.
It is the same handling as with its reporting that “North Korea is a paradise on earth.”
Perhaps it thinks, like Liu Bang, that even if it ignores something ninety-nine times, carrying it once makes everything all right.
The Moritomo and Kake issues, which it is now so absorbed in.
One day, it will probably switch to saying, “Kagoike is a fraud,” “Maekawa’s conduct is bad,” and “Tsujimoto and Tamaki are suspicious,” and then pretend nothing happened.
I simply cannot forgive such a thoroughly contemptuous attitude toward the public on the part of The Asahi Shimbun.
December 2017 issue.