2010-8-31
The other day, with something on my mind, I looked up the number of employees at Japan’s media companies online: the newspaper companies—Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, Sankei, and Nikkei—more than approximately 15,000 people.

The commercial TV companies (Tokyo headquarters only, excluding affiliated companies)—TV Asahi, Yomiuri TV, TBS, Fuji TV, and TV Tokyo—more than approximately 10,000 people.

In all, around 30,000 people are employed there.
Add NHK, and the number becomes more enormous still.
These are among Japan’s best-paying and most sought-after companies, so they must have a great many of Japan’s best and brightest among them.

Is this not a waste of brainpower?

In the end, it is politics that determines whether a country prospers or declines.
Since you exercise your powers of expression day and night as the very guardians of democracy and the embodiment of spotless integrity, should not 1 percent of the employees of the newspaper and commercial TV companies alone—150 people—or 2 percent—300 people—form a Japan Mass Media Party and rise up for the prosperity of the nation?

And as members of the elite, you have surely built family connections through marriage so impeccable that no one could possibly point an accusing finger at you.