The so-called “daily report controversy” revealed a profound lack of understanding of national security among Japan’s opposition parties and major media outlets. An essay by Hanada editor Noriyasu Hanada exposes the issue with clarity.

Unable to understand even such a simple matter, Japan’s state broadcaster NHK went so far as to join in.
2017-08-04
The following comes from a serialized column titled “Weekly Magazine Watching” by Noriyasu Hanada, editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine Hanada, published last Friday.
I have consistently stated that the so-called “daily report controversy” is, to begin with, irrelevant.
At a time when China is militarizing the South China Sea in blatant disregard of international law, when it is attempting to invade the Senkaku Islands, and when North Korea is flagrantly ignoring United Nations resolutions while seeking to perfect ICBMs and nuclear warhead mounting technology,
how could the daily report issue possibly be something that deserves to be treated as a problem for Japan’s defense?
A concise answer to that question was published here.
Failing to grasp even such a simple point, Japan’s mass media reached a level of childishness and disgrace that borders on the extreme, as NHK—the national broadcaster—joined forces with opposition parties that can scarcely be matched anywhere in the world for their stupidity, together with their behind-the-scenes patron, the Asahi Shimbun, to whip up a frenzy that ultimately forced the resignation of the defense minister.
How many people truly understand what the “daily report controversy” actually was, and what the real issue was?
Former Ground Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Kiyofumi Iwata explains as follows (August issue of Hanada):
“What is perhaps least understood is that this daily report was not operationally classified or secret in any way. Anyone could handle it; in fact, it was something that should have been shared.”
“The relevant staff members stored it on their computers in the course of their duties and referred to it as needed. It was not managed as a classified document with strict registration procedures, so even if one were to say ‘destroy it,’ it is impossible to ensure that every single person who possessed the data would delete it one hundred percent.”
Therefore, even if something said to have been destroyed later resurfaced from someone’s computer, there is no problem whatsoever.
Moreover, this daily report had already been released in full—except for classified portions—on February 6, making it accessible to anyone.
Claims such as “concealment at the February 15 meeting” are utter nonsense.
The resignation of Minister Tomomi Inada should be described as having been exploited by an Asahi-centered anti–Abe administration movement, and this is precisely the point weekly magazines ought to have pressed.
Shukan Shincho (August 3 issue), in its article “Is This Really the Time for Eyelash Extensions, ‘Tomomi Inada’?”, accurately traces the sequence of events but offers no criticism of the reporting itself.
Shukan Bunshun (August 3 issue), in “The True Nature of Tomomi Inada,” merely enumerates the minister’s past statements and actions, making it no different from the Asahi Shimbun.
Due to an irregular publication schedule, it could not be introduced last week, but Shukan Gendai (August 5 issue) confronted the husband of Diet member Mayuko Toyoda—the woman notorious for the “You idiot!” incident. Anyone would naturally wonder what kind of person her husband might be. One might call it vulgar curiosity, but responding to such curiosity is precisely the role of weekly magazines.
The conclusion is that he is a calm and extremely good husband—a career bureaucrat.
“I’m already doing everything I can just to take care of the children. My wife is truly a gentle mother at home,” he said.
He repeatedly apologized to reporters, saying, “I am truly sorry.” One can only feel sympathy for him.