Controversies surrounding Okinawa coverage and statements by local leaders revealed a major shift in public opinion and the declining influence of mainstream newspapers.
Even large-scale media campaigns failed to sway the public, signaling the collapse of long-standing media authority in Japan.
An analysis of changing media power and local political dynamics

Local government leaders were generally secure by riding on left-leaning public opinion.
They were little more than figures chanting mantras of peace and anti-nuclear power.
2018-01-14.
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Hasegawa.
Yes, we reported that activists opposing the Okinawa bases had received money and had obstructed the passage of ambulances.
Then Asahi reported that the local fire department “said no such facts existed” (February 18 edition), and the Tokyo Shimbun joined in the criticism.
There may have been points to reflect on in the broadcast, but we did not spread false information.
Takayama.
Furthermore, Minoru Fukada, editorial chief of the Tokyo Shimbun, wrote an article on the front page of the morning edition titled “The ‘News Joshi’ Issue: Deep Reflection.”
Normally, once newspaper articles appeared, it would end there and the program would also end, but rebuttals that had previously been ignored came into the open.
A controversy arose.
Being dismissed unilaterally—such a phenomenon had not existed before.
Perhaps this incident became the starting point, but even when Asahi Shimbun launched opposition to the so-called conspiracy law and stirred up the Moritomo and Kake reporting, public opinion did not move significantly.
The decisive example was the Twitter post by Naruhiko Kuroda, mayor of Hirado City in Nagasaki Prefecture.
When he declared on Twitter, “The Hirado mayor’s office has stopped subscribing to the Asahi Shimbun. We will exclude a publicity medium that spreads false reports,” it caused a huge reaction.
In just two days, an enormous number of messages of support were received.
Local government leaders were generally secure by riding on left-leaning public opinion.
They were little more than figures chanting mantras of peace and anti-nuclear power.
Ryuichi Yoneyama, the governor of Niigata Prefecture, would be a typical example.
It made one clearly realize that the authority of newspapers had collapsed.
The authority of the mainstream media seems to have crumbled with an audible crash over the course of this past year.
To be continued.