A reflection on the sense of shock and anger felt upon reading newspaper coverage of the Japan–Korea agreement. The essay considers how media narratives influenced political decisions and public financial burdens.

2015-12-28
Because of the falsehoods perpetrated by the outrageous fools known as the Asahi Shimbun.

Yesterday, a younger friend of mine looked at the front-page article of the Asahi Shimbun and exclaimed in disbelief (Why are we paying money? And as much as 100 million yen?).

Today, I looked at the front page of the Asahi Shimbun’s evening edition and thought the same.

What is this?

Even within the current political situation…with China, a one-party communist dictatorship, openly displaying its misguided ambitions…even if the decision to keep South Korea within the Japan–U.S.–Korea framework was an extremely political one…in other words, a decision to resolve matters even at the cost of trampling facts and truth.

To pay one billion yen for those who have done such outrageous things and continued to spread such absurd falsehoods!

Because of the falsehoods committed by the outrageous fools known as the Asahi Shimbun.