Quoting the closing words of The Collapse of Asahi Shimbun, this essay reflects on the consequences of misjudging “righteous causes” in history. It explores how a media institution that saw itself as moral authority now faces judgment from history itself.

2015-12-28
What we have seen through this book is that the consequences of misjudging and celebrating a supposed “righteous cause” in history are terrifying.

The following continues from the previous chapter.

Hasegawa concluded The Collapse of Asahi Shimbun with these words.

“Through this book, what we have observed is that misjudging and glorifying a ‘righteous cause’ in history leads to a frightening conclusion.

The Asahi Shimbun carried and upheld a misjudged ‘cause,’ and by repeating that misjudgment, it is now being avenged by society itself.

In the form of its pages now being met with deep skepticism.
I regard this as retribution and sanction from history.”

Believing itself to be ‘the conscience’ and brandishing its ‘righteous cause,’ yet when it turned back, there was no one there.

This, indeed, is the retribution and sanction from history that the Asahi Shimbun must face.