2010-9-6
Give me back the time I spent on you　at least forty-some years　give me back my subscription fees

How appalling　even if keeping Kan as prime minister is your newspaper’s consensus　is this not far too appalling　have you still not shed the disposition that destroyed the country by repeatedly relaying Imperial General Headquarters announcements

Thinking I should make sure, I asked another acquaintance, not the one mentioned earlier… a mild-mannered 30-year-old woman brought up as a sheltered young lady　of course entirely apolitical　this time for some reason　she apparently felt she simply had to go and see　despite getting caught in a huge crowd where her feet were stepped on and people pushed and jostled

When I told her the opinion-poll figures in this morning’s Asahi　she looked blank for a moment　not knowing what I meant　after taking a little time to understand she said　Prime Minister Kan had about 3 percent

The businessman whom the acquaintance mentioned earlier met at the scene is someone I have known for a long time　working like an ant every day
He built a large company　a man devoted entirely to his work　the very picture of earnestness

Apparently he had come thinking　“I’ve got to see Ozawa at least…”
“People in Osaka prefer Ichiro Ozawa…”　naturally　his reaction to this morning’s newspaper was　“Unbelievable!”

The front page reflects the concerted stance of Japan’s mass media today　if I may say one thing　among the people surveyed in what they call their opinion polls
Are there workers who work all their lives and earn 5 million yen a year?

Does it not include only the likes of influential local and district figures and the elite?
Even setting that aside, is that article on yesterday’s joint campaign rally in the city news section acceptable?
Such a vast crowd… ordinary men and women of all ages gathered in Umeda

This was not a celebration of a Hanshin Tigers championship or anything of the kind　it was a joint campaign rally of a political party to decide the prime minister
If you do not accurately convey the scene there　who had the advantage　what kind of journalism can you call it?

This is what it means to be “utterly appalled.”

The acquaintance at the beginning is 30 and therefore well versed in computers
The day before yesterday　she told me that the Democratic Party　was broadcasting live online
So I watched the Shinjuku broadcast　that day　before going to bed.

While watching the live broadcast at home　I thought　this is real democracy　direct democracy
It is not the unilateral one-way information from the mass media　the information they monopolize that we watch and read　I thought that a democracy of citizen participation was beginning.

It made me imagine that this must have been what it was like when Caesar and others spoke in the public squares of ancient Rome
Of course, the sight of this nationwide internet broadcast　participants at the scene　participants watching on television　all tweeting at once
Goes beyond anything in ancient Rome　the advance of civilization’s tools　and through it the incomparably greater deepening　and spread　of democracy

Japan’s mass media　give me back my time　give me back my money　give me back these 20 years
Your reporting　is far too appalling　if the acquaintance at the beginning had not told me about the online broadcast　and I had not gone to the scene
I too　would have been on the verge of swallowing everything you said
A chill runs down my spine　I shudder.

Since you continued to deceive even me　it was only natural
That democracy had not been fully realized in our country even 60 years after the war　today　I became convinced of this.

Everyone who watched online　and my two acquaintances who were at the scene　must have had Naoto Kan’s expression of disappointment burned into their eyes　and left in their hearts

Those in the established media　probably dismiss the internet and do not even watch it
But this time alone　your scheme　became visible through it

I　if you continue with your methods up to now　the unchecked relaying of government-supplied information obtained through privileged press clubs　or continue writing articles that follow the wishes of those in power

I think your downfall　is just around the corner
There can be no such thing as democracy that ignores the will of the people

Because democracy exists only in raising our voices without cease　day by day　unceasingly　and overcoming reality