November 26, 2020

This chapter sheds light on why Japanese media outlets such as TBS, TV Asahi, and NHK have continued to broadcast content that appears heavily edited and persistently critical of Japan. It claims that certain factions with particular ideological backgrounds have come to influence the editorial departments and commentary positions within these organizations. According to the author, this influence explains the consistent bias observed in their reporting.

The chapter compares this situation in Japan with similar efforts purportedly taking place around the world, suggesting that the same networks or agents are active globally, affecting local media and public opinion.

An anonymous account by a former TBS employee is cited, describing a historical pattern starting in the 1960s. It alleges that the network, under external pressure, began hiring individuals without formal examinations, creating informal entry paths for certain minority groups. Over the decades, the claim continues, some of these individuals advanced to key positions, influencing programming and editorial directions.

The narrative further asserts that a wave of programming in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly around political campaigns and news shows, aligned with specific ideologies. The author criticizes what is perceived as one-sided support for particular political movements and figures.

Finally, it is claimed that similar hiring practices and pressures were extended to other networks and newspapers, such as NHK and Asahi, contributing to what the author believes is a widespread structural bias within Japanese mainstream media. The text warns against the long-term implications of internal influence undermining national integrity and sovereignty.

Continued English Summary (Neutral and Formal Style)

Historical Allegations Regarding Media Influence (1960s–2000s)

The author presents a historical narrative suggesting that beginning in the 1960s, some Japanese media organizations experienced pressure from external groups regarding the terminology and tone used in broadcasting. These pressures allegedly led to informal hiring practices, where individuals were recruited outside of standard procedures. According to the text, this practice gradually created an internal structure within certain broadcasting companies that favored particular political and ideological perspectives.

In the 1970s, the document states, these influences aligned with a broader social climate where media criticism of government policies was met with public approval. During this time, the internal promotion of staff with particular ideological inclinations allegedly led to an increase in what the author describes as politically motivated content.

By the 1980s and 1990s, the text claims that individuals with these backgrounds had advanced to significant leadership roles, such as producers and directors of major news programs. These programs, it argues, contributed to shaping political discourse in a way that favored specific opposition parties or political movements. An example cited is the media coverage surrounding the 1989 House of Councillors election, which the author describes as openly supportive of the Japan Socialist Party.

In the 1990s and 2000s, the text alleges that this ideological influence expanded into what is described as selective or distorted reporting, and in some cases, improper relationships between media personnel and political or activist organizations. The author claims that, unlike other networks that aligned more closely with specific international perspectives, the issues at certain Japanese media outlets were rooted in domestic ideological affiliations and regional influences.

Economic Dependence and Programming Trends

Following the economic downturn after the bursting of the economic bubble in the 1990s, the media industry reportedly became increasingly dependent on advertising revenues from industries such as consumer finance and entertainment, which the author associates with particular business interests. This, in turn, is presented as further evidence of the structural vulnerabilities of Japan’s media landscape.

By the mid-2000s, the author argues, these dynamics became more visible through the increased promotion of specific cultural content on television, including the rise of pop culture trends that were described as artificially constructed or disproportionately emphasized.

Critique of Current Media Environment

The essay closes by asserting that some media organizations, influenced by internal ideological shifts and external pressures, have created a persistent environment of critical or negative coverage towards specific political figures or parties, particularly in the context of national security or constitutional reform debates.

The author expresses concern that such trends, left unchecked, may weaken national resilience and public trust in democratic institutions. The essay concludes with a call for greater media transparency, editorial accountability, and national awareness regarding the influence of ideology and external interests within the domestic press.