On August 19, 2010, the author harshly criticized Japan’s mass media, led by Asahi, for devoting space to gossip-style political reporting. Instead, the press should focus on presenting a grand design to overcome Japan’s “Lost 20 Years.” The true question is not factional rivalry between Matsushita Institute politicians and Ichirō Ozawa’s camp, but who has the wisdom and capacity to expand domestic demand and restore prosperity. Japan must declare to the world its role as a democracy completing true freedom and intellect, while also pursuing the path of a financial superpower.

A sharp critique of Japanese political media from 2010, arguing that their focus on superficial gossip is a disservice to the nation. The author calls on reporters to fulfill their true duty: to propose and scrutinize a “grand design” to pull Japan out of its “Lost 20 Years” of stagnation, thus restoring true democratic ideals and national prosperity.

The reporting by Japan’s political correspondents.
August 19, 2010.
I think the articles and reports by so-called political correspondents of all Japanese media, led by the Asahi, are even more foolish than the examples I mentioned earlier.
Regarding the absurd article in Josei Jishin magazine about “politicians women want to be embraced by, politicians they want to embrace,” Minori Kitahara wrote about it.
The survey results placed Koizumi’s son, who looks as if he is in his twenties, alongside Shizuka Kamei.
I and my friend laughed heartily at this—“How could they compare him with Shizuka Kamei! Even he would think, please spare me.”
I think publishing such nonsense is just as foolish.
It is time to stop running gossip articles by political correspondents.
No one has the time for that anymore.
There should not even be space in the papers.
Every journalist should devote the full extent of their intellect to proposing a grand design.
That is the true work of the media.

Note: To defend the honor of Mr. Shizuka Kamei, I would add that he was surely quite popular when he was young.

The issue.
August 19, 2010.
Which side—those of the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management or those of Ozawa—possesses the grand design to restore the Lost 20 Years and bring prosperity to the nation?
Who has the ability to execute it?
Because it is about breaking through twenty years of stagnation, a tragic situation both for the world and for the Japanese, as the Wall Street Journal said, anyone can understand that stopgap, makeshift plans produced by bureaucrats will not suffice.
If they do not understand, it is equivalent to proclaiming to the world that only Japan does not understand.
With selflessness, exhausting every bit of intellect, they should draw up a grand design surpassing mine, competing in wisdom over how much they can expand domestic demand, and the prime minister should be chosen on that basis.
If the prime minister changes, Japan should simply declare to the world, “We are restoring the Lost 20 Years, we are undertaking a massive expansion of domestic demand, and the victor’s plan in this grand design proved superior.”
It should not be the result of the media’s uproar and nitpicking up to now.
Japan should declare to the world, “We will achieve true freedom and the perfection of the highest intellect—the completion of democracy—for the next 170 years.”
It should declare, “Standing alongside and complementing the United States, we will continue to fulfill our role as the world’s de facto second largest economic superpower, and also pursue the path of becoming a financial superpower, a role we have so far lacked.”
The egotism of the Matsushita Institute’s snot-nosed youths, the egotism of bureaucrats, and various power ambitions are irrelevant compared to the tragedy of these twenty years.

What you failed to understand was only because you belonged to the wealthy elite side, and whether you can or cannot put a period to that truly unforgivable and ugly egotism—that alone is the sole issue.