An examination of parliamentary criticism directed at NHK after it displayed the Japanese flag beneath the Chinese flag while reporting on Chinese military provocations, raising serious questions about editorial independence and national alignment.

This section analyzes a broadcast incident involving Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, in which symbolic visual ordering during a security-related report triggered parliamentary criticism.
The case is presented as evidence of deeper concerns regarding media governance, national representation, and perceived external influence.

2017-04-15
The fact that criticism was raised in the National Diet questioning which country’s public broadcaster NHK actually is was reported.
Yesterday’s Sankei Shimbun carried the following article.
As China has made its intention to invade the Senkaku Islands increasingly clear, the number of scramble launches by the Self-Defense Forces has reached a record high, with the majority directed at Chinese aircraft, according to a government announcement.
NHK’s Watch 9, while reporting this news, displayed the Japanese national flag beneath the Chinese national flag.
Over this, Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers criticized NHK in the Diet, asking which country’s state broadcaster it really serves.
Takayama has taught us that this incident was not merely a simple mistake by NHK.
The idea that China’s state-run television network CCTV could exist within NHK is utterly unacceptable and beyond belief.