NHK edited the testimony of a former Taiwanese soldier in a way that transformed complex historical emotions into anti-Japanese resentment. By cutting crucial context, the broadcaster violated its own editorial guidelines and misled viewers.

This case demonstrates how selective editing can transform testimony into propaganda.
By cutting crucial context, NHK shaped viewers’ emotions while concealing alternative interpretations.
Such practices undermine the credibility of public broadcasting and violate basic journalistic ethics.

2017-06-19
This is a continuation of the previous chapter.
It can be inferred that these words were spoken from the complex feelings of Taiwanese people who believed they had been “abandoned by Japan” in 1945.
The program produced by NHK interviewed not only Mr. Ko but also several Taiwanese individuals, and there was one particular “testimony” that was emphasized toward the end of the broadcast.
An elderly former Taiwanese soldier of the Japanese army shouted, “We were like orphans who were abandoned. Japan is making fools of us.”
After that, the elderly man continued by saying that he wanted people to understand how Taiwanese youth at the time had cooperated with and devoted themselves to Japan, and then added, “And yet—” at which point the video testimony was cut off.
Following this, a French historian took up the elderly man’s words and concluded the program by commenting, “We must understand why people around the world view Japan in this way.”
The words the elderly man wanted to say—or was in fact saying—after “And yet” can be inferred, just like Mr. Ko’s remarks, to have stemmed from the complex feelings of Taiwanese people who believed they had been “abandoned by Japan” in 1945.
However, the program was edited so skillfully that the testimony appeared to express resentment toward Japanese rule and anger over Japan’s assimilation policies.
If the French scholar who appeared in this program were to compare Japan’s rule over Taiwan with France’s rule over Vietnam, he would surely confess that the difference was like heaven and hell.
Is it not the duty of Japan’s public broadcaster to produce programs that present such perspectives?
In NHK’s “New Broadcasting Guidelines,” under “2. Basic Stance on Reporting and Production,” “⑤ Basic Rules of Interviewing,” the following is stated: “When conducting interviews, the intent of the program and the interview must be sufficiently explained in advance, and understanding must be obtained. If the aim of the program changes due to circumstances after the interview, sufficient explanation must also be given to the interviewee.”
In addition, under “⑥ Program Planning and Production,” it states: “Regardless of genre, broad consideration must be given to structure and presentation, and care must be taken to avoid bias in the selection of topics and participants. NHK determines which portions of recorded material to use. Editing must strive to convey the overall intent accurately and must not distort facts or create misunderstandings.”
Since Mr. Ko himself has stated that he was “deceived,” NHK has an obligation to respond.