Former PM Abe’s Assassination Unveils the Dangerous Self-Censorship of Japanese Media
How the Unification Church gained political influence in Japan
After the shocking death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, unanswered questions have plagued a traumatized Japan. Yet, domestic media outlets continue disappointing Japanese citizens by not addressing them.
Japanese media’s self-censorship has been a serious problem for a long time. Many anchors and journalists left the public broadcasting corporation, NHK, over the past decades due to suspected conflicts with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). No matter what problems the LDP caused, it was difficult for journalists to blame the ruling party outright.
Some of these journalists have been ringing alarm bells about the overly-close relationship between the Japanese media and every cabinet. Yet again, Abe’s assassination shed light on the poor quality of journalism in Japan.
Media Silence. An Election Without Critical Information
On July 9, the day after Abe’s murder, all five major newspapers in Japan ran exactly the same headline: “Former PM Abe Shot and Dead.” None used the words “assassination” or “murder.”
