“Political monitoring is the job of the media” Isoko Mochizuki and Kihei Maekawa reveal the inner workings of the prime minister’s office and the media at symposium for the opening of the new movie “Shimbun Kisha”
Tokyo Shimbun reporter Isoko Mochizuki and former Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Kihei Maekawa answering questions from the audience. June 7, Ryukyu Shimpo Hall in Izumizaki, Naha (photograph by Moriaki Kise
June 8, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo
A symposium titled, “The Authority of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Status of Journalistic Media,” (hosted by Ryukyu Shimpo Co. Ltd., sponsored by Star Sands, in collaboration with Aeon Entertainment) held as part of the opening for the movie “Shimbun Kisha,” (English: Newspaper Reporter) was held the evening of June 7 at the Ryukyu Shimpo Hall in Izumizaki, Naha. Isoko Mochizuki from the Tokyo Shimbun and former Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Kihei Maekawa spoke at the event, where they exchanged their views on the pressure the current administration is putting on journalists, as well as the current state of the media in terms of their role in oversight for political authority. A little over 700 people were in attendance.
Mochizuki spoke about her experience of having her questions limited for repeatedly asking tough questions at a Chief Cabinet Secretary press conference, as well as how the current administration in Japan is manipulating the media. Additionally, she stressed, “The media is not a tool that to be used at the pleasure of the government, but is tasked with the role of government watchdog. It is important that we return to the media’s original role of providing oversight for political authority.”
Maekawa spoke about his time serving as vice minister in the top office at MEXT, as well as false reporting that seems to have come from leaked information from the office of the prime minister. He harshly criticized the media, saying, “They are not fulfilling their role of conveying the truth to the people of Japan. They are being used as tools for government propaganda, and to attack opponents of the [Abe] administration.”
The 600 people packed into the auditorium loudly applauded the opinions given by the two speakers. There were also around 100 people watching on screens on the first floor of the lecture hall.
Clips from the movie “Shimbun Kisha,” which is based on Mochizuki’s books, were also shown at the event.
(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)
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