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Why aren't the major Japanese media outlets covering this angle before the polls close in Japan's upper house elections (today)?

by ETHisso2017 4y ago

SllX 4y ago
Isn’t it controversial whether or not he did have a connection? There is a value of free speech in Japan but it’s not exactly like America’s, and I think the Japanese media would mostly avoid stirring the pot immediately prior to an election, and especially for a claim that may be unfounded. I won’t argue whether their approach is the right one or not and this is just my opinion, but that seems like that would be why the major papers wouldn’t want to cover this angle to me.
- grapeskin 4y ago
  Controversial in the sense that he’s on video as a presenter in one of their events. It’s as controversial as the My Pillow guy having a connection to a political party. We don’t know whether he literally believes in what he’s saying, but we do know he’s being paid to speak for them. But whether this is the cult he was killed for is yet to be confirmed. He also had heavy involvement with Soka Gakkai through his alignment with the Komeito party. They also drain people of their cash.
- scaramanga 4y ago
  Strange. I don't see how it could be more controversial than his well known links to Nippon Kaigi. I mean, the cult connection is only important for the fact that someone killed him for it. And I am going to guess that it tells you something about the deranged mind of the killer, and probably not much interesting about Abe. Edit: I mean, come on, "newsflash: prominent politician involved in dubious business or accounting practices", you could probably have safely assumed it :)
  - suction 4y ago
    It could be controversial because it's a Korean sect and Abe was a nationalist hardliner whose image was that he would make Japan "proud" again by refreezing relations with China and Korea. So if he had connections to a Korean sect, and knowing what sects do, the next logical step would be to assume that he was controlled by or at least open to Korean interests, which is the opposite of what people elected him for, and would be a major, major scandal for him and his party.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
    - scaramanga 4y ago
      Haha, yes, and that would be pretty deranged given that the Korean ultra-right/fascist movement is very supportive of Japanese fascism, no matter how loudly it denies, downplays, or asks to be thanked for atrocities committed against Koreans. And that includes the vast majority of nutty religious sects. Edit: or to translate, the scandal would be "concern that fascist politician, might not be fascist enough" with an emphasis on "might" since it would be pure speculation
      - suction 4y ago
        Very rare to meet someone who has a realistic view on modern Japan and calls these people what they really are. Nice to meet you! Have you by any chance ever heard of Ryōichi Sasakawa? The man who created the „Nippon Foundation“ which runs a lot of „cultural exchange“ Institutes like Language schools etc. in Europe and maybe elsewhere. His Wikipedia says he was a self-declared fascist. Can’t make it up.
- peoplefromibiza 4y ago
  > Isn’t it controversial whether or not he did have a connection? Controversial like linking the Kashoggi's death to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman[1], but then participating to the G20 summit in Riyadh or selling them billions worth of weapons (including combat aircrafts), like nothing happened? [1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56213528 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56213528
  - scaramanga 4y ago
    They mean controversial in the sense of totally nonsensical distraction in which the stakes are basically zero. Not controversial as in, "of any real consequence"
shusaku 4y ago
It’s absolutely insane to me that people are criticizing the Japanese media over this. Why should we be amplifying a murder’s message? Don’t reward a man for shooting someone in the back. After every mass shooting in the US I see widespread criticism of the media for sensationalism and turning mass murders into stars. Yet when another country follows this very advice, they’re criticized for a lack of free speech?
- pmoriarty 4y ago
  Knowledge and transparency is oxygen to a democracy. Without an informed populace you can not have an effective democracy.
  - Caboose8685 4y ago
    I agree with the theme of your message, but people won't be educated unless they seek it out themselves beyond just what the media spouts. That is all too sadly very rare.
  - peoplefromibiza 4y ago
    > Knowledge and transparency is oxygen to a democracy Democracy can wait a week or two when a man is murdered that way Freedom means also that you have to earn it, if people can't wait to speculate online about things that are still being investigated, they probably don't deserve it. --- What if they waited a bit more before putting Lee Harvey Oswald on the front page of every newspaper? Maybe he would still be alive and we knew a lot more about what really happened. What if Kennedy assassination happened today, with social media and the "pornography of violence"? Think about it.
    - yucky 4y ago
      >Freedom means also that you have to earn it Freedom isn't earned, authority is. Freedom is the default nature of man. Those in power who seek to limit freedom, must earn that right. And it can be quickly withdrawn.
makeitdouble 4y ago
It’s linked to too many hot button issues, and would have way more impact than just anger against a single cult. If it was in the US context I would compare it to an alternative muslim cult founded in China and supporting the Palestinian regime. If someone shooting a US politician was found vaguely linked to that cult, it would be wiser to wait for a strong connection with the crime instead of just throwing around the information and have everyone go wild with the implications they want.
- scaramanga 4y ago
  Only if it was supporting a muslims/chinese/palestinians who are known for their vociferous support of the republican party? I mean, these groups tend to be ultra-right wing and the Korean ultra-right are very supportive of the japanese ultra-right wing, like Abe, who is grandson of Nobusuke Kishi, "the devil of manchuria" and thinks grandpa was a lovely guy. Edit: Nobusuke, not Nobuo, Nobuo is the other grandson who is defence minister. My bad.
  - makeitdouble 4y ago
    The issue would be to bring all that cult and culturally heavy discussion in the spotlight when there's still a chance it's completely irrelevant to the incident. The same way we wouldn't be digging deep on where the guy ate at lunch if there wasn't enough link (I know some newspaper do, but imo they shouldn't)
    - scaramanga 4y ago
      My point is that there are much more interesting discussions to be had, like how Abe's grandfather was a class A war criminal who the US sprung from prison and spared the death penalty cos they thought he would be a good pro-US element in Japanese politics. How he then founded the party Abe is a member of. Or any of what Abe's politics are. But there is zero mention of any of it in any western press... ever... Even when very relevant events are happening. Even, for example, when China and South Korea are united in condemnation. Which is strange, because aren't South Korea and Japan supposed to be allies with the US, and all about containing China? So I'm wondering why the "suppression" of that news is so much less interesting than the "suppression" of whatever gobbledygook Crazy McShootyFace believes?? :)

Why aren't the major Japanese media outlets covering this angle before the polls close in Japan's upper house elections (today)?

SllX 4y ago

Isn’t it controversial whether or not he did have a connection? There is a value of free speech in Japan but it’s not exactly like America’s, and I think the Japanese media would mostly avoid stirring the pot immediately prior to an election, and especially for a claim that may be unfounded. I won’t argue whether their approach is the right one or not and this is just my opinion, but that seems like that would be why the major papers wouldn’t want to cover this angle to me.

grapeskin 4y ago
Controversial in the sense that he’s on video as a presenter in one of their events. It’s as controversial as the My Pillow guy having a connection to a political party. We don’t know whether he literally believes in what he’s saying, but we do know he’s being paid to speak for them. But whether this is the cult he was killed for is yet to be confirmed. He also had heavy involvement with Soka Gakkai through his alignment with the Komeito party. They also drain people of their cash.
scaramanga 4y ago
Strange. I don't see how it could be more controversial than his well known links to Nippon Kaigi. I mean, the cult connection is only important for the fact that someone killed him for it. And I am going to guess that it tells you something about the deranged mind of the killer, and probably not much interesting about Abe. Edit: I mean, come on, "newsflash: prominent politician involved in dubious business or accounting practices", you could probably have safely assumed it :)
- suction 4y ago
  It could be controversial because it's a Korean sect and Abe was a nationalist hardliner whose image was that he would make Japan "proud" again by refreezing relations with China and Korea. So if he had connections to a Korean sect, and knowing what sects do, the next logical step would be to assume that he was controlled by or at least open to Korean interests, which is the opposite of what people elected him for, and would be a major, major scandal for him and his party.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - scaramanga 4y ago
    Haha, yes, and that would be pretty deranged given that the Korean ultra-right/fascist movement is very supportive of Japanese fascism, no matter how loudly it denies, downplays, or asks to be thanked for atrocities committed against Koreans. And that includes the vast majority of nutty religious sects. Edit: or to translate, the scandal would be "concern that fascist politician, might not be fascist enough" with an emphasis on "might" since it would be pure speculation
    - suction 4y ago
      Very rare to meet someone who has a realistic view on modern Japan and calls these people what they really are. Nice to meet you! Have you by any chance ever heard of Ryōichi Sasakawa? The man who created the „Nippon Foundation“ which runs a lot of „cultural exchange“ Institutes like Language schools etc. in Europe and maybe elsewhere. His Wikipedia says he was a self-declared fascist. Can’t make it up.
peoplefromibiza 4y ago
> Isn’t it controversial whether or not he did have a connection? Controversial like linking the Kashoggi's death to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman[1], but then participating to the G20 summit in Riyadh or selling them billions worth of weapons (including combat aircrafts), like nothing happened? [1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56213528 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56213528
- scaramanga 4y ago
  They mean controversial in the sense of totally nonsensical distraction in which the stakes are basically zero. Not controversial as in, "of any real consequence"

shusaku 4y ago

It’s absolutely insane to me that people are criticizing the Japanese media over this. Why should we be amplifying a murder’s message? Don’t reward a man for shooting someone in the back. After every mass shooting in the US I see widespread criticism of the media for sensationalism and turning mass murders into stars. Yet when another country follows this very advice, they’re criticized for a lack of free speech?

pmoriarty 4y ago
Knowledge and transparency is oxygen to a democracy. Without an informed populace you can not have an effective democracy.
- Caboose8685 4y ago
  I agree with the theme of your message, but people won't be educated unless they seek it out themselves beyond just what the media spouts. That is all too sadly very rare.
- peoplefromibiza 4y ago
  > Knowledge and transparency is oxygen to a democracy Democracy can wait a week or two when a man is murdered that way Freedom means also that you have to earn it, if people can't wait to speculate online about things that are still being investigated, they probably don't deserve it. --- What if they waited a bit more before putting Lee Harvey Oswald on the front page of every newspaper? Maybe he would still be alive and we knew a lot more about what really happened. What if Kennedy assassination happened today, with social media and the "pornography of violence"? Think about it.
  - yucky 4y ago
    >Freedom means also that you have to earn it Freedom isn't earned, authority is. Freedom is the default nature of man. Those in power who seek to limit freedom, must earn that right. And it can be quickly withdrawn.

makeitdouble 4y ago

It’s linked to too many hot button issues, and would have way more impact than just anger against a single cult. If it was in the US context I would compare it to an alternative muslim cult founded in China and supporting the Palestinian regime. If someone shooting a US politician was found vaguely linked to that cult, it would be wiser to wait for a strong connection with the crime instead of just throwing around the information and have everyone go wild with the implications they want.

scaramanga 4y ago
Only if it was supporting a muslims/chinese/palestinians who are known for their vociferous support of the republican party? I mean, these groups tend to be ultra-right wing and the Korean ultra-right are very supportive of the japanese ultra-right wing, like Abe, who is grandson of Nobusuke Kishi, "the devil of manchuria" and thinks grandpa was a lovely guy. Edit: Nobusuke, not Nobuo, Nobuo is the other grandson who is defence minister. My bad.
- makeitdouble 4y ago
  The issue would be to bring all that cult and culturally heavy discussion in the spotlight when there's still a chance it's completely irrelevant to the incident. The same way we wouldn't be digging deep on where the guy ate at lunch if there wasn't enough link (I know some newspaper do, but imo they shouldn't)
  - scaramanga 4y ago
    My point is that there are much more interesting discussions to be had, like how Abe's grandfather was a class A war criminal who the US sprung from prison and spared the death penalty cos they thought he would be a good pro-US element in Japanese politics. How he then founded the party Abe is a member of. Or any of what Abe's politics are. But there is zero mention of any of it in any western press... ever... Even when very relevant events are happening. Even, for example, when China and South Korea are united in condemnation. Which is strange, because aren't South Korea and Japan supposed to be allies with the US, and all about containing China? So I'm wondering why the "suppression" of that news is so much less interesting than the "suppression" of whatever gobbledygook Crazy McShootyFace believes?? :)