Nobel Madness

When democracy declines, it appears as deterioration of news organization. All news media enthusiastically reported one report from Sweden, Nobel Award on Physics to three Japanese scholars. Newspaper on Wednesday was mostly occupied with stories on revolutionary impact of their invention of blue color light-emitted diode on human life, Japan’s revival as a technology giant, and personal episodes of those Japanese heroes. In the oppressive environment against media under Shinzo Abe administration, news organizations are turning their back to truths.

The recipients were Isao Akasaki, Professor of Meijo University, Hiroshi Amano, Professor of Nagoya University, and Shuji Nakamura, Professor of University of California Santa Barbara. They were awarded for their invention of blue color LED, which had been more difficult to create than red or green. With three primary colors of LED, it became possible to make natural white light with low cost. The award praised their achievement as revolutionary, saying “The twenty-first century will be lighted by LED, while incandescent lamp lighted twentieth century.”

The top page of all newspapers raised unusually huge headlines of the news. On opinion page, every paper sent warm applause to them. Headlines of editorials in main six newspaper in Tokyo were “Protect Soil for Steady Studies” of Asahi, “Revolution of Light Brightening 21st Century” of Mainichi, “Wanting to Be Proud of Blue Light Changed the World” of Yomiuri, “Delight of Manufacturing” of Tokyo, “Nobel Prize for Japanese Who Caused Light Revolution” of Nikkei and “Originality and Diversity for Future Generation” of Sankei.

It is convenient for news organization to have news which harms nobody, especially when they are criticized about their attitude on reporting. Leaders of newspapers firmly believe that being compassionate with most readers enhance credibility of newspaper. But other important news, including steep decline of economic trend index in August or groundbreaking cooperation between Tokyo and Chubu Power Companies, were pushed aside.

Accused by broad public on its misguided reports on comfort woman and testimony of former director of First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, Asahi had to consume certain space in the same issue for explaining their reports on immoral abandonment of contaminated soil in Fukushima. Wind is still blowing against newspapers, even how much they make great, but empty, efforts to reach ordinary people.