Bureau Chief’s Good Job

It was like a routine story of yakuza movie, in which a boss of mafia comfort his man who had committed a murder in a conflict against rival family, been arrested and detained for years as a scapegoat of the organization and released from the jail. Former Bureau Chief of Sankei Shimbun in Seoul, Tatsuya Kato, was released from South Korea on Tuesday. His first assignment in Japan in these nine months was visiting Prime Minister’s Official Residence and meeting with Shinzo Abe. The words Abe casted on Kato was “gokurousama,” or “good job” in English, which a yakuza boss would always use in that situation.

Seoul Central Regional Prosecutors Office indicted Kato with a crime of defamation of character, accusing his column article about scandal of President Park Geun-hye at the time of a major ship accident. The office barred Kato leaving the country last August and he had to attend trial in Seoul without going back home in Japan. “My pleasure is that questions are done in Japanese language,” told Kato to media reporters in Narita Airport, right after arriving Japan on Tuesday.

It was obvious that the law enforcement of South Korean government was excessive intervention in freedom of speech. Foreign correspondents in Seoul and Tokyo delivered statements demanding Kato’s release. United States government, with or without request from Japanese government, also had expressed concern on the treatment of the issue. Japanese newspapers reported that the release was based on a diplomatic consideration, notifying Park’s visit to U.S. late this year. South Korean Ambassador to Japan told that the decision was a signal of better relationship.

For Japan, Kato’s case became diplomatic solo homer with careless pitch of South Korea. Abe deleted familiar expression of “sharing fundamental values like freedom or democracy” from reference on South Korea in his annual policy speech to the Diet. Opposite parties criticized Seoul along with Abe, making opportunity for cooperation beyond the aisle. “It was naturally right in our point of view,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, on the decision of releasing Kato.

Abe must be delighted with the consequence Kato brought for diplomatic improvement with South Korea without any compromise from Japan side. “Take care of your health in following trials in Seoul,” told Abe, literally requesting further contribution to Kato. It is not usual for a man who was released from foreign countries to see Prime Minister. If Kenji Goto would have released from Islamic State, it was not clear whether he could meet with Abe and be rewarded on his hard experience. One concern is Japanese reporters’ crime in South Korea in order to get an opportunity to meet with Prime Minister of Japan.