Concerns on Freedom of Speech

The world is warning Japan on its situation of freedom of speech. An expert of United Nations found that independence of Japanese media was in jeopardy, based on his research. An international non-government organization ranked freedom of speech in Japan far lower than it had been for years. Deterioration in this one of the most important human rights is significant in Shinzo Abe administration.

U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, David Kaye, pointed out that there was serious concern for Japanese journalists to report sensitive issues, because of pressure from the government. “I think this is a significant problem that the Broadcast Act allows for regulation by the government of the media,” told Kaye in his press conference at Foreign Correspondent Club of Japan on Tuesday.

Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, Sanae Takaichi, noted in February that the government could suspend license of TV stations, if their programming had been found to contain political bias. “The broadcaster shall comply with the matters provided for in the following items when editing the broadcast programs of domestic broadcasting or domestic and international broadcasting,” says Article 4 of the act and “It shall be politically fair,” says Section 2 of the article. Takaichi’s argument seemed to be based on that provision.

“My view is that Broadcast Act should be amended,” told Kaye and he suggested that Article 4 to be repealed. He determined that regulatory pressure of Japanese government became threat on broadcasting media. Designated Secrecy Act 2013 actually narrows access of journalists to governmental information. Kaye demanded Japanese government getting out of media-regulation business.

2016 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders located Japan on the 76^th on its list. In 2010, under Yukio Hatoyama administration of Democratic Party of Japan, Japan was at 11^th among the world democracies. It declined to 22^nd in 2012, and after Abe took the seat, it slid down to 53^rd in 2013, 59^th in 2014 and 61^st last year. “The Japanese media, which are among the most powerful in the world, are free to cover what they want except ‘state secrets.’ This rather vague category is protected by a very harsh law that deters journalists from embarking on investigations,” criticized the NGO.

Washington Post ran an editorial titled “Squelching bad news in Japan,” in March. “The proudest of Japan’s post-World War II achievements was not its economic ‘miracle’ but the establishment of free institutions, including independent media. None of Mr. Abe’s goals for Japan, however worthy, can, or should, be pursued at their expense,” said the editorial board. As shown, warnings are coming from various international democratic institutions.