Editorial: Hyogo Pref.'s criminal complaint impedes media reporting in public interest
What cannot be overlooked is that the act of providing information to the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine was included in the subjects of the criminal complaint.
The move could undermine media outlets' ability to check governments through reports based on whistleblowing.
The Hyogo governor's alleged power abuse and other problems came to light through an anonymous document that was created by a former chief of the prefectural government's Nishiharima District Administration Office.
Based on the prefectural government's audio recordings and documents, Shukan Bunshun reported in 2024 that then vice governor had grilled the former district chief, alleging that he was the whistleblower behind the anonymous missive. Searching for a whistleblower contravenes the Whistleblower Protection Act.
Shukan Bunshun's reporting was of high public interest in providing society with a glimpse into improprieties of the prefectural government's conduct.
This fact was brought to light because of the individual who, even at risk, supplied insider information. Protecting the confidentiality of the sources of information is a crucial principle of the press.
The prefectural government's action is unacceptable as it attempted to identify and punish the informant who should be protected.
The prefecture filed the criminal accusation in response to a report by a third-party committee that investigated the information leak. Their investigation was sparked by an incident in which Takashi Tachibana, head of the political group NHK Party, and others spread online private information of unknown authenticity that was left on the former bureau chief's work computer.
The information had nothing to do with the whistleblowing and was degrading of the former bureau chief, who died in 2024.
Regardless, the prefectural government added Shukan Bunshun's digital edition reporting to the targets of investigation by lumping it together as "online information."
The implementation outline of the inquiry, including its purpose and targets, had initially been withheld, and the details were only made public on March 31 when the report was released. That's when the inclusion of the Shukan Bunshun coverage as a subject of the investigation was first disclosed.
The prefectural government's decision to treat the exposure of privacy the same as information provision that serves the public interest is beyond comprehension.
It was the governor himself who decided to set up the third-party panel. While he explained that the selection of investigation targets was at the discretion of the human affairs division, he cannot evade his responsibility as the head of the prefectural administration. The prefecture is urged to withdraw the criminal complaint that could silence its conscientious employees.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
15-07-2025
- The Mainichi
Ballots written in pencil altered? Baseless fraud myth persists in Japan elections
TOKYO -- Unfounded rumors persist around election voting and counting in Japan, with claims like "ballots are rewritten" and "spies manipulate results at ballot-counting stations." These myths of intentional election fraud are not only circulating online but are also being discussed in public spaces. 'Someone important at the prefectural office' rewrites votes? At a demonstration in Tokyo in late June advocating for the exclusion of foreigners, a young man with a microphone was seen urging participants, "Please go vote, but make sure to bring a ballpoint pen. There are Chinese spies infiltrating polling stations." The notion that pencils are provided at polling stations so votes can be erased later has been circulating for years. Despite a lack of evidence, some voters bring their own writing utensils. On the day before the Hyogo gubernatorial election in November 2024, a 20-year-old second-year university student attending a speech by candidate Motohiko Saito in Kobe mentioned to a friend, "I heard that if you write Saito's name with the pencil at the polling station, it will be changed to the name of his opponent." Believing this, she said she brought a ballpoint pen with her for early voting. When this Mainichi Shimbun reporter approached her, she explained that she had seen a YouTube video claiming "someone" wanting Saito to lose was erasing his name from ballots. She said that it was her first time voting and said, "They only provide pencils so they can rewrite the votes later, right?" When asked who might alter the votes, she replied, "I'm not sure, maybe someone in a high position at the prefectural office?" Double locks and public scrutiny Japan has multilayered measures to prevent election fraud in both national and local contests. Voters who arrive at polling stations first verify that ballot boxes are empty. Observers selected from the public are present, and at least two locks secure the boxes after voting. The keys are placed in separate envelopes and transported to ballot-counting stations, as stipulated by the Public Offices Election Act and its enforcement order. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, there are no restrictions on writing instruments used for voting, and ballpoint pens are permissible. However, Yupo Corp., which manufactures the voting paper, notes that the paper contains plastic, making it particularly suitable for pencils. Additionally, some municipalities advise against using ballpoint pens as the writing can be smudged. Fraud at counting stations is also difficult. The ballot-counting process is open to the public, with observers present. Representatives from political camps and the media, eager for early results, closely monitor the process. Local government staff involved in counting are prohibited from bringing writing instruments. A member of a prefectural election management committee stated, "Many of the staff working on holidays are focused on completing the task 'as quickly and accurately as possible' so they can go home." Past incidents of fraud That said, there have been instances of actual fraud by election staff. In the 2014 House of Representatives election, a discrepancy between the number of voters and actual votes in Sendai led to staff inflating the numbers of blank and take-home ballots. Similarly, in the 2013 House of Councillors election in Takamatsu, staff falsely reported votes for a specific proportional representation candidate as "zero" to cover up a discrepancy. In the 2017 lower house election, staff reported "blank ballots" in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, after a shortfall in ballots compared to voters emerged. An uncounted ballot box was later found, but a staffer took home about 400 ballots and burned them. In all these cases, the motive for the fraud was to cover up counting errors. Criminal cases were built against those responsible on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act and the destruction of seals. However, there have been no known cases of fraud intended to ensure a specific candidate's victory, such as rewriting votes. Despite this, rumors of intentional vote tampering have persisted for years. In late June, following the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, the Election Administration Commission posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, "There are false posts on social media claiming 'fraud is occurring at counting stations.' Counting operations are open to the public, and no fraud occurs." It is unusual for an election management committee to release such information. Nonetheless, replies to the social media post continue, with one asking, "Why do we have to write with a pencil?" while another demanding, "Prove your innocence." (Japanese original by Shota Harumashi, Tokyo City News Department)
The Mainichi
14-07-2025
- The Mainichi
Politicians focus on foreigners ahead of election: Our 5 most-read stories from last week
We've listed our five most read stories on The Mainichi news site, from top to bottom, that were published between July 5 and 13. The first story was viewed by 21.8% of our regular readers. (The Mainichi) NHK Party head Tachibana targets Black and Muslim groups in Japan as 'scary' KAKOGAWA, Hyogo -- House of Councillors election candidate Takashi Tachibana, leader of the political group NHK Party, made xenophobic remarks during a stump speech in this western Japan city July 4, saying, "It's scary when groups of Black and Muslim people hang out in front of train stations." Full story. Japan political parties pledging restrictions on foreigners with eye on conservative votes TOKYO -- As the July 20 House of Representatives election approaches, political parties in Japan have been proposing restrictions on accepting foreigners and stricter measures on dealing with them. Sanseito, which is proposing a "Japanese first" policy, has garnered support, and it appears that other conservative parties are also fishing for votes. While foreign workers are increasingly being accepted into Japan to make up for labor shortages, one expert warns that if exclusionism spreads, it could endanger democracy itself. Full story. 'Mom, who gave you these?' Foreigners in Japan with no status wish to work to exit poverty TOKYO -- In Japan's July 20 upper house election, a number of political parties have pledged restrictions and tighter measures for foreign nationals if they are voted in. Amid this situation, a foreign woman in Yokohama who has lost her residency status and now lives in poverty on "provisional release," expressed her wish to continue living in Japan, saying, "I want my sick child to receive due medical care." Full story. 46% of Japan workers who experienced 'gray zone harassment' considered quitting: poll TOKYO -- Have you ever witnessed someone at work start a preachy talk reminiscing about the "good ol' days" or offer unsolicited advice? Such behavior, while not qualifying as outright harassment, can cause discomfort, constituting "gray zone harassment." A recent survey by a private firm in Japan has shed light on how this behavior is gradually eroding a working environment. Full story. Japan sees marriage registration rush on first 'triple 7' day in 30 years TOKYO -- Japan saw a flurry of marriage registrations on July 7, which marked the first time in 30 years that the Japanese era, month and day all aligned with the number seven, with 2025 being the seventh year of Japan's current Reiwa era. Full story.
Tokyo Weekender
07-07-2025
- Tokyo Weekender
NHK Party Leader Takashi Tachibana Calls Black and Muslim People ‘Scary'
Donning a MAGA cap and his trademark colorful suit, NHK Party leader Takashi Tachibana addressed a crowd in front of JR Kakogawa Station in Hyogo Prefecture on Friday. The controversial politician, who is running in the House of Councillors race for the Hyogo electoral district, started the stump speech by stating that he is 'afraid of foreigners.' He then added, 'You might not feel as much fear with white people.' List of Contents: Takashi Tachibana's Latest Controversial Remarks Foreigners 'Disrespect Japanese Culture' Says Conservative Party of Japan Leader Related Posts Takashi Tachibana's Latest Controversial Remarks Tachibana went on to say , 'It's scary when groups of Black people or people of Islamic background are gathered in front of the station. It's impossible to walk past at night when there are four or five them frolicking in front of you, and you don't know if they speak Japanese. The current law doesn't allow us to regulate them, so we can't tell them to go away.' Tachibana, who previously suggested that genocide is the solution to overpopulation and that 'we should just wipe out races that have babies like idiots,' was attacked in March, not by a foreigner, but a Japanese national. He was cut on his head and neck with a machete-like weapon, though his injuries were not serious. Suspect Shion M iyanishi , who was arrested at the scene, told the police he 'intended to kill' Tachibana. Foreigners 'Disrespect Japanese Culture' Says Conservative Party of Japan Leader Tachibana wasn't the only Japanese politician to voice controversial views about foreigners over the past few days. During a stump speech on Saturday, Naoki Hyakuta, leader of the minor right-wing opposition Conservative Party of Japan, said that foreign people 'disrespect Japanese culture, ignore the rules, assault Japanese people and steal their belongings. In northern Kanto you see many towns like this that are no-go zones. If we don't do something about it; Japan's public safety will be threatened.' The right-wing populist party Sanseito, meanwhile, has been gaining a lot of attention due to its 'Japanese First' approach. Speaking at the FCCJ last Thursday, leader Sohei Kamiya insisted that this approach was 'not based on xenophobia.' Responding to a question about immigration, he said, 'Our party is not in favor of accepting migrants to substitute for the drop in Japan's population,' adding, 'Please understand we're not intending to exclude foreign workers who are here legally. We just believe cheap foreign labor is not the right way.' Related Posts Foreign Residents Sue Japanese Government for Racial Profiling US Embassy Tweets About Suspected Racial Profiling in Japan Racism in Japan: A Conversation With Anthropology Professor John G. Russell
