December 18, 2014
Major newspapers reported on the election results under headlines such as “Sweeping LDP victory”, “Abenomics secured”, or “LDP-Komei occupies two-thirds in Diet”.
Such headlines gave readers the impression that voters have put their trust in the Abe government, but the fact is, the LDP gained only 33% of the votes in proportional representation constituencies representing just 17% of all eligible voters, which is quite far from the pronounced “supermajority”.
Two days after election day, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo had dinner with high level editors or commentators of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Nikkei Shimbun, NHK, Nippon TV Network, and Jiji Press at an exclusive “sushi” restaurant near the Ginza.
The LDP in late November sent a written request to five commercial TV networks, asking for “neutral and fair” election reporting. The request was worded as if to keep TV shows from discussing anything that might give a negative image of the LDP to viewers, ahead of the election campaign.
Then, after the election, he dined with media representatives.
Coming out of the sushi restaurant, Tazaki Shiro of Jiji Press, a famous guest commentator on TV political programs, told reporters who were waiting outside that who sits where was already arranged in advance. He declined to comment on what they talked about during the dinner gathering.
Past related articles:
> Journalists criticize LDP for trying to interfere with news coverage of election campaigns [December 12, 2014]
> Japan’s media bathed in ‘Abe color’ [May 11, 2014]
> Abe on popular TV program tries to divert public eye [March 22, 2014]
> Media giants flatter PM Abe, avoid touching on election issues [July 4, 2013]
> PM has dinners with heads of press to gain media support? [March 31, 2013]
Such headlines gave readers the impression that voters have put their trust in the Abe government, but the fact is, the LDP gained only 33% of the votes in proportional representation constituencies representing just 17% of all eligible voters, which is quite far from the pronounced “supermajority”.
Two days after election day, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo had dinner with high level editors or commentators of the Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Nikkei Shimbun, NHK, Nippon TV Network, and Jiji Press at an exclusive “sushi” restaurant near the Ginza.
The LDP in late November sent a written request to five commercial TV networks, asking for “neutral and fair” election reporting. The request was worded as if to keep TV shows from discussing anything that might give a negative image of the LDP to viewers, ahead of the election campaign.
Then, after the election, he dined with media representatives.
Coming out of the sushi restaurant, Tazaki Shiro of Jiji Press, a famous guest commentator on TV political programs, told reporters who were waiting outside that who sits where was already arranged in advance. He declined to comment on what they talked about during the dinner gathering.
Past related articles:
> Journalists criticize LDP for trying to interfere with news coverage of election campaigns [December 12, 2014]
> Japan’s media bathed in ‘Abe color’ [May 11, 2014]
> Abe on popular TV program tries to divert public eye [March 22, 2014]
> Media giants flatter PM Abe, avoid touching on election issues [July 4, 2013]
> PM has dinners with heads of press to gain media support? [March 31, 2013]
