The right to know in danger — Japan’s chief cabinet secretary press conference

Upload: 8 February 2019, Last update: 18 February 2019

In the press conference of the chief cabinet secretary, Hideki Uemura, the director of press room, often interrupts the questions to the spokesperson posed by Isoko Mochizuki who is a journalist working for Tokyo newspapers. This endangers the right to know of the citizens since journalists attending the conference are trying to gain deeper parts of news for the citizens.

Even Uemura sent an document pointing out that her questions are mistaking facts[1]. However, the questions posed by Mochizuki are logical and based on her factual investigations. I often think that the answer from the spokesperson cannot be a response to question. In the conference, the problem is not question of the reporter, but it is the answers of the spokesperson. The Uemura’s interruption have negative influence on our right to know. I would like him to explain in which part and phrase of her question is not accurate.

She has been stepping into deeper parts and trying to get valuable information for the public. It means that she is asking questions as a representative of the public. Japan’s journalism must not be defeated by the pressure. I hope that not just Mochizuki and other several good journalists, but also others should play more investigative role. In the meantime, citizens should get together to check whether our rights are working or not.

[1] Sentaku shuppan’s article on Yahoo! JAPAN ニュース. https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/article?a=20190201-00010000-sentaku-pol&fbclid=IwAR3gKvVnlz8GeMZVv5ZiiOW6qYZOUHwuKRbS_jm5n_mK4EQ-MwDJ72JhhBE Accessed 8 February 2019, & IWJ’s interview video to Mr. Uemura on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLwiKPKPgCc Accessed 8 February 2019