Heavy bias in Japanese media – religious minorities are given no right to respond to false allegations
Tokyo, 11th September 2024 – Published as the 28th article in a series in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article
“Live Commentary” Infringing on Freedom of Expression
Miyane-ya deviate from normal journalistic practices
by the Religious Freedom Investigative Team of the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
prepared by Knut Holdhus
A: “We are deeply saddened by the reports that the suspect, who is considered the perpetrator, acted out of resentment towards our organization, the Family Federation. We sincerely apologize for the various disturbances caused to society.”
B: “They’re apologizing for the wrong thing. They’re acting like it’s someone else’s problem.”
This exchange took place on 10th August 2022, during the opening part of a press conference by Tomihiro Tanaka (田中富広), the president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church), which was broadcast live on Yomiuri TV’s program “Miyane-ya”, hosted by comedian Seiji Miyane (宮根誠司).
A refers to Tomihiro Tanaka, and B refers to journalist Eito Suzuki (鈴木エイト), who is well-versed in information about the Family Federation. However, the two did not actually have this exchange at the press conference venue. The program overlaid Suzuki’s screen frame on the screen where Tanaka was reading the statement, and while his remarks were being translated verbatim into English, the program had Suzuki provide real-time commentary. “Miyane-ya” labeled this as “Live Commentary by Attorney Masaki Kito (紀藤正樹) and Eito Suzuki.”
At the time, there was heightened interest in the press conference by the head of the religious organization due to the motive of the man who shot former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (安倍晋三), which was said to be resentment towards the former Unification Church. However, there were also concerns within the television industry about broadcasting the religious organization’s claims live as they were. Simply put, there was a concern that “it might send incorrect information to viewers” (as reported by Tokyo Sports Web on 11th August 2022).
According to fundamental principles of reporting the claims of the religious organization should be accurately conveyed and, if there were any counterarguments, those ought to be presented equally as well. However, the method taken by Miyane-ya, as described above, was carried over to subsequent live broadcasts of the press conferences held by the organization (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification) and even escalated.
In a press conference broadcast on 22nd September 2022 featuring Hideyuki Teshigawara (勅使河原秀行), head of the Family Federation Church Reform Promotion Headquarters, and his legal adviser Nobuya Fukumoto (福本修也), two “live commentators” – on that day, journalists critical of the religious organization: Yoshifu Arita (有田芳生（よしふ）and Eito Suzuki. They were superimposed on the bottom left and right of the screen, and each commentator held up a horizontal sign that read “Objection!” Then a red sign with the word “Objection!” appeared on the screen, after which each commentator’s argument was presented in short sentences.
This method used by Miyane-ya deviated from normal reporting standards. The TV screen became a completely unfair space. The religious organization was not given the opportunity to respond, and across a variety of rapidly shifting topics, only the views of the critics were aired at the end. This created the impression that the religious organization was making nonsensical claims, and it seemed as though it had no right to explain or express its opinions. The program not only lacked fairness, but also severely infringed on the freedom of expression of the Family Federation.
For example, during Tomihiro Tanaka’s press conference, he stated, “Due to strict adherence to the compliance mentioned above, what is referred to as ‘spiritual sales’ is not being conducted by our organization‘s followers, and there have been no reports of damage.”
However, Eito Suzuki responded by saying, “They conduct spiritual sales without involving products. They give something in exchange for donations, […] they have just changed their methods.”
This is a typical use of a fallacious argument, bringing up the different concept of “spiritual sales without involving products” to shift the argument away from what Tanaka had actually stated.
At this point, Suzuki remarked, “It’s not about selling those vases for hundreds of thousands of yen.” Commentator Patrick Harlan (known as “Pakkun”) pressed him, saying, “So, it’s true that they don’t conduct spiritual sales anymore.” Suzuki was forced to admit, “Yes, basically, they don’t involve products.”
In all the press conference broadcasts, Seiji Miyane (宮根誠司) ended the program by allowing only the specialists critical of the religious organization to express their one-sided opinions. This can only be described as crossing the line into biased reporting.
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Featured image above: From the TV program ‘Information Live Miyaneya’ aired on 22nd September 2022. Photo: Sekai Nippo