日本には、公共放送とされる日本放送協会（NHK）というテレビ局がある（ラジオの電波も流している）。多くの日本国民は、NHKを受信できるテレビを保有していると、受信料を払わなければならない。
しかしわたしは、NHKをみないし、テレビも見ない。ただ、NHKではない放送局のテレビ番組は、インターネットで番組を見ることができるTverというサイトでみることもあるが、テレビの視聴はほとんどしない。
昔は、わたしもテレビを見ていたが、NHKの政治ニュースがあまりにもひどいし、また民間放送局もくだらない番組ばかり流すので、見る価値はないと判断して、テレビを捨てた。
いま、NHKの政治ニュースがあまりにもひどいということを指摘する人が増えている。
日本の首相は、高市早苗という人物であるが、彼女の陣営が選挙時に、対立候補や他党の候補者を中傷する動画をたくさんつくってインターネットに流したという疑惑が浮上している。その問題が国会で取り上げられたとき、彼女は知らぬ存ぜぬを貫いていた。しかし次々と証拠が出され、ついに知らないという国会での答弁がウソであったことを認めた。
日本の首相は、国会で平気でウソをつく人なのだ。
この人は以前から、平気でウソをつき、追及されると荒唐無稽な言い訳をすることで知られていた。また、言い訳が通用しなくなっても訂正しないという国会議員らしからぬ強引さで名をあげてきた人物である。
この人物が怖いのか、日本のマスコミは、ほとんどが批判を差し控えるという事態となっている。NHKも、首相の顔色をうかがっているのか、彼女が喜ばないようなものは、ニュースで取り上げない。中小動画の件でも、NHKは、首相のわけの分からない、ごまかしの答弁を報じるだけである。
最近、このようなファッショ的な高市首相に抗議して、国会周辺でしばしばデモが行われている。若い女性など多くの人が集まって抗議の声をあげているのだが、NHKは、これを報じない。記者が取材して報じようとしても、上の方からストップがかかる。このデモの様子は、イギリスのBBCでも報じているのに、公共放送といわれるNHKは、とりあげない。
NHKは、報道機関ではなく、政権の広報機関なのである。ずっと前から。だから、日本の報道の自由度は、驚くほど低い。
In Japan, there is a television broadcaster called the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), which is regarded as the country's public broadcaster (it also operates radio services). Most Japanese citizens are required to pay a reception fee if they own a television capable of receiving NHK broadcasts.
However, I do not watch NHK, nor do I watch television in general. Occasionally, I watch programs from commercial broadcasters through TVer, an internet streaming service that allows viewers to watch television programs online, but I rarely watch television content.
I used to watch television in the past, but I came to believe that NHK's political news coverage was so poor, and that commercial broadcasters aired so many trivial programs, that television was no longer worth watching. As a result, I got rid of my television.
Today, more and more people are pointing out how poor NHK's political news coverage has become.
Japan's prime minister is a politician named Sanae Takaichi. Allegations have emerged that, during an election campaign, people associated with her camp produced and distributed numerous online videos attacking rival candidates and candidates from other parties. When the issue was raised in the National Diet, she repeatedly denied any knowledge of it. However, as evidence continued to surface, she eventually admitted that her earlier testimony claiming ignorance had been false.
In other words, Japan's prime minister is someone who lies openly in parliament.
She had long been known for making false statements without hesitation and, when challenged, offering far-fetched excuses. She has also gained a reputation for refusing to correct her statements even after her explanations have been thoroughly discredited—a level of obstinacy unbecoming of a member of parliament.
Whether out of fear of her or for some other reason, most of Japan's media organizations have largely refrained from criticizing her. NHK as well seems to be watching the prime minister's reactions carefully, avoiding stories that might displease her. Even regarding the issue of the smear-campaign videos, NHK merely reported her confusing and evasive responses without meaningful scrutiny.
Recently, demonstrations have frequently been held around the National Diet in protest against what many see as Prime Minister Takaichi's increasingly fascistic tendencies. Large numbers of people, including many young women, have gathered to voice their objections. Yet NHK does not report on these demonstrations. Even when reporters cover them and attempt to prepare stories, they are reportedly blocked by higher management. Although these protests have been covered by the BBC in the United Kingdom, NHK—which is supposed to be a public broadcaster—has chosen not to report on them.
NHK is not a news organization but rather a public-relations arm of the government. It has been that way for a long time. That is why press freedom in Japan is surprisingly weak.