ABSTRACT
The Japanese press has long exerted a powerful influence on the thinking of government officials and their policies, especially toward national security. The Japanese press typically reported Soviet-Japanese relations in a conciliatory manner, expressed a guarded optimism that agreements were possible, and invariably qualified that optimism by noting that if only more vigorous efforts could be made by both parties, particularly on Tokyo's part, then Soviet-Japanese relations would improve. The Japanese press corps in the People's Republic of China frequently refused even to print news that it normally reported from other countries, because of fear that the Chinese Communist authorities might be offended. The Japanese press never reported that North Vietnam had dispatched troops into the south. The press and public opinion were probably not far apart on issues related to national security.
