ABSTRACT
In twenty-first century Japan there are numerous instances of media harassment, intimidation, censorship and self-censorship that undermine freedom of the press and influence how the news is reported. According to “Reporters Without Borders,” between 2012-2016, during Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s tenure, Japan plunged 50 places to 72nd out of 180 nations in the global ranking of media freedom. This decline is attributed to Diet passage of “special state secrets” legislation in 2013 and a series of media muzzling initiatives, orchestrated campaigns of harassment and the ousting of prominent television news anchors and commentators critical of Mr. Abe. This volatility in the rankings also reflects the very small differences that divide nations, so it is best understood as a rough indicator of an ongoing trend. Separately, in April 2016, drawing on extensive interviews with Japanese journalists, media executives and government officials, David Kaye, the UN special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, blasted censorship, weak legal protections, press clubs and media intimidation in Japan.
