Novelist Hyakuta calls 2 Okinawa newspapers garbage

I wonder if Ganaha knows what an unbiased press would even look like.

Sometimes I get the feeling Japan's version of Kristallnacht is right around the corner.

I'm sure Hyakuta's novels are also garbage, so he knows what he is talking about when he describes the newspapers as such. I would have hoped for some more specific examples of this "garbage", rather than incoherent ranting, but I suppose that's asking too much.

As for Ganaha, instead of moaning why doesn't he start his own "unbiased" newspaper? If that's what the people want he will be rich. Of course, by "unbiased" he means "repeat the government's lies verbatim, without question", which is pretty much what NHK does.

Sometimes I get the feeling Japan's version of Kristallnacht is right around the corner.

Really@clamenza? Whose windows do you think they going to smash?

Re Hyakuta's remark, I was reminded of the nation's top-selling newspaper, the "Gomi-uri" Shimbun.

Novelist Hyakuta calls 2 Okinawa newspapers

...and by extension their readership

garbage

Parroting what Dear Leader says in private, no doubt.

"Hyakuta, 59 — a former NHK board member and close friend of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ..."

translation: Absolutely nothing will come of Hyakuta saying this in terms of any kind of reprimand or punishment, and he will continue to be a complete jackass.

"Meanwhile, Masako Ganaha, a representative of a 350-member volunteer group calling for the right to an unbiased press,"

How can you POSSIBLY be a member of a group that HONESTLY supports this and say that two newspapers are garbage because their views do not support your own?? It reminds of how North Korea calls itself the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea", and a lot like the way they govern things, to boot.

"The result has been to make some citizens of Okinawa and other parts of Japan believe that our country has little to no ability to defend itself from possible invasion at the hands of China."

What a crock! If that were they case there would be NO objection to the presence of American bases, but is this dimwit, along with the idiot Hyakuta, going to say they are for the relocation and continued presence of American bases in the prefecture?

“The constitution protects my right to say what I’m saying, and let’s face it, it’s not like I actually have any power to really shut down any newspaper. My opinions about these newspapers are simply my own.”

True, but then I guess you quickly forgot that you were calling for and even PRESSURING companies to stop advertising in these magazines and asking the government to shut them down.

Tsk tsk tsk... and we continue the march towards being the new China.

The LDP really seems to be suffering from Foot-in-Mouth disease.

The Ryukyu Shinpo and the Okinawa Times represent a significant number of Okinawans' opinions.

If they didn't, they wouldn't sell.

All Hyakuta's bleating will result in is more solidarity in Okinawa against the LDP and even lower ratings for Abe in Japan - if that's possible.

NOW is the time for a REAL opposition party to step forward.

Is there no one?

And the hits from comrade Hyakuta keep coming!

"Naoki Hyakuta says Japan was lured into the Second World War by America while liberating Asia from white colonialism."

"He denies war crimes such as the 1937 Nanjing massacre"

"He also drew controversy in July last year by complaining about comments made on a NHK news program that prewar Korean immigrants were forcibly taken to Japan."

"Because I quit NHK’s management committee I don’t have to mince my words. I think there was a spy for Mainichi Shimbun [news] in the committee. Mainichi Shimbun printed committee content that presumably was not to be published several times. In cases of leaks, everyone, mind your words. You never know when ‘they’ might have an agenda.”

Another one. Seems like the PM isn't getting through to the citizenry, so the lieutenants are sent out to bark. Why do I feel things aren't going to end well for the land of the rising sun?

Yes! 2 Okinawa newspapers obviously garbage.

Silly stuff. Trying to clamp down on ethnic minority viewpoints is what China does, and is not something Japan should attempt to do.

Dissenting views from Okinawa is a given, the likes of Hyakuta need to recognise that and accept it.

But of course.... after all, there are only two approved newspapers for people like Hyakuta.... the Kempeitai Shimbun (aka the Yomiuri Shimbun) and the Sankei Shimbun.

I am waiting for the announcement of the formation of the Ministry of Information & Propaganda and the requirement that all newspaper content be vetted under the new national security/state secrets law.

It takes garbage to recognize garbage.

Farmboy,

What Hyakuta plans to do is to cut the finance lines of the Ryukyu Shinpo and Okinawan Times by contacting companies that advertise in these papers and discouraging them from doing so.

He is a nasty piece of work.

But he is not alone in this curiously named "Liberal" "Democratic" Party.

"NOW is the time for a REAL opposition party to step forward." as per BertieWooster, it is indeed.

I moved from Tokyo to Naha in Okinawa two years ago, and it would be fair to say that these two newspapers are good representation of the opinions of the Okinawans. Discrediting these papers out loud while top level talk under way on Futenma Replacement in Henoko might be a tactic to change the course of the talk. If that is the case, it would backfire again.

Hyakuta's bools are not selling well. So he follows Bad publicity is better than no publicity Now.

What is Hyakuta? One hundred farms? No,no he is hungty for book sales

Oh, his books are not sold in Okinawa? No one translate in English for GI?

He just does not know Abe's military plan does not mean helping USA We know USA is spying on Japan. This guy just want his BOOK SALES UP

There seems to be a commonality between Hyakuta, Abe and the rest of the ultra right wing crew.

Anything that doesn't agree with their particular thinking is garbage.

Not dissimilar to certain elements in China and North Korea.

Hyakuta was publicly humiliated, given little alternative than to resign as a NHK board member, an embarrassing loss of face. The most senior family member, 98 describes Hyakuta as a baka, and Eien no Zero as gratuitous waffle.

Really@clamenza? Whose windows do you think they going to smash?

Re Hyakuta's remark, I was reminded of the nation's top-selling newspaper, the "Gomi-uri" Shimbun.

Foreigners in general, Koreans, Chinese... shall I go on?

But then, You've already shown you don't like certain newspapers and dissenting views.

Have any of you seen a novelist,newspaper,magazine,news network that's not biased? They have their directors.

So he and Abe are fascists as closing newspapers is the first act to achieving total control. It is time to remove Abe and his fascists from power and lead Japan towards peace. This peace can not be achieved by a new arms race but by agreements with our neighbors.

So he and Abe are fascists as closing newspapers is the first act to achieving total control.

Ha-ha . . . last December, voter turnout was way too low. Why? The so-called snap elections were a joke in the first place. Why does LDP prevail 10 out of 10 times?

We want the bases out! We want peace! We want this/that. Ohh- Americans will protect me, I'm Japanese.

Novelist Hyakuta calls 2 Okinawa newspapers garbage

Heh-heh . . . It's working! Washington's divide and conquer plan? Or is this article just normal politics? Or the (silent majority) Japanese too afraid to speak up? They always just- Do What Your Told"?

Wc closing newspapers is on the road to fascist government. As for American protecting Japan we can defend ourselves. Look at the Philippines which is defenseless against China yet they have not been invaded. If China wanted to invade there is nothing to stop them. Japan has the 3rd largest Navy in the world.

Washington's plan is to have a fascist Abe be their puppet in Asia.

Both papers are one sided. There the only papers on Okinawa. That's why they sell. Always one sided. Never indicating the positive impact each American has contributed to Okinawa. Good job Hyakuta. Don't pay attention to these naive people.

Japan has the 3rd largest Navy in the world.

. . . yeah, and smallest pair of balls. Why? Because ordinary japanese do not wish that- "3rd largest Navy" -to get involved in ANY possible confrontation.

It's like, how can Japanese pull another trigger in future history? You're probably doomed no matter what. Focus on economy, weak Yen. Americans got your back. . . . thought we didn't??

Yes, and he's betting on the fact that Japanese people don't have the balls for electing other party than his in the office. The only time they've done it in the recent history, they've immediately changed their minds, after not even two years...

Our self defense force is for protecting Japan, please reference the when Japan fought in foreign wars. Japan invaded countries on the pretense of order. Think about all of the war crimes. It is better that Japan's SDF stay in Japan. It has nothing to do with the size of a males reproductive organs. The LDP needs to be thrown out of office and the road to peace restored.

@overchanAUG. 09, 2015 - 12:54AM JST Have any of you seen a novelist,newspaper,magazine,news network that's not biased? They have their director

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You put good question except novelists usually do not have directors/ Hqve you read Taiyo no Kisaetu of Shintaro Iahihara? It was top seller in japan before he decided to be a Jimin to Politician, later got out from Jiminto. His brother was a tio idle then. Unlike Hyakuta, Ishihara was already best seller of many books and established novelist then he was in discussion circles with foreign journalist and did ot have to bad mouth journals and was well respected in LDP before he left LDP Old books but if you never read, try to read his novels. No novelists do not use directors. They are on their own bosses/Unlike Hyakuta, opinion magaines as Gendai, Whincho, etc respected him

True Okinawa,

Both papers are one sided.

They represent the viewpoint of Okinawans.

There the only papers on Okinawa.

They certainly are NOT the only papers in Okinawa. You can subscribe to Asahi, Yomiuri, Japan Times. People still have the freedom to choose their news source - though with people like Abe and Hyakuta around, that may change.

That's why they sell.

They sell because people buy them. If they weren't interested in them they wouldn't.

Always one sided.

Because they present a different view to the party line, they are one sided? I don't think so.

And if Okinawans choose to read papers that present another point of view, they are free to do so.

You're probably doomed no matter what. Focus on economy, weak Yen. Americans got your back. . . . thought we didn't??

Wc626, Who else could besides you?

Hyakuta was a guest speaker yesterday at a "Nation-wide Gathering Calling For Correcting Two Okinawa Nnewspapers" that was co-sponsored by a U-tube broadcaster Channel Sakura. He repeated his pet view regarding the issue there also.

Channel Sakura lambastes the two papers by saying their news stories are biased in their stance of anti-U.S. bases. One of its regular commentators keep saying they are part of Chinese conspiracy to take over Okinawa. For evidence, she cites dragon sculptures erected here and there in Naha City including at Shuri Castle.

The legs of these dragon sculptures have four claws instead of five. Historically, five-clawed dragons were for the Middle Kingdom of China while four-clawed ones were for tributary vassals abroad. According to her, China is secretly invading Okinawa and trying to occupy it without shedding any of their soldiers' blood, a wisest tactics taught by Sun Tzu (The Art of War).

If she thinks China is invading Okinawa without anyone's knowing, what then will she think about this domineering existence of things America not only in Okinawa but in all over Japan?

It goes without saying that this group is the most ardent supporters of the Henoko relocation plan and incongruously absurd wishers for the U.S. occupation of Okinawa to perpetuate forever.

Here is a link to this guys pic. judge a book by its cover!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Naoki+Hyakuta&biw=1280&bih=659&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMI2eriq2bxwIVyx6UCh2XFQwA#imgrc=P-Svt14-1k0NM%3A

If Channel Sakura, that invited novelist Hyakuta as a guest speaker for the gathering, considers itself to be news media, can it claim its reporting styles and news analyses are impartial, non-biased and fact-based? Rather than calling the two newspapers "garbage," Hyakuta should call his sponsor, Channel Sakura, by that derogatory name-calling.

Conservative novelist Naoki Hyakuta continued his harsh criticism of two Okinawan newspapers, the Okinawa Shimbun and the Ryukyu Shimbun, at a news conference on Friday, calling them “garbage” over the way they have been reporting the U.S. base relocation issue.

Puts me in mind of some words by Louis Nizer:

When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.

BertieWooster: Excellent quotation! I'm afraid I may have to borrow that in the future (but I'll be sure to credit you for posting it).

smithinjapan,

Thanks, but you don't need to credit me. I don't get any sales commission on the use of that quote :)

There is truth in it, though!

@ Bertie/smith

I agree great quote but try pointing at something, i make it 3 fingers? or are my hands just weird?

Can't really blame newspapers for 'selling to their constituencies', that is, slanting their bias to match their constituencies'.

Better than going out of business.

If those LDP idiots keep this up, Okinawa will seceed from Japan. Personally, I think that a strong secession movement that comes close but not really following through may be a very good idea to slap the LDP back into place and get rid of that controversial base.

Conservative novelist Naoki Hyakuta continued his harsh criticism of two Okinawan newspapers, the Okinawa Shimbun and the Ryukyu Shimbun, at a news conference on Friday, calling them “garbage” over the way they have been reporting the U.S. base relocation issue.

Well, coming from Tokyo he's hardly going to be bothered by the base issue, is he? Nonetheless Japan needs to put a muzzle on its right-wingers