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NHK boss forces directors to submit undated resignations

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...And the purge begins!

14 ( +21 / -7 )

A despicable man. I'd like to believe this will lead to a public outcry to see this man removed but I'm not confident. Please prove me wrong.

15 ( +25 / -10 )

A befitting act of an ultra right-winger, no honour and dignity at all, just keep repeating "personal opinion" to save your neck.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Do some of these, what I just considered previously noisy and incorrect, detractors actually have a point about where Japan is going?

Please... Japan you can be proud of your country but the people who are in power now are starting to isolate Japan by supporting, pro-nuclear, revisionist, possibly senile, right wing nuts...

It makes me sad.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

This guy was a vice president of Mitsui and Company. He is using the same management style he might have used when he was in the business. He is totally an amateur in the field of the media. Why did they have to choose such a person as the top of NHK? Prime minister Abe's ultra rightist nature is causing problems here and there.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

Ijime/pressure cooker culture. No wonder we have such a high suicide rate.

"Submit your letters of resignation so I can fire you at anytime at my discretion."

Another winner picked by Abe's government.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

this guy needs to be fired already. He recently said that he has did not view his previous statements as a mistake, and that he stands by them as his "personal beliefs." This article proves that he intends to run NHK individually, to fit his ideals. If we keep this man in his position, not only will he fire the directors, he will soon make even more controversial statements. And Japan, who has given this man this position and left him unchecked, will be seen as agreeing with those statements.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Wow, that escalated quickly!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

It would be difficult to find someone more arrogant than this guy appears.

12 ( +18 / -6 )

And this powerful propaganda machine is financed by mandatory fees paid by every Japanese resident... Wow!

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Glad i dont have TV at times like that, the only time I see jp media is on the treadmill at gym

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@open minded. Make that every resident of Japan as I reside here but I ain't Japanese but am forced to pay NHK.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Good to see that labour standards are equality ignored by state owned enterprises? Next book burning? Oh that's right it's already begun (Ann Frank?) seems to be a throw back of a country.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

What a boss. If this guy told me to do such a thing with my contract I will stick it up his... Yeah.

People need to stand up to this. If people don't at least try to stand up, he won't ever learn.

What is surprising... There is no law against this? Kinda crazy right?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

paulinusaFeb. 26, 2014 - 08:15AM JST It would be difficult to find someone more arrogant than this guy appears.

No way ))) Unfortunately, there are a lot of them (not only uyouku, but also totaly arrogant ones, with "sabitsuita kangaekata" ) here, in Japan. Shame on them.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

What a NAZI boss.

@Cortes

Katsuto "Herr Goebbels" Momii seems to be turning NHK into a Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, Japan style.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Readers, no more references to the Nazis please. They are both inappropriate and offensive.

Why do we not hear anything about anyone going up against him? Do the millions of paying NHK customers not have a problem with what is going on here? Are they not ashamed? This man needs to be kicked out of office just as badly as Abe does.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Unbelievable that this is happening in 2014.. where is Japan headed?

8 ( +12 / -4 )

This would allow Momii, the NHK chairman, effectively to fire them whenever he chose.

That was called into question at Momii’s first press conference as head of the corporation in which he said the national broadcaster should not contradict the government.

The choice of Momii is thought to have been approved by Abe.

Anyone who can't connect the dots here is simply blind. And the pattern it shows is very scary. State-controlled media, versus state-funded, is one of the first hallmarks of totalitarian regimes. Seems like Abe has possibly decided that Putin is a better role-model for him than Obama.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Those Who Do Not Learn From History Are Doomed To Repeat It, But hey, i guess that is what they want.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Just to put this in context, around the time that Abe had his first gig as Prime Minister, NHK aired a program that got the conservative section of the LDP up in arms. I forget the title, but I seem to remember that it skewered a number of people (now deceased) with regard to Japan's actions during the war. It was no surprise then that the right wing was pretty upset. Phone calls were placed and threats were made. It seems those chickens have now come home to roost.

That being said, however, the jackboot tactics of this new chairman will probably make his position untenable.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Is it too late? Japan becoming a head up *** state? Doomed economy, birth rate bottomed out, nuclear industry doing what it wants, Government bent on antagonising its trading partners, books being defaced in library's, supposedly independent national broadcasters being run by bigots. Taxes raised while Government spending increases...really it's 2014? Not 1914.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Time for some REAL action tthey can feel. A public boycott is one solution. The public also needs to demand that the law requiring households to pay NHK be repealed.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

It is no coincidence that this is happening under the Abe administration.

In 2005, the NHK producer Satoruk Nagai admitted that he was pressured into censoring a documentary he produced about the sex slaves in WWII.

http://www.asahi.com/english/nation/TKY200501140153.html

Satoru Nagai, who exposed the role of ruling party politicians Shinzo Abe and Shoichi Nakagawa in the edited program aired in 2001, explained his side of the story to reporters in Tokyo.

..

Despite these efforts, Nagai said NHK executives instructed him and other staff members to cut parts of the mock trial that held Japan and the emperor responsible for wartime brutality.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

CrickyFeb. 26, 2014 - 08:30AM JST Good to see that labour standards are equality ignored by state owned enterprises? Next book burning? Oh, really?? There are any REAL labour standards in Jp? Sabisu zangyou etc? So, yeah, next - book burning.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@Mitch Cohen

Thanks for the link, this is what I was referring to in my earlier post.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

What ever happened to freedom of thought?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

There are days when I feel I shouldn't even bother to "open" the paper... today is one of them : Nuclear Power back on the Agenda - just to mention the two top stories... In the meantime, Abe is still not only in power, he's turning the whole world against Japan...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

seems the only way to force him out is for people to stop paying their nhk fees . but i don't think the japanese are strong enough to take such a stance .

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Dear NHK, do you really need another reason for us not to pay fees to you? Really? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

He has a face I could never get tired of punching.

Days later, it emerged philosopher and fellow committee member Michiko Hasegawa had praised the protest suicide of an extreme nationalist as an act that validated the divinity of Japan’s emperor.

Dickheads keep other dickheads as company.

12 ( +14 / -3 )

One of the former PMs of my country did the same thing back in the 80s. He kept the undated resignation letters of his entire cabinet in his drawer.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

NZ2011,

Please... Japan you can be proud of your country but the people who are in power now are starting to isolate Japan by supporting, pro-nuclear, revisionist, possibly senile, right wing nuts...

I've been in Japan for 20 years, and recent isolationist feeling from not only the government, but Japanese people seems to have increased. Back then, it seemed Japan was trying to be more open and gaining world wide trust, but today, they seem to be drifting away from internationalism and leaning toward the pride of being an island nation, which literally no other country can understand, and it's a slippery slope for Japan, even if they refuse to recognize it.

It's sad for the future of Japan, and pro isolationist argument gets little sympathy, and instead of embracing love from the rest of the world, Japan is gaining a reputation of being an evil country. Japan needs to care about that, the rest of the world isn't always the wrong one.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Please remove this bozo, it effectively means he controls NHK 100%

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Expect a statement shortly from Abe or one of his henchmen along the lines of Momii's actions being "regrettable", "not necessarily reflecting the views of the government"- and that there has been a "misunderstanding".

This elderly grub should be fired immediately, but won't since his actions and views are likely admired by the majority of NHK-payers.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Pull out the jackboots, extend right hand forward, invert the Buddhist symbol and rotate 45 degrees: you have the new NHK symbol.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just to put this in context, around the time that Abe had his first gig as Prime Minister, NHK aired a program that got the conservative section of the LDP up in arms.

@ HongoTAFEinmate; @Mitch Cohen

Here is a video clip where then NHK producer Satoru Nagai admits to censorship on January 13, 2005. It shows a young Abe at the 0:55 mark (Duration: 3:22).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up30OGfl478

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The Japanese have much to be proud of; they don't need a 'yes man' for the government in such a position where he controls what the viewers are presented. Differences of opinion make for a healthy democracy even if they sometimes cause disturbances with the current power brokers. I think freedom is a wonderful thing and that includes freedom to listen to or read information that the folks in power may not agree with. They may or may not be right in their views, but I would hope they don't deny the peoples' right to read or view some thoughts they don't like.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

I agree with the comments suggesting that the independence of NHK is seriously compromised. One way or another, State TVs are under government control and therefore are illegitimate. On a side note, I am wondering how I would react to such a threat if I was a NHK director. I would probably refuse to sign such a letter and wait to be fired. Let the boss takes his responsibilities and assume his line.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

There needs to be a cultural shift where people stand up to authority and demand there basic rights. Yeah, I hear you all saying, that'll be the day. Gambare Nippon.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

@Sensato

Thanks for that. The incident in question was only one of a number that have happened over the years.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

You know, it's funny. The NHK guy came knocking just the other day. I bought the condo in 2012 so I don't know what took them so long. Anyway, I told my wife to tell them she has a foreign husband and to call him on his cell phone if they want to collect. They haven't called yet, and there's no way I'm ever paying now.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Well, no one can complain about NK or other totalitarian regimes any more so long as they are paying the fees and letting Japan spiral in that direction.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

WTH.................says the guy, who should have already done the following:

Made a resignation letter signed & dated the above Now be HISTORY! Put out to pasture!

Japan is heading in VERY bad direction, quicker than I expected, this looks set to be a really bad year!

Time to dust off your exit strategies folks!!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

My comment probably didn't make too much sense since I had part of it edited out... I also made a pertinent remark about the new NHK "boss" but since I used a famous German name to describe him, it must have got lost in translation...

Moderator: References to Nazi Germany are both inappropriate and incorrect.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How is this possible? Are there no laws against constructive dismissal in Japan?

A U.S. or U.K. firm of lawyers would have a field day tearing Momii a new one.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Part of what's happening here can be attributed to the perception among Japanese rightists that NHK has been an emasculated bastion of self-flagellating anti-Japan thinking since it was launched more than 60 years ago.

I've watched several NHK programs and have never gotten that impression. NHK's content is not overtly nationalistic, but we're not talking about some network run by the Noam Chomskys of Japan, either. Does Momii feel envious when he looks at KCTV, the state television broadcaster of North Korea? I think he does.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

They may or may not be right in their views, but I would hope they don't deny the peoples' right to read or view some thoughts they don't like

.Karlb,

Sad truth is that Japanese haven't had a free media in many many decades! Its always been censored, re-worked, amended, deleted etc.

Now just getting set to be a lot worse by the looks of it!

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I wonder if I call up NHK and complain enough about how offensive this Mommii idiot is they'll let me drop the NHK fees (i don't even watch lousy Japanese TV anyway).

Worth a shot!

0 ( +4 / -4 )

How is this legal?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

This is just a purge of liberals so the government can turn the network into a neo-imperialist mouthpiece. The second shot in Abe's war on free speech and independent thought.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

They are also discharged by the chairman with the consent of the committee,” he said, without offering an explanation for Momii’s demand for their undated resignations.

Momii is a bull in a china shop.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Okay , so why sign? Why didn't they all go as a group and immediately call the media - if there is any free media yet.

@7sky7 I hear ya.

The next few years are absolutely critical for this country. Sadly, most Japanese don't care. Or if they do, they just say "iya da", then get back to watching talento eat something oishii.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

He did not defend the "wartime sex slavery". He said it did not exist and is a Korean propaganda.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Oh FFS is that even legal? Get that cretin out of there now! Take legal action, kick up a public storm.

Come on, stand up journalists of Japan. Show some backbone and do credit to the profession of journalism.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

nhk has never been neutral folks, so no surprise here. and neither are most of the press in japan. investigative reporting is the nail that always gets hammered down. oh well, just another reason not to pay my nhk fees.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

If this Momii doesn't resign, there should be a major boycott of NHK. Act people!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Wasn't there an article here in JT sometime ago saying that government was thinking that TV should educate people on to whom the islands in dispute really belong (obviously they mean Japan)?

And now this guy in power saying the channel should not contradict the government. Plus he totally believes the comfort women were just a normal thing. And he could fire anyone for whatever reason (contradicting what the right wings want to impose?). Hmmm... things are not looking good.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

NHK fees need to become non-mandatory. Everyone needs to quit watching NHK.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

at least nhk won't get my fees till they kick this guy out

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Read through just about all the comments so far. Some of them are very good and insightful. Thank you very much.

On the other hand, it is rather depressing that some contributions to the debate are limited to whining about NHK viewer fees. Doesn't say much for the level of engagement with the topic.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

With Shinzo Abe and the LDP backing him everything is possible. In fact that is exactly what they want him to do by putting him there.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Words cannot describe how arrogant Momii seems. I really think there is no place for someone like this in any institution that is publicly funded. He should be fired immediately.

And for everyone moaning about the NHK fees, just don't pay. I invited the guy into my home and asked him to look around for my TV - I don't have one. After two visits they don't come round anymore.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The comfort women for the old Japanese military was the prostitutes or professional camp followers, not sex slaves. That's why Momii said it had been practiced by many other countries, which is true.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

This guy is a few bricks short of a load! Total nut job, and we wonder why, nobody wants to pay money to NHK!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If people don't vote with their yen, nothing will change. I stand by my comments.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

From now on, I don't want to hear anyone from Japanese gov't complaining or criticizing China's lack of a free press.

Japan simply lost the right when clearly, Abe and his gov't is in complete control on the biggest public media in Japan.

This is the day when everything will spiral downward for Japan. Once you lose the counter-balance to a right-wing regime, the rest of the political domino will fall. The road to re-militarization of the Empire of Japan is becoming more clear. Its no longer a sight for sore eyes.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

What a clown.

Japan doesn't understand it, but they are doing themselves a disservice by going this totalitarian way. It is no longer 1941. Now there is something called the Internet and news travel, fast, if not instantly. I bet my butt Momii is a galakei guy and does not fully comprehend the world. Such a person should not be responsible for a nation TV network. When people at NHK are asked to hand over their (undated) resignations - do they comply? If they do, they are big fools. Or is it really so embarassing to be fired, even if on wrongful terms?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@mochimochi

The comfort women for the old Japanese military was the prostitutes or professional camp followers, not sex slaves. That's why Momii said it had been practiced by many other countries, which is true.

This is both uninformed and highly offensive. Wikipedia is your friend. Put in "Unit 731" while you're there...

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I'm glad that the executive directors will be gone soon. They did not air what J public wanted to watch.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So if anyone criticises this mad, foaming-at-the-mouth loon they get the old heave-ho without another thought? Yes, I can see NHK being scratched off a few prospective employer lists by media students.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They always show pictures of Mr. Momii from strange angles.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

They always show pictures of Mr. Momii from strange angles.

He's a strange man, Tina.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How the hell does this happen??? When will people open their eyes and strive for a better system??

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No wonder nobody protested Mitsui to get rid of Momoi. Sorry for NHK employees.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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