Japan’s compliant, ‘elite’ media blamed for poor press freedom ranking: ‘they don’t want to rock the boat’

Japan ranked the lowest among G7 nations in Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 World Press Freedom Index, which cited a raft of issues stifling reporting

Observers say it’s because the country’s media has been shaped into a ‘good servant’ of the political class that stubbornly maintains the status quo

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A newspaper seller distributes copies of the Yomiuri newspaper in Tokyo. Photo: AP

Published: 12:00pm, 7 May 2024

Japan has the least press freedom of all G7 nations, according to global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, which ranked the East Asian nation 70th in its latest World Press Freedom Index – behind Hungary, Sierra Leone and Malawi.

Norway retained its position at the top of the rankings – released on Friday to coincide with World Press Freedom Day – followed by Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands. The United States placed 55th.

Eritrea came dead last in 180th place, with Syria and Afghanistan immediately above the East African nation. North Korea rose three places from last year to rank 177th, with China in 172nd place.

Japan’s Fumio Kishida answers questions from reporters at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo. Photo: AFP

Japan’s “traditional and business interests, political pressure and gender inequalities often prevent journalists from completely fulfilling their role as watchdogs”, Reporters Without Borders said, arguing that since “the rise to power of the nationalist right” in 2012, Japanese journalists have experienced “a climate of distrust, even hostility”.

It also criticised Japan’s system of ‘kisha’ clubs – government-sanctioned news associations affiliated with ministries that are only open to established media outlets and have the right to deny or limit access to reporters if they publish news that conflicts with government’s stance.

The origins of ‘kisha’ clubs can be traced back to 1890 when the first Imperial Diet imposed a ban on reporters. In response, journalists banded together with the support of newspaper companies to establish the inaugural press club and lobby for access rights.

Despite pressure from foreign media, the ‘kisha’ club system has effectively remained the same ever since, promoting “self-censorship” and “blatant discrimination against freelancers and foreign reporters”, Reporters Without Borders said.