Japanese Scandals and their Production

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/01634437211022718

Key Themes and Summary

1. Media and Power Circles in Japan

• Japanese scandals arise from interactions among elite power circles: politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen, prosecutors, advertisers, talent agencies, crime syndicates, and the media.

• The media is divided into "inside-media" (mainstream dailies, TV broadcasters, news agencies) and "outside-media" (weeklies, local papers, foreign press). The inside-media often act as a PR tool for power circles, while the outside-media expose corruption.

• The kisha club system (reporters' clubs) restricts investigative journalism, as journalists rely on access to political sources and face sanctions for breaking in-group norms.

2. Mediascape and Political Influence

• Japan's media landscape is dominated by five major national newspapers (Yomiuri, Asahi, Mainichi, Nikkei, Sankei), public broadcaster NHK, and five commercial TV stations.

• The media often align with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), promoting a conservative worldview and avoiding critical reporting on structural issues.

• The media's role is to maintain social harmony and respect for authority, often leading to self-censorship and the avoidance of investigative journalism.

3. Scandal Production Process

• Scandals are shaped by a network of actors, including promoters (whistleblowers, insiders), assemblers (journalists, editors), performers (transgressors), influencers (prosecutors, agencies), and receivers (the public).

• The process of scandal production involves three stages:

  1. Leak Processing: A transgression is leaked, often motivated by cash, conspiracy, or confession. Whistleblowers, tabloids, and online communities play a key role.

  2. Scandal Proper: The inside-media begin covering the scandal, often under pressure from tabloids, foreign media, or public backlash. The media transforms the leak into a full-blown scandal.

  3. Climax and Fadeout: The scandal reaches its peak with public apologies and emotional performances, followed by a gradual fadeout as media attention shifts elsewhere.

4. Role of Outside-Media

• The outside-media (weeklies, tabloids, foreign press) are crucial in initiating scandals, as they are not bound by the kisha club system and can engage in speculative journalism.

• Examples include the Lockheed scandal (1976), Recruit scandal (1988), and Amari Akira scandal (2016), where outside-media exposed corruption before the mainstream media followed up.

5. Cultural and Legal Constraints

• Japanese media operate within a cultural framework that emphasizes harmony (wa), respect for authority, and avoidance of shame.

• Strict defamation laws and privacy protections discourage aggressive reporting, leading to a focus on "safe" issues and avoidance of investigative journalism.

6. Scandals as Media Rituals

• Scandals are often non-transformative media events that create temporary public outrage but fail to address systemic corruption or bring about meaningful reform.

• The media's role is to produce scandals as popular commodities, but they rarely lead to lasting social or political change.

7. Public Apathy and Political Skepticism

• The Japanese public is often politically apathetic, with low levels of trust in government and a belief that politics is inherently corrupt.

• Despite scandals, many corrupt politicians are re-elected, and post-scandal reforms are often ineffective, perpetuating a cycle of corruption.

Key Examples of Scandals

• Lockheed Scandal (1976): PM Tanaka Kakuei accepted bribes from Lockheed Corporation. The scandal was exposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Los Angeles Times before Japanese media covered it.

• Recruit Scandal (1988): Politicians and bureaucrats received shares from Recruit Company in exchange for favors. The scandal was initially exposed by local media and communist newspapers.

• Amari Akira Scandal (2016): The minister of State for Economic Revitalization was accused of accepting bribes from a construction company. The scandal was first reported by the weekly Shūkan Bunshun.

Conclusion

• Japanese scandals are shaped by a complex network of power circles, media organizations, and cultural norms.

• While the media occasionally expose corruption, they often fail to address its root causes, producing scandals as regressive media rituals rather than catalysts for reform.

• The kisha club system, political influence, and cultural emphasis on harmony limit the media's ability to act as a true "watchdog" of democracy.

This article highlights the challenges Japanese media face in balancing their role as informers of the public with the pressures of maintaining social harmony and avoiding conflict with powerful entities. It underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in both media and political systems to address systemic corruption effectively.

what are the issues of japanese scandals according to this article

According to the article, Japanese scandals are shaped by a complex interplay of media practices, cultural norms, and power dynamics. Below are the key issues related to Japanese scandals as outlined in the article:

1. Media Complicity in Covering Up Scandals

• Inside-Media as PR Tools: Mainstream media (inside-media) often act as a PR tool for power circles rather than holding them accountable. They tend to avoid investigative journalism and focus on "safe" issues that align with the interests of the establishment.

• Kisha Club System: The kisha club system restricts journalists from pursuing scandals aggressively. Journalists rely on access to political sources and face sanctions (e.g., expulsion from the club) if they violate in-group norms or leak sensitive information.

• Self-Censorship: Media outlets often engage in self-censorship to maintain relationships with powerful entities, such as politicians, corporations, and advertisers. This leads to underreporting or delayed reporting of scandals.

2. Lack of Investigative Journalism

• Avoidance of Deep Investigations: Japanese media, particularly mainstream outlets, avoid investigative journalism due to the high costs, legal risks, and potential backlash from powerful entities.

• Dependence on Outside-Media: Scandals are often first exposed by outside-media (weeklies, tabloids, foreign press) rather than mainstream media. This reliance on outside sources highlights the mainstream media's failure to act as a watchdog.

3. Cultural Emphasis on Harmony and Reputation

• Social Harmony (Wa): Japanese culture places a high value on harmony and avoiding shame, which discourages media from aggressively pursuing scandals that could disrupt social order or damage reputations.

• Respect for Authority: The media's deference to authority figures, such as politicians and corporate leaders, often leads to a reluctance to expose their wrongdoings.

4. Legal and Structural Constraints

• Strict Defamation Laws: Japan's strict defamation laws discourage media from reporting on scandals, especially those involving powerful individuals or organizations. Media outlets risk lawsuits if they publish unverified or damaging information.

• Corporate and Political Influence: Major media outlets are often part of larger conglomerates with ties to political and corporate interests. This creates conflicts of interest that hinder independent reporting.

5. Scandals as Non-Transformative Events

• Limited Social Impact: Scandals in Japan often have little to no lasting impact on society or politics. They are treated as media rituals that create temporary public outrage but fail to address systemic issues or bring about meaningful reform.

• Public Apathy: The Japanese public is often politically apathetic, with low levels of trust in government and a belief that corruption is inherent in the system. This apathy reduces the pressure for accountability and reform.

6. Role of Outside-Media and Sensationalism

• Tabloid Sensationalism: While outside-media (weeklies, tabloids) play a crucial role in exposing scandals, they are often criticized for lacking editorial ethics and engaging in invasive reporting. This can lead to privacy violations and public cynicism.

• Overreliance on Speculation: Outside-media often rely on speculative journalism and unverified leaks, which can backfire if the accusations are proven false.

7. Power Circles and Corruption

• Elite Collusion: Scandals often involve collusion among elite power circles, including politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen, and crime syndicates. This collusion makes it difficult for the media to expose corruption without facing retaliation.

• Weak Prosecution: Prosecutors often fail to hold powerful individuals accountable, leading to a culture of impunity. Even when scandals are exposed, the legal consequences are often minimal.

8. Emotional and Ritualistic Apologies

• Public Apologies as Spectacles: Scandals often culminate in public apologies (shazai kaiken), which are highly ritualized and emotional. These apologies are treated as media spectacles but rarely lead to meaningful accountability or reform.

• Symbolic Sanctions: The focus on symbolic sanctions (e.g., loss of face, resignation) rather than legal consequences allows transgressors to re-enter public life after a brief period of disgrace.

9. Fossilization of Single-Party Rule

• LDP Dominance: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has dominated Japanese politics since 1955, creating a system where corruption is deeply entrenched. Scandals rarely lead to significant political change, as the LDP maintains its grip on power.

• Ineffective Reforms: Post-scandal reforms are often superficial and fail to address the root causes of corruption. Politicians and bureaucrats quickly adapt to new regulations, finding new loopholes to continue corrupt practices.

10. Media's Failure to Drive Reform

• Commodification of Scandals: The media treats scandals as popular commodities rather than opportunities for systemic change. This focus on sensationalism and entertainment undermines the media's role as a watchdog.

• Regressive Media Rituals: Scandals are seen as regressive media rituals that highlight the media's failure to bring about meaningful reform. They create temporary outrage but do little to prevent future corruption.

Conclusion

The article highlights that Japanese scandals are shaped by a combination of media complicity, cultural norms, legal constraints, and elite collusion. While scandals occasionally expose corruption, they rarely lead to lasting social or political change. The media's role in scandal production is often limited to creating temporary public outrage, rather than driving accountability or reform. This underscores the need for greater transparency, independence, and investigative rigor in Japanese media to address systemic issues effectively.