Takashi Uesugi: The Interview

http://www.timeout.jp/en/tokyo/feature/2776/Takashi-Uesugi-The-Interview

Time Out meets the journalist who TEPCO love to hate

この記事を日本語で読む

Posted: Fri Apr 01 2011

In the immediate aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese media stayed remarkably calm. While overseas news outlets fretted about nuclear meltdown and terrified expats stranded in a 'City of Ghosts', their Japanese counterparts generally hewed closer to the official line: stay calm, go about your business as usual. And, yes, you can still drink the tap water.

But that was only part of the picture. While the mainstream media presented a reasonably united front, a group of freelance and internet journalists were openly dissatisfied with the explanations being given at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s seemingly endless stream of press conferences. Why wasn't the company mentioning levels of plutonium around the stricken Fukushima Daiichi power plant? What had happened to TEPCO's president, Masataka Shimizu – last seen on March 13?

One of the most influential members of this group of dissenters is Takashi Uesugi, a former New York Times journalist and, in an earlier incarnation, aide to Liberal Democratic Party bigwig Kunio Hatoyama. The author of books including The Collapse of Journalism, Uesugi is a vociferous critic of Japan's 'Kisha Club' system – a network of exclusive press clubs that, he says, nurtures excessively close relationships between reporters and the organisations they are supposed to cover.

Gadfly to some, hero to others, Uesugi is a much-sought commentator. He makes weekly appearances on Tokyo FM and Asahi Newstar, and is a regular contributor to the Diamond Weekly business website, along with various weekly tabloids. However, he's most prolific on his own website and via Twitter, where he commands a following of 177,000 and counting. One place place he won't be appearing any more is TBS Radio, who booted Uesugi from his regular weekly guest slot this month (more on that later).

Time Out caught up with Uesugi last Monday, during a brief lull between press conferences at the TEPCO head office in Shimbashi. We'd gone expecting to have a nice chat about tweets and microsieverts, but smalltalk apparently wasn't an option. What followed was a eye-opening, if occasionally paranoid tirade against TEPCO, the government and the mass media, delivered in rapid-fire Japanese.

Obviously a lot has happened over the past couple of weeks, but what are the main things you've learned?

Basically, something that I knew from the beginning, but has become more blatant yesterday and today [March 27-28], is this terrible situation where the government and TEPCO are suppressing information. To be more specific, I thought it was strange that there was nothing written about plutonium when the data about reactor 3 was given out at the TEPCO press conference on the 27th, so I asked them if it was true that no plutonium had been detected in reactor 3, and for how long it had not been detected. TEPCO answered: 'Plutonium hasn’t been detected.' To confirm what they were saying I asked if perhaps it wasn't that none had been detected, but that they hadn't actually taken any measurements. They were alarmed, and it turned out that it wasn't even that they hadn't taken any measurements, but that they didn't have the instruments to do so in the first place.

That's one example. Another is the question of where exactly has the TEPCO company president gone? There was a rumour doing the rounds a while ago that he had been hospitalised, when actually he had been away because of fatigue. This time they're using the pretence of hospitalisation for the same situation. All of it's lies. It's emblematic, isn’t it? [Note: TEPCO president Masataka Shimizu was hospitalised on March 29, and subsequently resigned.]

Two weeks ago I told someone in the government that TEPCO was lying. I called a friend from back when I was a governmental aide directly on their mobile phone and said that the government was being deceived, but I didn't get any response at all. On top of that, even though I was able to attend the Chief Cabinet Secretary’s press conferences before the earthquake, after the quake, all the freelance journalists, foreign media and Internet reporters were kicked out. So I took on the role of representative for those media outlets, and tried to negotiate by constantly badgering the official residence – like a stalker – saying, ‘If you don’t let in the foreign media too, there won’t be any way for information to be conveyed abroad, will there?’

Ever since the [nuclear] trouble started, I’ve been saying again and again via the different media and radio programs that I appear on that TEPCO are concealing things about the accident, that they're lying, and that the government is being fooled. I’ve been saying that TEPCO is a client of the media and the press clubs, being one of their biggest advertisers – so the press won’t be able to say certain things, and will be holding back, won't they? But then, at the end of one of the programs, the producer came to me and asked me to stop doing the show at the end of the month, and I was dropped. When I criticized TEPCO on a different program, they also wanted to get rid of me. But the producer of that particular program is a strong person, and actually went ahead and did it without a sponsor.

TEPCO are such an important advertiser that the television and newspapers are completely silent. Even now, they're running TEPCO commercials on the television, aren’t they? This week, there are also full-page advertisements in the newspaper. Despite the fact that they've caused such a scandal, TEPCO are still putting ads in the newspaper. If they have such enormous sums of money, they should send it to the areas hit by the disaster.

It's like the false announcements made by the Imperial General Headquarters 70 years ago [during World War II] are happening all over again. I’m shocked that something I've seen in history textbooks, and had thought was completely implausible, is happening right before my eyes. I never thought that I'd become a party to anything like this. [Laughs]

Have you been following reports in the foreign media, then?

Yes, all the time.

Would you say that they've been overdoing it?

No, I wouldn’t, because the foreign media was just reporting what was possible. I think the correct way to report about the events at the nuclear power plant is to assume the worst case and write about it, and then also add what the current situation is in relation to that. Newspapers and television shouldn't say, 'Don't worry, it's safe. You don't need to run away,' like Japan's have. There's absolutely no problem with the way the foreign media has covered this news. It's not fanning people's fears if we report by saying it's possible for things to reach such and such a point, but at the moment the situation is like this, so you don't need to worry. There's also nothing wrong with the foreign media referring to the examples of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. After clarifying the source, I have also talked about those kinds of things in my email newsletter and in my regular reports for websites, as well as on radio shows and satellite TV programs where I'm a regular guest. Except recently, the more I talk about those topics, the more complaints I get after the program has finished – in incredible numbers. People say things like, 'Don't lie!' or 'It's safe!' But they've got no grounds to say that. Japanese people want to believe that it's safe, don't they? They just don't want to look at how things really are. It's like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

We've read a lot of opinions from scientists recently, and the majority of them seem to fall in line with what the government's saying: that this isn't another Chernobyl, and Tokyo isn't at risk from radiation…

That’s because at the moment, any scientists who say that the current situation is dangerous are being removed from the mass media. Ultimately, the most dangerous situation is one where the only information available is what suits the government and TEPCO. From the outset, the mass media haven’t been using the people who are reporting that the worst possible outcome could happen. And yet the evacuation area was changed from 2km to 3km, and then to 10km, and to 20km, and finally to 30km. America has specified a 50 mile (80km) evacuation zone, but Japanese people still say that things are OK as they are...

Then the next week I said [to Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano], ‘You were wrong, weren’t you? Radioactive material has been found in the area outside the 30km line, and even though you said radioactive material would never reach Tokyo, it has, hasn’t it? The government is responsible for the consequences of what it says so you should make a proper apology. Correct your mistakes.’ He replied, ‘That is not the case.’ When I said that, far from being within the 30km radius, radioactive material was found 40km away, and that he should correct the mistake, he told me to ‘Submit that properly in writing.’ I asked a question in the middle of a press conference, and he actually told me to put it on paper. [Laughs] At that point I just couldn’t believe it any more. It’s the first time that has ever happened to me – to be asked to submit a question in writing in the middle of actually asking it. Basically, it’s hopeless, isn’t it? Something in the minds of the government has burst.

When The New Yorker interviewed you recently, you talked about how the Japanese public were 'brainwashed' by the media. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

From a young age Japanese people become convinced that newspapers and the television are correct, and that magazines and the Internet are full of lies. But the information in the newspapers and on the television is just what the government is giving out through the press clubs. Even if it's different from the information and data that reporters have gathered themselves, they just accept what the government announces. So the people here who think that the newspapers and television are right always believe the information given to them, and it’s why the same kind of brainwashing is happening now too. But one thing that's a little different from how things have been up until now is that people, mostly the younger generation, are starting to realise what's going on, and using the Internet to say, ‘Hang on, there’s something that’s not right, isn’t there?’ Even my Twitter timeline has been incredible since this morning, with messages like, ‘What the newspapers and television are saying is not the truth!’ It’s just like Egypt and Tunisia. That’s where we can clearly see changes happening.

Interview by James Hadfield

Translated by Virginia Okno

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As you can imagine, as the name of this blog implies, it is my view that regardless of the reckless actions, deep financial issues, staggeringly wishy washy Beta President and multitude of resentful enemies within and without created everyday, this nation can be saved through the intervention of God and the Holy Spirit.

America and those within who love themselves to excess, would do well to remember:

"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Can America Be Saved?

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The 2013 People's Action to Recover Stolen Assets

(The story is just an outline and draft. It has not been researched for details as yet, thus organizations and legal terms are not as they should be.)

Part I:

This story begins on March 31st, 2012 with the announcement that the US government will miss the next payment on its debt for the first time in 100 years bringing stories of immanent financial collapse and bankruptcy. The Treasury sharply scolded its critics for fear mongering.

1st of April 2013: April Fool's Day in America, many thought the Bank of China was on a fool's quest when it went before the World Court today to seek redress. It asked the Court to declare the US in involuntary bankruptcy and to allow the Bank to begin foreclosure proceedings.

Yesterday, the US Treasury missed its third payment on foreign debt and it was warning domestic bond holders that payment on all government bonds would be delayed "for the foreseeable future".

At the same time, with China holding nearly all America's foreign federal debt - through its corporations it also holds a good chunk of US domestic bonds. You will recall that the Bank of China bought all the US debt held by a seriously economically depressed Japan at an excellent rate. Many say a "charity" gift to keep the Japanese from slipping into abject poverty - caused ironically enough by the firm grip Chinese manufacturers have on the American market. It seemed like a terrible investment to most at the time and recent news merely confirms it.

"China bought and paid for the 'SS America' and is going down with it!" declared the Times. Most news reporters and financial analysts scoffed and accused the Chinese of grandstanding and gloating as even if the US went belly up there was very little that could be done by any country and with China holding the bag, it would be the one to suffer by far the most. The Times reporter asked the Bank attorney, "what are you going to do, put a 'auction' sign on the White House?"

The Treasury chided the Bank of China and in a statement saying that due to the Chinese hold on the American market it would always make a profit, so it should just write off the debt and start with a fresh slate.

When asked about this in Beijing, the Bank spokesman made clear that the Bank bought and held securities based on trust and that if the US took such a cavalier attitude toward debt, why didn't if forgive African and Latin American debt so easily?

1st of June 2013: Attorneys for the Bank of China made their final argument before the Court and asked the Court to rule giving the Bank authority to foreclose and seize assets.

The US did not represent itself in front of the Court and refused to recognize the authority of the Court in internal domestic matters. The Court announced that it would rule in seven to ten days.

On the 3rd of June, at a meeting of the General Assembly in New York, the Chinese delegate brought a surprise motion before the body asking the members to support a foreclosure action against the assets held by the American government. China was seeking amicus support to bring before the Court. The vote was nearly unanimous in favor, with Great Britain and Japan abstaining. The US representative voted against the measure of course.

Immediately after winning the support of the UN, the Bank warned that it would seek arrest warrants against US government officials and detention of all those outside of the United States. This left open the possibility that all Americans traveling abroad could be held if the Court rules in the Bank's favor in the coming weeks.

The 7Th of June 2013: China is launching an ambitious 3-satellite rocket into orbit tomorrow. With its new found economic dominance after the unprecedented worldwide recession caused by American bank and stock fraud foisted upon an unsuspecting and trusting world, Chinese factories are humming once again and Chinese flagged super cargo ships are sailing to ports across the Pacific.

In business news the Chinese government announced that due to the ever increasing and overwhelming debt the US owes China, it will continue to give deep discounts to its good friends, the American people, for as long as necessary.

Even though American businesses complain that they cannot compete at what they say are artificially low prices, ever since China bought GM, nearly all autos in America as well as most modern appliances have been manufactured in China and sold at prices no consumer could resist; they also own dozens of major corporations and thousands of hectors of private property. The American congress is in no position to complain.

Also in the news there were some concerns voiced by the Pentagon that there has been an unprecedented amount of activity around the coast of Taiwan lately by Chinese Coast Guard vessels. Taiwan TV seems to be unable to cover this event due to a cut in its main underwater transmission cables possibly due to unusual seismic disturbances. The US Geological Service doesn't think its caused by earthquakes but from something of an explosive nature, perhaps volcanic. The Chinese Coast Guard said it was checking reports and making enquiries in the area.

The evening 9th of June 2013: Peking announced that in the first stage of a repossession of assets, the successful launch of a rocket carrying three nuclear satellites intended to detonate over predetermined points above the United States. While not designed to do any real damage, as such, or cause direct casualties, they were intended to emit EM pulses which shut down all electrically charged devices. This initial police action was successful. A spokesman for the Bank of China said that this was the equivalent of marshals breaking down the door to evict squatters.

At the same time in the afternoon of the 9th of June 2013: The Governor of the Bank of China received a positive ruling and submitted foreclosure papers demanding immediate search and seizure action to the World Court in the Hague. The Chinese Bank Governor complained that the US was long in default on payments and the Bank had asked the People's Army to act as "marshal" in a foreclosure action. The Bank's Governor lamented, "We even charged them less than market value over several years to give them the opportunity to save and repay debts in a timely manner. But did they? No. You would think that as a government that expounds such high moral values to others they would cut back and be more prudent in their ways. They just spent and borrowed more and more. What can you do with people like that? You’d think they were addicts the way they stole our money and spent it. We just HAD to put a stop to it!" The Bank's Governor, who came in person to receive the ruling, justified the 5:00AM (Washington time) raid that cut the lights and public services to its American properties.

He was expecting to win the case before the Court but was pleasantly surprised that the overwhelming majority of the Court was supportive.

Later at the court, the court ordered the arrest and detention of the parties responsible for the uncontrolled waste of the world's assets through printing and spending money they did not actually have assets to cover.

American leaders and representatives were ordered to submit to World Court authorities within 24 hours and all gun carrying residents of the assets, including but not limited to, security guards, police and military were ordered to surrender the assets in their possession to the court appointed marshals at the nearest collection point to their location. For American's located in the territories of other nations or on the high seas, such nations or the nearest nation had the right to seize the assets and debtors as partial payment of arrears owed them.

Meanwhile, nuclear aircraft carrier battle groups in the Pacific were reported subdued by long range tactical missiles.

The Russian government indicated that, while taking a neutral position in the Chinese "foreclosure" action against the US for non payment of its huge arrears, it does hope the People's Republic remembers that the US is in debt to many countries and when possession is taken, an equal distribution of assets should be made. At the same time, the UN in Geneva praised the Marshal of the People's Army for his minimum use of force against innocent parties.

The 13th of June: San Francisco and San Pedro. A number of Chinese cargo ships have arrived in port off loading Chinese peace keepers and asset surveyors from the newly created "People's Ministry of External Asset Management".

The Assistant Governor of the Bank of China expressed his regret that so many innocent foreign nationals are suffering due to the shutdown of the transport and electrical services but said, "when you stay in the home of criminals who don't pay their bills, you do have to expect the lights to go off."

Russian and European reporters accompanying the foreclosure team asked the governor what will happen to the Americans. He said, that while it was unfortunate in the short term that, as criminals, they would have to work off their debt in various labor areas, in the end everyone would be much better off when the debt is paid.

The French reporter asked how long they expected the Americans to be in debt, the Governor said he wasn't really sure because, while the seized physical assets would go a long way, there was a lot of clean up to do as well as the necessary expenses of maintaining the debtors everyday life. "Perhaps a hundred or so years, we'll have to see," the Governor stated. "The estimate is about $75,000 per person of debt owed the Bank of China. This is, of course not including foreclosure and legal expenses. In addition, it is based on a 400 million population figure, but as you can see, real figures expected to work off the debt are very much smaller."

The 17th of June: Representatives of the World Court and World Bank flew into Washington DC this afternoon to arrest the president and government leaders. They are charged with malfeasance and massive fraud.

There are reams of paper being seized by World Bank auditors under the supervision of marshals as evidence in the largest ponzi scheme ever imagined in the history of intergovernmental relations.

The Chinese government bitterly complained that there was no possible way the US assets seized could cover its debts. "If we had allowed this massive swindle of the world's trust to continue, how could we ever have a world market free of corruption. Americans should be put at hard labor for ten generations to cover this debt and the suffering they have caused the people of the world!" the Bank Governor exclaimed before the assembled reporters.

All holders of American passports and birth certificates were ordered arrested and held for trial as co-conspirators and accessories to the crime.

(the story continues) (My wife says I need a love story - any suggestions?)

-- (fast forward)

America on the Auction Block

The territory of the former government of the United States has been divided into 50 biddable lots. Each lot corresponds to a former state. Each territory will, henceforth, be referred to by its lot number. For example, California is now Lot 23a (northern) and Lot 23b (southern). This lot was divided due to Mexico's claim that in the foreclosure process much of its territory and citizens were damaged or inconvenienced and its application for compensation is before the Court for review. It is expected to be approved.

In addition to Mexico, Canada claimed compensation as well; being so closely neighbored to the initial police action, substantial damage was inflicted on the people and territory. In compensation, Canada was awarded Lot 1 (Alaska).

It is expected that bids will be accepted between April and December 1 of 2016. This will give interested parties time to inspect the properties. Each party should be aware that Lots are “as is”. They will be completely cleared of the former occupants prior to possession. This is the primary reason for the delay.


Do you want to avoid this senerio? Watch this: "The Wizard of Oz"