Effin Japanese media

[bushpig 0]

I just caught the last 10 mins of a show called Antenna 22 on Jap TV. It was a documentary following a 19 yo girl who was doing work experience at a the crime unit somewhere in Tochigi. At the end of the show they did a quick follow-up interview with the head of the unit, and they made a big deal about how many crimes are committed by foreigners recently. I know this isn't anything new in Japanese media, but it makes my blood boil to hear it. The chief even emphasized how foreigners are much more likely to get violent and dangerous when faced with arrest.

 

When are they gonna pull their biased fingers outta their arses and get off the sensationalist reporting bandwagon. Why not take a look at the ever increasing bizarre crimes being comitted by Japanese themselves.

 

Here are a few of the headlines just from todays mainichi daily:

 

Teacher admits planning murder of 12-year-old in advance

 

Son strangles dad with necktie for not lending him 100 yen

 

Ex-children's home instructor sacked over sex with minor

 

Perverted flasher licks 20 girls' tongues

 

Elementary schoolgirl fatally stabbed by cram school teacher

 

This is a pretty typical line up of headlines each day (I especially like the 100en = strangling one ).

 

I wish that someone in the media would place the crime stats in context for once and show that a. crimes comitted by foreigners are very low, and b. many of those "crimes" making up the stats include people overstaying their visas, or visa related probs. Shit, I overstayed my visa last year and had to write a suck-up apology letter to get it fixed. I guess I must be one of those "criminal gaijin" who are really dangerous.

[sakebomb 0]

I agree Bushpig, there seems to be an increase in seriously f#$ked up crimes here lately. I think they need to look at why this is so! Makes me want to go home!

[Yuki's Passion 1]

 Quote:

Originally posted by Bushpig:

Here are a few of the headlines just from todays mainichi daily:

Teacher admits planning murder of 12-year-old in advance

Son strangles dad with necktie for not lending him 100 yen

Ex-children's home instructor sacked over sex with minor

Perverted flasher licks 20 girls' tongues

Elementary schoolgirl fatally stabbed by cram school teacher

This is a pretty typical line up of headlines each day (I especially like the 100en = strangling one ).

And those were only by the politicians, just think about the rest of the country

[ncorrenti 0]

Unfortunately this is just the nature of the media Bushpig - especially TV. I used to work as a newspaper journalist and I really struggled to come to terms with the lack of ethics involved in reporting. It explains why most of the old journos are alcoholics, I think!

[bushpig 0]

yeah, I know that. Ans usually I ignore it and don't get worked up too much about it. But his comment that "You should be wary when there are foreigners around" really got my goat! That coming from a top cop on national TV...

[Davo 1]

Some foreigners commit crimes sure, but I agree Bushpig, the media has it's head up it's ringpiece over this issue generally. It's just easy to scapegoat in a sensationalist manner than actually produce "quality" journalism. Same goes for the police and their inability to deal with the realities of crime. No need to be accountable, incisive, or proactive if you have scapegoats is there?

 

You're dead right Yama, the polishitians lead the way with their corruption and "not my fault"

sliminess. The Japanese just let the media and the political scum lead them along on this merry dance.

[igloo 3]

You are probably expecting too much from the media.

 

 Quote:

The chief even emphasized how foreigners are much more likely to get violent and dangerous when faced with arrest.

I would say that is probably very true.

[bushpig 0]

yeah, I can see some poor foreigner (who doesn't fit into the fortunate white-boy english teacher category) freakin out with the prospect of being deported because their visa is void if they get in trouble with the law.

 

As for expecting too much, I lowered my expectations years ago. Occasionally I still get the shits with that kind of crap though.

[Ocean11 0]

Actually, there has been a steady increase of organized crime by Chinese and Korean gangs, so it's fair to point that out. Of course it's the blanket condemnatory style of the announcements that's irresponsible and insensitive.

[NoFakie 45]

I agree with your point but recommend that you don't draw attention to the Mainichi if you don't like "sensationalist reporting". They revel in it, as your headlines show. Their English site reads like a porn mag. You would think English speakers in Japan get it on enough without having to read about it.

 

A good number of casual workers are brought in by the yakuza and treated like dirt with the government's blessing. Lots of businesses are supported by them. Of course, this positive contribution is rarely mentioned and even then only on highbrow stuff like NHK's CloseUp Gendai which nobody watches. As the most advanced Asian economy, Japan should also be actively bringing in talented people from the rest of the Asia. That's what Silicon Valley does.

 

I don't know about Britain, but overstay an H1 working visa in the States and you'll need more than a written apology to stay there. After you leave your job, you've got basically a week (i.e., seven days) to leave the country. My info is pre 9-11/Patriot Act as well. There's none of that "one month at Nova and you're good for three years" lark.

[fukdane 2]

That Mainichi is just silly. I thought that the Japanese version was a 'serious' paper as well. (Is it?)

[number9 0]

MDN Waiwai Mainichi (or whatever its called) is just a collection of hyperbolically translated tabloid stories.

[Fattwins 0]

And they paint everyone with the same brush as well. A chinese gang member in the yakuza is the same as a ewhite eigo sensei.