‘Shock & Outrage’: Japan TV Host Reveals Being Told He Cannot Discuss Nuclear Power Until Pivotal Tokyo Election Ends

“Shock & Outrage”: Japan TV host reveals being told he cannot discuss nuclear power until pivotal Tokyo election ends — “Somebody needs to bring these issues into the media” — #2 in trending news (ENENews, Jan 23, 2014):

TokyoReporter’s tweet, Jan. 22, 2014: Radio host Peter Barakan says broadcasters told him to avoid nuclear issues till after poll

Japan Times, Jan. 22, 2014: Freelance TV and radio commentator Peter Barakan said he was pressured by two broadcast stations to steer clear of nuclear power issues on his programs until after the Tokyo gubernatorial election on Feb. 9, causing concern among some about possible media censorship. [He] mentioned the “requests” on his live show Monday but didn’t identify the stations. Nor did he say when or why the requests were made. […] In no time, listeners were posting comments, particularly on Twitter, expressing their shock and outrage at the possible restraint on freedom of speech. […] he hosts several other news and music shows on radio and TV, including for NHK. […]  Backed by popular ex-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, another outspoken critic of nuclear power, a Hosokawa victory could deal a severe blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s drive to […] restart the nation’s reactors […]

Barakan on Monday: “I have been told by two stations (other than InterFM) not to touch on the nuclear issue until the gubernatorial election is over, even though the campaign has not officially kicked off.”

Barakan on Wednesday: “What happened was, I made a very casual comment on my program, and I didn’t anticipate how overheated Twitter was going to get […] It took me a little by surprise. It’s gone a little bit too far. I probably made the wrong comment […] But somebody needs to bring these issues into the media. I probably should’ve done it in a different way.”

See also: Report: TEPCO paid for creation of a blacklist of actors and musicians who are against nuclear industry

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