Vicissitudes of Regulations Regarding the Press and Criticism by the People (<Special Feature>Situation of Social Communication and Transformation of Media)

Abstract

1. In November 1945, The General Headquarters for the Allied Forces in Japan ordered the Japanese Government to abrogate 12 laws and ordinances which had restricted the freedom of the press and communication. The Japanese Government, however, assuming it would eventually need these laws and ordinances, merely suspended their validity and did not actually abrogate them. Abrogation was eventually carried out in May 1949. Since that time the geverment several times attempted to pass legislation designed to restrict the freedom of the press ; however, the press itself, along with the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association has consistently stood against such legislation. The govement has not attempted to regulate the press through legislation since the mid-1950's ; however, attempts at such logislation have been made by members of the Diet who took such action in the interest of the people.The aims of such legislation have been, for example, the restraint of sexual books and magazines, the restriction of military secrets, etc. 2. After World War II, there were two opinions among the members of the Union : (1) a new media should be established to function as a channel for internal communication and as the organ for the transmission of their opinions ; (2) the reconstruction of the established mass media should be considered as more important than the creation of a new media. This opposition has contisued with no obvious solution in sight. Since the 1970's, however, criticism of the mass media has become more comprehensive and many-sided than in previous times. The range of people who criticize the mass media extends to the entire citizenry. Today's problems involve infringemlents upon people's rights with respect to reporting, the contents of television programs for children, etc. 3. At the pressent time, and against the objections of the people, the Japanese Goverment is forcing the privatization of the management of public corporations, reductions in social welfare, the imposition of a consucption tax, the deregulation of enterprises, etc. Under these conditions, the people are not a body from which the government must seek a consensus, but rather are either ignored or are merely an object for manipulation. We may project the possibility that in the future expressions which are anti-conformist, sexual, violent, and etc., will be attacked and restrained by "public opinion", and that such expressions may be restricted by legislation as politicaI power furthers the manipulation of information and public opinion through the mass media.