Japan is losing money. The news media is an essential source of information to capture the world, but current international reportingscarcityandbiasis hindering the public interest in Japan.

Normally, GNV would not consider such controversial points; GNV emphasizes a comprehensive and objective understanding of the world and tries to view world events from as multifaceted a perspective as possible, not from the standpoint of a particular country or its interests.Ideological positionIf we were to take a "human first" approach, we would give priority not to economically powerful countries like Japan, where wealth and power are concentrated, but to places where the most serious issues for humanity are concentrated, and to transmitting the situation of the economically "weak" who make up the majority of the world's population. As much as possible, we strive to disseminate our message with a "people first" policy.

However, there are not a small number of people who try to view the world from the perspective of their "home country," to which they belong due to their nationality. While this may seem to be at odds with GNV, there are actually some commonalities. In a world where globalization has advanced so far, the issue of current international reporting, which is lacking and biased, is not in the best interest of the world or Japan.

In other words, even if you have a "home country first" mindset, you can probably sympathize with the problems posed by international reporting. In this article, therefore, we dare to explore the importance of comprehensive, objective, and well-rounded international reporting from the perspective of Japan's national interests.

Pacific Ocean near Chile (Photo: NASA Johnson / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

The Current State of International Reporting and Its Problems

GNV has analyzed the issues of quantity and quality of Japan's international reporting from various angles,transmissionThe slogan is "There is a world that is not reported. The slogan is "There is a world that is not reported," but on the contrary, it is not too much to say that the "world that is reported" is usually smaller than the "world that is reported. The amount of media coverage allocated to events around the world is small (less than 1% of all media coverage).About 10%), they are the sports coverage.less than halfThe limits of the world that can be communicated can be seen given that the Among these, the distribution of the regions reported on is highly skewed. The current major news attention is significantly concentrated on the United States, China, the Korean Peninsula, and Western Europe, and the volume of coverage on other countries and regions is too small. The combined volume of coverage on the African continent and Latin America accounts for only a fraction of the total international coverage.About 5%only, and regions such as South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East are also covered only in a fragmented manner. As can be seen from these regions, regarding low-income countriesLack of media coverageare particularly prominent. Not only the three major newspapers, Asahi, Mainichi, and Yomiuri,Nihon Keizai ShimbunThis trend is also observed in the entertainment industry, which is becoming more and more entertaining.SNS NewsThe bias is even more pronounced in the

Behind the biased international reporting are variousprimary factorHowever, one of the major determinants of where and on what topics are covered is the relevance to one's own country. Events directly related to the Japanese government, companies, people, etc., are the most important factors in the international coverage of newspapers.Approx. 10% accounted for the The successes and feats of the Japaneseattentionand if it becomes a variety show, it will bepraiseHowever, there is also a tendency for Japanese companies to be "scandalized" by scandals and scandals of Japanese companies abroad. Conversely, however, there is a tendency to report scandals and scandals of Japanese companies outside of Japan.Not much to report.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

Outside of events directly related to Japan, international news coverage is dominated by countries that are considered to have very close trade and security relationships. There is also a tendency for news organizations to follow the lead of their own governments in covering issues occurring around the world, rather than taking the lead in covering them. The United Nations.Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),climate change issues, ,Plastic waste problemThe U.S. is the largest target country for any media outlet. In addition, the interest in the U.S., which is the largest target country for all media, has influenced some of the coverage in Japan.guessCan be done.

On the Tokyo subway (Photo: Elvin / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])

At first glance, one might think that this reporting trend is reasonable, reflecting Japan's national interests and the interests of its readers and viewers. Unfortunately, however, neither world affairs nor national interests, nor even the interests of readers/viewers, are that simple. The goods necessary for Japan's economy and society to function are gathered from all over the world, and events that threaten Japan's security do not occur only around its borders. Japan's position in the world is also related to its interests. In the following, we would like to discuss the importance of knowing the world from three perspectives: logistics, security, and reputation.

Logistics and Manufacturing

In terms of trade share with Japan, China and the U.S. are certainly significant. In terms of imports from these two countries, the total30 number %accounts for about 60% of Japan's total imports. But that remaining 60 some % is also naturally important, and the presence of many imports from regions not usually reported is essential for Japan's economy to grow and its society to continue to function.

For example, the calorie-based food self-sufficiency ratio is38%As a country with only a limited supply of food, Japan's first link with the rest of the world is its food supply. Japan imports a wide variety of foodstuffs from all over the world.foodstuffshows that from Latin America, chicken (Brazil is No. 1 in terms of import share), coffee (Brazil No. 1, Colombia No. 2), soybeans (Brazil No. 2), and marine products (Chile No. 2),table salt(Mexico 2nd),avocado (Persea americana)(No. 1 in Mexico, with a market share exceeding 901 TP3T) and others stand out. From Africa, cacao (No. 1 in Ghana and No. 4 in Cote d'Ivoire), octopus (No. 1 in Mauritania and No. 3 in Morocco and Western Sahara), and vanilla (No. 1 in Madagascar) are all food products with import shares of60% or higherThe Southeast Asian region is home to a variety of agricultural and fisheries products. Southeast Asia in a variety of agricultural and fishery products.degree of dependencewill increase further, but the coverage is not as great as in major countries in Latin America and Africa, where coverage isnot increasingThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

Naturally, food is not the only thing being imported. Clothing and other textile products (Southeast Asia is responsible for about half of all imports)30%) and other necessities of life are imported from many parts of the world. Petroleum is also very important in the manufacture of plastics, which are used to make many products and their packaging materials, and as an indispensable fuel for daily life and transportation. Japan imports crude oil from75% or higheris the subject of press coverage anddifficult (to become, to stay, etc.)They are being brought in from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Refinery, Muroran, Japan (Photo: Komachan / Wikimedia [CC BY 3.0])

Japan also exports many manufactured goods. For example, Japanese-made automobiles and electrical appliances are sold in large quantities throughout the world. In addition to oil, this manufacturing and exporting requires a variety of mineral resources. Many of them are located in Africa and South America.treasure troveThe company is also working on a number of other projects. For example, cell phones, personal computers, hybrid and electric vehiclesbatteryThe cobalt required for the world'sreservesof 49% is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (No. 1), 58% of lithium is in Chile (No. 1), and 14% is in Argentina (No. 3). Other reserves of white metal 91% used in various industries are in South Africa (1st), copper ore 21% is in Chile (1st), and 10% is in Peru (3rd).

Of course, not all of the goods that Japan needs come directly from the places where they are harvested, produced, and buried. Much of the cotton in Japanese clothing comes from the world's largest producerIndiaIt is harvested in the DRC and imported to Japan via China and Southeast Asia. Mined in the Democratic Republic of Congocobalt (Co)are imported to Japan mainly via China. Furthermore, manufacturing itself is also globalized. For example, Japanese automobile manufacturers have manufacturing plants on every continent, and many hard disks for PCs and their components are manufactured in factories in Thailand. These parts and raw materials are also brought in from all over the world. Even garbage is globalized. Japan is not the only country in the world whereDismantling of offshore vessels, ,plastic waste, ,E-WasteThe company exports large quantities of products to the world. Both global logistics and manufacturing are closely intertwined at various levels.

When logistics and manufacturing are so intricately linked to the world, there are many factors that can threaten their stability. These include changes in supply and demand at the global level, natural and man-made disasters, domestic and international political friction, armed conflict, and the introduction or modification of treaties and domestic policies. For example,Yemen Conflict (1992-1998)affects the supply of oil from Saudi Arabia,Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congoto various mineral resources,Political unrest in Chileis also affected by the availability of copper. agricultural products,Conflict in Cote d'IvoireandPolicy Change in Ghanais to cacao,Criminal Organizations in Mexicoactions to avocados and by Morocco.Occupation of Western Saharaaffects the trade in octopus. Also,Flooding in Thailandhad a major impact on the manufacture of personal computers.

Furthermore, the trade routes, which are the key to logistics, are also worth noting. The Strait of Hormuz, which is strategically important for oil imports, is well known, but the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula are separated by theBab el Mandeb StraitThe Red Sea and the Suez Canal are also extremely important for trade between Japan and Europe,SomaliaPirates and pirates fromYemen Conflict (1992-1998)The area has also been threatened by the "Great East Japan Earthquake," "the Great East Japan Earthquake," "the Great East Japan Earthquake," and other factors. But again, these areas are rarely mentioned in the press.

Submerged Honda plant, Thailand (Photo: Water Alternatives / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])

The better our understanding of global conditions and trends, the better we may be able to prevent such risks or respond to them efficiently. It is not all about risk. There may even be opportunities lurking in these regions that have been missed so far. If we can look at the world from a broader perspective, we may be able to obtain higher quality goods on better terms, or promote trade in a more efficient and sustainable manner. In some cases, an accurate understanding of the situation may well lead to the development of alternatives and other products that are also demanded by the world.

security guarantee (e.g. military security, network security, etc.)

In the midst of globalization, the security risks that Japan must consider are also spreading geographically and becoming more diverse in nature. While armed forces-related risks are important, the damage to human security caused by environmental problems and infectious diseases is also significant.

When considering armed forces-related risks, it is obviously important to consider how the safety of the Japanese population within Japan is protected. However, the risks to Japan are not limited to the Japanese archipelago; the situation in far-flung areas cannot be ignored from a security perspective. Japan's Self-Defense Forces have a history of providing war support to U.S. forces through refueling operations in the Indian Ocean during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Japan has also dispatched the Maritime Self-Defense Force to the vicinity of Somalia to fight piracy. It still maintains a base in Djibouti, which borders the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Furthermore, the SDF is sometimes deployed to UN peacekeeping operations (PKO). In recent years, it has deployed to South Sudan.attentionand of continuing to deploy to countries in conflict.illegalitywas controversial. In the same conflict, the UN Security Council failed to adopt an arms embargo resolutionsupportThere were also times when I would do so.

In addition, employees of Japanese government-related organizations, companies, NGOs, and media organizations operating outside of Japan, as well as travelers and expatriates, are often at risk in many parts of the world. Recent examples include cases in which Japanese nationals have lost their lives in conflicts and terrorist incidents in Algeria, Bangladesh, Syria, and other countries.

U.S. destroyers escorting container ships, Gulf of Eden (Photo: Official U.S. Navy Page / Flickr [CC BY 2.0])

Global environmental problems are also threatening Japan's security. Climate change, which is being caused by the large amounts of greenhouse gases that have been emitted to date, is a prime example. Diseases such as heat stroke, which is also related to rising temperatures, areIncreasing trend in recent yearsand is expected to increase further in the future. Both the destructive power and frequencyincreaseAbnormal weather conditions such as typhoons and torrential rains, and the landslides and floods that result from them, also pose a threat to human life and infrastructure. The so-called "climate apartheidUnlike low-income countries that are victims of climate change, Japan currently has the financial capacity to absorb some of the damage caused by climate change. However, the damage caused by climate change will only increase in the future, and if this happens, the economic burden as well as human suffering will increase. In addition to climate change, no country can escape the problems of air pollution and plastic waste that the world as a whole faces.

It is not the only threat to people's safety. As the pandemic of the new coronavirus has shown, infectious diseases can also cause great harm to Japan. Regardless of the source or route of infection, with the world so closely intertwined, any infectious disease that occurs anywhere in the world can be a threat to Japan as well. Currently, there is a conspicuous tendency for the government to rush to take countermeasures only after a major problem has occurred, but the danger of infectious disease outbreaks such as the new coronavirus has been known for some time,I've been sounding the alarm.Not a few researchers and journalists are also involved. If awareness and a sense of urgency about the dangers of new infectious diseases had become more prevalent among the general public, they might have been able to stress to the government the need for preventive policies before a major pandemic developed.

The prevalence of such infectious diseases is an issue that cannot be separated from environmental problems. New infectious diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans are often said to result from human encroachment into the natural world, and multiple studies have shown a relationship between deforestation and outbreaks of new infectious diseases.proofThe raw materials for medicines used to treat not only infectious diseases but also various other diseases come from nature, which is being destroyed. In addition, the raw materials for medicines used to treat not only infectious diseases but also a variety of other ailments come from the natural world, which is being destroyed.collectingThe world's biodiversity isdecreasewill have repercussions for infectious disease control and other measures.

There are many other situations in which a lack of visibility of the current situation in the world delays countermeasures against infectious diseases and other problems. For example, dengue fever, which has had little impact on Japan until now, has been spreading around the world.surgeand have made their way to Japan. There is also a crisis in the world where antibiotics are becoming ineffectivepointing outThe development of new drugs is urgently needed.

Farmer cutting down a tree, Ecuador (Photo: CIFOR / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

Turning away from the problems of the outside world, whether armed forces, the environment, or infectious diseases, and concentrating only on waterfront measures is not a wise strategy. Climate change and air and water pollution spread regardless of national borders. As for infectious diseases, stopping their entry into Japan is not an effective or realistic measure when Japan's economy depends on its relationship with the outside world. Even if the new coronavirus is eradicated from Japan and its vaccine is available to all citizens, if it remains somewhere in the world, the appearance of a mutant strain in a new form that the vaccine does not work ispredictionThe world is in a state of crisis. Rather than stopping the world's problems at the borderline, it would be better for Japan to take measures to prevent them from occurring or spreading from the source throughout the world.

reputation

National interests cannot be viewed only in terms of physical "threats. Whether one's country is "well-liked" is seen as part of soft power, and the Japanese governmentattaching importance toThe following is an example of the "pro-Japanese" attitude toward a person or a country. pro-Japanese" toward a person or country.termis being used in a variety of situations. In addition, claims that Japan is viewed favorably in various parts of the world are reported in news reports and variety shows.emphasisThe reason for this may be to please readers and viewers, who are the customers of the news organizations. One reason for this may be to please readers and viewers, who are the customers of news organizations. However, there are also events that naturally damage Japan's reputation in the world, and it is impossible to take countermeasures without taking a more comprehensive and objective look at the reality.

Take, for example, the actions of corporations around the world. Going back several decades, as a result of tolerating discrimination within South Africa in order to secure resources under the apartheid regime, people inhonorary whitesThe impact of the apartheid remained as a negative legacy after the fall of apartheid, as it was treated as a Also, Middle Eastern countries' crude oil and,Liberian Rubberand other Japanese companies cooperating with repressive dictatorships and rebel groups to secure resources, and some of these relationships continue to this day. Some Japanese companies have been complicit in deforestation and environmental destruction in Southeast Asia.viewed as a problemThe first time I saw a new company, I was surprised at how much I had to pay.

In recent years, incidents of corruption and inappropriate behavior by Japanese companies in South Africa, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere outside JapantopicThe company's economic activities may be criticized even if the company is not necessarily at fault. Even if a company is not necessarily at fault, its economic activities may be subject to criticism if they are large enough. For example, the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was for a time known as thePlaystation® War (PlayStation®Portable)It was sometimes referred to as "the world's most expensive electronic device. The background to this was that the market price of tantalum, a mineral resource needed for electronic devices, jumped in 2000, and tantalum became a conflict resource in the country as an expensive item. Sony was also struggling to secure tantalum for the manufacture of PlayStation 2, which was released at the same time.reportThe dispute was linked to this commodity.

Coltan (tantalum) mine, Democratic Republic of Congo (Photo: MONUSCO / Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0])

Reputation, however, is not just a matter of relations with a particular incident or country. The overall structure of international relations may also be at issue, and the policy policies of the Japanese government may be subject to criticism. Reforms are required.unfair tradeThe current state of trade, which is rife withtax haven problemBackward looking to such things aspostureare conspicuous. The Japanese government's unwillingness to accept refugees is alsoObject of CriticismThe same is true for Official Development Assistance (ODA). Also, in Official Development Assistance (ODA), depending on howstrong antipathySometimes they buy a

However, a country's reputation depends not only on backward-looking actions, but also on positive ones. One key to enhancing and maintaining a country's presence and reputation is to demonstrate leadership in the world. However, for a country with a strong economy, how much of a "leader" image does Japan have? It could be said that Japan does not have a strong presence on the international stage. Although Japan currently ranks third in the world in terms of the size of its economy, the New York Times, a major U.S. newspaper, ranks Japan 21st among the countries covered in its international coverage, less than 11 TP3T of the total coverage.surveyThere are also In addition, the government officials of the countries that receive ODAsurveyIn the "ODA Influence" section, Japan ranked 25th out of 35 countries and institutions surveyed in terms of influence and 23rd in terms of usefulness. Japan is one of the major contributors of ODA to African countries, to name a few specific areas, and has regularly convened African heads of state and government since the 1990s to discuss and discuss major ODA projects.meetingalso holds events. However, introducing other countries that are exerting influence in Africanews articleand ... andresearchJapan is rarely featured in the

To play a leadership role on the world stage, one must be able to articulate the issues facing other countries and institutions in the diplomatic arena, set the agenda, and propose solutions. To this end, it is important to have a broad range of human resources capable of analyzing the world from a global perspective in each field. The enhancement of international reporting should contribute greatly to their development.

What the international press can do

From the perspective of Japan's national interests, it is appropriate to give priority to countries that have very close relations with Japan, such as the United States and China. However, the amount of international coverage is currently too small and the balance is too unbalanced. The current situation is too shortsighted and not in the best interest of Japan, as it focuses on topics that can be directly linked to Japan, while showing only bits and pieces to most of the rest of the world.

(Photo: Tony Webster / Flickr [CC BY 2.0])

Most news organizations are businesses and must consider profit. Therefore, they need to consider the interests of their readers and viewers. However, it is not a simple system of "not reporting because there is no interest," but rather, news organizations must actively "report" on topics they consider important.interestIt often produces "the best of the best". The news media is also a special business, positioned as an institution that values the public interest before it is a corporation. It is not an easy task, but if readers and viewers demand more comprehensive international reporting, news organizations can change the status quo.

The world is complex and large. Not everyone is expected to know and understand all the world's events and issues at all times. However, it is not a world where everything can be left to those who are directly involved with foreign actors, such as diplomats and trading companies. In this sense, the enhancement of international reporting will benefit people in various positions, including politicians, ministries and local governments, various companies, educational and research institutions, medical institutions, and NGOs. Information about the world has the potential to reduce risks and increase opportunities for all actors. Problems faced by people and organizations on the other side of the world, and the successes and failures of their countermeasures, can be a learning experience for people living in Japan. In some cases, they may find commonalities with their own problems and may be able to imitate their solutions. Or, a broader perspective may lead to unexpected innovations. There is a big difference between having the opportunity to have a little exposure to the world without having to read too much information about it.

We may ask ourselves once again how we are going to live on this earth and how we are going to interact with it.

Writer: Virgil Hawkins

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