Asahi Shimbun Faces Criticism Over Silence on Koryo High School Baseball Club Violence Scandal

Asahi Shimbun, the organizer of the Koshien baseball tournament, is facing intense scrutiny over its reporting stance on the recently reported violence issues within the Koryo High School baseball club. On social media, its remarkable silence has been described as "like wartime reporting," leading to a wave of voices questioning the newspaper's responsibility for 'turning a blind eye' and sparking heated debate.

The issue gained widespread attention after Bunshun Online published an article titled, "'Like wartime reporting': Koryo High School violence issue → Asahi Shimbun, Koshien organizer, silent... What is the responsibility of a newspaper that turned a blind eye?" Many users quoted this article, raising questions about Asahi Shimbun's failure to actively report on the violence at the school, given its position as the tournament organizer.

Social media posts have included scathing comments such as, "They're just a newspaper company, after all. They can't truly be a public institution," and "Isn't this just obvious? It's natural for such a pre-modern, corrupt baseball tournament to strongly retain pre-war ideologies." Some even referenced past Asahi Shimbun reporting (e.g., comfort women reports), stating, "As you can see from the comfort women reports, there's no way Asahi Shimbun will take responsibility," thereby casting doubt on the newspaper's credibility as a media organization itself.

Furthermore, some comments pointed out, "Is it like Imperial Headquarters announcements? Baseball, in particular, has a culture of cover-ups and unspoken deference. I remember Koryo had many scandals even during the Showa era," indicating deepening suspicions about the entire high school baseball establishment and media's information suppression. Some also strongly criticized Asahi Shimbun's lack of self-criticism, stating, "Asahi Shimbun, among others, only forces others to reflect on the war, but they themselves do nothing. It's a disgrace to compare something as minor as high school baseball to wartime reporting."

The response of media organizations to scandals in high school sports is prompting a re-evaluation of their societal role and responsibilities. Asahi Shimbun's silence regarding the Koryo High School violence issue suggests that readers are casting a critical eye on the very nature of 'journalism' in modern society.

The Context

The **Koshien National High School Baseball Championship** is a highly anticipated annual tournament in Japan, held at Hanshin Koshien Stadium. It is not merely a sports event but a cultural phenomenon, deeply ingrained in the national consciousness as a symbol of youth, purity, and the pursuit of excellence. Its immense popularity often leads to intense emotional investment from the public.

The **Asahi Shimbun** is one of Japan's largest and most influential national newspapers. It co-organizes the Koshien tournament with the Japan High School Baseball Federation. This long-standing role as a primary organizer gives Asahi Shimbun a unique and powerful position, and with it, a perceived responsibility to uphold the integrity and values associated with high school baseball. Its perceived silence on a significant scandal involving a participating school, especially one as prominent as Koryo High School, raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and journalistic integrity.

The phrase "**like wartime reporting**" or comparison to "**Imperial Headquarters announcements**" refers to the heavily censored and propaganda-driven media landscape in Japan during World War II. Accusing a modern media outlet of such behavior implies severe criticism of its perceived suppression or manipulation of information.

The term "**sontaku**" (忖度), translated as "unspoken deference" in the article, refers to anticipating someone's desires or expectations and acting in a way that is perceived to align with them, often without explicit instruction. In this context, it suggests a culture within high school baseball where potential misdeeds are downplayed or covered up to maintain harmony or avoid negative attention, rather than being openly addressed.

The reference to **Asahi Shimbun's past reporting on the comfort women issue** highlights a significant controversy in the newspaper's history. Asahi Shimbun faced severe criticism for certain articles related to the comfort women, leading to partial retractions and a decline in public trust. This historical context is cited by critics to question the newspaper's overall reliability and willingness to take responsibility for its reporting.