Tokyo Shimbun Deletes Controversial Column, Admits 'Error' in Claims of Online Nationalist Slogans

The Tokyo Shimbun's New Year's column, titled “Stemming the Enthusiasm” and penned by its special features department head, published on January 1, 2026, in both its morning edition and online, ignited fierce criticism on the internet over its content, leading to its complete deletion on January 8. The statement that drew particular scrutiny was at the beginning of the column: "'What can China do to us?', 'Advance, 100 million fireballs!', 'Japanese citizens, become kamikaze!'. The internet is overflowing with these aggressive words."

Many social media users questioned this assertion and began to verify whether these phrases were indeed "overflowing" online. Using AI search tools, it was discovered that in 2025, posts on X (formerly Twitter) containing "Advance, 100 million fireballs!" numbered approximately 40, while "What can China do to us?" appeared in about 30 to 40 posts. Critics quickly pointed out that these figures were far from the "overflowing" situation implied by the column, leading to mounting accusations of "fabrication."

In response to this outcry, the Tokyo Shimbun editorial bureau admitted on January 8 via its official X account that "the opening description was incorrect" and proceeded to delete the entire column, issuing a profound apology. The newspaper attributed the incident to "insufficient prior confirmation by the special features department head himself, and deficiencies in the editorial bureau's checking system before the column's publication."

However, this apology and deletion have done little to quell the controversy. Voices on social media continue to demand answers: "Why was such a fabrication made?", "An error is not sufficient to explain this," and "The locus of responsibility must be clarified." Some users have even raised fundamental doubts about the Tokyo Shimbun's reporting stance and its reliability as a media outlet, turning this incident into a renewed challenge to the very nature of journalism.

The context

The Tokyo Shimbun is a prominent Japanese newspaper generally known for its liberal-leaning editorial stance. The phrases cited in the controversial column—"Advance, 100 million fireballs!" (進め一億火の玉だ) and "Japanese citizens, become kamikaze!" (日本国民よ特攻隊になれ)—are deeply resonant with aggressive, militaristic propaganda used during Imperial Japan's World War II era. "Ichioku Hitodama" (一億火の玉, literally "100 million fireballs") was a slogan encouraging the entire population to fight to the last man, embodying a spirit of national sacrifice. "Kamikaze" (特攻隊, Tokkōtai) refers to the special attack units that carried out suicide missions. The phrase "What can China do to us?" (中国なにするものぞ) similarly evokes a defiant, nationalistic sentiment, especially in the context of contemporary geopolitical tensions.

The controversy stems from the column's author, a senior editor, claiming these historically charged and nationalistic slogans were "overflowing" on the internet. However, independent verification by social media users quickly exposed this claim as highly exaggerated, if not fabricated, given the extremely low actual prevalence of these phrases online. For a liberal newspaper like the Tokyo Shimbun to allegedly misrepresent the extent of such sensitive rhetoric, particularly in a manner that could be interpreted as fear-mongering or misinformation, constitutes a significant blow to its credibility. The public outcry reflects deep concerns about media accountability and the spread of misinformation in Japan's journalistic landscape.