Statement 'I'll lower her approval rating' Leaks During Sanae Takaichi Interview, Raising Questions About Journalistic Ethics
A statement, 'I'll lower her approval rating,' leaked from a live stream during a waiting period for journalists to interview Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential candidate Sanae Takaichi, causing a significant stir on social media. This audio quickly spread, drawing strong criticism regarding the impartiality and ethics of news organizations. The controversial remark was heard among journalists waiting for Ms. Takaichi's 'burasagari kaiken' (impromptu press scrum) and reached a wide audience through the live-streamed video. In addition to the blatant 'I'll lower her approval rating' comment, other audio snippets like 'It's about slush funds and Yasukuni, right?', 'Yasukuni cannot be compromised,' and 'Wearing earphones and getting instructions from Mr. Aso' also spread, fueling speculation about their intent and context. On social media, strong distrust and criticism toward news organizations abounded, with comment...