From “The Elements of Journalism” by Bill Kovach & Tom Rosenstiel
- Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.
- Its first loyalty is to citizens.
- Its essence is a discipline of verification.
- Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
- It must serve as a monitor of power.
- It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
- It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.
- It must present the news in a way that is comprehensive and proportional.
- Its practitioners have an obligation to exercise their personal conscience.
- Citizens have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news as well – even more so as they become producers and editors themselves.
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Here is a list of media executives and journalists who have enjoyed wining and dining with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe since he took office in late December 2012. (sources: Asahi Newspaper, Jiji Press.)
2013 January 7
Yomiuri Newspaper chairman Tsuneo Watanabe
At Palace Hotel Tokyo, Wadakura
January 8
Sankei Newspaper chairman Takehiko Kiyohara, Sankei president Takamitsu Kumasaka
At ANA Intercontinental Hotel Tokyo, Unkai
January 10
Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki and other journalists
At Japanese restaurant Hiranoya in Akasaka
February 7
Asahi Newspaper president Tadakazu Kimura
At Imperial Hotel Chinese restaurant Peking
February 15
Kyodo News agency president Satoshi Ishikawa
At Japanese restaurant Kochuan
March 8
Nikkei business daily president Tsuneo Kita
At Imperial Hotel French restaurant Les Saison
March 13
journalists
At Ark Hills Club
March 15
Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper
At French restaurant The Crescent
March 22
Publishing comapny Gentosha president Toru Kenjo and TV Asahi president Hiroshi Hayakawa
At Prime Minister’s Official Residence
March 25
Journalists who cover Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
At Chinese restaurant Akasaka Hanten
March 28
Mainichi Newspaper president Yutaka Asahina
At Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, Japanese restaurant Kinsui
April 4
Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki and Asahi Newspaper commentator Takeshi Soga
When reporters asked Abe whether he likes Chinese food, Abe said, “I like it. It’s Japan-China friendship,” according to Jiji Press.
April 5
NTV president Yoshio Okubo
At Imperial Hotel banquet room Kusu
May 7
Jiji Press president Yutaka Nishizawa and Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki
At Palace Hotel Tokyo, Wadakura
May 8
Yomiuri Newspaper chairman Tsuneo Watanabe and NTV president Yoshio Okubo
At Prime Minister’s Official Residence
May 10
Monta Mino (Noriko Minorikawa), TBS talk show host
At Prime Minister’s Official Residence
May 14
Chunichi Newspaper president Nobuaki Koide
May 15
Yomiuri Newspaper chairman Tsuneo Watanabe
At Palace Hotel Tokyo, Wadakura
June 12
Newspapers’ and agencies’ commentators
At Chinese restaurant Akasaka Rikyu
June 20
Kahoku Shimpo president Masahiko Ichiriki
Fukui Newspaper president Masahito Yoshida
Shinano Mainichi Newspaper president Sotaro Kosaka
Shizuoka Newspaper president Go Oishi
Kyoto Newspaper chairman and president Michikazu Shiraishi
At Hotel Okura Chinese restaurant Toh-Ka-Lin
June 25
At Prime Minister’s Official Residence
July 1
Yomiuri Newspaper commentator Keiko Iizuka
At Hotel Grand Palace restaurant Chiyoda
July 22
Jiji Press commentator Kiyotaka Kato and journalist Kenji Goto, former Kyodo News agency editor and former anchorman at Tokyo Broadcasting System Television
At Japanese restaurant Kurosawa
July 24
Journalists
August 2
Will magazine editor Kazuyoshi Hanada
At Prime Minister’s Official Residence
August 6
A meeting at Hotel New Otani Garden Tower
Writer Naoki Hyakuta, Will magazine editor Kazuyoshi Hanada
August 16
Played golf with Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper
At Abe’s vacation home
Barbecue with Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper
August 18
Played golf with former Nikkei newspaper chairman Ryoki Sugita
At Hotel Mt. Fuji Banquet room Minuet
Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper
August 22
Kyodo News agency president Masaki Fukuyama and other journalists
September 10
Yomiuri Newspaper chairman Tsuneo Watanabe
At Palace Hotel Tokyo, Wadakura
September 12
Chief correspondents who cover the Cabinet Office
At Chinese restaurant Akasaka Hanten
October 17
Journalists from Japan’s major media who once covered Abe
November 13
Journalist Yoshimasa Suenobu, former TV Asahi political editor who is now professor at economic department at Chuo University
Toru Kenjo, president of publishing company Gentosha Inc
Dentsu president Tadashi Ishii
At Prime Minister’s Official Residence
December 2
Yomiuri Newspaper chairman Tsuneo Watanabe
At Palace Hotel Tokyo, Wadakura
December 16
Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki, public broadcaster NHK commentator & talk show host Toshio Shimada
At Tameike Sanno, Chinese restaurant Heichinro
December 19
Yomiuri daily chairman Tsuneo Watanabe
December 20
Sankei Newspaper chairman Takehiko Kiyohara, Sankei president Takamitsu Kumasaka
December 26 (the day Abe visited the Yasukuni Shrine)
News organizations’ political editors
At ANA Intercontinental Hotel Tokyo, Unkai
2014 January 17
Yomiuri chairman Tsuneo Watanabe, Yomiuri president Kojiro Shiraishi
At Yomiuri headquarters View Lounge
January 29
Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper
At Takajo Kotobuki in Asakusa
February 3
Mainichi daily president Yutaka Asahina
February 18
Former NHK chairman Katsuji Ebisawa
Sankei daily chairman Takehiko Kiyohara
Nikkei business daily chief editorial writer Yoichi Serikawa
Mainichi daily honorary advisor Masato Kitamura
At Palace Hotel Tokyo, Banquet room Kikyo
February 21
Journalists who have covered Abe before
March 27
Kyodo News agency president Masaki Fukuyama
April 1 (The day the government raised a sales tax to 8 percent from 5 percent.)
Journalists who cover premier Abe
April 2
Journalists who served as political news editors
April 17
Takamasa Koshimune, Sanyo Shimbun president
Jiro Yamamoto, Chugoku Shimbun chairman
Tsunemasa Yamane, San-in Chuo Shimpo chairman
Takao Kawasaki, Nishinippon Shimbun president
Takeshi Nagano, Oita Godo Shimbun president
Eiichi Izu, Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun president
At Higankaku, Chinese restaurant
May 13
Yoshio Okubo, NTV president
At NTV guest house
May 15
Shiro Tazaki, Jiji Press commentator
Toshio Shimada, NHK commentator & talk show host
and other journalists
June 13
Yomiuri Newspaper chairman Tsuneo Watanabe
At Prime Minister’s Office
June 18
Jiji Press president Yutaka Nishizawa, Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki, executive secretary Yuji Watanabe
Ginza Ukai Tei “Premium Steaks & Grilled Dishes”
June 20
Kyodo News agency president Masaki Fukuyama and other journalists
July 4
Publishing comapny Gentosha president Toru Kenjo and TV Asahi chairman and chief executive Hiroshi Hayakawa, TV Asahi president Shinichi Yoshida
At Prime Minister’s Official Residence
August 11
Jiji Press commentator Kiyotaka Kato and political journalist Yoshimasa Suenobu (former political news editor at TV Asahi)
At Ryugetsu-en (beef barbecue restaurant)
August 17
Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper
At Hotel Mt. Fuji Banquet room Minuet
August 19
Played golf with Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper
Dinner with Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper, some government officials at Nippon Foundation chairman Yohei Sasakawa’s vacation home
August 20
Started to play golf with Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper, and some government officials at Fujisakura Country Club.
But a natural disaster in Hiroshima forced Prime Minister Abe to return to Tokyo.
October 10
Journalists who cover the Abe Cabinet
At Chinese restaurant Akasaka Hanten
October 27
Female journalists
At Chinese restaurant Fureika
October 31
Kyodo News agency president Masaki Fukuyama and other journalists
December 16
Shiro Tazaki, Jiji Press commentator
Toshio Shimada, NHK commentator & talk show host
and other commentators and editors from Asahi, Nihon Keizai, Yomiuri, Mainichi newspapers and NTV
At Shimada sushi restaurant
2015 February 5
Yomiuri Newspaper chairman Tsuneo Watanabe
at Japanese restaurant Chiyoda, Hotel Grand Palace
March 19
Takayuki Tanaka, Yomiuri Newspaper political editor and others
at Umaizoo
April 6
Mainichi Newspaper president Yutaka Asahina
At Sushi Jin
May 15
NTV president Yoshio Okubo, Nikkei Visual Images Inc president Teruto Akiyama
At Bar Swanky in Akasaka, Tokyo
May 18
Yomiuri newspaper chairman Tsuneo Watanabe, Yomiuri newspaper editor Goro Hashimoto, Sankei newspaper chairman Takehiko Kiyohara, Nikkei business daily chief editorial writer Yoichi Serikawa, NHK Enterprises Inc president Tamaki Imai, critic Taro Yayama
At Yomiuri newspaper headquarters
May 27
NTV president Yoshio Okubo, former Kyodo News agency managing editor Kenji Goto
At Japanese restaurant Kurosawa
June 1
Chief correspondents who belong to cabinet office kisha (reporters’) club
At Chinese restaurant Akasaka Hanten in Akasaka
June 24
Jiji News agency commentator Shiro Tazaki, NHK commentator Toshio Shimada
At Japanese restaurant Asami in Ginza
July 15
Shoichi Oikawa, top advisor to the board of directors at Yomiuri newspaper group
At Sanpei, noodle restaurant in Akasaka
August 16
Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as advisor to the board of directors at Sankei newspaper, and other government officials
At Japan Foundation chair Yohei Sasagawa’s vacation house in Yamanashi prefecture
August 17
Playing golf with Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as director at Sankei newspaper
At Fuji Sakura Country Club in Yamanashi prefecture
August 17
Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as director at Sankei newspaper
At Hotel Mt Fuji banquet room Minuet
September 8
Nikkei business daily chairman Tsuneo Kita
Nikkei business daily president Naotoshi Okada
At Imperial Hotel banquet room Ume
December 4
Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki, NHK commentator Toshio Shimada
At Kyoto Tsuyu Shabu Chiriri, Kyobashi branch
2016 January 8
Journalists who cover Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
At Chinese restaurant Akasaka Hanten
January 21
Yomiuri Newspaper chairman Tsuneo Watanabe, NHK Enterprises Inc president Tamaki Imai, critic Taro Yayama
Dinner at Yomiuri Newspaper headquarters
January 29
Jiji Press president Yutaka Nishizawa, Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki, Jiji Press editor-in-chief Yuji Watanabe
At French restaurant Crown, Hotel Grand Palace “Authentic, traditional French cooking”
February 12
Sankei newspaper commentator Rui Abiru and Sankei newspaper political editor Takashi Arimoto
At Japanese restaurant Akasaka Zipangu
February 18
Yomiuri Newspaper political editor Takayuki Tanaka
At Japanese restaurant Gaien Umaya Shinanomachi
March 9
Nikkei business daily chief editorial writer Yoichi Serikawa, Nikkei political editor Kiyoyuki Uchiyama
May 16
NTV president Yoshio Okubo, Nikkei Visual Images Inc president Teruto Akiyama and other journalists
At Chinese restaurant Higankaku
June 2
Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki, NHK commentator Toshio Shimada
At Kyoto Tsuyu Shabu Chiriri, Kyobashi branch
June 6
Journalists who cover the cabinet office
At Chinese restaurant Akasaka Hanten
August 15
Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as director at Sankei newspaper, some ministers, and others
At Japan Foundation chairman Yohei Sasagawa’s vacation house in Yamanashi prefecture
August 16
Playing golf with Fuji Media Holdings chairman Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as director at Sankei newspaper, and some ministers
Dinner at Hotel Mt. Fuji
September 1
Yomiuri newspaper editor-in-chief Tsuneo Watanabe, Yomiuri editorial board member Goro Hashimoto, Kyodo News agency president Masaki Fukuyama, Sankei newspaper president Takamitsu Kumasaka, Nikkei business daily chief editorial writer Yoichi Serikawa, critic Taro Yayama
Dinner at Yomiuri newspaper headquarters
October 17
Sankei newspaper commentator Rui Abiru
At Japanese restaurant Akasaka Zipangu
October 21
Yomiuri newspaper managing editor Takayuki Tanaka, Yomiuri political news editor Riichiro Maeki
At Japanese restaurant Akasaka Kobori
December 2
Nikkei business daily chairman Tsuneo Kita
Nikkei business daily president Naotoshi Okada
At Imperial Hotel banquet room Ume
December 6
Mainichi newspaper chairman Yutaka Asahina, Mainichi president Masahiro Maruyama
December 20
Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki, NHK commentator Toshio Shimada
At Kyoto Tsuyu Shabu Chiriri, Kyobashi branch
2017 January 6
Nikkei Visual Images Inc president Teruto Akiyama
At Japanese restaurant Torifuku
January 25
Yomiuri newspaper editor-in-chief Tsuneo Watanabe
At Japanese restaurant Chiyoda, Hotel Grand Palace
February 2
Yomiuri newspaper editor-in-chief Tsuneo Watanabe, Kyodo News agency president Masaki Fukuyama
Dinner at Yomiuri newspaper headquarters
February 27
Journalists who cover the prime minister’s office and the cabinet office
At Chinese restaurant Akasaka Hanten
April 17
Fuji Media Holdings Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as director at Sankei newspaper
At Japanese restaurant Akasaka Kobori
April 24
Yomiuri newspaper editor-in-chief Tsuneo Watanabe
At Japanese restaurant Chiyoda, Hotel Grand Palace
April 26
Sankei newspaper executive adviser Takehiko Kiyohara
At Austrian restaurant Ginza Habsburg
May 15
NTV president Yoshio Okubo, Nikkei Visual Images Inc president Teruto Akiyama
At Chinese restaurant Hibiya Heichinrou
May 24
TV Asahi chairman and chief executive Hiroshi Hayakawa and TV Asahi director Hiroshi Shinozuka
At Japanese restaurant Akasaka Kobori
May 29
Yomiuri Newspaper editor Takayuki Tanaka, Yomiuri political editor Riichiro Maeki and others
At Japanese restaurant Umaizoo
June 12
Nikkei business daily chief editorial writer Yoichi Serikawa and political editor Kiyoyuki Uchiyama
Japanese restaurant Kozue at Park Hyatt Tokyo
June 13
Nikkei Visual Images Inc president Teruto Akiyama, Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Hiroyuki Arai, a former upper house lawmaker and others
July 13
Jiji Press commentator Shiro Tazaki, public broadcaster NHK commentator & talk show host Toshio Shimada and others
August 15
Fuji Media Holdings executive managing advisor Hisashi Hieda, who also serves as executive managing advisor at Sankei newspaper, Yohei Sasakawa, chairman at The Nippon Foundation, former prime minister Yoshiro Mori, former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, current deputy prime minister Taro Aso, Economic Revitalization Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, deputy cabinet secretary Yasutoshi Nishimura, Koichi Hagiuda, acting secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
At Sasakawa’s vacation home in Narusawa village, Yamanashi prefecture
[WORK IN PROGRESS]
Takehiko Kambayashi 