Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Independent Investigative Journalism in Japan

Makoto Watanabe's Tokyo Investigative Newsroom Tansa stands as a beacon of independent journalism, challenging conventional media systems in Japan.

In a bold move against the traditional media landscape, Makoto Watanabe has launched Japan’s first nonprofit investigative journalism organization, Tansa, after a notable fallout with his former employer, the Asahi Shimbun. Watanabe's decision stems from the paper's retraction of a pivotal story regarding the Fukushima nuclear disaster eleven years ago, where they wrongly reported that plant workers had abandoned posts under orders. Facing backlash from government officials and rival media outlets, the Asahi retracted the article despite initially supporting it, leading Watanabe to resign from the well-established newspaper—a rarity in the domestic journalism sphere.

Having founded Tansa, meaning "in-depth investigation," Watanabe aims to create a media outlet committed to holding power accountable without succumbing to institutional pressures. Though small, with a team of just a few reporters, Tansa has begun to make significant impacts, such as revealing decades of forced sterilizations of individuals with mental disabilities, prompting official apologies and legislative action for restitution. The credibility of Tansa has grown to the point where Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, has partnered with the organization to share content, marking a hopeful shift towards more transparent and challenging journalism in Japan's media landscape.