Japan Media Review Update: November 9, 2004

JMR Staff (Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California)

Review
The following reviews are posted at: http://www.japanmediareview.com/japan/digest/digest.php

Schwarzenegger, a Japanese Media Icon, Returns
From SFGate.com: When California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visits Japan this week, it will be a homecoming of sorts for the actor, who is also known to Japanese audiences as a prolific pitchman for such products as vitamin drinks, cup noodles, beer and DirecTV. Schwarzenegger, making his first trip to Japan since becoming governor last year, will be promoting tourist destinations and business opportunities in California -- but he'll be doing it in his usual media-savvy style. On the governor's agenda: An appearance on a cooking show to push California products and the filming of California tourism commercials.
-- By Japan Media Review Associate Editor Eric Ulken

Pro-North Korea Paper in Tokyo Blasts Bush
From The Korea Times: A pro-North Korea newspaper based in Tokyo published a sharp criticism of President Bush's re-election this week, calling him "stupid and tyrannical." The Choson Sinbo, published in Korean and Japanese, lambasted the president's decisions to invade Afghanistan and Iraq. "What kind of praise does a man deserve, a man who does not care about the military which showers innocent children, women and elderly people with bullets and bombs?" the piece asked. While the paper is not an official mouthpiece of the North Korean government, it is said to take cues from Pyongyang. The Choson Sinbo article said North Korea will not resume negotiations with the United States and will continue its nuclear program as long as the Bush administration maintains a "hostile policy" toward Pyongyang.
-- By Japan Media Review Associate Editor Eric Ulken

FM Station Broadcasts Multilingual Emergency Info
From The Japan Times: An FM radio station in Nagaoka, which was struck by an earthquake last month, started foreign-language broadcasts on earthquakes Nov. 1 to provide non-Japanese greater access to emergency information during disasters. While foreign-language emergency Web sites and leaflets exist, local officials are recognizing the importance of providing the growing number of foreigners in Japan with disaster information in their native languages. By request of the local government and foreign residents, FM Nagaoka's special broadcasts will be given in English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish and Tagalog for the city's estimated 2,100 non-Japanese inhabitants. Kobe broadcaster FM YY, created a year after 1995's destructive Great Hanshin Earthquake, is helping Nagaoka produce the programs. After the Kobe earthquake, foreigners had difficulty finding public shelters because of the language barrier. "In a disaster like an earthquake, many people will be unable to access the Internet, or they may be upset and easily forget about the Web sites and leaflets," said FM YY spokesman Junichi Hibino.
-- By Japan Media Review Managing Editor Shellie Branco