Cross-border investigative journalism from Japan

I'm Makoto Watanabe, Editor-in-Chief. Thank you for your continued support of Tansa.

When I was in university, I was close friends with an older Korean student. After graduation, he and his wife had a baby, and I ended up visiting his parents' home in Korea with him, his wife, and their baby.

His grandfather also lived at the house. He welcomed me and spoke to me in Japanese. It had been over 50 years since Korea had been liberated from Japanese colonial rule, and I believe it was the first time since then that he had spoken Japanese.

When he was young, he once threw stones in defiance of the tyrannical Japanese authorities. He was arrested and detained, but it was a Japanese lawyer who sympathized with him and secured his release. He mentioned the lawyer by name and spoke at length about what a wonderful person he was.

“It was the Japanese who caused me suffering, but it was also the Japanese who helped me.”

As my friend and I listened quietly, the grandfather said,

“We are entering an era of globalization. Regardless of your nationality, you should interact with one another as human beings.”

The words of his grandfather are still deeply engraved in my heart.

However, Japan is currently drifting toward “ultranationalism.” By viewing China as an enemy, it is deepening its international isolation, and the risk of war is increasing. The situation bears a striking resemblance to that of the 1930s. Economic decline and xenophobia are going hand in hand.

The trend toward ultranationalism is not limited to Japan. Movements that pursue only their own country's interests and seek to exclude foreigners living within their borders are gaining momentum around the world. It is symbolic that the far-right AfD in Germany and Japan's Sanseito Party are engaging in exchanges.

As a journalism organization, Tansa pledges its loyalty not to the state, but to a democracy grounded in human rights. Tansa's series “Imagine: To Prevent War” draws inspiration from the lyrics of the song “Imagine.”

To put a stop to ultranationalism, Tansa is currently planning cross-border collaborations among independent media outlets. We sincerely appreciate your continued support.