“The Japanese government and businesses routinely apply pressure on the management of mainstream media, which results in heavyself-censorship on topics that could be deemed sensitive, such as corruption, sexual harassment, health issues (Covid-19, radiation), or pollution. In 2020, the government dramatically reduced the number of journalists invited to its press conferences, using Covid-19 health measures as an excuse, and included public broadcaster NHK on the list of organisations supposed to follow its “instructions” in the case of a major national crisis.”