Former Japanese Journalist Founds Nonprofit to Challenge Authority

Makoto Watanabe, disillusioned by the retraction of his scoop at Asahi Shimbun, founded Tokyo Investigative Newsroom Tansa to uphold journalistic integrity and challenge social injustices in Japan.

Makoto Watanabe, a pioneering journalist in Japan, made headlines not just for his work but also for his courageous decision to leave his position at one of the country's most prominent newspapers. Eleven years ago, Watanabe faced a disheartening experience when his former employer, the Asahi Shimbun, withdrew its major investigative story on the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which reported that workers had abandoned the site against orders. Amid immense backlash from critics and the government questioning the veracity of the report, the Asahi abruptly retracted it despite initially supporting the piece.

The response from the newspaper was devastating; it dismantled the investigative team responsible for the article and pressured reporters to avoid relating their findings in a confrontational manner. Disillusioned but determined, Watanabe took the rare step, in Japan's media landscape, of quitting his secure job. He aimed to launch something transformative—Japan’s first nonprofit media organization focusing on investigative journalism.

"Media should prioritize truth over privileged relationships," Watanabe, now 50, declared. Inspired by a vision of media integrity, he founded Tansa—meaning "in-depth investigation." Despite operating with a modest staff of two full-time reporters, a volunteer, and an intern, Tansa is positioning itself as a vital force in the media sector. The organization recently unveiled a significant investigation documenting years of forced sterilizations of people with disabilities in Japan, prompting a governmental apology and new legislation for victim compensation. Moreover, Japan’s NHK public broadcaster has begun collaborating with Tansa, indicating the growing influence of Watanabe's work.