This screenshot of NHK's official website shows the description of the broadcaster's feature program about film director Naomi Kawase's documentary on the Tokyo Olympics.

       OSAKA -- NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station apologized on Jan. 9 after airing a documentary about film director Naomi Kawase's coverage of the Tokyo Olympics without thoroughly checking facts regarding a man the program introduced as having being paid to join anti-Olympic protests.

       The feature program, aired on Dec. 26, 2021 on the public broadcaster's satellite channel BS1 and again on Dec. 30, was created by NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station, which had exclusive coverage of movie director Naomi Kawase's filming of the Tokyo Games official documentary. Kawase started work on the film, slated for a June 2022 release, in July 2019.

       According to the broadcaster, a man was introduced on the program as having participated in anti-Olympic rallies, with a caption that read, "He told us that he had been paid to join the protests." The broadcaster spoke with the man in an additional interview and confirmed that he had intended to take part in the protests, but failed to check whether he had actually done so.

       Regarding his claim about being paid to join the anti-Olympic rallies, the man had apparently said he had received money when he took part in another protest. When NHK checked with the man again in early January this year, his memory of participating in anti-Olympic protests was reportedly vague.

       The content of the NHK program contradicts Kawase's official documentary film currently under production, and NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station has already apologized to the director. The broadcaster has released a statement, saying, "Ms. Kawase and the others involved (in the film) bear no responsibility. We'll extend our efforts to prevent a recurrence."

       (Japanese original by Toko Kurata, Osaka Cultural News Department)

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