Thread by @politicalawake

Anyone who has been following Japanese politics in the West has undoubtedly heard of the Japan Times which is the largest & oldest English speaking newspaper in Japan & today we're going to explore it's history. (1/10)

The Japan Times was launched by Motosada Zumoto on 22 March 1897, with the goal of giving Japanese people an opportunity to read & discuss news & current events in English to help Japan to participate in the international community. (2/10)

The newspaper was independent of government control, but from 1931 onward, the paper's editors experienced mounting pressure from the Japanese government to submit to its policies. (3/10)

In 1933, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed Hitoshi Ashida, former ministry official, as chief editor.

During World War II, the newspaper served as an outlet for Imperial Japanese government communication & editorial opinion. (4/10)

It was successively renamed The Japan Times & Mail 1918–1940 following its merger with The Japan Mail, The Japan Times and Advertiser 1940–1943 following its merger with The Japan Advertiser & Nippon Times 1943–1956, before reverting to the Japan Times title in 1956. (5/10)

The temporary change to Nippon Times occurred during the ban on English language sentiment during World War II-era Japan.

Shintaro Fukushima (1907–1987) became president of The Japan Times in 1956. (6/10)

He sold some of the company's shares to Toshiaki Ogasawara who was chairman of Nifco, a manufacturer of automotive fasteners.

Fukushima renounced management rights in 1983. (7/10)

After being acquired by News2u, The Japan Times changed its editorial stance and contributor lineup as part of efforts to reduce criticism of the newspaper as an "anti-Japanese" outlet. (8/10)

In November 2018, it was announced in an editor's note that subsequent articles would use the term "wartime laborers" rather than "forced labor" & "comfort women" would be referred to as "women who worked in wartime brothels. (9/10)

The change drew immediate criticism from readers & employees, with particular concerns expressed over the paper's apparent alignment with the political positions of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe.

Japan Times responded with an apology. 🇯🇵 (10/10)