TBS Anchor Sparks Fury Over Immigration Vote Warning

On July 12, 2025, TBS’s news program “Hodo Tokushu” (News Special) anchor Erika Yamamoto’s statement, “Your vote might threaten the lives of foreigners around you. We must vote with imagination,” has triggered an unprecedented online firestorm. As immigration policy emerges as a key issue in the upcoming House of Councillors election, this comment has raised fundamental questions about Japan’s coexistence with foreigners, media impartiality, and the meaning of “imagination” in democracy.

1. Details of the Broadcast Content and Anchor’s Statement

The controversial July 12 episode of “Hodo Tokushu” focused on immigration policy, which had suddenly emerged as a major issue in the House of Councillors election. The program highlighted the rising support for parties advocating “Japan First” policies (particularly Sanseito Party) and reported in detail on the spread of xenophobic language and hate speech on social media.

Data and Expert Analysis Presented

The program was structured around an interview with Associate Professor Takahiro Akedo of Osaka Metropolitan University, who made the following key observations:

The program presented the following data with the caption “Baseless ‘Foreigner Preferential Treatment'”:

• Crime Statistics: While the foreign resident population has increased, the number of criminal arrests has shown a declining trend
• Welfare: The rate of foreigners receiving welfare benefits remains at 2.9%, showing no significant difference from Japanese recipients
• Social Security: Support groups assert there is no basis for claims of “foreigner preferential treatment” in certain systems
• Employment Impact: No clear evidence exists that foreign workers are taking jobs from Japanese citizens

Erika Yamamoto’s Full Statement

At the program’s conclusion, anchor Erika Yamamoto stated:

Co-anchor Masaki Kusakabe then added:

2. Political Reactions and Sanseito Party’s Protest

Immediately after the broadcast, Sanseito Party, which was critically portrayed as advocating “Japan First” policies, showed strong opposition. The party formally submitted a letter of protest to TBS, demanding corrections and claiming the program severely lacked fairness and neutrality.

Sanseito Party’s Protest Details

Details of Sanseito Party’s Immigration Policy

The specific contents of Sanseito’s “Japan First” policy are as follows:

In contrast, the Social Democratic Party advocates “aiming for a multicultural society rather than excluding immigrants and refugees,” proposing anti-discrimination laws with penalty provisions, showing policies in direct opposition.

3. Detailed Analysis of the Social Media “Firestorm”

The response to Yamamoto’s statement and the program’s coverage of immigration policy was unprecedented on social media. Centered on X (formerly Twitter), critical and supportive opinions clashed intensely, truly symbolizing the “division” in Japanese society.

Critics’ Reactions – Overwhelmingly Negative Opinions

Main Points of Criticism

1. Criticism of Biased Reporting

• “The biased reporting was terrible. Rather than presenting ‘both sides,’ they only one-sidedly featured claims that foreigner discrimination is severe”
• “No matter how neutrally you try to view it, the editing has a predetermined conclusion” “Terrible biased reporting”
• “Broadcast accident level” “Propaganda broadcaster” “TBS at it again” – severe criticisms

2. Criticism of Election Interference

• “This is biased reporting violating broadcast law, pushing specific values before an election and trying to influence voter behavior”
• “The expression ‘vote with imagination’ is being criticized as ‘leading’ and ‘biased'”
• “This reporting violates broadcast law and should be reported to BPO”

3. Lack of Japanese Perspective

• “Missing the perspective of ‘What about threats to Japanese people?'”
• “What threatens people’s lives most is an increase in criminals, and nationality doesn’t matter there. They should think carefully before broadcasting”
• “Japan First is gaining support because everyone feels uneasy about current immigration policies and the tendency to carelessly use the word ‘discrimination'”

4. References to Welfare Issues

• “Many opinions on SNS state ‘Welfare is fundamentally a system for Japanese citizens, and it’s wrong to provide it to foreigners in the first place'”
• “Welfare is originally a system for Japanese citizens, and there’s growing awareness that they’re trying to suppress legitimate claims with the word ‘exclusion'”
• “‘Japan First’ is the policy pillar, yet isn’t TBS strange for discussing foreigner welfare as an all-or-nothing issue?”

5. Criticism Based on Personal Experience

6. Personal Attacks on the Anchor

• “Watching today’s Hodo Tokushu made me really dislike Erika Yamamoto. Old media really is no good”
• “Erika Yamamoto should step down”
• “TBS has made enemies of the Japanese people”

7. Backlash Against the “Discrimination” Label

• “The caster said ‘We must not become a society where discrimination becomes votes,’ but aren’t they trying to suppress citizens’ legitimate concerns with the word ‘discrimination’?”
• “Many recognize it ‘doesn’t lead to exclusion,’ and voices are spreading criticizing Hodo Tokushu’s approach as ‘biased’ and ‘anti-Japanese'”
• “There are strong voices questioning welfare for foreigners, with many opinions calling it ‘legitimate claims to protect citizens’ rather than ‘xenophobia'”

8. Sarcastic Responses

9. Deepening Media Distrust

• “TBS has always been like this. I just thought, ‘Another propaganda broadcast'”
• “Many viewers felt Hodo Tokushu’s warning about ‘leading to exclusion’ was ‘distorting facts,’ deepening distrust of mass media”
• “Even saying ‘Japan First,’ if foreigners are treated equally to the current situation, isn’t it effectively ‘Foreigners First’?”

Supporters’ Reactions – Strong Support Despite Being a Minority

Main Points of Support

1. Evaluation as Sound Logic

• “This is ‘completely reasonable and correct,’ and it’s a natural perspective to consider people close to us when voting in a diverse society”
• “Reporting from the perspective of foreigners, looking toward Japan’s future”
• “Comments on SNS and message boards highlighted ‘bringing current social challenges into sharp relief’ and ‘courageous statement'”

2. Evaluation of Media Responsibility

• “A warning against hate speech, showing the proper stance of media expressing concern about the spread of xenophobic discourse”
• “Many voices praising this as ‘courageous communication’ and ‘the conscience of mass media'”

3. Criticism of the Critics

• “Some are concerned that the trend of attacking this statement is itself xenophobic and ‘like the pre-war atmosphere'”
• “‘I don’t know anyone around me attacking an announcer over something like this. Looking at the internet makes you think Japan is finished, but reality isn’t like that'”

4. Value as Problem-Raising

• “‘Fundamentally speaking,’ there’s doubt about whether any party has pledges that would indiscriminately threaten legally residing foreigners”

4. Current State and Challenges of Japan’s Immigration Policy – Detailed Analysis

Behind this debate lie complex challenges in Japan’s immigration policy. As labor shortages intensify due to declining birthrates and aging population, accepting foreign workers has become an unavoidable reality, yet it brings many challenges.

Main Problems Faced by Foreign Workers

1. Harsh Working Conditions

• Low Wage Issues: Labor below minimum wage, routine wage non-payment
• Long Working Hours: Forced labor far exceeding legal working hours
• Harassment: Rampant power harassment, sexual harassment, discriminatory treatment
• Misconceptions and Prejudice: Mistaken belief that “foreign workers can be employed more cheaply than Japanese”

2. Language and Cultural Barriers

• Workplace Difficulties: Communication barriers due to insufficient Japanese language ability
• Daily Life Impediments: Language difficulties in medical care, welfare, housing contracts
• Cultural Friction: Difficulty adapting to Japanese workplace culture like “unspoken understanding” and “seniority system”
• Information Gap: Lack of awareness of rights due to insufficient information provision in native languages

3. Discrimination Issues

4. Living Difficulties

• Housing Issues: Difficulty renting properties due to being foreign
• Medical Access: Japan’s medical system is complex and difficult to access
• Social Isolation: Little interaction with Japanese people outside work, prone to feelings of isolation
• Children’s Education: Non-enrollment issues for foreign children and insufficient language education

Concerns and Challenges on the Japanese Society Side

1. Security Concerns (Divergence from Data)

2. Concerns About Social Security Burden

• Criticism of welfare recipients and divergence from reality
• Concerns about “free-riding” on medical insurance systems
• Anxiety about impact on pension systems

3. Cultural and Social Friction

• Fear of dilution of Japanese culture and values
• Friction with local communities
• Friction due to differences in religious and cultural customs

4. Impact on Employment

• Anxiety about reduced employment opportunities for Japanese
• Concerns about declining wage levels
• Structural problems with the technical intern training system

The Fundamental Problem of Insufficient National Discussion

Required Solutions

1. Improvement of Working Environment and Strengthening Legal Protection

• Development of laws and regulations and ensuring effectiveness
• Thorough compliance with minimum wages and working hours
• Establishment of information provision and consultation services in native languages
• Strengthening functions of Labor Standards Inspection Offices

2. Promotion of Cross-Cultural Understanding

• Enhancement of language training in workplaces
• Increase opportunities for cultural exchange to deepen mutual understanding
• Mandatory cross-cultural understanding training for Japanese employees
• Promotion of exchange programs at regional levels

3. Corporate and Societal Consciousness Reform

• Welcome foreign workers as “long-term partners” rather than “temporary labor”
• Promotion of diversity management
• Investment in foreign talent capability development

4. Expansion of Community Support and Strengthening Cooperation

• Strengthen connections with local communities
• Provide venues where foreign workers are accepted as community members through exchange events
• Establishment and functional enhancement of multicultural coexistence centers

5. Government-Corporate Cooperation

• Simplification of visa procedures
• Enhancement of housing support systems
• Policy promotion to establish systems for easier work
• Construction of unified management system for immigration policy

5. Deep Consideration of Media Impartiality and Role

This controversy has once again highlighted the age-old yet ever-new problem of media impartiality.

Broadcast Law Article 4 and Interpretation of “Impartiality”

What Is Media’s True Role?

Media’s fundamental role is considered to be thoroughly checking state power to protect the “people’s right to know.” In pursuing suspicions, it’s believed that media shouldn’t bear the “burden of proof” to present all evidence beforehand, but rather the government should fulfill its accountability through administrative process transparency.

Structural Problems in Japanese Mass Media

• Superficial Reporting: Tendency toward “news close to daily life,” lacking in-depth reporting on social systems and political backgrounds
• Information Source Bias: Bias regarding information source reliability portrayed as “SNS is dangerous, newspapers and TV are correct”
• Distrust of Existing Media: The above bias creates a vicious cycle further increasing distrust of existing media
• Challenges in the SNS Era: Increased risk of “misleading” and “flaming” from a single anchor’s statement

Regional Differences in Media Coverage

6. “Disconnection of Imagination” – Japan’s Social Division Revealed by This Controversy

Yamamoto’s call to “vote with imagination” was interpreted in completely opposite ways depending on one’s position. This “disconnection of imagination” can be said to be the essential cause of this controversy.

Clash of Two Types of “Imagination”

This “disconnection of imagination” shows a deep division in Japanese society beyond mere difference of opinion. People in different positions can only understand each other within their own scope of “imagination,” falling into conflict rather than dialogue.

7. Future Outlook and Toward Constructive Discussion

Coexistence with foreigners is an unavoidable challenge for future Japanese society. This issue requires constructive discussion based on data rather than emotional conflict.

What Is Required of Media

• Presentation of Diverse Perspectives: Fair introduction of opinions from various positions rather than one-sided arguments
• Data-Based Reporting: Reporting based on objective data and facts rather than emotional arguments
• In-Depth Reporting: Approaching the essence of problems rather than superficial conflict structures
• Constructive Proposals: Including solutions and positive proposals, not just criticism

What Is Required of Citizens

• Information Literacy: Ability to gather information from multiple sources and examine critically
• Dialogue Stance: Listen to different opinions and strive for constructive dialogue
• Understanding Complexity: Effort to understand complexity without oversimplifying problems
• Empathy and Understanding: Deepen empathy and understanding for people in different positions

What Is Required of Policymakers

• Ensuring Transparency: Transparency in policy-making processes and accountability
• Promoting National Discussion: Important policies should undergo sufficient national discussion
• Evidence-Based: Policy-making based on data and evidence rather than emotional arguments
• Long-Term Perspective: Consider long-term national interests rather than short-term benefits

Conclusion – Reexamining the True Meaning of “Imagination”

The controversy surrounding TBS’s “Hodo Tokushu” has raised fundamental questions beyond mere criticism of an anchor’s statement about Japan’s immigration policy, media impartiality, and the meaning of “imagination” in democracy.

Having “imagination” is certainly important. However, it must be an effort to imagine and understand the positions of all parties involved, not imagination from a specific standpoint. Neither foreigners’ anxieties nor Japanese concerns should be dismissed.

We hope this controversy doesn’t end in mere conflict and division but becomes an opportunity to cultivate true “imagination” and move toward more constructive dialogue and realization of a coexistent society. We sincerely hope that rational and constructive discussion beyond emotional conflict will develop regarding this important challenge facing Japanese society.