💫T.Katsumi #BlackLivesMatter · @tkatsumi06j
23rd Jun 2017 from TwitLonger
#FightTogetherWithShiori Open letter to @FCCJ PAC members incl. Chair @tjimbo
Deae Sirs,
I have recently learned that your committee, Professional Activities Committee, has rejected the request from Ms. "Shiori" to hold a press conference about her claim that her sexuality was violated by her fellow and senior journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi in April of 2015.
More explicitly, this was a case of possible "quazi-rape" under Japanese law where a victim is forced into a situation where consensual sex is impossible, due to intoxication by alcohol, drug, etc. and/or other force majeure situations. The victim of this alleged crime went only by her first name "Shiori" due to concerns from and consideration of her family. The full and detailed account of her conference is now available on the Web, thanks to the works of proactive independent web media.
http://www.japansubculture.com/shioris-full-statement-on-her-ordeal/
So your Committee should be well aware of the claims made in this press conference. Not back then, but now.
In an article published by Shukan Gendai (July 1 volume), the weekly magazine reports that several members of your Committee rejected the request to hold the press conference from another member of the FCCJ, "Shiori".
http://wgen.kodansha.ne.jp/archives/42554/
Comments: http://kenpo9.com/archives/1654
According to the article, "Shiori" was hoping to hold another press conference a day after she held the TV conference on May 29, 2017, but a few of your members in the Committee have rejected for the following reasons, that:
- "this Club is not the place for making claims against criminal offenses"; and
- "the crime has not been proven and the accused is a high-profile journalist"; and that
- "she is acting on revenge against the man by making foreign media report about it. That would degrade the integrity of the Club"
In addition, one of your Committee members Mr. David McNeil reported said the following towards the end of the article:
"While I do sympathize with Shiori-san, what was important for the correspondents was whether it would affect the Abe government and it was too early to see that."
The article close with the following question:
"Were they really right about their decision?"
"They" obviously mean "you."
As concerned Japanese citizen who has admired and respected the work of the FCCJ until this very day, I must say that I was very disappointed to find that the Club has rejected a request from their fellow journalist who is possibly a victim of a violent sexual crime, only not proven by law. One of your comments, if true, even indicates a level of sexism in your Committee that is not acceptable in today's global standard where all sexes and genders should be respected.
With that note, I would like to confirm the following. Kindly respond to the following at your earliest convenience.
Best regards,
Takahiro Katsumi
--
1. Are the above statements published in Shukan Gendai all true, partially true, or entirely false? (Regardless of the accuracy of the translations since your Club can obviously refer to the original in the original language)
2. If they are all true or partially true, what is the reasoning behind those comments to justify your statements?
3. If they are entirely false, what would be your actions against Shukan Gendai and what follow-up action(s) does the Club and/or the Committee intends to take?
3. Regardless of the above two questions, now that the full account of "Shiori"'s statement is available. What is the Club and/or Committee's position on possibly of holding a follow-up conference? Would the Club and/or Committee be willing to hold one?