Cancer took the life of lawyer and journalist Mr. Kazuo Hizumi on June 12 at the age of 49. Although he died young, he has left behind a persuasive analysis of contemporary Japanese society from the viewpoint of protecting and promoting freedom of expression and citizens' right to know. The public in general, and mass media workers in particular, can learn much from his observations and opinions, which are aimed at helping Japan to become a truly democratic society.

Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1963, Mr. Hizumi studied at Kyoto University and then joined the Sankei Shimbun newspaper as a journalist. After quitting this job, he became registered as a lawyer in 1998. In May 2011, he was diagnosed with terminal gallbladder cancer and given just six months to live. His activities following this devastating news were especially remarkable.

To learn as much as possible about the catastrophe at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Mr. Hizumi attended about 100 news conferences given by Tepco and the government, even though his attendance was interrupted for about a month due to hospitalization. He later coauthored a book titled "Kensho Fukushima Genpatsu Jiko Kishakaiken" (Examining the Fukushima nuclear accident news conferences).