In an effort to dodge criticism that he is unqualified to lead NHK, its embattled president, Katsuto Momii, told the Diet Friday the contentious remarks at his first official press conference last week were not the broadcaster's official views but his own.
"What I said at the press conference are my personal views and will not be reflected in the contents of NHK programs," Momii said in the Diet after being summoned by the powerful Lower House Budget Committee.
Former communications minister Kazuhiro Haraguchi of the Democratic Party of Japan grilled Momii on his understanding of Articles 1 and 4 of the Broadcasting Law, which requires all broadcasters to present various views.