During last November's campaigning for the Lower House election, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party sent a written document to TV Asahi demanding it create "fair and neutral" programs about the economic policies of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, dubbed "Abenomics," and criticizing one of the most popular nightly news programs in the country, it was learned Friday.
The revelation, first reported by the daily Mainichi Shimbun and later confirmed by The Japan Times, immediately drew criticism from media researchers who said the party put unjustified pressure on the broadcaster.
The news program in question is Hodo Station, which starts shortly before 10 p.m. on weekdays. It is one of Japan's most popular nightly news programs.