During the first half of this year, coverage by Japan's print and broadcast media of America's presidential primary campaigns and debates was heavier than usual. But as the two remaining contenders stagger toward the finish line, one gets the impression that Japanese are just as weary as their American counterparts — if not more so.
Where's the outrage? More specifically, has the media here toned down the most controversial revelations concerning Donald Trump — and, to a lesser extent, Hillary Clinton? I posed that question to Dave Spector, a veteran TV personality and Chicago native who has been giving regular talks about the election on local TV shows.
"I don't believe there have been any conscious efforts here to downplay or avoid any level of sexual innuendos concerning Trump, at least within the parameters allowed in broadcasting," Spector responded. "The now-infamous leaked audio excerpts from 'Access Hollywood' were shown repeatedly on television here with only a few words disguised or bleeped out. I myself had no problem airing the material and there was no suggestion it might be too strong, even for the morning programs. As for the now notorious line, 'Grab them by the pussy,' no exact equivalent really exists in Japanese, so if translated literally it wouldn't have the same meaning as Trump intended," Spector says.