Sociologist Kenju Furuichi (40) appeared on the Kantele/Fuji TV information program “Shunkan Live Totto! (Kantele: Mon-Fri 1:50-3:45 PM, Fuji TV: Mon-Fri 2:48-3:42 PM, live). (Kantele: Mon-Fri 1:50-3:45 PM, Fuji TV: Mon-Fri 2:48-3:42 PM, live broadcast). The program aired the press conference that started at 2:00 p.m. The program reported on Kokubu’ s words and asked questions afterwards . The program reported Kokubu’s words and introduced the Q&A session that followed on the flip side. Former prosecutor Haruki Nishiyama, lawyer; freelance announcer and entertainment reporter Masaki Omura; Teruyuki Tsuchida, Kaori Manabe, and others appeared as commentators on the program. He referred to the exchange between Kokubu and the NTV side. Asked when he was told that he would be leaving the program, Kokubu replied, “Suddenly, the hearing started and I was told that I would be leaving the program. I turned on the recording function on my phone, but my lawyer found out what I had done and told me to delete it. I was told it was to protect my privacy. I was given a notebook and pen to write down what I thought, but my hands were shaking and I couldn’t write anything down,” he replied. Asked for comment, Furuichi said, “One question is whether NTV is not in violation of compliance,” and questioned NTV’s response. We hear the word “compliance” a lot these days, but compliance means to observe social rules such as legal compliance, accountability, and respect for human rights, and to conduct business in a fair and impartial manner. I think this interview method is the most problematic. We had a meeting to discuss the fact that it was a regular program, and then we called Mr. Kokubu in with a lie. In the midst of this, even the recording data was erased, and Kokubu-san’s side had no more information.” “Originally, even if you killed someone and went to trial, you would have a lawyer and the right to defend yourself. I think it is very important in both civil and criminal cases to have the opportunity to properly refute what you have done, but the fact that Mr. Kokubu is in this situation, deprived of that right of defense, is a problem for Nittele, regardless of what happened or not. Furuichi pointed out the importance of procedure. In essence, in a court of law, they would have said, ‘You are sentenced to death’ without any reason,” he said.
