Mainichi: Osaka Gov. Hashimoto says 'bad-mouthing' Asahi Shimbun will 'ruin Japan'
Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto has criticized the Asahi Shimbun national daily, saying that adults that speak ill of others like the newspaper will ruin Japan. "If the number of adults that speak ill of others like the Asahi Shimbun increases, it will ruin Japan," Hashimoto said in a speech at the Itami post of the Ground Self-Defense Force on Sunday. The lawyer-turned governor later told reporters that he made the remarks in response to the daily's editorial on Oct. 3 that urged him to give up his license of practicing law after he lost a lawsuit. "It crossed a moral line and made fun of me. I'm really furious," he said. Hashimoto dismissed a comment by one of the reporters that he was childish. "Asahi says whatever it wants to say, so we are even"...more...
From the editorial:
"Hashimoto...should be ashamed of his behavior...We doubt Hashimoto really understands that it is the job of lawyers to defend the interests and rights of their clients...If he seriously accepts the ruling, he should not appeal. Moreover, he should voluntarily surrender his qualification as a lawyer. If the public sees his apology only as a token gesture, they could also question his qualities as a governor."
Yech.
