(i don't know how seriously we should take OhmyNews, they're endorsing pakuri. http://www.ohmynews.co.jp/News.aspx?news_id=000000005285 )

Hey, I'm for any pakuri as long as they only use ice.

yes, ice pakuri seems fun and innocuous enough.

as for ugaya-san, i'm looking forward to seeing
how this case unfolds.
michael

Ohmynews has quality coverage on this issue.I think.
As a mainstream media employee,I wholly agree with the analysis and feel responsible about the laziness of us,big media guys.
There could be more coverage after april when we can tell who is the victim and the victimizer.Because I presume no reporters from legal kisha club understand anything about showbiz and do not wish to go all the way long with the details of Ugaya's story on ORICON,which is based on indutry inner circle hearsays and seemingly lacking concrete evidence.(those who might know the details are either freelance or producers of entertainment section who have no access to writing article for regular newshours.This I'm talking about TVstation not newspapers or magazines.)
After april(and with Ugaya facing financial breakdown)then the cavalry arrives.Since now the case becomes freedom-of-press issue and you fear less danger of getting sued yourself from ORICON.
One thing that stuck me though,is I see no articles from Shyukanshi(published from publishing corporation,not newspapers).And I think they also see Ugaya's piece on ORICON is a little weak to back up.

"I see no articles from Shyukanshi"

Apparently, AERA killed a piece after consulting with their lawyers. And Shukan Post also killed a piece. Ugaya said he asked another company and they told him no immediately - because they didn't want to piss off either Johnny's nor Oricon.

"And I think they also see Ugaya's piece on ORICON is a little weak to back up."

The Cyzo piece was super weak, but again, Ugaya is not being sued for his "weak" Oricon piece. He is being sued for being quoted in a weak piece that Oricon did not bother to sue. This will turn into a battle over "free speech" since Oricon never bothered to sue the actual writer, publisher, or editors.

Marxy:
With the information you have shared with us,I'm becoming a bit reluctant to give unconditional support to Ugaya.ORICON will fight to death since Ugaya's accusation is critical to their business.And there are just too little facts to back up his claim.

"Ugaya is not being sued for his "weak" Oricon piece. He is being sued for being quoted in a weak piece that Oricon did not bother to sue.This will turn into a battle over "free speech" "
It will be so,only after you have some casualities of war,which would undoubtedly be Ugaya,not before.Otherwise you will find yourself in media credibility debate.

"And there are just too little facts to back up his claim."

Again, that could be the case but it does not give the mainstream media the right to ignore the story. And if Oricon actually had a problem with the accuracy of the entire piece, why did they not sue the publisher? If media credibility is the problem, you demand a retraction of the article or you go as far as sue the publisher? You don't sue the guy quoted in the piece.

"(those who might know the details are either freelance or producers of entertainment section who have no access to writing article for regular newshours.This I'm talking about TVstation not newspapers or magazines.)"

I thought about this and started laughing. Just because a reporter doesn't have first-hand evidence of "news" or a certain event, it doesn't mean that writing about the topic is off limits. This is a very kisha club way of thinking: unless somebody drops the appropriate info in my lap, I won't write about it. Why don't the reporters ask their colleagues in the entertainment department? But even if they get good dirt, they won't be able to run with it, because the TV part of the conglomerate is too dependent upon talent for programming to really report accurately on that world.

"you demand a retraction of the article or you go as far as sue the publisher? You don't sue the guy quoted in the piece. "
Plain and simple.If you want to contain the information,You shoot the messenger.

"Just because a reporter doesn't have first-hand evidence of "news" or a certain event, it doesn't mean that writing about the topic is off limits. This is a very kisha club way of thinking: unless somebody drops the appropriate info in my lap, I won't write about it."
Knew you are going to say that.And yes it is very 縦割りthought.But that is the reality,my friend.

Reporters(kishya)are always demanded by their superiors(desuku)to devote more for their section.This case is in the border line of shakaibu(society;where legal club is attached)and keizaibu(economy;because of entertainment and copyright industry is related).So this news could be a bit risky seen from not just organizational level,but also from career perspectives.If you want to pursue the grey sector,you have to have strong backups from your section chiefs.For that cases have to be big enough(so the news can become the cover story)or legitimate enough(like corruption that requires legal punishment).Bureaucratism.But you can't just ignore it because you (and your company)wiil have fairly good chances to get sued for this one.There is always a section called Yuugun(The reserves;the unit for the investigative and outbreak news.)Maybe they are interested with this case,but from the way you talk about the Shyukanshi (used by the mainstream as benchmark of the risk assessment),I doubt they will work with the case before the trial.

Entertainment world is considered as a marginal field among kishyas,that's why entertainment reporters are usually a freelance.(and that's why they are kept freelance,you can cut them off in the case of emergency like lizard's tail).
Entertainment is the realm of the "directors" and"producers".But usually these entertainment related people do not see the industry as a target of the journalism practice.They see themselves as part of it(notice the NHK Kouhaku Utagassen producer's usurpation).And those who work in the news division(of TV) are reluctant for the very reason you described.Not only just for the over dependency to the "productions".But for the facts you can't use the clips of the talent or musicians relating the case,unless they are legally guilty.(perhaps the press meeting arranged by the production or CD jacket's to construct the report,but it would be destined to become a dull one).

If the Ugaya lose a suit.Then that is another story,You have unlimited opportunity of his interviews.And you can make report without depending on the credibility of Ugaya.

Seriously,How reliable with this Ugaya fella,seen from you? I already hear you saying this is the matter of the principles and not the personal trust,but I'll ask anyway,For he is rather not precautious seen from my eyes.I might back up his cause of the freedom of the speech and the freelance reporters,but so are the shyukanshis(especially Shyukan Bunshun,who do not to hesitate to pick a fight with the Johnny's entertainment)and none of them are interested with this story yet?
And I have my own reason to be suspicious with Asahi reporter with agenda and switch the topic of bad journalism practice into the "freedom of the speech" debate.Which is a confusing emotional element in me that detract me from fully identifying myself to the agony of Ugaya.

"Entertainment world is considered as a marginal field among kishyas,that's why entertainment reporters are usually a freelance.(and that's why they are kept freelance,you can cut them off in the case of emergency like lizard's tail)."

This made me laugh. But surely some of them are seishain aren't they?

I have a question. How did the tradition of sports newspapers covering movies (and geinoukai in general) begin? Because in the West they're of course completely separate. The annual prizes they give out, especially the Blue Ribbon awards, are seen as quite important too.

I would've thought the main readership of the sports rags (salarymen, I'm guessing) would be the least likely to go out and see Japanese films, even with the resurgence of interest in local movies over the past few years.

The good entartainment reporters are usually freelance.Good here means they know the gossips.They do a lot of risky stuffs so they may not be considered as a journalist(or salarymen).

"How did the tradition of sports newspapers covering movies (and geinoukai in general) begin? "
In the 50's,movie studios were the owners of the professional baseball teams.Shouchiku(Robins),Daiei(Unions),Toei(Flyers),Toho's sister company Hankyu railways(Braves).
And the conventional wisdom is that the salarymen do go see the movies,especially lame salesmen in their working hours.They go to the theater to kill time and go back to the office afterhours.And of course it is men who decide things in this country.Salarymen in their weekends take off the grey suits and become fathers,husbands and boyfriends.They are the one who decides which movie they go and see.

And also why Nerima ward is the silicon valley of the anime?Simple.Toei has one of the first animation studio in the country and Tokyo animation also had studio.That attracted lots of subcontractors.(didn't know how to comment in your blog,Jason.)

Thanks, Aceface (have we ever met face to face?).

The studios and their sports teams -- logical connection. So the trend continued even after the teams were sold/went under. Was that touched on in Richie's The Japanese Film: Art and Industry? My memory fails.

"And the conventional wisdom is that the salarymen do go see the movies,especially lame salesmen in their working hours."

But rather than a mainstream theatre wasn't it a snooze in the pinku eigakan (or nowadays the manga kissa)? Kidding... Good point about weekends. I assume it would usually be Hollywood fare more than Japanese, though as we know the tides are changing. Then again, Japanese animated features are probably getting three or more admissions -- pa, ma, kid(s) -- which is maybe why two or three of the anime franchises always end up in the top 20 earners.

Toei Animation subcontracting out -- again, logical. I sometimes forget Oizumi is Nerima -- it's a very widescreen 区。Have you ever seen Toei's propaganda reels?

Perhaps you couldn't leave a comment on my blog because you have pop-up windows blocked?

Start a blog, sir!

No,we haven't met in person(I have with Jasper though.)and yes,I have pop-up windows block.
My idea of PC is a typewriter with flat display.I got do something.
I have'nt seen any Toei propaganda.Brown recommended me that some post ago.
And never read Richie's book on Japanese cinema.Open secret.He is not that much liked by Japanese cinephiles.

And Japanese movies were considered as "man's film"i.e. lots of Yakuza movies,No female diretors.
I think the recent resurgence is due to the studios are trying to attract the female and family audiences.
And it has been said among the distribution companies to go catch girls for a box office hit for a while.
So sport paper thing is definitly the reminiscence of the oast golden age.