Naoki Hyakuta

Naoki Hyakuta (百田 尚樹, Hyakuta Naoki, born February 23, 1956) is a Japanese novelist and television producer. He is known for his right-wing political views and denying Japanese war crimes prior to and during World War II.[1] He is particularly known for his 2006 novel The Eternal Zero, which became a popular 2013 film,[2] his controversial period as a governor of government broadcaster NHK, as well as his support of Nanjing Massacre denial.[3]

Hyakuta visited Naha Airbase, Air Self-Defense Force (on 29 October 2017)

Naoki Hyakuta
百田 尚樹
in Naha, Okinawa
on 29 October 2017
Native name
百田 尚樹
Born (1956-02-23) February 23, 1956
Higashiyodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan
OccupationNovelist, television producer
NationalityJapanese

Hyakuta has written a number of books. Several have been turned into films, such as Bokkusu and Monsuta.

The Eternal Zero

In 2006 Hyakuta's novel "The Eternal Zero" was published. It became a best-seller, with four million copies sold.[4] It was made into a popular 2013 movie.[5] The novel was criticised by famed Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki as being "a pack of lies" about the war,[6] leading to Hyakuta speculating that Miyazaki "wasn't right in the head".[7]

As NHK governor

In 2013 Hyakuta was selected by Shinzō Abe as one of 12 members of the board of governors of Japan's national broadcaster, NHK, in 2013. This came after the re-election of the Liberal Democratic Party led by Abe. Hyakuta had supported in his bid to re-assume leadership of the LDP the previous year. The selection of Hyakuta as an NHK governor caused some criticism,[8] but the diet approved Hyakuta's appointment in November 2013,[9][10] His historical views denying the Nanjing Massacre sparked extended controversy[11][12] after his speech in support of Toshio Tamogami's bid for the Tokyo governorship in 2014 bought renewed attention to his rightist views.[13][14] He resigned as a governor in 2015.[15]

Historical views
Hyakuta met Kiyoaki Kawanami, Commander of the 9th Air Wing, Air Self-Defense Force (on 29 October 2017)

During a speech on March 3, 2014, in support of Toshio Tamogami's bid for the governorship of Tokyo, Hyakuta stated that the Nanjing Massacre "never happened", and stated that the Tokyo War Crimes Trials were a "sham" to cover up US war crimes such as firebombing and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He also stated that he didn't see a need to teach such things to children, as they should be taught what a great country Japan is.[16] He said that claims about the Nanjing Massacre were brought up at the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunals only to cancel out the crimes the US had committed.[17] A press officer at the US embassy in Tokyo described Hyakuta's views as "preposterous".[18][19]

In 2014 as an NHK governor he claimed that it was wrong to state that ethnic Koreans were forcibly brought to Japan during the Japanese colonial period.[20]

Defamation suits

Hyakuta's wrote a book called Jun'ai (2014) in memory of his recently deceased friend, the radio and TV show host Yashiki Takajin. The book, written as if it were a work of reporting, portrayed Takajin's daughter and his manager as callous, cruel individuals who abandoned him in his final days. Takajin's manager and daughter both sued for slander. Hyakuta claimed that although all the persons named were real, the book was "fiction." He had relied heavily on uncritical interviews with Takajin's widow, and did not mention her bigamy in the text of the book, only admitting to it later.[21] After multiple appeals, in December 2017 the Supreme Court of Japan found that Hyakuta had slandered Takajin's daughter and ordered 3.65 million yen paid in compensation.[22] In November 2018 the Tokyo District Court found that Hyakuta had slandered Takajin's manager as well, ordering an additional 2.75 million yen in compensation and a written apology.[23][24]

Plagiarism

His latest book, a history of Japan published in 2018, was discovered to contain fictitious statements as well as plagiarism from sources such as Wikipedia articles,[25] the latter being admitted by the author himself.[26]

See also

References
  1. "Is Japan sorry for World War II?". 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  2. Lee, Maggie Film Review: ‘The Eternal Zero’ April 12, 2014 Variety Retrieved March 29, 2016
  3. Schilling, Mark Debate still rages over Abe-endorsed WWII drama February 20, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 30, 2016
  4. Eternal Zero claims number one spot in Japan December 24, 2013 Retrieved March 30, 2016
  5. Mission accomplished? A film about kamikaze pilots gives a worrying boost to nationalists March 1st, 2014 The Economist Retrieved March 30, 2016
  6. Schilling Flights of fancy - box office smash The Eternal Zero reopens old wounds in Japan with its take on wartime kamikaze pilots May 11, 2014 South China Morning Post Retrieved March 30, 2016
  7. Author Naoki Hyakuta Thinks Hayao Miyazaki's Got a Few Screws Loose November 18, 2014 Anime News Network
  8. Mr. Abe stacking the deck at NHK November 6, 2013 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  9. Diet OKs Abe-linked NHK board picks, raising specter of potential bias November 10, 2013 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  10. NHK president says he will step down in January December 6, 2013 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  11. Senior NHK manager’s denial of Nanjing Massacre not a problem: Suga February 4, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  12. Yoshida, Reijii NHK governors reveal rightist views: Praise of nationalist 'martyr,' denial of Nanjing Massacre roil broadcaster February 5, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  13. Mie, Ayako Tamogami finds right-wing niche: Message may also be reaching younger voters February 5, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  14. NHK’s credibility at stake February 7, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  15. Nanking Massacre denier Hyakuta to resign NHK governorship in February January 31, 2016 The Japan Times Retrieved March 29, 2016
  16. Tiezzi, Sharon NHK Governor: Nanjing Massacre ‘Never Happened’ February 7, 2014 Retrieved March 30, 2016
  17. NHK governor campaigns for revisionist in Tokyo election February 4, 2014 Archived January 31, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Asahi Shimbun Retrieved March 30, 2016
  18. U.S. raps board member’s remark on Tokyo Tribunal February 8, 2014 The Japan Times Retrieved March 30, 2016
  19. Hyakuta’s Nanjing denial prompts chilly response from U.S. Embassy: sources February 15, 2014 Retrieved March 30, 2016
  20. Kingston, Jeff Are forces of darkness gathering in Japan? May 16, 2015 The Japan Times Retrieved March 30, 2016
  21. 酒井まど (2014-11-13). "二股発覚! たかじん未亡人は人妻だった! 百田尚樹『殉愛』の嘘 2". LITERA (in Japanese). 株式会社サイゾー. Retrieved 2014-12-11.
  22. 百田尚樹氏の「殉愛」で名誉毀損、幻冬舎の敗訴が確定 朝日新聞デジタル 2017年12月22日
  23. "百田氏と幻冬舎に賠償命令　「殉愛」で名誉毀損を認める：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  24. "百田尚樹氏「殉愛」に賠償命令、東京地裁が名誉毀損認める　百田氏「判決を精査し対応を検討」". SANSPO.COM（サンスポ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  25. "百田尚樹氏の「日本国紀」が話題 すべて事実と宣伝するも問題点 - ライブドアニュース". ライブドアニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-11-20.
  26. "【速報】百田尚樹が「 #日本国紀 」でWikipediaなどからのコピペを自供". buzzap (in Japanese). Retrieved 2018-11-20.
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