Japan’s NHK Issues New Apology for Its Chinese Announcer Over Off-Script Anti-Japanese Comments

The minister of Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications told reporters that the incident ‘violated the mission of public broadcasting.’

A blue sheet obscures the stone pillar which bears the name of the Yasukuni Shrine, after graffiti was found on the structure at the entrance to the shrine in Tokyo on Aug. 19, 2024. Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images

Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK), a public broadcaster, issued a new apology on Aug. 26 after its announcer made off-script anti-Japanese comments during a live radio program in Chinese.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi called the incident “regrettable” on the same day and urged measures to prevent any reoccurrence.