We will hand down historical facts through the generations, and accurately convey the reality of rapidly changing times.

Newspaper Week has started. With 2015 marking the milestone 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, we want to once again keep in mind the gravity of the mission placed in the hands of newspapers.

During the war, newspapers and other media continually provided reports that exaggerated military achievements based on announcements issued by the Imperial Headquarters. Although there were strict regulations on freedom of speech at that time, newspapers cannot be absolved of their responsibility for contributing to efforts to promote the war. After the war, every media company made a fresh start with a pledge to pursue the truth. As a core pillar of print media, which excels at providing a tangible record of what happened, newspapers play the role of conveying the horrors of the war to future generations.

This year, considerable attention was focused on the issue of Japan’s perception of history, particularly regarding the statement issued by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to mark 70 years since World War II ended.

A newspaper should have well-informed opinions that analyze the existing state of affairs appropriately and offer insights into the direction Japan should take. We will keep providing material that enables our readers to fully and accurately make their own decisions.

In an opinion survey The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted before Newspaper Week, 88 percent of respondents said they believe newspapers will continue to be necessary in the future. Our devotion to providing fair and accurate coverage remains more important than anything else.

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