The Yomiuri Shimbun, one of Japan’s leading newspapers, issued an apology in its morning edition on October 3rd for a report published in July stating that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had decided to resign. The newspaper acknowledged that it had reported based on claims that Ishiba had explicitly communicated his intention to step down to those around him. However, they later confirmed that this information was incorrect, leading to what they termed a ‘false report.’
In addition to the apology, Yomiuri Shimbun announced plans to publish a follow-up article to investigate the circumstances surrounding the erroneous reporting. The newspaper also indicated that disciplinary actions would be taken against some of its executives as a result of this incident.
Shigeru Ishiba, a prominent figure in Japanese politics, has been a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and has served in various governmental roles. His potential resignation was a topic of significant public interest, making the accuracy of such reports crucial.
Source: www3.nhk.or.jp