NHK’s Former Director Kenji Toda Rehired as Executive Producer Amid Controversy

Lawyer Masaki Kito updated his Twitter account on the 26th, revealing that Kenji Toda, a former director of NHK, had been rehired as executive producer of the media bureau. Toda had resigned on the 10th due to controversy surrounding a Chinese staff member’s unscripted remarks about the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture being “Chinese territory” during Chinese news broadcasts on NHK’s international radio.

Toda was rehired as a contract employee on the 17th, just one week after his resignation. An NHK official explained that the reason for this decision was to utilize Toda’s knowledge and experience in overseas reporting, gained from his previous roles as Moscow bureau chief and US bureau chief.

In response to the controversy, former director Hoda, who was in charge of international broadcasting, resigned, and four executives, including Chairman Inaba Nobuo, voluntarily returned 50% of their monthly salaries for one month. This marked the first resignation of executives since 2008, when then-Chairman Hashimoto Genichi and others resigned over insider trading by journalists.

Attorney Kito expressed his opinion on the matter, stating, “No matter how you look at it, this is shameless. If he is to be rehired, a detailed explanation needs to be given to the public. If reemployment is a given, then it is a social demotion. Announcing his resignation is a deception to society.”