So this morning I awoke to see once again on Japanese TV non-stop news coverage of the recent AirFrance plane crash in Toronto, complete with models, interviews with frantic passengers, and CGI simulations of the accident. The thing I couldn't understand is why? Why is the Japanese news media so excited about a plane crash in Toronto, with no fatalities, and with no Japanese passengers aboard? CNN covered the crash for a few hours and then went back to their usual coverage of Martha-Gate. Then I finally found the answer, apparently Toronto has become part of Japan! Don't believe me? Just check out the "national" news section of Japan Today ! (Since posting this Japan Today corrected their mistake and moved this story into the "World" section. Rats! I had my hopes up that purikura and toy machines were on their way to Toronto)


Japanese television news often amuses me with their sad attempts at sensationalism. A short time ago, for two or three days, the big national headline in Japan was a story about some kids getting arrested for throwing eggs at a taxi. Huh? Is Japan so devoid of crime that something this lame is not only considered newsworthy but is also a lead story? Similarily last month a big fuss was made by the media when famed wrestler turned polititian The Great Sasuke was caught using government money to pay for travel expenses to a wrestling match. How much money you ask? Under 100 dollars.


Of course when a real news story breaks you can expect it to get it rammed down your throat for weeks on end. The Japanese TV news networks really had a field day with the previously mentioned train crash story. Within an hour of the accident first being reported one network had already built a large elaborate model of the crash scene, and had an anchorman demonstrate what had occured by playing choo-choo train. Of course on CNN they would have had an exciting CG intro with heart-pumping music and a cool headline like "Flaming Horror on Rails". Japanese news still has much to learn.