Makoto Watanabe made headlines—not for his reporting, but for his bold decision to leave one of Japan's largest newspapers, which retracted a crucial story about the Fukushima nuclear plant's workers fleeing against orders. After this incident, he founded Tansa (meaning "in-depth investigation"), Japan's first nonprofit devoted to investigative journalism.
Watanabe, 50, recalls the moment the Asahi Shimbun newspaper backtracked on its reporting. Under pressure from the government and other media, they abandoned their support for the story about the Fukushima disaster. Feeling disillusioned, he took a leap of faith—quitting his job and establishing a platform dedicated to fearless reporting.
Tansa, operating with a small team of dedicated journalists, has made waves in the media landscape. Their standout achievement includes uncovering a dark history of forced sterilizations of those with disabilities, prompting a government apology and legislative changes. With momentum growing, even Japan's public broadcaster NHK is now utilizing Tansa's reports.
Watanabe believes in a media landscape that puts the truth before powerful interests. “I want to create a new media that won’t succumb to pressure,” he asserts. Through Tansa, he aims to deliver insightful and impactful stories to Japanese citizens, proving that investigative journalism can thrive even in challenging times.
