Overview

• The column will conclude in the Aug. 28 issue due out Aug. 21, with a marginal notice saying author Masayuki Takayama and editors agreed to end it without providing a reason.
• The July 31 installment, titled “Soshi Kaimei 2.0,” listed Fukazawa and other public figures of Korean descent and said those who dislike Japan should not use Japanese names.
• Fukazawa held a press conference on Aug. 4 seeking a written apology from publisher Shinchosha and space in the magazine for criticism and rebuttal.
• Shinchosha’s Aug. 12 letter apologized for the situation, saying the column’s intent was hard to understand and not meant as discriminatory, which Fukazawa’s side called insufficient and asked to be addressed again.
• The series, “Henken Jizai,” began in 2002 and ran 1,176 times, and internal voices at Shinchosha questioned its continuation as the publisher also posted an Aug. 4 statement acknowledging responsibility.