The Asahi Shimbun Company wins its fourth Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award in five years for exposing postal fraud
The Asahi Shimbun Company Press Release: September 3, 2025 Asahi Shimbun wins Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award for second consecutive year, fourth time in five years “A series of reports regarding Japan Post’s penalty fees and inappropriate roll calls” – Investigative reporting reveals the truth The Asahi Shimbun Company (President and CEO: Masaru Tsunoda) has received the 2025 Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award from the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association. The Award is given to outstanding reporting, and the award was given to the “series of reports surrounding Japan Post’s unreasonably high penalties and inappropriate roll calls” (Japan Post Reporting Team, Social Affairs Department), which the headquarters has been reporting on since January. This marks the second consecutive year that the company has received the Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award, and the fourth time in the past five years.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/9214/1951/9214-1951-f87b4c7057820f9dae532033f2edfa27-1354×2700.jpg April 24, 2025, front page of the morning edition: The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that it plans to take administrative action against Japan Post for failing to properly conduct legal roll calls for delivery vehicle drivers. “Investigative reporting that uncovered widespread corruption at a massive public utility and contributed to its correction.” The reasons for the award, announced by the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association on the 3rd, are as follows: In its morning edition on January 6, 2025, the Asahi Shimbun reported that Japan Post’s collection of penalties from contractors had been found illegal by the Japan Fair Trade Commission. A follow-up report revealed that the legal roll calls required to check whether or not drivers had been drinking were not being properly conducted when making deliveries by vehicle. The penalty standards, which remained unchanged for six months even after guidance from the Japan Fair Trade Commission, were revised following a request for an interview. The inappropriate roll calls led to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism revoking the transportation business license and suspending the use of trucks and other vehicles for five years. These reports had a major impact on society. This investigative journalism, which exposed rampant corruption at a huge public utility that is deeply connected to people’s lives and contributed to correcting it, is highly praised and deserving of the Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association Award. Click here for our special page on postal fraud We’ve compiled over 40 news articles related to postal fraud, as well as “Explanatory Commentary” videos in which reporters explain the issue. Investigative reporting by three journalists reveals bad practices: high penalty fees, drinking white wine in the car Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/9214/1951/9214-1951-70d7f10f21e9bc5d67c1739ffa8d76cc-571×428.jpg Shinya Sawa, Editorial Committee Member, Tokyo Headquarters Editorial Department Shinya Sawa, editorial committee member at the Tokyo headquarters editorial department and head of the reporting team, commented as follows: If you drop a letter or postcard in a mailbox or leave a package at the post office, it will soon reach its recipient. The postal service is a social infrastructure based on the trust of citizens. This time, we’ve uncovered some questionable practices that have been going on behind the scenes of this business. When delivery contractors receive complaints from customers, they impose
unreasonably high penalties, often referred to as “fines” in the field. Drivers who go out to deliver without roll call drink white wine while driving. The facts we uncovered during our investigation were unbelievable and a throwback to the past. This time, we formed a three-person reporting team, which received numerous tips from within the Japan Post Group. It’s a relief that these tips led to reports, government action, and some improvements. The scandals surrounding Japan Post are not limited to penalties and roll calls. The Asahi Shimbun’s Economic Affairs Department, as well as other media outlets, have persistently reported on many of the issues. This October marks 20 years since the privatization of Japan Post. We will continue to investigatively report on the issues surrounding this huge group. Sawa Nobuya: Born in 1970. Joined the Asahi Shimbun in 1996, he worked in the Tokyo Social Affairs Department and Special Reporting Department, among others, and has been an editorial committee member at the Tokyo headquarters editorial department since 2019.
About the Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award The Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award is an annual award presented by the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association to outstanding journalists. Established in 1957, the Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association promoted activities to enhance the credibility and authority of newspapers as a whole. It honors journalists who have made outstanding achievements in three areas: editing, technology, and management/operations. In 2020, the awards were reorganized into three categories: the Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award (formerly the Editorial Division), the Newspaper Technology Award (formerly the Technology Division), and the Newspaper Management Award (formerly the Management/Business Division). Asahi Shimbun Awards This marks the 27th time that The Asahi Shimbun has received the Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award (including the former Editorial Division) since 1957. In recent years, the company has continued to win awards for investigative reporting. Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Awards: Includes the New Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award (formerly the Editorial Division) 2024: A series of scoops and related reports surrounding the LDP faction’s secret fund scandal FY2022: A series of scoops and related reports regarding the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s fraud in core statistics FY2021: A scoop and related reports regarding LINE’s personal information management issues FY2018: A series of scoops regarding the Ministry of Finance’s falsification of official documents 2014: A series of scoops and related reports regarding the 50 million yen provided by Tokushukai to former Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose 2013: A series of scoops regarding shoddy decontamination 2012: Long-running serial project “Prometheus’s Trap” 2010: Special report and related coverage on the case of the chief prosecutor of the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office’s Special Investigation Division falsifying seized documents 2005: Special report on “Princess Nori’s Engagement” A series of photo reports from the JR Takarazuka Line derailment accident to its resumption of service 2002: The series “Chasing Atta, the Terrorist’s Trail” and related news coverage 1999: Wakayama City curry poisoning and fraud scoop 1998: The Real Face of a Junior High School Student: From the Nurse’s Office 1995: Shizuoka Fixed-Point Survey of Voters Now 1993: A series of scoops surrounding the political investigation of then-LDP Vice President Kanemaru Shin and others, including “Former Sagawa Express President Watanabe’s Statement: ‘500 Million Yen to Kanemaru’s Side.'” 1992: Establishment of the Media section 1988: Scoop on the Emperor’s illness and surgery 1987: Scoop on the Soviet report on the Chernobyl nuclear accident 1984: A series of reports on the Tokyo Medical and Dental University professor selection corruption scandal 1982: “Bid-rigging” campaign 1978: The collapse of the Kimura empire 1977: Kochan’s solo interview 1968: Enterprise at the entrance to the Sea of Japan (press photo) 1962: Achievements as a world roving correspondent 1960: The Heartbeat of the World 1958: Feature article on banishing “Kamikaze Taxis” 1957: Parent Search Campaign Newspaper Technology Award: Includes the Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award (former Technology Division) 2024: Asahi Shimbun and Hokkaido Shimbun Jointly Develop an Integrated Editing System FY2023: Development of a blanket recovery device FY2019: Reorganization of network infrastructure – Improving convenience and introducing new technologies – FY2018: Connecting readers and newspapers in real time – Development of “Hotaru,” a digital index analysis tool for editorial departments 2017:
Development of a Roller Recycler 2012: Toward an Era of Competition and Cooperation – Mutual Use of Color Proofs 2006: ATOM System – Building a Secure and Open Total System 2005: Practical application of FM screens for newspapers 1992: CTP (direct to plate) system – Research and establishment of basic technology and development of a practical machine 1987: Development and practical application of the basic system for an online addressing system 1986: Research and establishment of basic technology for transfer platemaking systems and development of practical equipment 1981: Development of a new newspaper editing and production system, “NELSON” 1960: Successful high-speed offset printing of daily newspapers 1957: The Arc Fax, a new communication device using a facsimile transmission system, was completed and put into practical use. Newspaper Management Award: Includes the Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association Award (formerly the Management and Business Division). 1959: Publication of a daily newspaper via facsimile
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