A verdict was rendered in the sad case of local trainee (jisshuusei) convicted of abandoning the bodies of her stillborn twins. I have serious misgivings about the verdict but I’ll let you all read the article and decide for yourselves.

Rather, I’d like to make a few comments about an aspect of the coverage of this issue and others like it that I’m not happy with: the use of the words onna (女) and otoko (男) for most people deemed to be criminals. I say “most people” because the usage is not consistent but I’ll get to that point later. First, let’s look at how this has been covered in Japanese.

Here’s an example of coverage by TKU, a local TV station:

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8ba936ccb917f1b5ca3a20a8998d00178821a1a4

In the video (text is also available on the page), they refer to the accused as “ベトナム人技能実習生の女” (a Vietnamese trainee woman). The point is that they use “の女” (no onna) at the end. RKK used the same kind of expression. This kind of language expresses contempt. In normal polite discourse the terms 女性 (josei) and 男性 (dansei) are used. (By the way, if you say “あの女は” about some female person and you are overheard by a friend or supporter, well, as they say, “them’s fightin’ words” so watch your back.)

If the Japanese media were consistent in automatically expressing opprobrium in this manner toward all people who have been convicted of a crime, that would be one thing. In fact, however, the media exercise considerable discretion in regard to such expressions of disdain. The Japanese version of the Mainichi article, for example, doesn’t bother to use either “女” (onna) or “女性”. After all the gender of the person who gave birth is clear from the context so “Vietnamese trainee” is enough. The addition of “の女” by TKU was a sort of gratuitous “dis.”

Moreover, here’s an example of a person who is convicted of a more serious crime, murder, but is referred to with the more polite “男性” (dansei), not otoko:

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/20b0d3c6cfe54853ab0fb9e1e38974841a3d423d

What’s the difference? Well, the murderer once had the title “Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.” He was a powerful man with a high social position. So, even though he killed his son with a knife, he is still referred to as “dansei.”

It’s my observation that you are more likely to be called “onna” or “otoko” if you are a foreigner that is accused of a crime. Afterall, you are an easy target. Who would complain about your treatment in the media? The use of this language, particularly in regard to people who are accused but not yet convicted, makes me think that many in the Japanese media don’t care much about the presumption of innocence.

This rant has been brought to you by Kirk (60代の男)

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210721/p2a/00m/0na/027000c