Japanese Man Sues TV Station For Being Too ‘Americanized’

A man recently sued a TV network in Japan for using too many English words in its programming.

Japanese broadcaster NHK is being sued by 71-year-old Hoji Takahashi for “undue mental stress” over the amount of foreign words he encounters on the channel. The pensioner said the overuse of English loanwords makes it hard for him to understand what’s going on.

According to The Times of India, Takahashi is seeking $14,000 in damages for NHK’s reliance on English over Japanese. Lawyer Mutsuo Miyata said his client believes the network is effectively promoting the “Americanization” of Japan.

“There is a sense of crisis that this country is becoming just a province of America,” Miyata said.

The Verge reports the Japanese man is suing the TV station because he feels they have broken a civil code. According to section 709, anyone who violates another person’s security or freedom is financially responsible for making it all better.

“He decided to file the suit because the broadcaster did not bother to reply to him. This is a matter of Japanese culture, the country itself, including its politics and its economy,” Hoji Takahashi’s lawyer explained.

After World War II, Japan developed a fascination with American culture. This resulted in many people borrowing words from the English language. Driving, trouble, and internet are just a few of the words that are used on a regular basis in the country.

Unfortunately for many Japanese people, the phonic structure of the language causes these borrowed words to sound like gibberish. Linguist Makoto Yamazaki told The Guardian that politicians are known to use trendy loan words in favor of the Japanese equivalent. Yamazaki believes this is a growing problem in Japan.

Takahashi’s lawyer said his client isn’t looking for a quick and easy payout. The man is a member of the Treat Japanese as Important Association, which frowns upon the reliance on borrowed words. NHK, meanwhile, has yet to comment on the situation since the case is currently pending.

What do you think about the Japanese man suing a TV station for overusing English and other borrowed words?

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