Jun Okumura of GlobalTalk 21 has discovered that the Japan Times website no longer allows access to its Tokyo Confidential columns. Visitors who try to click on links to past columns are redirected to pages with the following message:

This article cannot be displayed because it is currently under editorial review. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Much like Mainichi’s WaiWai, Tokyo Confidential was a column that translated and reported odd stories from Japan’s sleazy tabloid magazines. However, the column was presented in a manner that made it very clear to readers that the articles cited were from sleazy tabloids, and I don’t feel that it produced the same level of confusion over credibility that Mainichi WaiWai column often did.

It’s probably safe to assume that the higher-ups at the Japan Times pulled all the articles from the site after hearing about Mainichi losing many of its advertisers over the WaiWai controversy.

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