[g5095]

"Why the Japanese media has refused to identify the 'religious group' that formed the motive for the killing must remain as speculation at this juncture, though it reflects very poorly on Japan’s status as a democratic nation."

I'm struggling to understand the author's bias here (there clearly is one), are they claiming that the poor reflection on Japan as a democracy is:

- that the media has not reported an unsubstantiated 'speculation'? (sounds like good journalism?)

- that that politicians have religious beliefs? (separation of religion and state shouldn't forbid religious people holding office, just from mandating it)

- that the murderer was anti-religiously motivated? (sign of a hate crime)

[shard972]

The 3rd I believe. The point of the article is to show Abe's connection to the church through political alliances developed since his grandfather and the Japanese media is at some level seeking to downplay the prevalence of anti-religious extremism.