Following its election victory the new government in Japan is trying to free the press which has been a kind of closed shop till now. Apart from a couple of years the LDP has been in power and developed a cosy relation with major publications. Only members of the press club had access to ministers and top civil servants and membership was denied to independent journalists or smaller publication. Now the government is trying to open up the press club to new members but is facing resistance. Minister of Financial services, Shizuka Kamei showed his displeasure by cutting short his meeting with the press club and holding a longer session with other journalists where it was much more unofficial and relaxed. For an Indian this is fantastic to read because the press in India continues to retain its chamcha status and the Congress party enjoys near immunity from examination. Indian journalists are footlicking freeloaders looking for handouts from ministers and are loath to mount any sustained campaign for honesty, openness or punishment for criminal politicians. Normally newspapers are very critical of the BJP choosing to vilify it at every opportunity yet not one journalist had the guts or character to support Tehelka. Had it not been for public outrage Manu Sharma, the murderer of Jessica Lall would have got off scot free. Sadly we have hundreds of newspapers, radio and tv channels but all are liars.