Are 7 tons of 40 years of household waste in paper documents being handed out at once? Examining the “Diet customs” and their background [Spotlight] Investigative Reporting Project

This investigative report from the Fuji TV documentary team, part of its Spotlight project, looks at long-standing paper-based customs in Japan's National Diet. In a survey of younger lawmakers, the most frequently cited issues were the slow move to digital and the distribution of paper documents. The video states that budget-related materials are handed out at about 10 kg per lawmaker at once, exceeding 7 tons for all members. It also examines why reform has been slow.

• Younger lawmakers most often cited the slow shift to digital and the distribution of paper documents in a survey
• Budget-related materials are reported to be about 10 kg per lawmaker at once, over 7 tons for all members
• The report covers effects such as offices overflowing with paper and the reasons behind slow reform

国会には長年にわたり続く慣習やルールがある。 見直すべきものはないか、議員としての経験が浅い若手にアンケートを実施したところ、最も多かったのは、デジタル化の遅れと紙資料の配付。 調査を進めると、予算に関連する資料の場合、議員1人に約10kｇもの量が一度に配られるとわかったが、これは全議員で計７トン超、日本国民1人が約40年間で廃棄する家庭ゴミの量に相当する。 さらに、議員事務所の一室が書類であふれかえるといった“弊害”が起きていることもわかった。 国会に根強く残る“紙文化”の実態を明らかにし、改善が遅れている背景に迫った。 取材：フジテレビ政治部 伊地知英志、福田真子ほか