Choose Life Project

Choose Life Project (CLP) is a Japanese internet news and video project launched in July 2016 by journalists including Hiroshi Saji, a former director at TBS's "Hodo Tokushu," and Takeshi Kudo, a former director at TBS's "NEWS23." The project began as a volunteer group producing get-out-the-vote videos featuring celebrities, motivated by low voter turnout in national elections. Over time, it expanded into live discussion programs, National Diet commentary videos, court reporting, and online symposia, often with a liberal editorial stance. In July 2020, the project was incorporated as CLP Inc. (株式会社CLP), with Saji as representative director. It raised over 30 million yen through crowdfunding on CAMPFIRE, far exceeding its 8 million yen goal, and established a citizen supporter system to fund ad-free "public media." The organization produces programs such as "ChooseTV," "Choose University," "Radio to Seriously Think About Society," and "Climate Dictionary TV." In January 2022, a funding scandal emerged: it was revealed that CLP had received over 10 million yen from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) through an advertising agency between March and August 2020, before its crowdfunding campaign, without disclosing this to supporters. Saji resigned as co-representative, and activities were suspended. After about ten months, in September 2022, Saji announced the resumption of activities. In July 2024, Saji announced a hiatus due to health issues. CLP positions itself as a "public media" outlet independent of advertising, supported by citizen sponsors. Its mission is to create media with and for citizens, empowering them to build a free and fair society. The project has received a nomination for the Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Waseda Journalism Award and won the Social Good Award at the CAMPFIRE Crowdfunding Awards 2020.

Choose Life Project was founded in July 2016 by Hiroshi Saji, a former director at TBS's "Hodo Tokushu," Takeshi Kudo, a former director at TBS's "NEWS23," and a third journalist identified as "A." The three were motivated by frustration with the constraints of objective, neutral, and impartial reporting in television news, which they felt prevented in-depth coverage of political and social issues. They started by producing interview videos featuring celebrities calling for voter turnout, under the name "Choose Life Project," meaning "we choose for ourselves." In December 2019, CLP released its first talk program, Choose TV's "To Keep Reason in This Crazy Country." In March 2020, Saji left TBS Sparkle. In April 2020, Saji met with CDP Secretary-General Tetsuro Fukuyama through the introduction of GENAU, and funding was decided. In May 2020, CLP aired a series on the Public Prosecutors Office Act amendment, featuring journalists and opposition politicians, which contributed to the bill's eventual abandonment. In June 2020, CLP hosted the first online debate among major candidates for the Tokyo gubernatorial election after the official announcement. In July 2020, CLP was incorporated as CLP Inc., with Saji as representative director. A crowdfunding campaign on CAMPFIRE raised over 30 million yen, far exceeding the 8 million yen goal. In August 2020, Saji informed Fukuyama of the end of funding, and CDP funding ceased. In January 2021, the official website was launched, supporter recruitment began, and "Choose University" was inaugurated. In July 2021, Kudo became a director of CLP Inc. In November 2021, CLP streamed an online debate with candidates in the CDP leadership election. In January 2022, a funding scandal erupted when five individuals published a protest letter revealing that CLP had received over 10 million yen from the CDP as "program production fees" through an advertising agency between spring and autumn 2020, without disclosing this to crowdfunding supporters. Saji admitted the funding, apologized, and resigned as co-representative. Activities were suspended. In July 2022, an external expert investigation report was published. In September 2022, Saji announced the resumption of activities. In December 2023, new programs "Radio to Seriously Think About Society" and "Climate Dictionary TV" began. In July 2024, Saji announced a hiatus due to health issues. Throughout its history, CLP has produced a wide range of content, including live discussion programs, National Diet commentary videos, court records, and online symposia. It has featured numerous politicians, scholars, journalists, entertainers, musicians, film directors, writers, and activists. The project has been nominated for the 20th Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Waseda Journalism Award and won the Social Good Award at the CAMPFIRE Crowdfunding Awards 2020.

• Founded as a volunteer group by Hiroshi Saji, Takeshi Kudo, and A.

• First talk program, Choose TV's "To Keep Reason in This Crazy Country," released.

• Hiroshi Saji leaves TBS Sparkle.

• Saji meets CDP Secretary-General Tetsuro Fukuyama; funding decided.

• Choose TV series on the Public Prosecutors Office Act amendment aired.

• Hosted first online debate among major candidates for Tokyo gubernatorial election.

• Incorporated as CLP Inc.; Saji becomes representative director; crowdfunding begins.

• Saji informs Fukuyama of end of funding; CDP funding ceases.

• Official website launched; supporter recruitment begins; "Choose University" opens.

• Takeshi Kudo becomes director of CLP Inc.

• Streamed online debate with candidates in CDP leadership election.

• Funding scandal erupts; Saji resigns as co-representative; activities suspended.

• External expert investigation report published.

• Activities resumed.

• "Radio to Seriously Think About Society" and "Climate Dictionary TV" begin.

• Representative Saji announces hiatus due to health issues.

Independent, citizen-sponsored public media aiming for a free and fair society, without advertising.

• ChooseTV

  Live discussion programs and news commentary on current affairs.

• Choose University

  Programs for learning about universal themes.

• Radio to Seriously Think About Society

  Radio program reviewing weekly news.

• Climate Dictionary TV

  Program about climate-related terms and issues.

1. 1CLP - 自由で公正な社会のために - 公共のメディアをめざすcl-p.jp
2. 2CLPとは？cl-p.jp
3. 3Choose Life Project - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
4. 4Choose Life Project - Wikidatawikidata.org