When a Japanese doctor living overseas directly appealed to Elon Musk to buy a Japanese television broadcaster, Musk reportedly responded by asking whether the government would permit it.
Japanese doctor living overseas Natsuki Aoi (夏樹蒼依) asked Elon Musk on social media to acquire a Japanese television broadcaster. Musk replied to the post with an American flag emoji.
Natsuki Aoi (夏樹蒼依) indicated an intention to point out that Japanese television broadcasters do not reflect the policies of the Japanese government, and appealed to Musk in English: “Please buy a Japanese television broadcaster and pull Japan out of this rotten information prison.”
Musk neither denied nor affirmed the request, replying, “Would the Japanese government permit me to do so?” The issues under discussion include Article 93 of the Broadcast Act, which restricts foreign nationals' voting rights, and the possibility of effective foreign control of a terrestrial television broadcaster. The article also notes that amendments to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act explicitly define the conditions under which foreign investors are subject to screening.
The article touches on the fact that the amendments to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act explicitly established screening for investments made under the control or influence of a foreign government or similar entity, and concludes that Musk's question can be interpreted as questioning the amended law's effectiveness.