In the US in October 1972, the discovery of double-dealing by the president of the day caused the two journalists who broke the story to be elevated to hero status within the industry and the resignation of their country's leader Richard Nixon. In Japan six months earlier, a scandal similarly involving lies and cover-ups at the highest level of government had also been on the front pages.
But there the similarities ended. Whereas Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward won awards, wrote books and became household names, Takichi Nishiyama was taken to court, had to resign from the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper and went back to Fukuoka, where he helped run the family business for the next three decades.
Now a sprightly 75, he believes information discovered in the US national archives has vindicated his reporting of secret payments by Tokyo to Washington linked to the reversion of Okinawa to Japan.
Mr Nishiyama believes he is due an apology, but there is a larger issue at stake, he says.
'The Japanese government has lied and hidden the truth and it continues to do so,' he said. 'That is why I have filed my lawsuit. It's not important to clear my name. What is important is that people should know the government is acting in a way that threatens the fundamentals of our society, and the only way to fight that is through the courts.'
So far, his legal battle has had little success. On March 27, the Tokyo District Court rejected his demand for 33 million yen (HK$2 million) in compensation and an apology from the government on the grounds that an illegal conviction ended his career. The judge ruled that the 20- year statute of limitations on the case had expired.