Communication totalitarianism in Japan: ‘Decontextualisation’ and ‘Recontextualisation’ and the digital communication environment

Junxiao Yang*

*この研究の対応する著者

研究成果: Article査読

抄録

In Japan, young people are becoming increasingly apathetic about politics, while at the same time they are experiencing a rightward leaning and a growing sympathy for totalitarianism and authoritarianism. To understand this contradiction, we need to look at the digital communication environment in which they engage in political discourse. One of the most representative opinion leaders in this regard is Hiroyuki Nishimura. In recent years, Hiroyuki has become widely known as the ‘King of Refutation’ and is immensely popular among the young generation. He is very active in political and social issues, arguing in a logical and neutral manner. However, despite his enlightened mode of argumentation, his arguments have been perceived as accommodative to totalitarian and authoritarian perceptions. This paper argues that at the heart of this mode of refutation is a process of ‘decontextualisation’ and ‘recontextualisation’ which has resulted in reducing the complexity of the issue, making it comprehensible to the majority while oppressing minorities. And this mode of refutation and the processes of ‘decontextualisation’ and ‘recontextualisation’ are at the centre of the various digital communication platforms that he operates and that have become hubs of political communication around the world: 2channel, 4chan, Nico Nico Douga and YouTube clips. In this sense, the totalitarianism and rightward leaning of the young generation is not due to a specific ideology but is strongly conditioned by the communication environment. ‘Communication totalitarianism’ can be used to describe the totalitarianism and right-wing tendencies taking place in Japan.

本文言語English
ページ(範囲)105-122
ページ数18
ジャーナルCultural Studies
38
1
DOI
出版ステータスPublished - 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • カルチュラル スタディーズ
  • 人類学
  • 人文科学(その他)
  • 社会科学一般

フィンガープリント

「Communication totalitarianism in Japan: ‘Decontextualisation’ and ‘Recontextualisation’ and the digital communication environment」の研究トピックを掘り下げます。これらがまとまってユニークなフィンガープリントを構成します。

引用スタイル