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

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn 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.KEYWORDS: DepoliticizationcommunicationCMCtotalitarianismrightward leaning2channel Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 5channel, https://5ch.net (last access: January 25, 2023)2 For example, follow video have made a re-criticism to Western medias’ criticism of Covid-19 Policy of the Chinese Government. Guancha.cn(观察者网),【Understanding Something(懂点儿啥)48】Fang Fang’s Wuhan diary published, the familiar recipe has that taste (方方武汉日记出版，熟悉的配方有内味了). April 10 2020, https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1AT4y1G7rQ?share_source=copy_web (last access: January 25, 2023)Additional informationNotes on contributorsJunxiao YangJunxiao Yang is currently an Assistant Professor in the faculty of Letters, Arts and Science at Waseda University in Japan. He obtained his PhD in Literature from Waseda University. He writes critiques about literature, subculture, and media for general media, in addition to his academic research.