A Comparative Analysis of US and Japanese News Reports on Whaling Suggests Strategies to Improve Bilateral Communication on Commercial Whaling in Japan

Abstract

Abstract Media coverage on controversial topics, such as whaling, presents opposing arguments that can shape public opinions. To investigate how the US and Japanese media portrayed Japan’s withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission, we examined 368 news reports on whaling from the US and Japan published during 2018 and 2019, concurrent with Japan’s withdrawal. We identified ten frequently used arguments and analyzed how they were deployed to support either the pro-whaling or anti-whaling stance. Unsurprisingly, Japanese reports were predominantly more pro-whaling than the US reports. Cultural differences alone did not fully explain these diverging stances and usage of arguments. Moreover, broader anthropocentric concerns and the interests of the two countries overlapped, suggesting that while the two countries have a shared awareness of anthropocentric perspectives, the communication problem lies in their diametrically opposed assertions regarding those topics. By analyzing the issue, we revealed the potential for mutual understanding between the US and Japan, which allowed us to propose possible solutions to improve diplomacy on this issue.