【Japan Times and GGR Co-hosted Webinar】Information Warfare: Democracy, Authoritarianism, and the Battle to Shape Public Perception
A video titled “Information Warfare: Democracy, Authoritarianism, and the Battle to Shape Public Perception,” co-produced by The Japan Times and the Institute for Global Governance Research (GGR), Hitotsubashi University, was released on March 27, 2024. In this video, Professor Tetsuro Kobayashi of Waseda University, Professor Maiko Ichihara of Hitotsubashi University, and Mr. Jonathan Soble from Kreab Tokyo engage in a discussion on whether Japan is an outlier in the disinformation age. They argue that Japan’s unique language, media culture, and attitude of not placing too much trust in online political statements have, as a result, coincidentally proven to be strong against anti-democratic influence campaigns. However, they also caution that Japan’s weak global communication skills, along with advances in disruptive technologies like generative AI, may expose the country to future threats. Professor Ichihara notes that the Japanese government’s communication style is relatively reactive, and in an era where social media quickly spreads emotionally charged information, it is essential for the government to adopt a more proactive approach to delivering messages filled with inspiration and positive emotions.
