Ofer Feldman

Media use as predictors of political behavior : the case of Japan

This paper attempts to observe media effects on the political knowledge, behavior, and interest of the Japanese younger generation. Employing a sample collectedfrom more than 1100 students in four universities in Japan, the discussion focuses on measuring exposure, attention to and reliance on newspaper and television separately; this enables analysis of certain associations related to specific media in comparison to others regarding political cognition and interest. The findings show that, more than television variables, attention and exposure to print media are the strongest predictors of knowledge, behavior, and interest among Japanese students.

Culture or Communicative Conflict? The Analysis of Equivocation in Broadcast Japanese Political Interviews

The focus of this article is on equivocation in Japanese televised interviews, broadcast over a 14-month period in 2012-2013 (before and after the general election of December 16, 2012). An analysis was conducted of responses to questions by three different groups (national politicians, local politicians, and nonpoliticians). Results showed a striking level of equivocation by both national and local politicians, who together equivocated significantly more than nonpoliticians. Furthermore, national-level Diet members equivocated significantly more than local politicians, and both coalition groupings when in power were significantly more likely to equivocate than when in opposition. The results were interpreted in terms of the situational theory of communicative conflict and also in terms of cultural norms characteristic of Japanese politics and society. The failure to consider the role of such norms, it is proposed, represents an important omission in the original theory of equivocation.

Are Nativists a Different Kind of Democrat? Democratic Values and “Outsiders” in Japan

This paper combines three elements: a discussion of democratic values and the status of outsiders in Japanese political culture, the development of new measures to examine sensitive issues of nativism and foreigner perception in Japan, and an empirical exploration of the relationship between democratic values and antipathy toward outsiders. Two forms of democratic orientation were investigated in a sample of about 1,000 university students in Japan: a defensive version, which adheres to the formalistic requirements of democracy but is exclusionary and illiberal, and a universalist version that is liberal and tolerant. A defensive orientation is associated with greater chauvinism, a greater sense of threat emanating from foreigners, and a heightened anxiety about economic competition. A universalist orientation is associated with low perceived threat and low chauvinism, a lack of fear of economic competition, and a positive view of the cultural contributions of outsiders. Nativism may indeed be compatible with democratic values, but only with the defensive, exclusionary form. In short, the defensive form is democracy for xenophobes. Such an orientation is not unique to Japan, but is likely to be found in developing democracies as well as in advanced democracies that feel threatened.

Invitations to Affiliative Audience Responses in Japanese Political Speeches

This article reports the first investigation outside the United Kingdom of rhetorical devices used by political speakers to invite applause. Fourteen techniques for inviting affiliative audience responses were identified from 36 speeches delivered during the 2005 Japanese general election. Notable differences in audience reactions between the two cultures were observed: In response to Japanese speeches, there was an absence of isolated applause and a greater diversity of affiliative responses (laughter and cheering, as well as applause). Seven rhetorical devices identified as implicit applause invitations in British speeches were used by the Japanese politicians, but accounted for only 29% of applause incidents and 17% of all affiliative responses. A distinction between implicit and explicit rhetorical devices is proposed for future cross-cultural research on audience reactions to political speeches: In this study, explicit invitations received the highest proportion of applause incidents (68.1%) and of all affiliative audience responses (71.2%).

The Political Personality of Japan: An Inquiry into the Belief Systems of Diet Members

This paper details and analyzes the linkage between personality and politics in Japan. It reports on a study designed to explore a specific dimension of the political personality in Japan, namely dogmatism, and to consider its significance for political behavior. It replicates the research method utilized by DiRenzo (1977)--the Rokeachs Dogmatism Scale-which centered on American and Italian politicians, to examine how open or closed to change the belief systems of Japanese Diet members are. Employing a sample collected in 1993from 110 newly elected Diet members andfrom close to 1, 000 citizens, the discussion focuses on measuring dogmatism of Diet members and nonpoliticians; on the relationship between dogmatism, party affiliation or support, and ideological orientations; and on the extent to which several sociocultural aspects affect the dogmatism of Diet members.

Political Reality and Editorial Cartoons in Japan: How the National Dailies Illustrate the Japanese Prime Minister

This report of a content analysis details how editorial cartoons in two Japanese national dailies illustrated six recent Japanese prime ministers during their first three months in office. The findings reveal the growing importance the media allocate to the national political leader as a source of political information and coverage. Nevertheless, the prime minister appears as a passive man who lacks leadership qualities, reflecting to a certain extent the weak position the prime minister has in Japanese politics.

Political attitudes and the news media in Japan: Effects of exposure and attention to the news media on political involvement and disapprobation

Based on data gathered from more than 3,000 adults (voters) from all parts of Japan, this study focuses on the extent to which contact with the news media affects political attitudes. The study analyses three media consumption variables: exposure to print and broadcast media in general, attention to their political coverage and political content use, and their relationship with political involvement and disapprobation variables. The results show that there is a strong association within—and between—mass media variables; that contact with both newspapers and television is significantly related to political attitude variables; and that there is great similarity in the way both news media channels affect individuals in Japan.

Substance and Method in Cultural and Crosscultural Political Psychology

The important relationship of substance to method was a key insight in the development of the social sciences. Focus on the many different techniques developed — surveys, experiments, focused interviews — shared two common purposes. Primarily, they were designed to make our analyses more systematic and reliable. However, they also had the effect, in time, of making us more self-consciously aware of the advantages and limitations of the ways in which we gather information in support of them. This being the case, it was natural to ask whether it was possible to try and revitalize a founding tradition for a new subfield in political psychology without saying anything about method. We thought the answer to that question had to be no if (a) there was anything distinctive about studying culture, as opposed to say political attitudes, values, and so on, (b) there was anything distinctive about studying politics in different cultural contexts, or (c) there were any particular limitations or opportunities for the researcher who examines culture politically which have implications for theory and/or methods.

‘Ducking and Diving’: How Political Issues Affect Equivocation in Japanese Political Interviews

This paper examines how Japanese leading politicians cope with the communication problems posed during televised political interviews. Based on data gathered during the year 2012–13, the paper replicates and modifies the Theory of Equivocation to detail the responsiveness of national and local level politicians (and for comparison also of non-politicians) to interview questions. Its main focus is on the extent to which Japanese politicians equivocate during televised programs, and the reasons underlying this equivocation. Overall, the paper aims to identify the motives behind interviewees’ equivocation, thereby to also assess the significance of these talk shows in the broader context of political communication in Japan.

Cultural Nationalism and Beyond: Crosscultural Political Psychology in Japan

Japan’s cultural heritage, historical experience and ethnic and linguistic homogeneity reinforced by geographical isolation offer a fascinating opportunity for cultural and crosscultural research into human political behavior and attitudes. With Japan celebrating 50 years since the end of the World War II, it has also experienced in the last few years social and political confusion and fluidity. Japan now faces issues it has rarely faced before, which will require new and perhaps far-reaching economic, political and administrative reforms. It does so, however, with a cultural psychology that is deeply embedded in its political and social practices.