Extra Credit

Sponsors: Presented by the East Asia Center and the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies.

Speaker: Dr. Nathaniel Smith.
- Education: Received PhD at Yale, also holds an MA in International Relations from Masuda University, Tokyo.
- Current Position: Associate Professor at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan.
- Additional Role: Vice Dean of the College of International Relations.

Research Focus: Right wing groups in Japan.
- Has been researching these groups for approximately 20 years.
- Notable for conducting long-term ethnographic research and fieldwork.
Current Project: Titled "Kabukicho Renaissance," focusing on multiculturalism, marginality, and urban renewal in Tokyo.

Subject of Talk: Transition of right wing groups in Japan, particularly in the context of populism and digital media.
Purpose: To provide insights on the relationship between media, populism, and the mainstreaming of far-right politics.

Academic Background: Interest in right wing groups began during undergraduate studies in Japan.
- Notable observations: Right wing groups were visibly loud and aggressive, deploying sound trucks in major urban areas.
- Initial perception: Many believed Japanese people were apolitical and disinterested in politics, yet right wing groups contradicted this.

Initial Observations: Right wing activities appear intrusive without seeking to sway public opinion.
- Contrast with traditional forms of activism focused on persuasion.
Concepts of Nationalism: Discussion on normative vs. deviant nationalism.
- Right wing groups in Japan particularly engage with themes of historical grievances and identity.

Current Context: Rise of populist political figures inspired by Western far-right movements (e.g., Trump, AFD in Germany, Marie Le Pen in France).
- Example of a prominent political figure in Japan modeling himself after Trump.
Historical Context: Previous right wing groups existed but did not achieve significant electoral success in populist movements.

Discussion Points: The relationship between social media and the rise of populist movements.
- Arguments posited by scholars like Gerbato and Hopster regarding social media's role in popularizing right wing rhetoric.
- Social media allows marginalized voices to connect and challenge elite narratives.
Implications for Left Wing Groups: A perceived lack of success in similar infrastructures compared to right wing groups.

Insight into how right wing groups in Japan have utilized non-digital forms of media to establish their presence and activism.
- Practices included printed material, public demonstrations, and vehicular presentations.
Right wing groups laid foundational strategies that facilitated their transition to digital media later on.

Definitions of Three Cohorts:
- Old Right (Late 1950s-1970s):
- Characterized by Cold War dynamics; anti-communist.
- Associated with organized crime.
- Concerned with territorial issues and perceived leftist influence in education.
- New Right (Late 1960s-1970s):
- Engaged with student activism, critical of US Japan relations, and opposed the Vietnam War.
- Took a confrontational stance against perceived US imperialist actions.
- ACM (Action Conservative Movement) (2010s):
- Emerged with digital access; often criticized the older right for elitism or compromise with the state.
- Engaged greatly in online activism using digital platforms.

Print Media: Varied from academic works to right wing magazines and zines. Key forms include:
- Books: Published by activists and think tanks covering right wing ideologies.
- Magazines: Including Gekanshi (monthly) and Shukanshi (weekly), catering to different interest groups.
- Right Wing Newspapers: Created by active groups focusing on political advocacy and critique.

Understanding Activism through Vehicles: How physical vehicles serve as mobile platforms for propaganda and presence in political discussions.
- Activist vehicles often fitted with loudspeakers used during public demonstrations to amplify messages.
Public Speaking and Oratory: A long-standing tradition among Japanese right wing groups, creating a direct form of engagement with the public.

Overall Implications: The layering of analog and digital engagement methods contributes to the peculiar dynamics of Japanese right wing political identity.
Future Considerations: The ongoing evolution of right wing engagement strategies in the context of rapid technological change requires continual observation and analysis.