Symposium: Cultural Communication – New Communication Tools and the Future of International Relations

1. Social Media Users
in Japan-China Relations
Masahiko Shoji shoji@glocom.ac.jp
Assistant Professor, Senior Research Fellow
Center for Global Communications (GLOCOM), International University of Japan
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2. Viewpoint
• Diversity of “Information Societies”
– Comparative institutional analysis approach
– Mechanism: Relationship between 3 sectors
• Government
• Enterprises
• Civil Society / Culture
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3. Viewpoint
• “Information Society” is appearing all over the
world.
• On the other hand, there are some varieties of
Information Societies.
• Diverse Information Societies interact with
each other.
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4. Who leads Information Societies?
Suits
Hackers
World Economic Forum/
CC BY 2.0
Geeks /
Otaku
LINUXMAG.com/
CC BY SA 3.0
Smart
Mobs
6th of April Youth Movement
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5. Chinese Information Society
• Gag by the Government
– Great Firewall
– Tens of thousands of internet police
– Self-regulation
• Importance of “Word of Mouth”
– People collect and validate information
– Accelerating by Internet
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6. Chinese Information Society
• Active discussions on the web.
• Linkage with off-line activities
– Anti-Japan Demonstration
– Torch Relay for Olympic Games
– Anti corruption movement in many cities
• Government
– Maintain a delicate balance
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7. Japan – China Relations and
Internet Users
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8. Japan – China Relations
CHINA
JAPAN
Government
Enterprises
Civil Society
/ Culture
Politically
cool, Economically
hot
Mass Media
Nationalism
Cultural Interest
関心
Internet Users
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9. Anti-Japan Demonstrations(2005)
• Issue
– Approval of a history
textbook
– Permanent seat on the
UN Security Council
• Results
©AP
– Businesses with
connections to Japan
were vandalized by
protesters.
– Some Japanese people
in China were injured.
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10. Anti-Japan Demonstrations(2005)
• Internet users
– China: DOS attacks to Japanese government’s web sites
and the major internet BBS.
– Japan: posted many anti communist party comments and
sexy photos on the Chinese major internet BBS.
• Saaya Irie
– “Her photo stopped Anti-Japan attack”
• Weekly BUNSHUN magazine(2005/5/19)
http://vipmomizi.jog.buttobi.net/cgi-bin/ChinavsVIP.htm
Source: unknown10

11. FT
(2005/04/14)
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12. Anti-Japan Demonstrations(2005)
• In reality, Some Japanese internet users also
did DOS attack to the major BBS.
• Chinese Government support people
– "The Japanese government had hurt the feelings
of the Chinese people"
– "Demonstration and attack are natural expression
of feelings of the people"
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13. Senkaku Boat Collision Incident(2010)
YouTube
The guardian.com
• Chinese government cancelled official meetings of ministerial
level.
• China halted exports of rare earth minerals to Japan. (China
denied it)
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14. Senkaku Boat Collision Incident(2010)
• Internet Users
– 日本鬼子
Hinomoto Oniko,
– Japan: Internet users
create new characters
from Chinese derogatory
term to Japanese people
– China: introduced manga
community sites, and
Taiwan / Hong Kong
media.
Source: unknown14

15. 15

16. 16

17. Michael Anti
• Chinese
Journalist, Famous
Blogger / Tweeter
• Tweet in English to the
world
• Stayed Japan
(2010, Oct-Dec)
By Shizhao
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18. Yoshikazu Kato
• Author, Student in Beijing
University.
• Speaks fluent Chinese
• commentator about
Japan at Chinese TV
programs
• Columnist on ＦＴ
Chinese edition
http://katoyoshikazu.com/
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19. Sora Aoi
• Porn star / actress
• Popular in China, South
Korea and other Asian
countries
• Communicate with her fan
on Twitter and Weibo in
English, Chinese, and
Korean.
• Charity activities for people
damaged by earthquake in
China
http://www.aoisola.net/
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20. CNN(2010/08/17)

21. Nationalization of
Senkaku Islands(2012)
• Results
– Furious Demonstrations
all around the nation.
• over one hundred cities
Source: unknown
• over 10 thousand people
participated the
demonstration at the
largest cities.
– Chinese government
officially objected.
From Asahi-shimbun
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22. Nationalization of Senkaku Islands(2012)
• Internet Users
– China: “Diaoyu Islands
belong to China, and
Sora Aoi belong to the
world!”
• They were serious in
2005, but not in 2012
• They understand much
about Japan
• Some messages are not
for Japan, and enjoyed
the occasion
Source: unknown22

23. 23
Source: unknown

24. Source: unknown24

25. Sina weibo
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26. Nationalization of Senkaku
Islands(2012)
• Japan: Serious action
– Anti-China
Demonstrations
– Hate speech
Source: unknown26

27. Current Situation
• Internet Users
– Asahi Kun by Asahi
Shimbun
– Hatsune Miku concert in
Hong Kong / Taiwan
• Dispute among liberals
– “We need reform, not
revolution” (Han Han)
• 微信(We Chat)
Hatsune Miku in Hong Kong/ Taiwan
Source http://asianbeat.com/ja/jjj/jjj025.html
©SEGA/©Crypton Future Media, Inc. Graphics by SEGA/MARZA ANIMATION PLANET IN
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Organized by MIKUPA Overseas Partnership

28. Social Media Users
in Japan-China Relations
• 3 sectors differently interacted each other.
– Anti-Japan Demonstrations(2005)
– Senkaku Boat Collision Incident(2010)
– Nationalization of Senkaku Islands(2012)
• Governments relationship did not recover.
• Some Japanese users became more emotional, and lost a
sense of fun.
• Chinese users understood Japanese culture more, and
some became cynically to nationalistic action.
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29. Social Media Users
in Japan-China Relations
• Importance of viewpoint of Civil Society /
Culture relations especially social media users’
behavior.
• Need more effort for understanding each
other on the web.
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