Constructing Imperial Identity: How to Quote the Imperial Family and those who Address them in the Japanese Press

Abstract

This article examines how speech representation in Japanese journalistic discourse reflects and reproduces the social structure in Japan and the identity of the Imperial Family. Japanese newspapers tend strongly to quote the Imperial Family verbatim, which supports the thesis `the higher the status of the speaker, the more direct the presentation' (Glasgow University Media Group, 1980; Davis, 1985). On the other hand, Japanese newspapers also tend to quote those who address the Imperial Family verbatim, which suggests that not only the more elite the speaker, but also the more elite the addressee, the more verbatim the presentation. I argue that this practice mirrors the Japanese media's ideology that the Imperial Family belongs to a noble class. However, there has been a sign of change in the quoting practice since the Crown Prince got married in June 1993. This change may contribute to constructing new power relations and identities in Japanese society.