“Cultural Exceptionalism” in the Global Exchange of (Mis)Information around Japan’s Responses to Covid-19

Jamie Matthews

doi:10.17645/mac.v8i2.3229

Abstract

Despite reporting early cases, Japan’s infection rates of Covid-19 have remained low. This commentary considers how a discourse of cultural exceptionalism dispersed across the networked global public sphere as an explanation for Japan’s low case count. It also discusses the consequences for wider public understanding of evidence-based public-health interventions to reduce the transmission of the coronavirus.

Highlights

Issue This commentary is part of the issue “Health and Science Controversies in the Digital World: News, Mis/Disinformation and Public Engagement” edited by An Nguyen (Bournemouth University, UK) and Daniel Catalan (University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain)
While there has been an uptick in Covid-19 cases in Japan in recent weeks, prompting prime minister Shinzo Abe to declare a nationwide state of emergency on April 16, infection rates have remained low
Many acknowledge that without widespread testing it is difficult to ascertain the extent of Covid-19 in Japan, which at 1.41 tests performed per 1,000 people is lower than many other advanced market economies (Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2020)

Summary

Introduction

Issue This commentary is part of the issue “Health and Science Controversies in the Digital World: News, Mis/Disinformation and Public Engagement” edited by An Nguyen (Bournemouth University, UK) and Daniel Catalan (University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain). This commentary considers why this discourse emerged, both within and outside of Japan, and how these cultural explanations dispersed across the networked global public sphere during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Results

Conclusion