Cultural Background and Government Policy on Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories in Japan

This document is an incomplete essay intended to provide the cultural and political context behind the disinformation problem in Japan and the government's efforts to address it. The disciplined nature of the Japanese people is one aspect of their conformist culture. On the other hand, they have not developed sufficient critical thinking skills. Japan's disinformation problem is related to such a conformist culture. Despite calls for media literacy education, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) faces opposition from influential figures, which hinders its implementation. The educational system's emphasis on conformity over critical thinking has resulted in outdated "information morality education." Local governments and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) are striving to implement digital citizenship policies, but conservative opposition persists.