Conspiracy theories and the Covid-19 pandemic in Japan
The rise, radicalization, and fall (?) of YamatoQ-kai
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15100240 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yoko Demelius (0000-0002-3115-2731, University of Turku, corresponding author), Kamila Szczepanska (0000-0001-9746-2487, University of Turku) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 149-168 |
| Publication date | 2024-09-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Science Japan Journal (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1369-1465 • E-ISSN: 1468-2680 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/ssjj/jyae003 |
| OpenAlex | W4400604395 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 33 |
This article investigates how conspiracy theories, spirituality, and resistance against pandemic-mitigation measures became intertwined during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in Japan. Utilizing selected concepts from social movement theories (SMT), this case study-driven exploratory analysis focuses on the activities of YamatoQ-kai, a civil society organization that originated in a group of conspiracy-theory influencers and whose activities included the dissemination of an anti-immunization agenda. By analysing online posts on the organization’s homepage and journalistic reports on the organization, the article illuminates the underlying implications of the conspiracy theorists’ activism and demonstrates how the group adopted QAnon’s conspiracy rhetoric whilst taking a Japanized form. Second, it explains YamatoQ’s pivotal place amongst the Japanese societal actors espousing vaccine-hesitant attitudes. Finally, it shows how the group—as an unconventional case of conspirituality—created tangible experiences for followers and demonstrates the affective impact of group solidarity. In this way, the article’s findings contribute to closing the research gaps in scholarship on conspiracy theories, vaccine scepticism, and conspirituality
Civil society · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · Epistemology · Media studies · Pandemic · Political science · Politics · Radicalization · Skepticism · Social movement · Social movement theory · Sociology · Solidarity · Terrorism · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Law · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
NGOs and social movement theory
Discourse and Frame Analysis
Mapping global trends in vaccine confidence and investigating barriers to vaccine uptake
The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements
The Politics Of Social Protest
Clones and zombies
Covid Conspiracy Theories in Global Perspective
Determinants of Covid-19 vaccine preference
Newspaper coverage before and after the HPV vaccination crisis began in Japan
Conspiracy theories and social movements studies
How conspiracy theorists argue
Constructing alternative facts
Alt. Health Influencers
The Emergence of Conspirituality
The recovery of protest in Japan
Overcoming political distrust
Conspiracy Theories
The horror of communication
Remarks on conspiracy theory entrepreneurs
Seeking Security in the New Age
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |