Moral panic and scandal after the Abe assassination in Japan

Bibliographic Data

ID6446596
AuthorsMatthew M Carlson (0000-0002-5480-3277, University of Vermont, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume28
Issue2
Pages153-164
Publication date2025-07-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Administration and Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2517-679X • E-ISSN: 1727-2645
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1108/pap-12-2024-0197
OpenAlexW4411865711
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited9

Purpose The assassination of Japan’s former Prime Minister Abe Shinzō sparked the most significant public reaction to religion since the Aum Shinrikyō attacks in 1995. This paper investigates the reasons behind the intense public response to Abe’s murder and its connection to the South Korean-based Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly known as the Unification Church). It also examines how the ties between politicians and the church became a major scandal in Japanese politics from 2022 to 2023. Design/methodology/approach Utilizing the concepts of moral panic and scandal, this paper explores public reactions to the Unification Church and how politicians’ connections to the church became a major scandal. It also analyzes the implications of these reactions for Japanese politics, religion, and society. Findings This paper helped explain the intense public reaction to the Unification Church and the media-driven scandals that implicated conservative politicians. Moral panic frameworks highlighted the elements and reasons behind the reaction, emphasizing the pivotal roles of grassroots movements, interest groups, and political elites. The scandal focus emphasized the influence of the media and the role played by elites. Among the significant political and legal consequences, the public reaction weakened support for the Kishida government and prompted the parliament to enact new legislation. Originality/value This paper will be valuable to scholars and policymakers interested in the causes and consequences of moral panic and scandal, the connections between religious groups and politicians, and the significant political, legal, and social changes in Japan following Abe’s murder

Anxiety · Criminology · Moral panic · Panic · Psychiatry · Psychoanalysis · Crime, Deviance, and Social Control · Psychology

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