This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Maeda, N. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Influence of Kotodamaism on Japanese Journalism

Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, Japan, freesoulnaoki{at}hotmail.com

This study was conducted to investigate the way in which Japanese media is affected by ‘Kotodamaism’. Kotodamaism is a belief held by many Japanese people that words, sentences and conversations contain a spirit which can influence reality. While most Japanese people do not believe in the direct effects of Kotodamaism in today’s society, its applied effects have been observed not only in Japanese daily life but also in the media, which is required to report news as accurately as possible. Case studies provide an analysis of news stories from Japanese newspapers, one of which is compared to a British newspaper article. The study shows that Japanese mass media seems to be affected by Kotodamaism and that both Japanese media and the public may unconsciously accept distorted information that works against standards of accurate journalism.

Key Words: Japanese mass media • journalism • Kotodamaism • public opinion

Media, Culture & Society, Vol. 25, No. 6, 757-772 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0163443703256003


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. de Albuquerque Another 'Fourth Branch': Press and political culture in Brazil Journalism, November 1, 2005; 6(4): 486 - 504. [Abstract] [PDF]