In Dealing with Grassroots Activism, Active Response, Rather than Passivity, is the Correct Response
In recent news, the annual "slaughter" of dolphins in Japan's Wakayama Prefecture has been splashing headlines in many news outlets, drawing widespread criticism from manly Western audiences. The author feels particularly at home discussing this topic as his summer internship at Wakayama's municipal government, where he personally encountered whale-hunters and retailers, gave him a perspective on this previously little-known facet of Japanese tradition. And the author is a fan of whale meat, and possibly dolphin too, had he the chance to taste.
But personally anecdote aside, the significance of this round of protests across the world, differing from previous rounds made against annual hunts that also included similar-minded nations like Norway, is how fast it spread thanks to the power of social networks, and more importantly, how eerily silent the Japanese media and government have become in the face of ongoing public furor. It reminds the author of how the whale meat retailer back in Wakayama reminded him to not take pictures of whale meat on sale for fear of "sensitive backlash," perhaps the only censorship he ever faced in the country.
The Japanese are known for unwillingness to confront others in a form of conflict, a trait that the nation shares with many of its Asian neighbors. When faced with direct criticism, it has the tendency to ignore it, suppress it, and pretend the problem does not exist in a method pretty much akin to hunkering down until the storm passes. This explains why the news of international protests against dolphin massacre of this year is being completely ignored by the Japanese media, with practically zero coverage on the backlash from abroad. So, its citizens also have no knowledge of the criticisms.
It does not help either that domestic Japanese media traditionally place little emphasis on reporting issues of international importance, choosing to make comparatively inconsequential domestic news on the front pages despite world-changing breaking news abroad. Such a tradition only serve to create a strong false impression among the Japanese populace and government officials that the Japanese are a unique people that are different from all others outside the islands, and by association, cannot be truly understood by other peoples.
With such a line of logic, it probably makes sense to ignore the outrage against dolphin hunting. After all, foreigners cannot understand the Japanese anyways, so why bother put in useless efforts to explain this phenomenon. Unfortunately, this classic Japanese indifference to foreign opinions and matters can only serve to hurt Japanese national interests, at time when it seems to be locked into permanent tension with China and battling it across the world for diplomatic upper hand. International cooperation is not possible with a people that views themselves and their culture as uncompromisingly distinct.
The correct path of action that the Japanese ought to take is one of active defense in its favor. After all, hunting dolphins, in fundamentals, is not at all different from hunting wild deer or boars for meat, done in many of the so-called "civilized" countries. And it would be wise to stress the fact that limitations on how many and when to hunt, in the same way for seals in Arctic native cultures, ensure that the species and the habitats are not damaged. Silence toward criticism, on the other hand, only serve to create sense of guilt that can be further utilized by vocal online critics.
It is a lesson for all nations and global players, whether sovereign, corporate, or individual. Flat refusal to engage on matters of dispute never makes the issue go away over time. Especially on issues that make periodic appearances, as is the annual dolphin hunts, they will nag relations with others with every flair-up, until the issue is discussed and the ensuing PR battles won. Any belief of uniqueness is nothing but a condescending excuse to put a wall with others, giving impressions of hiding a crime that, then, give others further firepower for opposition an rage.
Such a small incident, in essence, is a clear illustration that the Japanese, along with many other international actors out there, have not adjusted well to the growing grassroots activist movements encompassing the world, strengthened and fueled by greater abilities to spread their platforms, beliefs, and accompanying information to a much wider audience at a speed much faster than before due to the advent of social networking and popular mass media. How top-level decision-makers react to the continued strengthening of low-level opinions will define their level of international support in the years to come.
But personally anecdote aside, the significance of this round of protests across the world, differing from previous rounds made against annual hunts that also included similar-minded nations like Norway, is how fast it spread thanks to the power of social networks, and more importantly, how eerily silent the Japanese media and government have become in the face of ongoing public furor. It reminds the author of how the whale meat retailer back in Wakayama reminded him to not take pictures of whale meat on sale for fear of "sensitive backlash," perhaps the only censorship he ever faced in the country.
The Japanese are known for unwillingness to confront others in a form of conflict, a trait that the nation shares with many of its Asian neighbors. When faced with direct criticism, it has the tendency to ignore it, suppress it, and pretend the problem does not exist in a method pretty much akin to hunkering down until the storm passes. This explains why the news of international protests against dolphin massacre of this year is being completely ignored by the Japanese media, with practically zero coverage on the backlash from abroad. So, its citizens also have no knowledge of the criticisms.
It does not help either that domestic Japanese media traditionally place little emphasis on reporting issues of international importance, choosing to make comparatively inconsequential domestic news on the front pages despite world-changing breaking news abroad. Such a tradition only serve to create a strong false impression among the Japanese populace and government officials that the Japanese are a unique people that are different from all others outside the islands, and by association, cannot be truly understood by other peoples.
With such a line of logic, it probably makes sense to ignore the outrage against dolphin hunting. After all, foreigners cannot understand the Japanese anyways, so why bother put in useless efforts to explain this phenomenon. Unfortunately, this classic Japanese indifference to foreign opinions and matters can only serve to hurt Japanese national interests, at time when it seems to be locked into permanent tension with China and battling it across the world for diplomatic upper hand. International cooperation is not possible with a people that views themselves and their culture as uncompromisingly distinct.
The correct path of action that the Japanese ought to take is one of active defense in its favor. After all, hunting dolphins, in fundamentals, is not at all different from hunting wild deer or boars for meat, done in many of the so-called "civilized" countries. And it would be wise to stress the fact that limitations on how many and when to hunt, in the same way for seals in Arctic native cultures, ensure that the species and the habitats are not damaged. Silence toward criticism, on the other hand, only serve to create sense of guilt that can be further utilized by vocal online critics.
It is a lesson for all nations and global players, whether sovereign, corporate, or individual. Flat refusal to engage on matters of dispute never makes the issue go away over time. Especially on issues that make periodic appearances, as is the annual dolphin hunts, they will nag relations with others with every flair-up, until the issue is discussed and the ensuing PR battles won. Any belief of uniqueness is nothing but a condescending excuse to put a wall with others, giving impressions of hiding a crime that, then, give others further firepower for opposition an rage.
Such a small incident, in essence, is a clear illustration that the Japanese, along with many other international actors out there, have not adjusted well to the growing grassroots activist movements encompassing the world, strengthened and fueled by greater abilities to spread their platforms, beliefs, and accompanying information to a much wider audience at a speed much faster than before due to the advent of social networking and popular mass media. How top-level decision-makers react to the continued strengthening of low-level opinions will define their level of international support in the years to come.
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