Civility: Mannequin Flash Mob, Jitaku Keibi Tai, and the Future of Japanese Democracy

Abstract

This paper addresses the need for the idea of civility in Japan, specifically when assessing impacts and potential effects of contemporary social movements. In order to make this argument, the paper firstly scrutinizes its history and scholarly discussions of the idea among American communication scholars. Secondly, the paper reviews how the idea has been discussed in post-World War II Japan. As the paper confirms the scarcity of civility literatures in Japanese language, it attempts to excavate the idea of civility discussed in fields of politics and public communication. Thirdly, the paper analyzes two specific social movements in contemporary Japan; mannequin flash mob and jitaku keibi tai [home guards]. By and through the analysis, the paper explores the possibility of these new movements for appealing to the public as well as avoiding criticisms while maintaining civility.