Abstract
This chapter focuses on the reactions of society and government institutions in Japan regarding contemporary environmental problems. It thematizes three keywords and their interconnectedness with each other: “Environmental policies” in a more contemporary setting, “civil society mobilization” with their roots and today’s impacts, and “media” with a strong emphasis on social media. The examples discussed here are COVID-19, the ramifications of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe, and the Olympic Games 2020/2021 after a short introduction to the history of civic movement in Japan. The overall aim is to pave the way for further research regarding contemporary environmental issues in Japan. In conclusion, this chapter reinforces the notion that Japanese civil society participation is not yet sufficiently impactful to make a lasting impression on Japanese lawmakers despite being confronted with pressing environmental issues.
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Mohr, T. (2023). Aspects of Civil Engagement, Media, and Environmental Issues in Japan. In: Briesen, D., Das, S.P. (eds) Media, Politics and Environment. Springer Studies in Media and Political Communication. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31252-6_15
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