Animation discussion by the dialectic materialism 15（2015）

(Automatic translation used)

The Internet, citizen movements, and the structure that supports the Abe administration

In January 2015, a series of events occurred, including the Charlie Hebdo attack, the murder of Japanese hostages by ISIS, and the oppression and unjust arrest of citizens opposed to the construction of a new base and landfill at Henoko.
In particular, with regard to the Henoko issue, while major media did not report on it, ordinary citizens broadcast and spread information every day on Twitter and other platforms, and not only about Henoko, but also about issues such as nuclear power, the constitution, and war, they contact each other via the Internet to share, exchange, and disseminate information.
The lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear accident have created an environment in which various styles of demonstrations and protest movements that are in a sense easy to approach can be carried out with ease. Major media, who repeatedly dine with Prime Minister Abe, do not report on it, but instead ordinary citizens film, broadcast, record, and distribute it. They keep in touch through social media and comment sections on broadcasting sites, and send a flood of protest calls, faxes and emails to TV stations, government ministries, the ruling party and police stations, creating new styles one after another.
Since 3/11 (the Fukushima nuclear accident), our planet TV, IWJ and other citizen media, freelance journalists and citizen creators have been active on the Internet.*1
The citizen-produced alarm animation series "Uncle Genpachi and Tama" is still receiving over 500,000 hits in total. The use of small video devices such as projectors and pads, which have become more functional, is also remarkable in street demonstrations and protests. With the lifting of the ban on online elections, animation has been used more than ever before.
Steady research is also continuing on postwar magic lanterns that have animation elements (related to war and labor movements).
On the other hand, as if to resist this serious trend, the official study of late-night animation, also supported by companies, known as "moe," has become popular since 2000.

Copyright issues are still being actively discussed. The mounting reality and problems of copyright law, such as the excessively severe penalties for illegal downloading, are described in detail in books such as "Expression Activities and the Law" (Musashino Art University Press/2009, with Harada's cooperation) and "Why is Japan's Copyright Law So Strict?" (Jinbun Shoin/2011).

To help understand the new trends in movements that have emerged mainly since 3/11 (the Fukushima nuclear accident), there are many suggestive sources such as Tokyo Democracy Net, which was featured in the Asahi Shimbun, the Capital Anti-Nuclear Power Alliance, which has been organizing protests in front of the Prime Minister's Office for many years, and the multiple books and event records in which people who have started demonstrations and events since 3/11 have recorded their activities. I personally hope that these elements will lead to a more tolerant attitude that will help with future discussions of movements.

As if in sync with the machinations, political intervention, and collusion of business groups such as the Japan Business Federation, which began with the Doko Rincho, the organization rates of labor movements, citizen movements, left-wing movements, etc. continue to decline year by year. This trend is being spurred on by right-wing commentators who have no experience of war and the shadow forces of the Abe administration, who are building virtual communities by exploiting the weaknesses, vulnerabilities and blind spots of traditional labor movements, citizen movements and left-wing movements, and absorbing, increasing and utilizing young people who detest traditional citizen movements.A series of books such as "The Abe Administration's Internet Strategy" (Souhan Shinsho), "People Resisting Hate Speech" (Shinnihon Shuppan), "The Internet and Patriotism" (Kodansha), and "Your Wife is Patriotic" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha), as well as citizen meetings held by freelance journalists, have presented analysis of the problem and presented proposals.

*1 Recently, IWJ has shown signs of a change in its reporting stance, and caution is needed. Harada had supported IWJ as a member for many years, but recently resigned.