Paper short abstract:

This research paper investigates how conspiracy theories, spirituality, and anti-vaccination activism were intertwined in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan through presenting an exploratory analysis focusing on activities of the anti-immunisation organisation YamatoQ-kai.

Paper long abstract:

This research paper investigates how conspiracy theories, spirituality, and anti-vaccination activism were intertwined in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. This exploratory analysis focuses on activities of YamatoQ-kai (henceforth YamatoQ), which originated in a group of conspiracy theory influencers including, Ichibei Okamoto, later transformed into a civil society organization (general incorporated association). YamatoQ's primary activities included the dissemination of anti-immunisation agenda through appropriation of US-born QAnon’s conspiracy rhetoric which was introduced to Japan in 2020. Empirically, although the rise of QAnon in Japan and its adherents’ engagement in pro-Trump, anti-science and anti-vaccination protests have been noted, the more recent and institutionalised branches, such as YamatoQ, remain unexplored. Hence, the presented paper strengthens scholarly explorations of Japanese offshoots of QAnon and its contribution to promoting anti-science attitudes in society.

Utilising selected concepts from Social Movement Theory (framing and advocacy), and the concept of “conspirituality (Ward and Voas 2011) and “conspiracy theory entrepreneurship” (Harambam 2020) we analyse the following set of issues. First, we discuss how YamatoQ’s anti-vaccination messages were framed for broader consumption by Japanese audiences, including how they were “domesticated” through introducing elements from Japanese spirituality and culture. Second, we explain what tactics were utilised to disseminate anti-vaccination narratives rooted in conspiracy theories, and how they were deployed. Finally, we assess how far wider societal and political spheres in Japan were impacted by YamatoQ’s activism. Here, we will assess the arrests and subsequent indictments of members of YamatoQ from the point of view of the state’s responses to conspiracy theories-related activism and potential impact of judicial proceedings on the future operations of YamatoQ.

In sum, by applying content analysis to online posts on the organization’s homepage and journalistic reports on the organization, we illuminate underlying implications of the conspiracy theorists’ activism and demonstrate how it has adopted QAnon’s claims while taking a Japanized form to establish itself as a premier anti-vaccine organization in the country.