Traditional theories of Japanese-ness suggest that Japanese people value group relationships and tend to find self-worth in groups or relationships with others and may even become overly aware of what and how others think of them (excessive self-consciousness, or Jiishiki-kajō). There has been a great deal of research on this topic through sociological, anthropological, and psychological perspectives. Research often focuses on groups and relationships such as families, communities, schools, and workplaces. However, when the ‘self-other relationship’ is elevated to a relationship between ‘other countries and Japanese’, how could this private state of “excessive self-consciousness” be discovered and even be reinforced in Japanese society? Using a textual study on headlines, texts, and readers’ reception of Japanese mainstream and web media coverage of Kaoru Mitoma, a Japanese soccer rising star in Premier League, this paper argues that the Japanese media’s extensive coverage of Mitoma reflects that Japanese people attach to foreign opinions, especially praises. In a highly competitive and market-driven web news environment, the content of media coverage and the set-up of headline title often follow the interests and values of the public. This paper will therefore also point out that such media coverage, at the same time, reinforces the stereotype that Japanese people are overly self-conscious.

Authors:
Chi Hang Cho, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Mr Chi Hang Cho is a University Doctoral Student at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong

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