Talking Politics in Japan Today

This book focuses on the rhetoric used by members of the political elite and the news media in Japan as the core of political dynamics in this country. Based on the notion that political society is formed by language, and that in a broad sense the essence of politics is talk, this book examines the multifarious aspects of political discourse in Japan. The author investigates how political rhetoric varies according to the circumstances and intended visibility of events; the structure and focus of political news; the language and methods of information sources to disseminate information; and the tone of language used by Diet members and officials to shape the country's political culture.