The digital rise of the Far Right in Japan

Hate speech, conspiracy theories, and fake news—today’s digital spaces are increasingly dominated by the messages of far-right extremists. While cyber racism and online radicalization have drawn growing attention, much remains unknown about the inner workings of far-right coordination online—especially outside of North America and Western Europe. The Digital Rise of the Far Right in Japan is the first volume to offer an in-depth, empirically grounded analysis of the far right in Japan, home to one of the world’s most active political internet communities. Focusing on Net-Uyoku —Japan’s online extremists— this volume draws on a rich set of original data, including large-scale surveys, archival research, social media data, ethnographic observations, and interviews. Contributors examine who these actors are, what they believe, how they operate, and how digital platforms both empower and limit far-right activism. This book advances the global study of the far right by theorizing the complex relationship between online and offline spheres—and the opportunities and constraints that structure far-right political engagement across both. This timely collection offers critical insight into the mechanisms of far-right influence and the challenges they pose to democratic societies.