By Kunio Minato
The first imperial visit to Mongolia by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako was undoubtedly a landmark event in Japan–Mongolia relations. The Japanese media covered the imperial couple’s words and deeds every day in newspapers, on TV and on the Internet, from their arrival at Chinggis Khaan International Airport to their return to Japan. It is fair to say that Mongolia attracted more attention from Japan than ever before during the visit.
The question is how the Japanese people viewed the visit. Was it viewed positively or negatively? What lies behind public acceptance? As no opinion polls or surveys have been conducted on this visit so far, this blog post will address the question by reviewing both traditional media coverage and social media trends.
Traditional Media
From what I could see, the imperial visit was reported positively by most newspapers, news agencies and broadcasters. They emphasised the favourable relations between Japan and Mongolia, the friendly communication between the imperial couple and the Mongolians, and how the imperial visit contributed to deepening the relations. For example, TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) provided news coverage shortly after the imperial couple left Mongolia. During the broadcast, a reporter mentioned that Mongolia has buildings constructed by Japanese prisoners of war, as well as schools and infrastructure projects completed in recent years with Japanese aid, for which Mongolians expressed gratitude to the Emperor and Empress on many occasions during the visit. The reporter argued that the visit had the imperial couple realise how strong the ties are between Japan and Mongolia.
Above all, the couple’s visit to the monument for Japanese detainees attracted significant attention from the Japanese media. After World War II ended, more than 12,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians in Manchuria and the surrounding area were captured by the Red Army and sent to Mongolia. They were forced to work on construction sites in Ulaanbaatar, among other places. Around 1,700 people died during labour, but this is less well known in Japan than the detentions in Siberia.
Therefore, the visit by the Emperor and Empress was an epoch-making event in commemorating the victims of detention. The media provided substantial coverage of the visit to the monument, highlighting the Emperor and Empress’ respect for the victims by noting that they observed not only a minute’s silence but also bowed deeply. Some media outlets also reported on survivors’ reactions to the visit. One example is a documentary of a former detainee by Chukyo TV, a broadcaster in Nagoya, who had longed for the Imperial visit to the site where his comrades were once buried.
Overall, the media emphasised the historical significance of the imperial visit to Mongolia. The main focus was on the friendship between Japan and Mongolia observed during the visit, and the commemoration of Japanese detainees in Mongolia.
Social Media
Positive reactions in Japan to the visit in general can be observed in social media. ChatGPT provides the results of sentiment analysis of social media posts. The analysis covered approximately 150,000 posts on X (formerly Twitter) from 1 to 15 July. According to this analysis, 72% of the posts were categorised as having positive sentiments. Among these were posts emphasising the historical and diplomatic significance of the visit. The couple’s active engagement with Mongolians and their culture, such as the emperor’s joint performance as a violist with the Morin Khuur Orchestra and participation in shagai (anklebone) game in the Naadam Festival, fostered a sense of affinity. Additionally, the warm welcome and positive reactions from Mongolians, including former Mongolian Yokozuna grand champions, generated positive responses from Japanese social media users. There was a notable increase in posts between 6 July (the day of their arrival in Mongolia) and 10 July (the day they visited Shine-Mongol School, Gandantegchinlen Monastery and the Mongolian-Japanese Hospital).
The remaining posts were mainly categorised as ‘neutral’ (20% of the total), including those that shared official announcements and media reports. Posts expressing negative sentiment (8% of the total) were in the minority and questioned the cost-effectiveness of the visit and the validity of spending tax money on it. However, it should be noted that a generational difference was evident in the results: Younger generation (30 yrs old and less) were more likely to hold negative sentiments than middle-aged and senior adults (40 yrs old and more).
Background of the Response
The tone of Japanese media and social media posts was mostly positive regarding the imperial visit to Mongolia. This can be explained by two factors. Firstly, there is a supportive attitude in Japan towards the imperial family. A public opinion poll on the imperial family conducted by NHK (the Japanese public broadcaster) in 2019 shows that 72% of respondents said they were interested in the imperial family and 71% said they felt close to the family.
The positive attitude towards the visit was influenced by a sense of closeness to the family. Although there are controversial issues surrounding the imperial family, such as the succession system to the throne, the visit to Mongolia was not related to these issues.
The second reason is the peaceful relationship between Japan and Mongolia. Unlike other neighbouring countries, Japan does not currently have any political or historical problems with Mongolia. Furthermore, Japan does not have any territorial disputes with Mongolia (obviously!). Therefore, the imperial visit to Mongolia was much less controversial and unacceptable than visits to other neighbouring countries.
Conclusion
The imperial couple’s visit to Mongolia was widely welcomed by the Japanese public. The visit was hailed as an opportunity to commemorate the victims of World War II, as well as a way to strengthen the partnership between Japan and Mongolia. Although there was some criticism, it did not cause a stir or controversy in Japanese public opinion.
With the Upper House (House of Councillors) election just around the corner, political disputes and struggles are intensifying in Japan. Against this backdrop, the imperial couple’s visit to Mongolia offered heartwarming news that many Japanese people could share, regardless of their political and social differences and divisions.
About Kunio Minato
Kunio Minato is a Professor of the Faculty of Regional Collaboration at Kochi University, Japan. He has been watching Mongolian politics, economy, and external relations since the late 1990s.
