, often shortened to , is a term used to refer to Japanese people who espouse ultranationalist and far-right views online. It shares similarities with right-wing populist and alt-right ideologies found in the West, and is considered a precursor to the latter.
Origins The fallout of the Lost Decades led to significant socioeconomic changes from the bubble asset led to general distrust and decline of national morale within Japanese society. Nationalism became more prominent in the early 2000s when North Korea officially admitted to abducting Japanese citizens and the introduction of the Korean Wave in Japan. In an attempt to lash out from the constant frustration, social anxiety, and distrust on national coverages from the mainstream media, netizens displaced their xenophobic and ultranationalistic attitudes through online bulletin boards and forums.
According to journalist Go Watanabe, the term refers to people who express extreme views like xenophobia on the internet. Sociologist Daisuke Tsuji states that while there is no strict definition, the term generally refers to users who make conservative and xenophobic posts or disseminate information, and that some distinguish between "Netto-Koshi" (Net conservatives) and "Netto-Uyo," particularly when the xenophobic tendencies are less pronounced.Daisuke Tsuji, "The Connections of Netto-Uyo," Community Encyclopedia, Shunpuusha, June 30, 2017, first edition, , pages 276-277. Koichi Yasuda remarks that people who promote "patriotism", "anti-Korean," "anti-China," and "anti-leftist" views through online forums are generally referred to as Netto-Uyo.Koichi Yasuda, The Internet and Patriotism – Chasing the "Darkness" of the Zaitokukai, Kodansha, April 17, 2012, first edition, , page 44.
While the term is often used with negative connotations, Hiroyuki Seto actively identifies as a "Netto-Uyo",Masaki Ito, A Historical Sociology of Right-wing Internet Users: The Underground History of the 1990s-2000s, Seikyusha, August 14, 2019, first edition, , page 232. and activist Makoto Sakurai has used it as the title of his book.Makoto Sakurai, Netto-Uyo Goes to America: Japan's Netto-Uyo Engage in Their First Battle with U.S. Politicians!, Kindle edition, Nihon Ichi Publishing, May 30, 2018. Similarly, Kobe City Council member Yuji Okada has stated, "I am a Netto-Uyo. I take pride in being a Netto-Uyo. I'm not particularly right-wing or left-wing, nor do I call myself a conservative. I'm just a Netto-Uyo". Thus, some individuals embrace the term "Netto-Uyo" themselves, and its interpretation varies widely.
According to Daisuke Tsuji, the term "Netto-Uyo" spread as an internet slang around the year 2000, and according to Masaki Ito, the terms "Netto-Uyo" or "Netto-Uyo" became widely used in the mid-2000s.Ito (2019), page 15. Additionally, Masami Shiba states that the phenomenon of "Netto-Uyo" emerged in the early 2000s, around the same time that internet communication through anonymous message boards like 2channel began to spread.Masami Shiba, Anti-Intellectualism in Modern and Contemporary Japan: From the Emperor's Organ Theory Incident to the Net Right-wing, Akashi Shoten, July 31, 2019, first edition, , page 12. Furthermore, Kunio Suzuki notes that the term "Netto-Uyo" had become common by at least the 2000s."When Did 'Netto-Uyo' Appear?" Kunio Suzuki, A Book That Helps You Understand the Mysteries of "Right-wing" and "Left-wing", PHP Research Institute, August 7, 2014, first edition, , page 67.
According to Toshinao Sasaki, when people with left-wing or anti-Japanese views make statements on internet message boards or blogs, they often face a storm of critical comments. Left-wing individuals, frustrated by this, began to protest, claiming that organized Netto-Uyo groups were carrying out coordinated disruptive actions. This is considered the origin of the term."The Concept of 'Netto-Uyo' is a New Conservative Public Opinion" Sankei Shimbun, May 8, 2005, page 18. In an Asahi Shimbun article titled "The Structure of Shrinking," it is noted that the term "Netto-Uyo" had been used on the internet for several years, referring to people who repeatedly post or comment on ideas that oppose their own. Since most of these opinions are based on right-wing ideologies, they came to be called "Netto-Uyo"."The Structure of Shrinking 6: Flaming, Using Other People's Blogs as a Vent," Asahi Shimbun, May 5, 2006, page 26.
Yoshihiko Inagaki listed "Netto-Uyo" in the "Word Watch" section of Contemporary Words and Basic Knowledge 2011.Yoshihiko Inagaki, "Word Watch: Words Found This Year," Contemporary Words and Basic Knowledge 2011, Jiyu Kokuminsha, January 1, 2011, , page 1258.
The earliest confirmed use of the term "Netto-Uyo" dates back to April 29, 1999, in a post introducing the newly formed Netto-Uyo group Tetsusenkai,ngc2497 "History of the Term 'Netto-Uyo'" which is slightly earlier than the establishment of 2channel (now 5channel).
Views
The netto-uyoku have viewpoints that are emboldened via interacting with other people who share the same perspective.
They generally express support for historically negationist views that portray the former Empire of Japan in a positive light and denies or minimizes Japanese war crimes during World War II, while maintaining negative sentiments towards countries that have diplomatic tensions with Japan, specifically North and South Korea, China (anti-Chinese sentiment), Russia and sometimes the United States of America. Netto-uyoku express hostility towards the local immigrants and ethnic minorities associated with those countries, and also promote patriotism within Japanese schools by advocating the requirement for students to sing the national anthem before class.
Domestically, the netto-uyoku express criticisms against the left-wing parties (Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party) and the Japanese mainstream media, which they accuse of having a liberal bias.
Views on Net Right-Wing Naoshi Kōgami describes the Net Right-Wing as seeking to maintain or restore the "good old Japan".Naoshi Kōgami, *"Air" and "Public Opinion" (Kōdansha Gendai Shinsho 2006)*, Kōdansha, July 20, 2009, first edition, , pages 187-188. Kōgami's idea of "good old Japan" refers not to militarism but to the communal ties that existed before the dissolution of traditional local communities.
According to Kei Horiya, the Net Right-Wing not only opposes left-wing media (liberal media) but frequently uses terms like "awakening". In this view, they believe that they were once "brainwashed" by the media, accepting a "false historical perspective", but eventually "woke up" to the "truth". This perspective mirrors the storyline of protagonists "awakening" from a "deceptive" world and fighting a "true enemy", much like in the sci-fi movie The Matrix. Horiya calls this worldview the "Matrix History". Furthermore, Horiya argues that the Net Right-Wing is damaging Japanese businesses and the economy as a whole.
Tomofumi Hamano views the rise of the Net Right-Wing as a consequence of the failure of leftist ideologies to resolve societal dissatisfaction after the Cold War.
Mitsuru Kurayama and Terumi Yoshida define those who defame figures like Emperor Emeritus Akihito as Net Right-Wing, considering such actions as insults rather than critiques.
A person arrested for sending abusive messages to Princess Mako (now Mako Komuro) expressed strong sympathies with the Zaitokukai and attacked the Asahi Shimbun over the comfort women issue. Investigators labeled this individual as a "typical Net Right-Wing".
Kurayama argues that historically, individuals who identify as conservative or right-wing never defamed the imperial family in this manner, and thus, the Net Right-Wing has faced criticism from traditional conservative factions.
Ichirō Yamamoto attributes the rise of Net Right-Wing individuals to those who feel inferior about their career, academic background, or family and instead take pride in their nationality or being Japanese. He compares them to those involved in Japan's Meiji Restoration's anti-foreign movements.
Zaitokukai and the Net Right-Wing Kōichi Yasuda describes the Zaitokukai (Citizens' Group Against Special Rights for Foreigners) as the "street version of the Net Right-Wing"Kōichi Yasuda, "In-Depth Report: The Real Identity of Zaitokukai – The Most Troublesome Existence in Japanese Society: Who are the Net Right-Wing?" *G2* vol.6, Kōdansha, December 4, 2010, . and asserts that the Zaitokukai would not exist without the "resource" of the Net Right-Wing. Akira Fujio explains that the Zaitokukai is known for organizing demonstrations and meetings where online Net Right-Wing individuals, prompted by posts on internet forums, gather to participate.Akira Fujio, "Net Right-Wing: Real Right-Wing 'Patriotism' Etiquette," *AERA* vol.24, issue 3, January 24, 2011, Asahi Shimbun Publishing, , page 57, [link](http://www.aera-net.jp/summary/110116_002170.html)
Takahiro Mitsuhashi and Kei Horiya argue that Zaitokukai should not be considered Net Right-Wing but rather "Real Right-Wing".Takahiro Mitsuhashi and Kei Horiya, "Appendix: Ultra 'Net Right-Wing' (LOL) Dialogue," *Kei Horiya*, *Net Right-Wing's Revenge: The 'Anti-Korean' Ideology and New Conservatism*, Sōwasha, April 30, 2013, first edition, , pages 281-284.
Statistics Japanese critic and writer Tsunehira Furuya describes the netto uyoku as a "new breed of neo-nationalists who interact almost entirely within their own cyber community, shut off from the rest of society". According to Furuya, "the average age of Japan's Internet right-wingers is around 40. Some 75% of them are male", and adds that although active on the web, they lack institutional political representation offline. This leads them to be more active online, in order to back the far-right elements of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, especially those under the administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Daisuke Tsuji's study on right-wing shift Daisuke Tsuji, in a 2007 survey of internet users aged 20–44, identified those who met the following three conditions as part of the "net right-wing" group: (1) Responding with "not very" or "not at all" when asked about their affinity for either South Korea or China, (2) Responding with "agree" or "somewhat agree" to all five items: "official visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by the Prime Minister or Ministers," "amendment of Article 9, Section 1 of the Constitution," "amendment of Article 9, Section 2 of the Constitution," "raising the national flag and singing the national anthem at elementary and junior high school ceremonies", and "patriotism education in elementary and junior high schools", (3) Responding affirmatively to at least one of the following three items: "I have written my opinions or thoughts on my own homepage about political or social issues," "I have commented on someone else's blog about political or social issues," or "I have participated in debates on electronic bulletin boards or mailing lists." These individuals were estimated to make up less than 1% of the entire internet user population.Tsuji (2008), p. 9.