Research Activities
Research Projects 2026
"Free and Open Indo-Pacific" as a Frame in Japanese Media Coverage of India
Outline
The objective of this research project is to empirically test the following two hypotheses. First, the discourse repeatedly emphasized by the Japanese government regarding the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" and the importance of India's role within it is widely shared among political elites (government, ruling parties, opposition parties, and bureaucracy). Secondly, due to the consensus among political elites, the discourse surrounding the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" and India's role within it functions as a powerful frame that constrains Japanese media's coverage of India. As an analytical framework, this study employs Robert E. Entman's "cascade model" (Entman 2004), which captures the framing of foreign policy issues through the interaction of political elites (especially the government, which holds an advantageous position in framing), the media, and the general public (and public opinion). I examine the possibility that a widely shared sense of threat toward China plays a critical role in shaping perceptions of India in Japan.
Period
April 2026 - March 2028
Members
| Role | Member |
|---|---|
| [ Organizer ] | Minato, Kazuki |
*Affiliations are as of April 2026.
Expected Outcome
- The Ajia Keizai