History and State-of-Art of Science Communication in Japan
https://doi.org/10.20913/1815-3186-2025-4-127-137
Abstract
The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the historical development and current state of science communication in Japan. It examines key stages in the evolution of this type of communication – from the postwar “Public Understanding of Science and Technology” model, which focused on fostering citizen understanding and support for science and technology, to more modern dialogic and interactive approaches that involve active public participation in the discussion of scientific and technological issues, known as the “Public Engagement in Science and Technology Model”. Particular attention is paid to the influence of government policy, cultural traditions, and major social crises, particularly the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, which marked a turning point in rethinking the role of science in society and sparked a surge in bottom-up initiatives. Key institutional initiatives are examined, such as the creation of the Japan Science Foundation, the launch of Science and Technology Week, the opening of the Miraikan Museum, the Science Agora forum, and the development of science café. It shows how Japan, while maintaining respect for scientific expertise and traditional values, is gradually integrating elements of open dialogue, digital formats, and civic participation into its scientific communication system. The Japanese experience is viewed as the unique example of a harmonious combination of high technology, government regulation, and cultural specificity, making it relevant for other countries, including Russia, striving for sustainable and trusting interactions between science and society in the face of modern challenges.
About the Author
T. V. Busygina
State Public Scientific Technological Library of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Busygina Tatiana Vladimirovna, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Head of the Department of Scientific Bibliography
15 Voskhod St., Novosibirsk, 630102
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Review
For citations:
Busygina T.V. History and State-of-Art of Science Communication in Japan. Bibliosphere. 2025;(4):127-137. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.20913/1815-3186-2025-4-127-137
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