ABSTRACT
Placing priority on public health and safety while simultaneously preserving the economy were the main priorities in Japan during the first seven months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This chapter explores the response of the Japanese government to the pandemic and how political communication at all government levels was initiated and maintained, as well as the role played by the digital communication environment. Exploring these aspects in terms of Japan’s response to the pandemic shows a potentially different approach than that taken in other countries. It is possible that a delicate balance of legal procedures, public health, social conditions and norms, as well as consideration of the economy were key factors in Japan’s approach to the pandemic in early 2020.
