Issue Briefing No. 69

An Analysis of Counter-Narratives
to Disinformation about the
COVID Vaccine
Rei Kamikawa(Non-degree Student, Open University of Japan)
Sosei Oi
(Master’s Student, Hokkaido University Public Policy School)
Tomoya Maeda(Master’s Student, Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, University ofTokyo)
May 28, 2024

Abstract
There are growing concerns that one of the contributing factors to the
spread of vaccine hesitancy is the dissemination of misinformation on theinternet, where unsubstantiated information exchanges take place amongindividuals often referred to as “naturalists" on social media platforms. To
explore potential solutions to the concerns, this paper analyzes the personas
targeted by the entities that disseminate disinformation. Subsequently, it
examines effective countermeasures for disseminating counter-narratives
againstdisinformation

andhighlights

theconcerns

andsocietal

considerations in implementing these strategies.

An Analysis of Counter-Narratives to Disinformation about the COVID Vaccine

1Issue Briefing No. 69

1. Introduction
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated vaccine
hesitancy, which is referred to as “the delay in accepting or refusal of
vaccination services despite their availability,”1 as one of the “ten threats to
global health," highlighting it as a worldwide concern. One of the factors
contributing to the spread of vaccine hesitancy is the dissemination of
misinformation on the internet. Research reports on COVID-19 vaccinationin Japan suggest that exposure to disinformation or misinformation throughsocial media and online news may influence vaccination behavior.2
According to an internet survey conducted in 2021, vaccine hesitancy
regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in Japan was observed at an overall rate of
11.3%. When stratified by age and gender, women aged 15 to 39 had thehighest hesitancy rate at 15.6%. 3 The underlying reasons for vaccine
hesitancy among young women can be attributed to a heightened sense of
mistrust towards vaccines due to the extensive dissemination of information
about side effects of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine throughmedia reports and on social media platforms.4
Additionally, internet surveys regarding rumors and misinformation about
the COVID-19 vaccine have shown that women, in comparison to the general
population, are more likely to respond with statements like "I haveconsidered stopping vaccination" or "I have thought about waiting for awhile" when making vaccination decisions. This suggests that rumors andfalse information surrounding vaccines are contributing to vaccine hesitancy
in the decision-making process.5

1

MacDonald N. E. and SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. 2015. Vaccine hesitancy:
Definition, scope and determinants. Vaccine 33(34): 4163.
2
The Center for Global Communications at the International University of Japan. 2022.
Innovation Nippon Hokokusho, Wagakoku niokeru Gi Gojouhou no Jittai no Haaku toSyakaitekitaisyo no Kento: Seiji Koronawakuchinto no Jisshoubunseki (in Japanese)[Innovation Nippon Report, Understanding the Reality of Disinformation and Misinformationin Our Country and Exploring Societal Responses: Empirical Analysis of Disinformation and
Misinformation
on
Politics,
COVID-19,
andVaccines].
http://www.innovationnippon.jp/reports/2021IN_report_full.pdf, 29 July 2023.
3
National Research and Development Agency, National Center of Neurology and Psychology.
2021. Shingatakoronawakushinkihisha ha Ichiwari. Kihisha no Nenrei Seibetsusa, Riyu toKanrensuru Youin wo Akirakani: Nihon Hatsu Daikibo Intanettochosa yori (in Japanese) [10%of the Population Avoids the Novel Coronavirus Vaccine. Revealing Reasons and AssociatedFactors Focusing on Age and Gender Differences in Evaders: From Japan's First Nationwide
Large-Scale Internet Survey]. https://www.ncnp.go.jp/topics/2021/20210625p.html, 19 May
2023.
4
Miwako Hosoda. 2023. Vaccine Hesitancy in Japan: From a Perspective on Medical
Uncertainty and Trans-Scientific Theory. F1000Res, 2022(11): 1103.
5
Hidehiko, Hukunaga. 2022. Shingatakoronauirusuwakuchin to Ryugen Dema no Kakusan (inAn Analysis of Counter-Narratives to Disinformation about the COVID Vaccine2Issue Briefing No. 69
Furthermore, so-called "naturalist" parents are inclined to refrain fromvaccine administration. In present-day Japan, mothers tend to spend moretime with their children, and among them, "naturalist" mothers often express
concerns about the potential adverse effects of additives on their children.
They prioritize additive-free and pesticide-free foods and products. Thisemphasis on natural living sometimes leads them to avoid seeking medicalprescriptions for artificially produced pharmaceuticals when their children
fall ill. The exchange of unfounded information on social media among these"naturalist" mothers has become a concerning issue.6
Additionally, emerging political parties seeking to garner support fromthis segment of "naturalist" mothers who hesitate on vaccine administration
have gained a certain level of popularity.
Given the aforementioned circumstances, there is a concern that
individuals among the "naturalist" mothers who are hesitant to receive the
COVID-19 vaccine may come across false information about vaccines
through various media outlets, which could lead them to avoid vaccination.
In such cases, these mothers may not only avoid vaccination for themselves
but may also refrain from having their children vaccinated. This paper
explores how to address these apprehensions through the dissemination ofcounter-narratives.7
To formulate effective counter-narratives, this paper uses a methodology
based on the process described in the Intensive Seminar at the Institute for
Global Governance Research at Hitotsubashi University. In the following
sections, we will outline this process. In Section 2, we will establish thepersonas targeted by purveyors of disinformation. Section 3 will provide therationale behind setting up such personas. Sections 4 through 6 will delve
into the specific examination of the information disseminated by the sourcesof disinformation, followed by the consideration of concrete strategies
deemed effective as counter-narratives against these personas. In Section
7, we will address concerns regarding the methods discussed in this paper,
as well as points to consider during their societal implementation. We will

Japanese) [Spread of Coronavirus Rumors and Hoaxes]. The NHK Monthly Report on Broadcast
Research, 72(1): 2-23.
6
Azusa, Mizuno. 2019. Katayotta Johoahure… Hassin Hajimeta (in Japanese) [A Surge ofBiased Information Leads Me to Start Offering Information]. Asahi Shimbun.
https://www.asahi.com/sp/articles/SDI201903281552.html, 19 May 2023; Sumire, Kunieda.
2021. Shingatakorona ‘Hanwakuchinha‘ ha Naniwo Kangaeteirunoka (in Japanese) [Novel
Coronavirus:
What
Does
Anti-Vaccine
Group
Think?].
MainichiShimbun.
https://mainichi.jp/articles/20210707/k00/00m/040/134000c, 19 May 2023.
7
This paper does not examine the impact that dissemination of disinformation andmisinformation about the HPV vaccine has on COVID vaccine hesitancy.

An Analysis of Counter-Narratives to Disinformation about the COVID Vaccine

3Issue Briefing No. 69
then conclude by summarizing the paper and presenting prospects.

2. Identification of Personas
To counter disinformation, it is crucial to identify the personas of theaudience that information disseminators targets. Without identifying these
personas, those seeking to combat disinformation cannot take appropriate
actions to refine their objectives and measures for disseminating counternarratives.
In this context, personas refer to specific individuals who serve as theintended recipients of the disseminated disinformation. To identify suchindividuals, various factors must be considered, including age, place ofresidence, occupation, educational background, as well as the media they
typically consume, their beliefs, motivations, needs, emotions, and values.
It's important to note that personas, while exhibiting certain tendencies, do
not necessarily hold rigid beliefs or ideologies. This is significant because
countering narratives against individuals with firmly held beliefs can often
prove challenging when attempting to influence their thinking.
Assume a hypothetical persona with vaccine hesitancy as follows: "Ryori
Wakumi" (pseudonym). She is a 30-year-old homemaker raising children. She
is considered a "naturalist" mother who is concerned about the potential
negative impact of additives on her children. She is committed to consuming
additive-free and pesticide-free foods and products. Consequently, when
her child falls ill, she tends to avoid seeking medical prescriptions for
artificially produced pharmaceuticals and leans towards natural remedies.8
This inclination gradually leads to vaccine hesitancy. It's important toemphasize that her actions stem from her worries and are not indicative of alack of affection for her child. She keeps herself informed through televisionand social media, often engaging in discussions with her mom friends. She
does not adhere to any specific strong ideological beliefs.9 Furthermore, it's
worth noting that the choice of this persona is not based on genderstereotypes but rather on the premise that mothers who are considered"naturalists" are more susceptible to exposure to disinformation.10

8This paper does not reveal whether mothers themselves hesitate to get vaccinated, mothers
hesitate to get their children vaccinated, or both phenomena happen simultaneously.
9Here, the persona setting regarding occupation is that of a homemaker. However, it isessential to consider carefully whether such a setting accurately reflects reality and isappropriate. Furthermore, this paper does not address the educational background and placeof residence.
10
Major measures of vaccine hesitancy and its components are detailed in Masaki, Machida

An Analysis of Counter-Narratives to Disinformation about the COVID Vaccine

4Issue Briefing No. 69

3. Rationale for Persona Development
This section explains the basis for persona development. Firstly, therationale for establishing the persona as a mother engaged in child-rearing
is as follows. According to a survey, among the Japanese population, theproportion of people who refrain from vaccination is 11.3%. However, as
explained, among young women aged 15 to 39, the rate of vaccine hesitancy
is 15.6%, which is higher compared to the overall rate and the rate amongolder men, which is 4.8%. Given the current social structure in Japan, it isassumed that young women often engage in child-rearing, and it is estimatedthat there are approximately 5.93 million women responsible for raisingpreschool-age children (as of 2012). Based on these statistics, it can be
estimated that there are around 890,000 mothers in Japan who are hesitant
about vaccination.11 Thus, it is evident that there is a considerable numberof young women in Japan who are hesitant about vaccine administration.12
Secondly, the rationale for the persona as a "naturalist" mother without
specific rigid ideological beliefs is as follows. Such mothers are influenced
by political figures and parties who disseminate misinformation about
vaccines. Specific instances illustrate that this persona aligns with theaudience

being

targetedbypoliticiansandpartiesdisseminating

disinformation about vaccines. For example, former Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama, on September 14, 2022, posted disinformation on his X (Twitter)account, claiming that the "authority on anti-aging," Dr. Takuji Shirasawa,stated that “WHO confirms the fact that the probability of severe illness fromvaccines is three times that of COVID-19 hospitalization,” accompanied by
an image.13 This claim contradicts the facts, and the WHO did not make suchand Shigeru, Inoue. 2023. Vaccine Hesitancy (Wakuchinchucho) no Genjo, Kanrenyoin, Hyoka,
Taisaku (in Japanese) [Vaccine Hesitancy and Its Current Situation, Components, Assessment,
and Measures]. Japanese Journal of Public Health, 70(8); 474-482.
11
National Research and Development Agency, National Center of Neurology and Psychology.
Id. NTT Data Institute of Management Consulting, Inc. 2016. Heisei Nijunananendo Ikuji to
Kaigo no Daburukea no Jittai ni Kansuru Chosahoukokusho (in Japanese) [2016 Survey Reporton the Reality of Double Care for Child Rearing and Elder Care]. Cabinet Office commissioned
survey. https://www.gender.go.jp/research/kenkyu/pdf/ikuji_printing_01.pdf, 3 July 2023.
12
When considering rigorously, it is conceivable that among vaccine-hesitant individuals,
some may already have reservations about the vaccine from the first dose. In this survey, giventhat more than 70% of vaccine-hesitant individuals in the aforementioned online survey citedconcerns about adverse reactions as their reason, it can be inferred that they were hesitant
about receiving subsequent doses. However, in this paper, both groups are not distinguished,
and individuals who have reservations about receiving the vaccine in general are treated as
vaccine hesitant.
13
Yukio Hatoyama. (14 September 2022). “I asked Dr. Takuji Shirasawa again during the study
group. The question was whether it's true that the WHO has recognized that the probabilityof developing severe symptoms from the vaccine is three times higher than the probability of

An Analysis of Counter-Narratives to Disinformation about the COVID Vaccine

5Issue Briefing No. 69
an announcement. As of May 20, 2023, this false post has received 556
reposts and 1,415 likes. Many accounts reacting to this post have profiles
indicating

that

they

are

homemakers

andinvolvedinchild-rearing.

Additionally, Sanseito （参政党） emphasizes the dangers of the COVID-19
vaccine, especially for minors,14 while advocating for realization of safe foodand medical practices that do not involve chemical substances.15 According
to a major newspaper's opinion poll, those who considered child-rearing andeducation policies as the primary focus during the 2022 Upper House
elections predominantly voted for the party promoting these issues.16 This
indicates that mothers, influenced by politicians, prioritize child-rearing andeducation policies over other political concerns.17
Finally,thepersonality

traitsandcommunity

characteristics

of"naturalist" mothers are presented by summarizing the description ofnewspaper interviews.18 Generally, mothers often experience psychologicalanxiety during pregnancy and childbirth, particularly single mothers who
tend to face social isolation in Japan.19 Concerned about the impact of themother's body on the child's health and exposed to information (often
being hospitalized due to COVID-19. Minister Taro Kono denied it as misinformation, but Dr.
Shirasawa confirmed it as a fact. I believe in the words of Dr. Shirasawa, an authority in antiaging.”[post(formerly
tweet),
originallyinJapanese].
https://twitter.com/hatoyamayukio/status/1570033189388943361, 19 May 2023.
14
Sanseito. 2023. Shingatakoronawakuchin Seisaku (2020 nen 10 gatsu Kaitei) (in Japanese)[NovelCoronavirus
VaccinePolicy(revisedinOct.
2020)].
https://www.sanseito.jp/news/5105/, 29 July 2023; Sanseito. 2023. Shitsumonshuisho (inJapanese) [Interrogatory]. https://www.sanseito.jp/question/, 29 July 2023.
15
Sanseito. 2023. Mittsu no Jutenseisaku (in Japanese) [Three Key Policies].
https://www.sanseito.jp/prioritypolicy/, 29 July 2023.
16
Yomiuri Shimbun Online. 2022. Sanseito ha Naze Giseki wo Kakutoku Dekitanoka...
Deguchichosa kara Mietekita Mittsu no Youin (in Japanese) [Why Sanseito Won Seats: Three
Factors
from
Exit
Polls
and
Election
Results].
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/column/opinionpoll/20220810-OYT8T50005/2/, 29 July 2023.
17
While prioritizing childcare and education policies as election issues does not immediately
correlate with the idea that mothers do not have particularly strong ideological beliefs, it
implies a relative lack of emphasis on other political issues.
18
Noziru Yamashita. 2021. Koronaka de Zouka Esuenuesu de Wadai ni Naru “Sizenhamama”
tohaNanimono Nanoka? ‘Wakuchinsessyu ha Enuji, Sizen na Osan de Uchu to Ittai ni Naru,
Kyabetsu de Netsusamashi (in Japanese) [Who Are the 'Natural Moms' Gaining Popularity on
Social Media Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic? 'No to Vaccination, Harmonizing with the Universe
throughNaturalChildbirth,
HealingwithCabbage...].
BunshunOnline.
https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/50946, 19 May 2023; Mao, Onishi. 2021. Hanwakuchinkatsudo
kara Ashi wo Aratta Kanojo ga Kiduitakoto Hontou ni Hoshii noha Nakama dattanokamoshirenai(in Japanese) [What She Realized After Walking Away from Anti-Vaccine Activism: Maybe All
She
Truly
WantedWas'Companionship’].
Tokyo
KeizaiONLINE.
https://toyokeizai.net/articles/-/474236, 19 May 2023.
19
The fundamental alleviation and resolution of such issues involve close relatives, such as
husbands, who support pregnant women to alleviate their feelings of isolation and anxiety.
However, seeking various measures at the household level as a countermeasure against
disinformation can be costly. Therefore, the effectiveness of this strategy, including
alternative approaches, will be considered at a different opportunity.

An Analysis of Counter-Narratives to Disinformation about the COVID Vaccine

6Issue Briefing No. 69
misinformation or disinformation) suggesting that pesticides and additives
affect the child's health, these mothers become increasingly anxious. Thiscan lead them to become "naturalists."20 Consequently, they make efforts togather information and engage in online communities on platforms like LINE,
Instagram, and other social media, as well as communities of mothers. It isalso plausible that network marketing organizations that disseminate
medical misinformation are involved in these communities.

4. Narratives by Disinformation Disseminator
To effectively counteract disinformation surrounding the COVID-19
vaccine for the persona previously presented, the following section explores
specific measures. Building the foundation of analysis, it identifies the
specific

narratives

and

modes

throughwhich

disinformation

ormisinformation is disseminated. This understanding will serve as thefoundation for developing effective counter-narratives, as discussed in thesubsequent sections.
Disinformation
information

disseminators,

regardingtheasconcerns

outlinedinmentioned.

SectionThis3,

spreadincludesthedissemination of misinformation or disinformation by politicians and politicalparties on social media platforms, as well as the spread of such information
within closed or online "naturalist" mom communities, which may also involve
network marketing organizations for profit.
As a result, the narratives being formulated, as discussed in Section 2,
aim to amplify the anxieties experienced by the established persona byhighlighting potential adverse effects on the health of both mother and childdue to the COVID-19 vaccine. These narratives encourage an excessive
inclination towards organic lifestyles and further exacerbate vaccine
hesitancy.

5. Social Media as Platforms to Spread Counter-Narrative
As for the medium to disseminate the counter-narratives against
narratives presented in Section 4, it can be suggested to utilize platforms

20

In this paper, the focus is primarily on the scenario where individuals with a "naturalist"
inclination may develop vaccine hesitancy, but it is also conceivable that individuals who arehesitant about vaccines may adopt a "naturalist" mindset in some cases (see Note 12).
Further research is needed to provide a concrete understanding of the mechanisms
underlying both phenomena.

An Analysis of Counter-Narratives to Disinformation about the COVID Vaccine

7Issue Briefing No. 69
such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.21 The persona is often
involved in closed communities, but it is unclear what kind of informationexchange occurs within these communities, making it difficult to disseminate
counter-narratives.
Generally, effective counter-narratives should possess several key
elements, including simplicity, surprise, specificity, credibility, emotional
appeal, and narrative quality. In the counter-narratives this paper considers,main points to emphasize are four-fold: (1) clearly convey that the content
is false, (2) demonstrate that vaccination can prevent severe illness, (3) use
charts and graphs to present data understandably, and (4) appeal toemotions by framing the purpose of vaccination as "protecting children." By
incorporating these elements, it should be possible to alleviate the concerns
regarding the potential adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination on maternaland child health that disinformation spreaders are attempting to amplify
through narratives.
Additionally, we consider narratives that promote vaccination by using X(formerly Twitter). Three key points are highlighted: (1) convey the opinionsof trustworthy individuals, (2) share the opinions of other credible
institutions, and (3) utilize visuals, such as photographs of doctors or babies,
to appeal to the visual senses. Furthermore, analyzing the design and color
schemes used by "naturalist" websites can enhance the effectiveness ofcounter-narrative presentations.
Who, then, is assumed to be trustworthy for the personas? According toa survey conducted by the Word of Mouth Japan Marketing Association(WOMMA) targeting young women, those who frequently use social media
tend to place more trust in recommendations from influencers rather than
traditional advertising (Figure 1). Therefore, for personas who believe in
disinformation about

vaccines onsocial media,

communication frominfluencers is likely to be more effective than utilizing conventional TV
commercials or advertisements. It would be desirable for well-known
education experts who frequently appear on television and the internet toshare accurate information.
Furthermore, according to a survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications(MIC),

whenanindividual

establishesanonlineacquaintance with another person, his/her level of trust in the other tends

21

Practical research using social media can be found in Masaharu Somiya, Reona Okada,
Takahiro Kinoshita, and Kosuke Yasukawa. 2022. Science and Medical Communication on
Social Networking Services by COV-Navi, a Health Communication Project for COVID-19
Vaccines. Japanese Journal of Science Communication, 31. 29-38.

An Analysis of Counter-Narratives to Disinformation about the COVID Vaccine

8Issue Briefing No. 69
to increase following a face-to-face meeting, in contrast to situations where
their communication remains exclusively online. 22 Hence, individuals
possessing a significant social media following and a track record ofdelivering nationwide speeches might conceivably prove to be more
proficient communicators.23 While a persona who is elderly and kind-looking,and garners substantial trust among parents engaged in child-rearing can be
anticipatedasaneffective

communicator,

a

more

comprehensive

characterization of an effective communicator remains an ongoing area of
research. Furthermore, it is imperative to contemplate how influencers
should adeptly convey information, as this facet also necessitates further
examination.24
Figure 1. Comparison of impressions by frequency of use of social networking services□Advertisement□Advertisement as well as recommendation□recommendation

Use every day (n=279)

Which is more trustworthy？

Which is more reliable when
you purchase?

Which stimulates youpurchase or use most?

to

Do not use every day(n=207)
Use every day (n=279)
Do not use every day(n=207)

Use every day (n=279)
Do not use every day(n=207)

Source: MarkeZine Editorial. 2018. Wakai Josei ha Koukoku yori ‘Inhuruensa’ wo Shinrai.
YouTuber Katuyo no Shisaku, Shintodo ha? (in Japanese) [Young Women Trust 'Influencers'
More Than Advertisements. How Effective Are YouTube Influencer Strategies? [WOMJ
Survey]]. https://markezine.jp/article/detail/29684, 29 July 2023.

6. Dissemination of Counter-Narratives through Blogging
Whendisseminating

counter-narratives

using

socialmedia,

theinformation contained therein is constrained. To enhance the effectivenessof counter-narratives, it is proposed that individuals who initially hesitated
22

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. 2018. White Paper Information andCommunications in Japan Year 2018.
23

A prominent example is Chikara Oyano, an educator and a critic, who disseminates
information through platforms like YouTube, the former Twitter (X), and Instagram.
https://www.oyaryoku.jp/lecture.html#kouen-jisseki, 19 May 2023.
24
The U.S. government has requested influencers to use social media platforms to promote
COVID-19 vaccination. Jack Kelly. 2021. Issendoru Sikyuu, ‘Inhuruensagundan’ Douin mo
Beikoku no Wakuchinsuishinsaku (in Japanese) [Providing 1 Thousand Dollars, Mobilizing‘Influencer Squad’, U.S. Vaccine Promotion Policy]. Forbes JAPAN.
https://forbesjapan.com/articles/detail/42771, 3 July 2023.

An Analysis of Counter-Narratives to Disinformation about the COVID Vaccine

9Issue Briefing No. 69
to get vaccinated share their personal experiences of vaccination throughplatforms like blogs.25 By doing so, personas are likely to have sympathy andchange their minds because of similar personalities. If we can findindividuals, among the influencers discussed in Section 5, who were initiallyskeptical about vaccination but later changed their minds, they could
contribute by writing blogs or articles. As reference 18 exemplifies,
publishing articles that conduct interviews with such individuals, and include
stories that depict their experiences, could also be an effective strategy.
As discussed in Section 2, "naturalist" mothers tend to be vaccinehesitant. Section 4 also pointed out that the narratives created bydisinformation spreaders include elements that exacerbate concerns about
vaccines' potential adverse effects on mothers and children. As a counternarrative to this, it is conceivable for "naturalist" influencers to make use of
the online shopping websites and official social media accounts ofcompanies offering organic foods and organic diapers, for instance. On thesewebsites, they can share their experiences of getting vaccinated along with
their children, depicting the process through posts and videos. Observing apersona's familiar influencer undergoing the vaccination process, along withpersonal experiences, could potentially alleviate concerns about the healthimpact of vaccination on mothers and children. 26 If "naturalist" mothers
frequently visit a particular website where they see other customers
endorsing the products while also receiving vaccinations and remaining ingood health, the company could anticipate continuous sales by promoting
vaccination.27
We can also speculate that disinformation about vaccines spreads aroundcompanies and organizations that provide organic food products. Under suchcircumstances, vaccine hesitancy would be likely to be prevalent amongindividuals within the organization as well as its consumers. In cases whereinternal initiatives discussed above are not expected to occur spontaneously,
government authorities or local municipalities may consider undertaking
measures such as providing public relations efforts directed at thesecompanies and organizations.28
25

While not a blog, the article in the footnote 18 illustrates a similar methodology.
Significant in terms of providing an opportunity to understand that vaccine administration
and an organic lifestyle can coexist in the context of maternal and child health.
27
In contrast, some companies may seek economic rationality by arousing anxiety throughemphasizing the dangers of ingesting artificial substances into the body, in order to boost
sales. It is imperative to understand the actual situation.
28
If delving deeper, it is conceivable to establish mechanisms that mandate the display of
vaccination promotion advertisements on internet websites or provide incentives such as
subsidies or tax advantages for companies that display such advertisements. Particularly in
26

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10Issue Briefing No. 69

7. Conclusion
We have explored methods for countering disinformation related to the
COVID-19 vaccine, particularly with a focus on the persona of "naturalist"
mothers in the context of child-rearing, by considering specific strategies
for crafting counter-narratives. The approaches examined in Sections 5 and6 are based on general descriptions of narrative formation methods and do
not have empirical substantiation. It is hoped that these methods, as
discussed in this thesis, will be put into practice by individuals, companies,
and governments in the future. Of course, there have been some instancesof

influencer

utilizationbygovernments

bothdomesticallyandinternationally, and it would be beneficial to collect such cases and assess
their effectiveness.
However, the perspective of narrative formation focusing on reaching out
to isolated, child-rearing (particularly "naturalist") mothers and alleviating
their concerns has not been adequately addressed so far. First and foremost,there is a need for intra-familial dialogues, but beyond that, it is also
incumbent upon companies and governments to engage in appropriate
information dissemination and narrative formation. The emotion at the heartof this issue is the anxiety regarding the health of mothers and children. In
response to this, it is imperative to shape narratives that assuage anxieties
rather than exacerbate them with coercive tactics. This is a crucial
consideration for individuals or organizations occupying certain social
positions when crafting narratives.

【Translated by】
Takahiro NAKAJIMA(Master’s student, Graduate School of Law)

the case of the former, however, this would involve restrictions on the freedom of expressionof the respective companies, thus requiring careful consideration.

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11

Issue Briefing No. 69

Authors’ Profiles

Rei Kamikawa
Rei Kamikawa is a non-degree student at Open University of Japan. He has abroad interest in the relationship between science, technology, and politics.
To delve into the issues of disinformation and misinformation in sciencejournalism, he participated in the GGR Intensive Seminar held in the springof 2023.

Sosei Oi
Sosei Oi is a second-year master’s student at Hokkaido University Public
Policy School. He graduated from the Faculty of Policy Studies at Chuo
University. He is interested in addressing societal issues through public
policy and has been involved in policy research at independent private thinktanks and in the office of a member of the House of Representatives. To
contemplate the preservation and development of democracy in today’s
digital society, he participated in the GGR Intensive Seminar held in thespring of 2023.

Tomoya Maeda
Tomoya Maeda is a second-year student in the Juris Doctor Degree at theGraduate Schools for Law and Politics, University of Tokyo. He graduatedfrom the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo. His academic pursuit in
the field of law is driven by the aspiration to become a legal professional,
with a particular interest in public law. To explore legal issues arising fromdisinformation prevention and mitigation efforts from various perspectives,
including individuals, corporations, organizations, and governments, heparticipated in the GGR Intensive Seminar held in the spring of 2023.

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12