午夜剧场

Some people believe in fortune-telling. I understand that well. My mother is one of them. She tells me things like "This is your fortune for the year" or "These are your characteristics," looking happy or worried. Apparently, she uses fortune-telling as one of the guideposts in her life. I always just smile and let it slide.

Some people believe in conspiracy theories. They are convinced that "the world is controlled by a shadow government," and insist that the spread of COVID-19 was a "planned pandemic" and that the vaccine is a "murderous weapon for population reduction." Driven by a "sense of justice" that they, the awakened ones, must save the children, they even go so far as to commit criminal acts.

I don't really understand it.

I don't understand it, but I want to know.

With that motivation, I tracked the U.S.-born conspiracy theory group "QAnon." Based in New York, where I was stationed, I followed them from their birth and development to their spread to Japan. I also attempted to uncover the true identity of the mysterious figure "Q" whom the group worships.

Rather than ignoring or ridiculing them, I made an effort to conduct careful interviews with them and those around them. While sounding an alarm to readers about the dangers of conspiracy theories, I wanted to show that "both Q and QAnon are flesh-and-blood human beings living in the same society as us."

Conspiracy theories can hurt someone. Unlike fortune-telling, which has a certain underlying premise, conspiracy theories are accepted as "fact" as they are, and can become a strong motivation for action. In a world where facts and fakes are mixed together, even murder happens. In fact, in the United States, there has been a series of murders believed to be motivated by conspiracy theories.

The breakdown of family relationships is another example. Japan is no exception. I also receive cries for help saying, "My family believes in conspiracy theories and we can no longer have a conversation."

Unfortunately, this book will not reach those who fully believe in conspiracy theories. Their information space is isolated, and that leads to their sense of comfort and identity.

However, even so, their living space remains open. We live in the same society every day as "flesh-and-blood human beings." I hope this book can serve as a sort of "doorstop" to prevent the door from closing completely and to keep it open even just a little.

Gakushi Fujiwara

Asahi Shimbun Publications

256 pages, 1,870 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.