Igor Prusa is a Prague-based Japanologist and media theorist, and author of "Scandal in Japan" (Routledge 2024).
Traditionally, Japan has been perceived as a culture of consensus and harmony. The tendency is to preserve the status quo, while conflict and controversy are to be avoided. Such an environment would offer little room for scandal, one might think. Yet, the opposite is true: Scandal in Japan is a cultural constant, with Japanese tabloids thriving on gossip, controversy, and corruption.
