| 研究開始時の研究の概要 |
The study aims to understand the experiences of domestic and international
tourists at low-consumptive animal attractions in Japan and the negotiation
of meaning, identity, and ethics at these sites. It interprets tourists’
values regarding the treatment of captive wildlife and how these are
expressed online.
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| 研究実績の概要 |
The research developed a conceptual framework of ‘animal-induced iyashi tourism’, which drew connections between animal-based tourism, kawaii culture, and human wellbeing. Non-human performative work was elicited from animals in order to produce feelings of iyashi in tourists. This often involved commodified encounters involving holding/touching animals, e.g. wildlife selfies, that negatively impacted their welfare. Tourists’ perceptions of animal-induced iyashi attractions were culturally influenced, with Western tourists more likely to react negatively to seeing captive animals in low-welfare conditions. Online, tourists debated the meaning of ‘responsible’ animal tourism in the Japanese context, thereby exercising collective moral reflexivity.
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