Why Japan?Why Kitakyushu Keeps Going Viral: Fake News, Muslim Lunches, and Meme Geography in Japan
From Muslim school lunch rumors to a false claim about 50,000 Indian immigrants, Kitakyushu has become a hotspot for viral disinformation in Japan. But why does it keep happening here? This article explores how geography, cultural anxiety, and online symbolism turn ordinary cities into meme battlegrounds — and what it reveals about Japanese society today.