Kyoto inside out: Relevant articles and comments deleted from JapanToday website: MULTICULTURALISM

The last installment of articles selectively deleted from the JapanToday site deals with multiculturalism, which is a topic that has come under intense scrutiny in recent years, and is another tool in the ideological arsenal of the corporatist infiltrators operating as CIA officers and MI6 officers.

While the JapanToday site was subscribing to the Kyodo News Service, the level of engagement on the part of the reading public was very high, as there were more articles relating to topics of newsworthy import. As the long section of comments shows, there was a healthy debate, largely among readers acting in good faith, though there are a significant number harping on Japanese culture. At any rate, the JapanToday site used to be a site that enabled readers to create a certain sense of community, insofar as it facilitated open discussion about relevant topics among the reading public, as found below.

The fact that they cancelled their subscription to Kyodo News Service when things were progressing in such a manner is highly suspect.

The majority of opinions express at least skepticism regarding multiculturalism. The author interviews people who may be said to represent the interests of their respective prominent minority groups, but are hardly extendable to encompass a category such as “younger foreign residents” as the comments would clearly seem to refute that claim. That may indicate an invisible hand at work with a hidden political agenda, as they frequently use a strategy of playing to the sentiments of disaffected people.

The ideology of multiculturalism embodies a two-pronged attack against pluralism and mutual intelligibility, while proffering itself as an antidote to discrimination.

On the one hand, it represents an extension of identity politics. In a pluralistic democratic society, identity politics, aside from any incidental positive effects that may have been brought about by helping individuals from marginal groups integrate in society by educating society about the cultural heritage of the marginal group, has primarily served to balkanize society by inculcating an overly rigid identification in individuals from marginalized groups with the ethnic or religious heritage of the group in question that predates the modern social configuration of American pluralistic democracy. In effect, it works as a mechanism to separate people, and can be seen as a divide and conquer strategy that prevents groups from less privileged economic backgrounds from communicating with each other in a shared environment in relation to the democratic decision making process. In other words, if they are mutually antagonistic and refuse to interact with each other based on a rigid identification with ethnicity, for example, they are unable to effectively participate in modern society. That of course serves to reinforce the sense of alienation that may have motivated an adoption of a more rigid, even exclusionary identification with one’s perceived affinity group in the first place.

On the other hand, the ideology of multiculturalism represents a leveling and homogenization by promoting interaction based on consumerism. This occurs because identity politics diverts people from putting their energy into focusing on what they share in common, and thereby bankrupts the ability of individuals from different backgrounds to interact based on mutual intelligibility, and involving an element of cultural diversity normally found in a pluralistic society. Spectator sports and television sitcoms survive, I suppose, but looking at the state of American culture of letters today, and it can’t be denied that the United States has been dumbed down. Moreover, people have lost touch with the historical relationship of the United States to modernity.

Multiculturalism attempts to void and thereby neutralize all forms of cultural heritage by combining them into an amorphous and incoherent agglomeration we might call multi-culture—for lack of a better term—promoted on a common ground of consumerism with a patchwork, Frankenstein character. It manages thereby to segment off into parallel streams the respective cultural flows, which, being removed from their native environments, are likely dry up, whereas in an open pluralistic social environment, such streams might on occasion converge, resulting in the production of a novel form of cultural expression serving to help maintain social vitality and enable society to evolve.

In true pluralism, the result of authentic interaction between people of different backgrounds results in a synthesis of something novel to both and including traces of both. Because people from diverse backgrounds in pluralistic societies are generally interacting looking forward to the future--as opposed to reclaiming some shared golden age of the past that has been lost--such interactions are generally based on a forward looking outlook, not a nostalgic looking outlook.

By short-circuiting some of the societal mechanisms (and institutions, such as the free press) that facilitate the generation of a dynamic by which culture is generally produced in modern pluralistic democratic societies, mutual intelligibility is further corroded, because the outlook toward the future is eroded.

At some point, the amorphous multi-culture results in a clueless mass of disconnected people unable to interact collectively in a meaningful manner to determine the course of social development.

And of course, such people need a charismatic populist leader to march them into battle to reclaim their lost heritage. That would mesh with the JapanToday apparent efforts to serve as a PR outlet for Hashimoto and the Ishin no Kai.

In the case of Japan, we have a more complex scenario. Japan is a constitutional democratic society, but it is not a largely pluralistic society, a so-called melting-pot society like the United States. That is not to say that modern interactions of the type I’ve schematized above do not take place, generating fusionary horizons into the future, as anyone familiar with Japan can attest. However, as the article states, less than 2% of the population of Japan is composed of foreign residents.

As in the case with post-modernity, you have to first have the modern. There is no post-modern without the modern, and insofar as pseudo scholars attempt to say that post-modernity represents the end of history or any other such nonsense, they are simply ideologues and charlatans.

Insofar as multiculturalism is premised on the existence of culture, the tendency of multiculturalism to distort and efface all culture is indicative of its pernicious and fallacious ideological character.

At any rate, the comments attest to the high level of education that many foreigners in Japan have, as well as to their effort on the part of many foreigner to engage the Japanese on (and in) their own terms culturally (and linguistically), so to speak. On the other hand, the mouthpieces and censors from the empire are out in force, attempting to debilitate the discussion. In fact, the removal of this post by JapanToday is part of that effort on a larger scale.

The role of gathering places such as the Starbucks and the UK pubs will be further examined in a future post. Suffice it to say, that the intelligence officers carrying on a sort of “representative publicness” on behalf of their respective governments are intended to represent model citizens of their respective countries, and to recruit people that they socialize with who fit a certain psychological profile. As the presence of such individuals in a place like Kyoto strikes one as exceedingly incongruous and strange almost immediately, that must account for part of their efforts displace me from the city, as any so-called “intelligence” activities at the Starbucks would be greatly curtailed by the presence of someone that would be a witness to their preposterous pretensions.

Younger foreign residents seek a more multicultural Japan

TOKYO —

… the foreign resident population in Japan remains relatively small compared to most developed countries at slightly less than 2% of the populace…

From ethnic Koreans to Japanese Brazilians, the younger generations are actively making their voices heard, calling for greater understanding from the Japanese people while also tackling their own identity issues.

‘‘As a third generation ethnic Korean resident, I personally have had almost no experience of any direct discrimination,’’ said Kim Bung Ang of the Korea NGO Center Tokyo branch. ‘‘People of our parents’ generation were unable to get jobs at Japanese companies, but nowadays rejection due solely to foreign nationality is rare.’‘

‘‘However, there are still cases in which Korean residents were asked by their employers to change their names (to Japanese ones) or were turned down by landlords when trying to rent accommodation,’’ he said.

…

… according to the Justice Ministry. Chinese nationals accounted for the largest group of foreign residents, at about 31%, followed by those of Korean descent and Brazilians.

…

Many ethnic Koreans came to Japan when the Korean Peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. A large number of Koreans were also conscripted by Japan during World War II, including into forced labor.

Such Korean residents and others from Taiwan who were in Japan since before the end of the war and lost their Japanese nationality through the 1952 San Francisco Peace Treaty, as well as their descendants, have been given special permanent residency in Japan. Some have obtained Japanese nationality through naturalization.

…

Often, being discriminated against as foreigners is not the only problem. Many residents with roots originating in the Korean Peninsula, including younger generations who have obtained Japanese nationality by birth or naturalization, also feel uncomfortable when their ethnic identity is not given recognition.

‘‘Even when we try to tell Japanese people we are Korean, they insist we’re the same partly because we look no different,’’ Kim said. ‘‘We don’t get accepted as who we really are.’‘

Similarly, the majority of Japanese Brazilians who came to Japan in the 1990s as migrant workers also have a lingering affection for their motherland even as they begin to put down roots here, said Angelo Ishi, a third-generation Japanese Brazilian who was born in Brazil in 1967 and came to Japan in 1990 to do research on migrant workers.

…

Both Ishi and Kim stressed the importance of providing opportunities for the younger generations of such foreign residents to learn about their ancestors’ history and language in order to help them establish their identities in Japan.

Kim, who was a leader at the Organization of United Korean Youth in Japan, said he had set up classes for ethnic Korean youths to learn about the history of the Korean Peninsula and the Korean language.

Meanwhile, citing examples of bilingual public schools in the United States where Portuguese or Spanish are used in parallel with English, Ishi said, ‘‘In areas where the Brazilian population is concentrated, there should be public elementary and secondary schools that teach both Japanese and Portuguese, including to Japanese children.’‘

‘‘I believe this kind of school will help nurture people with an understanding of multiculturalism and will be effective in eliminating friction (between foreign residents and local Japanese),’’ he said.

…

Comments

american_bengoshi at 07:42 AM JST - 3rd December

This article should be titled "Young Korean and Chinese residents seek acceptance in Japan". Multicultural means more than just other Asians and Brazilians. It means blacks, hispanics, Indians, whites and others. Just saying...

ShizukaMorley at 07:52 AM JST - 3rd December

It's never going to change! Welcome to Japan! :)

Occidentalis at 08:15 AM JST - 3rd December

Some Japanese people think of foreigners as uninvited intruders...

It would be interesting to know what percentage of Japanese equals “some.”

LostinNagoya at 08:17 AM JST - 3rd December

@american bengoshi: yes, you're right. But they used the Korean and the Brazilian as an example of what happens to foreigners in general. Surely what this Koreal girl feels is what a black girl must feel, to a certain extent.

I think that making Japanese schools to teach 2 or more languages to foreigners and Japanese students would open doors to both sides.

caribjustice at 08:29 AM JST - 3rd December

Well said, american_bengoshi

caribjustice at 08:32 AM JST - 3rd December

Not really, LostinNagoya. A black girl or white girl for that matter probably won't have the same feelings as the Korean girl.

She herself expresses, "‘‘Even when we try to tell Japanese people we are Korean, they insist we’re the same partly because we look no different,’’ Kim said. ‘‘We don’t get accepted as who we really are.’‘"

Goals0 at 08:55 AM JST - 3rd December

The San Francisco Peace Treaty was 1951. Many Koreans came to Japan in the post-war era, many at the time of the Cheju-do massacres. Many so-called 'North Koreans' in Japan had little knowledge of North Korea, never having been. The chairman of the pachinko company Maruhan Han Chang-Woo (韓昌祐) smuggled himself into Kyushu in October 1945 at the age of 14.

LostinNagoya at 09:07 AM JST - 3rd December

@caribjustice: I wrote "to a certain extent" to make sure one size doesn't fit all. Discrimination and prejudice can be subtle and felt in different degrees by different people.

himehentai at 09:10 AM JST - 3rd December

KIM needs to decide what he wants. He wants to live in Japan. But also be a Korean.

I can understand the need for embracing both cultures. But he wants to have his cake and eat it too. If he is going to live in Japan, with long term residency (Im assuming she does not have dual citizenship) and be accepted and treated fairly by Japanese people (which he admits he has been) why would he put peoples backs up by forcing his Korean heritage on everyone?

What are Japanese people supposed to do in this case? I can understand the attitude some people might have - "if you want to be a korean, then go to Korea." It is an easy jump to make. Japanese people are proud of their country. The long term foreign residents could easily become citizens - Its just they dont want to.

And I totally disagree with the whole "lets teach English and Spanish and Portugese to Japanese kids." Its too much. Forcing Japanese kids to learn the language of the immigrants who are causing tension in the community is only going to make the situation worse and cause friction among the parents.

Scrote at 09:21 AM JST - 3rd December

I would argue that third generation Koreans, Chinese or whatever are no longer Korean or Chinese, but Japanese. It's a pity that the backwards Japanese government and some portion of the populace fail to recognise this.

Secondly, bilingual education in America has failed many children, who end up with inadequate English language skills and are thereby limited to menial jobs. If you plan to live and work in Japan you should concentrate on mastering the Japanese language first. The use and teaching of second and third languages should be limited to their respective classes.

tamanegi at 09:29 AM JST - 3rd December

Good luck with that.

My Japanese fluent, fully employed by a Korean company, money in the bank, living in Japan eight years Korean friend was told point blank by two real estate agents in Osaka this week that they don't rent to gaikokujin!

tkoind2 at 09:44 AM JST - 3rd December

The only thing truly multi-cultural about Japan is her capacity to reject, restrict and be afraid of multi-cultures.

We went to renew our lease a couple days ago with the land lord's new agency. The initial reaction when I walked through their door, was clearly a message that they could and would not help me.

Only after explaining that I already lived in the place, did they reluctantly allow me to renew. Thankfully the owner of my building is a citizen of the world and was prepared to assist.

Living in Japan has enabled me to understand what my minority parents went through as citizens of Texas and Arkansas in the 1950's. Thank you Japan for teaching me about exclusion.

limboinjapan at 09:50 AM JST - 3rd December

And here is the problem.

"‘‘Even when we try to tell Japanese people we are Korean, they insist we’re the same partly because we look no different,’’ Kim said. ‘‘We don’t get accepted as who we really are.’‘"

This is not just Japan but many other countries immigrants and ethnic minorities not native to the country will go around insisting they are different but then complain if they are treated different.

And as for the "zainichi" and obtaining Japanese citizenship.

In the article it mentions that the UK and the USA being born their gets you citizenship but not here in Japan but what it omits to say is that even if Japan had such a rule these people still would not have Japanese citizenship unless they dropped their other citizenship because nether Korea or China allow dual citizenship (in the case of Korea some countries and situations have exemptions but unless there has been a change recently it specifically forbids Japanese dual) so nothing would change.

As for going down the road and having bilingual or emersion schools, that is a great big joke that only leads to children not mastering the main language, the only time bilingual or emersion schooling should be called for is in countries where there are more than one native or official language and before adding Korea, Portuguese or Chinese perhaps first start with the native languages like "Ainu" and "Ryukyu".

I am not saying that Japan does not need to make changes, what I am saying is before changes can be made others must accept Japan and stop making it sound like it is only Japan that needs to adapt or change.

Discrimination in housing is a big problem and not just for foreigners and the same goes for work and in those two cases something needs to be done.

As for language and education, if after 2 or 3 generations here they have not bothered to learn the language or join the school system then that is their fault and not the fault of the Japanese or the Japanese government.

pandaclair at 09:50 AM JST - 3rd December

himehentai -

Really? You do realize that there's a difference between nationality and ethnicity, right? Would you tell a third-generation Mexican-American or Chinese-Canadian or African-Brit to forgot about their ethnicity?

Japanese have a hard time separating the two, and believe that being a Japanese citizen means having Japanese blood, and that's it. I think it's great that Kim and others are trying to re-instill the culture that's been gradually removed and denied them by oppressive Japanese education and policies.

MeLikeJapan at 09:53 AM JST - 3rd December

Right on American Bengoshi. Very well put. Great Post and more power to you!!!

limboinjapan at 10:03 AM JST - 3rd December

Scrote:"I would argue that third generation Koreans, Chinese or whatever are no longer Korean or Chinese, but Japanese. It's a pity that the backwards Japanese government and some portion of the populace fail to recognise this."

Again I will point out that it is not the Japanese government holding these people back from getting their Japanese citizenship it is they themselves and if they were in places like Australia or Canada it would be the same, you are not a citizen in those countries by just being born there and again even in those countries they would have to give up their Chinese and Korean citizenship because Korea and China do not accept dual.

So learn about all sides the truth is way more complicated than, its just Japan holding things up!

tkoind2 at 10:05 AM JST - 3rd December

Tim. I sincerely doubt that you would have any idea what that statement means.

I have experienced being refused service, housing and more because I am foreign. I make more money than these real estate people do and they won't even talk with me about a place to live.

My bank of ten years refused to give a debit card and did not explain why, despite my substantial deposits there. While a bank I subsequently applied for gave me one immediately.

I have had people run away when I tried to ask directions in clear Japanese. I have had people say terrible things under their breath. And even been told that foreigners are not welcome.

So what about these experiences differs from what my parents experienced just trying to go about their lives?

Come back when you have experience as a true minority Russert!

nigelboy at 10:10 AM JST - 3rd December

My bank of ten years refused to give a debit card and did not explain why

Yeah right! Why do people need to make up outlandish stories to prove their point? Sign of desparation.

TimRussert at 10:18 AM JST - 3rd December

I make more money than these real estate people do and they won't even talk with me about a place to live.

Sounds like despite all the horrible "racism" here, you have done quite well for yourself. What keeps you from seeking out, as I did, non-Japanese landlords and building owners?

AiserX at 10:25 AM JST - 3rd December

kokorocloud>And outbursts like yours remind me that racism is alive and well, unfortunately. >

What racism? TR made no racist outburst. Multiculturalism is NOT the same as multi-ethnicism. Racism is when one claims their race is somehow superior to another individuals race or all other races. Hence the suffix of "ism" and the noun of Racism. It's a typical tac-tic of those that favor MC, don't like mc? then label opposition as "racist". Drop the BS already, MC does not work, it just doesn't.

bigmouth at 10:27 AM JST - 3rd December

The title says it all."younger foreign residents....".if u r a foreign resident that is who u are.Dont expect to be treated as a Japanese.I have travelled extensively and have been treated no better in Europe nor in America. At least in Japan,no one comes pushing and shoving me.What I experienced in America during my college days is no where near Japan. So ,pls stop pushing ur so called globalisatrion and multiculturalism.

limboinjapan at 10:32 AM JST - 3rd December

tkoind2:"I have experienced being refused service, housing and more because I am foreign."

So what my J-GF was refused because she is only a full time employee of a haken company and does not have a family member to sign as guarantor go to UR problem solved.

tkoind2:"My bank of ten years refused to give a debit card and did not explain why"

Welcome to international banking I have had the same both here (as did my J-GF) no reason given and had the same back home despite having had several loans and having paid them all back. FYI other than the USA, in most countries credit is not just given out like free tissue at the station.

tkoind2: "I have had people say terrible things under their breath. And even been told that foreigners are not welcome."

Again so what I have had way worse my children have been told to "go back to China" (they are Japanese) my mother are grandmother have been told to go back to where they came from when they are the "Native" people and all this was in the USA and Canada.

And I will add that despite everything my mother and Grandmother experienced in their own land the didn't whine as much as half the people on JT or the "zainichi" in Japan.

kokorocloud at 10:32 AM JST - 3rd December

AiserX-- You don't have to be screaming that one race is better than another in order to be racist. That would be too simple. MC doesn't work because of people assuming that a minority asking for equality and speaking out against oppression = weak, and perpetual victim hood. Of course it's going to sound like BS to you if you're already in the majority.

IfeelImust at 10:45 AM JST - 3rd December

I've lived in Japan since 2004 and just can't for the life of me get to grips with some of the comments here. I have never experienced any kind of racist behavior, I applied for a debit card soon after arriving here, no problem, bought my own house and did my best to integrate with the locals. I have many Japanese people I would without hesitation call my friends, however I don't live in Tokyo!

AiserX at 10:46 AM JST - 3rd December

@at kokorocloud I am already in a minority ethnic group, but i don't push my cultural roots values over the majority but instead accepted American culture. People don't under stand what MC is. MC is when you allow for foreign cultures to thrive and build their own enclave within another country who's culture may most likely be directly opposite in ethos and world views. This kind of social experiment can NEVER work, parts of the U.S demonstrate this. It is even far worse in Europe. Here in MC New York City we have all Korean/All Chinese neighborhoods where customers are not served on the basis that they themselves are not korean/chinese or speak the language. Since both are minority groups, this problem may not be addressed, it is just one example of the failure of MC.

KSB1978 at 10:52 AM JST - 3rd December

Oh well. Racial discrimination happens anywhere in the world. Especially if the country has very little contact with the outside world for as long as 400 years until a couple of hundred years ago. We can't change history.

Things will get better, I'm sure, but it will take some time.

cleo at 10:53 AM JST - 3rd December

being born in Japan does not confer automatic right to Japanese nationality if both parents are not Japanese

Shouldn't that be if neither parent is Japanese? My kids were born in Japan, both parents are not Japanese (only one is) and there was never any question of them not having Japanese nationality as a right.

Roppongi at 10:56 AM JST - 3rd December

"This article should be titled "Young Korean and Chinese residents seek acceptance in Japan". Multicultural means more than just other Asians and Brazilians. It means blacks, hispanics, Indians, whites and others. Just saying..."

WELL SAID: american_bengoshi! I agree1

southsakai at 11:02 AM JST - 3rd December

IfeelImust at 10:45 AM JST - 3rd December I've lived in Japan since 2004 and just can't for the life of me get to grips with some of the comments here. I have never experienced any kind of racist behavior, I applied for a debit card soon after arriving here, no problem, bought my own house and did my best to integrate with the locals. I have many Japanese people I would without hesitation call my friends, however I don't live in Tokyo!

Yes same here, never experienced any form of racism, ever!. Japanese people always go out of the way to assist me. Heck my Japanese is pretty terrible as well.

Try running a foreign language in the States or a European country such as Germany.

AiserX at 10:46 AM JST - 3rd December @at kokorocloud I am already in a minority ethnic group, but i don't push my cultural roots values over the majority but instead accepted American culture. People don't under stand what MC is. MC is when you allow for foreign cultures to thrive and build their own enclave within another country who's culture may most likely be directly opposite in ethos and world views. This kind of social experiment can NEVER work, parts of the U.S demonstrate this. It is even far worse in Europe. Here in MC New York City we have all Korean/All Chinese neighborhoods where customers are not served on the basis that they themselves are not korean/chinese or speak the language. Since both are minority groups, this problem may not be addressed, it is just one example of the failure of MC.

You said it really well - I agree with you 100%!

Japan is the best example of why diversity isn't great at all.

The Japanese people have always valued their race, culture, and homogeneous population.

And in doing so they've built a successful, first-world nation-state with a great educational and welfare system for the people.

Europe, the U.S, and other countries should take a hint and learn from Japan.

As a foreigner here living on a Spouse visa, I would never ever want to see a multicultural Japan!

I've lived in many different countries abroad. I know exactly what MC is and I would never support such an idea for Japan.

jruaustralia at 11:38 AM JST - 3rd December

Why not demand harmony in Japan too?! Multiculturalism is a horrible doctrine-- your way-of-life in the hands of political correctness, and a few like kokorocloud who thinks society is forever a struggle between the oppressed and the weak.

jruaustralia at 11:39 AM JST - 3rd December

So, multiculturalism is based on racial overall? Is that what you're saying?

thepro at 11:54 AM JST - 3rd December

Why does every bloody country have to be multicultural? I think Japan should stay the way it is.

american_bengoshi at 12:05 PM JST - 3rd December

So, multiculturalism is based on racial overall? Is that what you're saying?

Aside from young people who have mistaken identity issues, do Asians practice Hispanic, black, Indian cultures and traditions? ANSWER: NO

jforce at 12:23 PM JST - 3rd December

Multi-culturalism. NO. Acceptance and doing things for yourself to integrate into a society - YES.

jruaustralia at 12:25 PM JST - 3rd December

Aside from young people who have mistaken identity issues, do Asians practice Hispanic, black, Indian cultures and traditions?

I think Japan should stay the way it is.

AND the answer to your question would be YES. The region as a whole have a long tradition of Hispanic, Indian and even "black" cultures, traditions and, more importantly, foreign relations...

BUT THERE'S something dubious about your question though, so let me rephrase it:

Aside from people who have mistaken identity issues--or assimilated routinely to a "non-white" tradition and culture, do other white people practice Hispanic, black, Indian cultures and traditions?

The answer should be YES, and no thanks to multiculturalism!

christyjapan at 12:27 PM JST - 3rd December

ifeelmust and southsakai-

Yes same here, never experienced any form of racism, ever!. Japanese people always go out of the way to assist me. Heck my Japanese is pretty terrible as well.

Same here. I get along with japanese people and they help me so much. Had no problem renting an apartment, got lost several times while visiting different cities - whenever i asked japanese people for help, they walked with me to make sure i knew where i was going.

when my parents came to japan to visit, one of my coworkers let my parents borrow her cell phone so that they could call me while i was working and they could call for help if they got lost.

i am sure there are discriminations but i see more discriminations in my own country (mostly against hispanic and south east asians).

DentShop at 12:27 PM JST - 3rd December

Yes same here, never experienced any form of racism, ever!. Japanese people always go out of the way to assist me.

Must be a South Sakai thing. I live in the same area and get lots of love from the Japanese. Things down this way are very competitive and it doesnt matter if you are white, yellow or blue - if you are spending money you get all the respect you need.

christyjapan at 12:32 PM JST - 3rd December

DentShop

Must be a South Sakai thing. I live in the same area and get lots of love from the Japanese.

I live in Tokyo (not central Tokyo), and I get lots of love from my Japanese friends, too. There was a Japanese student in the high school I went and I don't remember anyone helping her out with anything.

smithinjapan at 12:39 PM JST - 3rd December

Young people can think that all they want -- sadly the old people here are largely opposed.

'Multi' usually refers to three or more, it needn't necessarily refer to ALL people around the world. I agree that it seems that this was a particular sample, but it's just that: a sample. What's more, it's the sample most discriminated against if an when any discrimination exists. I'm sure if a number of blacks, hispanics, Indians, white and the others you mentioned were asked you would hear very few, if any, who said they were opposed to Japan being more "multi-cultural".

Racism DOES exist in Japan, and to quite an extent, but I agree with others on here that it's not as outward or aggressive as in other nations; it usually involves exclusion. While it's slowly changing, there are still just some facets of society that you cannot 'intigrate' into, no matter how hard you might try. It helps, of course, if you have a Japanese spouse (the door is slammed shut on a number of options if you do not), but still.

christyjapan at 12:56 PM JST - 3rd December

there are still just some facets of society that you cannot 'intigrate' into, no matter how hard you might try.

yes, racism does exist here, i don't disagree, but it's just not as bad as where i am from. and we are not trying to be japanese, many of us feel welcomed and liked. where i am from, people usually don't even care about people from other countries.

smithinjapan at 12:56 PM JST - 3rd December

"MC is when you allow for foreign cultures to thrive and build their own enclave within another country who's culture may most likely be directly opposite in ethos and world views."

Why is that necessarily the case? There are areas of NYC or pretty much any multi-cultural town around the world that are VERY diverse but that don't necessarily all subscribe to the same way of life, eat the same foods, etc. In the old 'Greek town' I remember shopping at a 'Korean Supermarket' to by Indian food with a friend of mine. It all depends on how you define 'MC' and 'harmony'. Forcing your way of life (or for people to integrate) on people is wrong regardless of who is doing it to whom. Likewise refusal to accept or TRY to adapt someone to the host culture is wrong.

johnmasterof at 01:14 PM JST - 3rd December

I think the idea that many people are trying to express is not solely racial, rather it is ethnic. I agree than I think ****Tokyo should be more open to those Japanese who may have a different ethnic background. As for what one Korean national said in the article, ‘‘Even when we try to tell Japanese people we are Korean, they insist we’re the same partly because we look no different,’’ Kim said. ‘‘We don’t get accepted as who we really are.’‘ I agree, many people in the world, not just in Japan (no matter how prevalent it is in Tokyo)do not or have a hard time accepting others for who they are, background included. So, I agree, and I am a young foreign resident in Japan, that I believe there are people who need to understand a persons ethnic background is what makes that person them. They may act like every other Joe, but they are special. Perhaps this is a sign that some people enjoy a homogeneous society rather than one full of individuals. Oh well, I do my best with what I have.

FireyRei at 01:31 PM JST - 3rd December

Clearly a lot of pro-xenophobia here. The article asks for an understanding of diversity, it does not make a demand.

Japan refuses to co-operate with understanding, insisting they are being forced into co-operating.

GJDailleult at 02:25 PM JST - 3rd December

Some have obtained Japanese nationality through naturalization.

It would be interesting to know how many "some" is. What percentage of the Zainichi population changed their name to a Japanese name and took out citizenship? Or is that something the Japanese government would like to keep under wraps. My impression is that it is fairly common, but I may be wrong.

goddog at 02:27 PM JST - 3rd December

In 27 years, I only was discriminated against once. Trying to rent a car parking spot.

bigmouth at 02:40 PM JST - 3rd December

No,when u are here u have to adopt to the Japanese way.Japan shd not bend to cater for you. Societies are different based on different values and norms.

Japan embrassing western multiculturalism is just insane.

I always try to assimilate their culture despite the hurdles.

And as I said earlier,eventhoguh I have experienced discrimination and Racism here ,it is even less than what I experienced in the western world.

Japan your end is near,when u adopt this

pointofview at 02:44 PM JST - 3rd December

There will no progress until there are anti-descrimination laws put in place. And since a large number of lawmakers feel threatened by non Japanese ethnicities/nationalities, I dont have much hope for things to change. Its amazing how this issue isn`t a concern within the UN. This should have to be prerequisite for any country wanting a seat. I thought descrimination was a very legitimate global issue. Makes me wonder.

Regarding prejudice behaviour by landlords and companies, they should be fined or charged if they run this kind of operation.

pointofview at 02:52 PM JST - 3rd December

bigmouth,

Youre wrong. Japan is a participant in the international community. Culture is fine but not treating people accordingly isnt.

bigmouth at 03:06 PM JST - 3rd December

Pointofview-

I dont know your nationality nor how travelled u are.But I must say,I had my college degree in the US.I lived in London for 3 years. I have been to several countries and I must say in most times,the discrimaination and racism is physical.

In America,there are places u cant rent a house.even though u are an American not to talk of as a foreigner.

At least in Japan,it is verbal.So u see,I have not seen people treating other races better in their countries than what Japan does.

TimRussert at 03:32 PM JST - 3rd December

bigmouth is pretty entertaining:

"At least in Japan,no one comes pushing and shoving me.What I experienced in America during my college days is no where near Japan."

You got "pushed" and "shoved" on a campus while pursuing your degree in the US? LOL. Was this anytime in the last 20 years? If so, and you failed to take advantage of the campus "hate speech codes" and the other fraudulent abuses of the law that the cultural Marxists have forced on America, you have my pity. With the right lawyer you could have probably extorted quite a bundle. Or maybe the incidents you speak of never occurred...

TimRussert at 03:39 PM JST - 3rd December

The thought of young Koreans - or Koreans of any age - demanding more "multi-culturalism" and acceptance from others strains the limits of the absurd in matters like this.

Young Brazilians of Japanese descent have a little more legitimacy on this - to a point. But there is also a point where maybe they should think about going back to Brazil.

mekki at 03:47 PM JST - 3rd December

Good point from himehentai. So he wants to be Japanese when it suits him best and Korean when that gives an advantage.

For the writer to note: most advanced nations do not grant citizenship by birth like you are trying to imply.

I am all for multilingual schooling but please do so with your own money, not mine or other taxpayers'.

FireyRei at 03:55 PM JST - 3rd December

"Go back to your home country" - what a great way to solve all the worlds cultural problems.

People have their heads shoved so far up Japan's.... You forgot what and who you are: a member of a global community. Or some people's case, a member of the Japan Club.

No-one is making demands. People are requesting acceptance - something Japan is extremely slow to do even with its own people.

bigmouth at 04:15 PM JST - 3rd December

TimRussert-

I never said I was shoved and pushed on campus....I said during my college days.Raed well. Again,u deny that at times Racism and Discrimination in other countries turn physical.Then, I have the following conclsions: 1.You are white 2.U lived in a white gated community. 3.u have never experienced what some minorities has experienced around the world eg spittingon,punching etc.

Let me not take u far,Tim.Once in Japan,I met this German guy in a Bar,he was just a customer and he was asking what I came to do there.pushing and shoving me. But you know,within 3 mins i seriously re-arranged his face.

Japan is doomed if it accepts this multiculuralism.You can see it in Shin-Okubo.where the koreans have started their mini-korea.

Smorkian at 05:07 PM JST - 3rd December

So, people who willingly move to Japan and refuse to become citizens complain because Japan doesn't change to accommodate them?

Discrimination should be illegal and the laws should be enforced. But more foreigners should make an effort to respect Japanese customs instead of trying to bend Japan to theirs.

Lunchbox at 05:22 PM JST - 3rd December

While the foreign resident population in Japan remains relatively small compared to most developed countries

Japan is not a developed country yet.

bicultural at 05:31 PM JST - 3rd December

limboinjapan : great posts. I agree with you on all counts. Some really good posts in general. I have to say it's much better now compared with 25 years ago.

greenlibran at 06:33 PM JST - 3rd December

Its better in Japan now than before. The current generation of japanese probably are more tolerant than the previous ones. Also multi-cultural society depends on many factors and seems none of them have hit japan so far. Hate crimes would be everywhere but is tolerable as long as majority of the society oppose them. No 2 people are same in the world which automatically gives birth to difference in race,culture,skin,behaviour and hece competition to show who's the best. As long as the competition is health , there is no problem.

Disillusioned at 07:36 PM JST - 3rd December

Yeah, gotta agree with the general opinion of most posters. Japan is only mildly raciest. The only racially related negative comment I would have is not all public services have multilingual help available. Many do, but not all.

ukguyjp at 08:11 PM JST - 3rd December

Japan multicultural? Don't make me laugh. It's true, as one poster says, that Japanese are kind to foreigners, and living in Japan as a foreign resident is not unpleasant. In fact I like Japan as far as that goes.

However, multiculturalism is another thing altogether. I feel that Japanese still find it very difficult to interact with members of other cultures on a meaningful level, though of course there are exceptions (which prove the rule). But in general I doubt that the vast majority of Japanese ever think of themselves as part of the world community.

A fairly recent example of that would be when Japanese Tourism Minister Nariaki Nakayama opined, "Japanese don't like or desire foreigners. We are ethnically homogenous." Nakayama also said he was glad that descriptions of how occupying war-time Japanese soldiers sex slaves (who have still not been recognised or compensated) were kept out of textbooks.

And that's the leaders of the country.

I've just been to an international conference in Malaysia, an Asian country which is linguistically and behaviorally multicultural beyond the wildest dreams of Japan.

jruaustralia at 08:49 PM JST - 3rd December

"Go back to your home country" - what a great way to solve all the worlds cultural problems.

Who ever yelled that on this forum?!

(Points at you)

jruaustralia at 08:49 PM JST - 3rd December

Forcing your way of life (or for people to integrate) on people is wrong regardless of who is doing it to whom. Likewise refusal to accept or TRY to adapt someone to the host culture is wrong.

AGREE, smithinjapan. I think people should experience (dine at) China Town. We have one in Sydney long before multiculturalism. We have Greek, Philippino, and other so-called towns, before the advent of this multicultural doctrine, and that's great for diversity.

No one is discouraging diversity (and people who are obviously have some misplaced thoughts on people of other ethnicities), but multicultural doctrine-- for all its worth and promises, and the political correctness and political enforcements associated with this stringent doctrine-- isn't the solution that it's meant to be.

Throughout the years it has become a bureaucratic routine, farcical in realization, and for what?!

***** at 08:50 PM JST - 3rd December

multiculturalism is a divisive, farcical notion. it is promoted by the same people who promoted so-called identity politics in the pluralistic society of the usa. those people sought to obtain entitlements based on a pre-modern definition of culture. like mr. huntington, there notion is largely based on religion, combined with ethnicity.
multiculturalism is premised on the false notion that there are a plurality of separate, monolithic and mutually exclusive culturals that are each entitiled some sort of official recognition regardless of what contribution they make to modern society. in a pluralistic society like the usa, there are always a variety of influences interacting, and those used to result in some interesting culture, in the form of music, for example, but that is practically by-gone era. now you have "idol" in the usa, just like you have manufactured entertainment "idols" in japan. japan's cultural heritage is one of the most vital on the planet, but you have to learn the language and apply yourself in learning its history and evolution. foreigners in japan who don't appreciate japanese culture are here for the wrong reasons. when in rome...

KevininHawaii at 09:34 PM JST - 3rd December

Look at immigrants, and their children in other developed nations. The first generation rarely is able to fully integrate into the local culture. The second generation, if accepted by the host culture, will speak the same, feel nearly the same, as the host culture. By the third generation, they are the same.

Lots of posts above say "accept Japan as it is" or "Don't try to change Japan" or my favorite "if you do not like Japan as it is, LEAVE" (a variation of "AMERICA - LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT")

All of us are guilty of liking some aspects of the host country, wherever it may be, and wanting to change (for the better) areas we feel are lacking.

One thing most people tend to agree on: the playing field should be level. In Japan today, it still is not. Anti-discrimination laws would be a great beginning. Fair treatment under the law, a nice second. Both will take years, if not decades.

For all of you who suggest all immigrants to Japan must live the Japanese way: Would you go to Chinatown in San Francisco (or any other country) and tell the Chinese immigrants to adapt or leave? Maybe they like their host country, but are too old to fully integrate. Maybe their children will complete their journey?

How many of you recent arrivals (20 years or less) to Japan met foreign students back in your home country? Maybe in college? How many of those students stayed on, working and starting a family in their "new" country? Can they retain their original identity, while contributing to their new home? And if you agree that they can, then why is the same conversation in Japan viewed so differently?

I meet LOTS of 2nd & 3rd generation Japanese-Americans in Hawaii. We call them Americans. Some speak Japanese a little, some not at all. Largely, they think they have more in common with other Americans than they do with Japanese people. Despite their parents'(1st gen.) inability to adapt to a fully American way of life, their children have adapted.

Maybe we should take a less critical, longer term view of recent arrivals, and 1st & 2nd generation immigrants, and accept them, and accept their language and cultural differences. What, exactly, is the harm? Given opportunity and enough time, we all can learn.

jruaustralia at 09:46 PM JST - 3rd December

Do you actually know what-the-hell you're talking about. After ***** s comments, which are completely valid (on multiculturalism) and enlightening, yours obviously drown it with weasel words!?

BurakuminDes at 10:33 PM JST - 3rd December

multicultural doctrine-- for all its worth and promises, and the political correctness and political enforcements associated with this stringent doctrine-- isn't the solution that it's meant to be.

Agreed - "multicultural" has become a catchword/theory so overused and abused - like "eco" - that it means something different to everyone. Unfortunately, the PC brigade took ownership of the term years ago. I'm sure most critics of "multiculturalism", however, are not arguing in favour of "monoculturalism" - I certainly wouldn't.

I for one love diversity, and look forward to mixing with an increasing variety of people from different backgrounds and cultures in Japan in the years to come. I've been lucky to have met Japanese of Brazilian/Chinese/Korean/Filipina backgrounds - they have all adapted well and retained many of their traditions that they share (and awesome foods! Brazilian BBQs...mmmm) They are contributing brilliantly to a modern, more diverse Japan - as will their kids. Vive la différence!

jruaustralia at 11:06 PM JST - 3rd December

Agree.

Why should the Japanese bend to foreigners? What have foreigners done for Japan? If they want to be recognized, why don't they go back to their country and be heard there?

Sorry, mate, but reading the comments-- on your profile-- wouldn't really lead anyone to suspect you're remotely Japanese. Shoo!

lrodriguezsosa at 01:23 AM JST - 4th December

There are a lot of different perpectives in this forum. And we have japanophiles and japanophobics. So, it's complicated.

Let's say Japan is multicultural. Not as much as the US. But the US doesn't have 2000 years of history, instead the US was a nation created with inmigration. We have the case of african people who were taken by force into slavery. Now the african american are integrated in the american society, but it took an awful lot of time.

Nevertheless, the immigration story isn't over. There are millions of illegal immigrants living and working in the US that doesn't have a chance to get legit. It's complicated, isn't?

The US isn't changing to the liking of the south americans who got there. No sir. They have to blend in. Not otherwise.

So? Why do you expect a different thing from Japan?

elbudamexicano at 05:22 AM JST - 4th December

Japan is not multicultural? Go to any zainichi beigunkichi, US armed forces bases here in Japan and you will see that the Japanese know how to work, live get along with people of every different color, shade size and shape under the sun.

sfjp330 at 09:49 AM JST - 4th December

People keep wishing that Japan will accelerate acceptance of foreigners to more of a equal opportunity. This will not happen because most Japanese feel that integration is a dilution of their identity. Japanese people are not comfortable in everyday environment with foreigners. Even if the foreigner lives in Japan, the main obstacle that they have to overcome is how they are going to make a living because it's not based on capabilities, but more of a race with Japanese companies. They are very blunt about different nationality. After few years of realization, most foreigners feel they don't belong in Japan and they eventually want to return to their homeland.

nigelboy at 10:05 AM JST - 4th December

Even if the foreigner lives in Japan, the main obstacle that they have to overcome is how they are going to make a living because it's not based on capabilities

Speak for yourself. From my experience, those who whine those things are in fact incompetent but can't admit it. The most common types that I've encoured are "Why should I learn the language?? They're not going to accept me anyways". Constant whining.

Zenny11 at 10:13 AM JST - 4th December

Sort off agree with nigelboy but it also depends on your field of work, etc.

It is tough to find a job once you hit the 4+ age barrier unless you want to sell your body and soul to an overseas company.

Zenny11 at 10:14 AM JST - 4th December

It + IT

vulcan at 11:38 AM JST - 4th December

Is it racism to want to keep your nation as pure (insert race) as possible?

cleo at 11:40 AM JST - 4th December

Is it racism to want to keep your nation as pure (insert race) as possible?

Is that a trick question?

The758 at 12:06 PM JST - 4th December

On the topic of racism and who has and who hasn't experienced it, I think people in Japan interpret racism in different ways. I knew someone who insisted that Japanese spitting near him on the street was them expressing hatred towards foreigners. I saw it as just disgusting. Some people don't even notice it at all.

Moderator: Readers, please stay on topic and focus your comments on what is in the story.

noriyosan73 at 12:28 PM JST - 4th December

If only the USA could take an lesson from Japan. Just because a baby is born in Japan does not make him/her a citizen. Anyone born in the USA is a citizen. Japan needs to protect its culture. Immigrants, especially young people, need to travel to the home country and live that life. Do not change the Japanese culture to meet your needs. Anyone who has traveled to the USA knows that the local Tokyo Garden restaurant is not real Japanese food. It is an accommodation of American tastes and Japanese food. Just as it is a delight to find an authentic Japanese restaurant in California, it is a pleasure to find an authentic American restaurant in Japan. Cultures need to be different and distict, otherwise they are McDo-ised or some other culture-ised.

dolphingirl at 02:14 PM JST - 4th December

I can never understand the 'we need to protect our culture'-argument. I, for one, as a foreigner here, have no desire to change or take away Japanese culture but that doesn't mean that I have to follow exactly what other Japanese do.

One problem, I think, is that there are way too many behaviors and habits that are lumped into the 'culture' category which aren't really culture at all. And it is harder to be accepted in Japan because people here tend to have similar thoughts, opinions, behaviors whereas in some other countries there is more variety to begin with and therefore people who act or think a little differently are more likely to be accepted.

Occidentalis at 02:39 PM JST - 4th December

Is it racism to want to keep your nation as pure (insert race) as possible?

It depends on how one defines ‘pure.’ If one thinks it impure to biologically mix the races, then yes it is racism. If one simply wishes to maintain centuries of customs/traditions and one’s national identity, then no it is not.

KevininHawaii at 02:48 PM JST - 4th December

noriyosan73 - Under the occupation government, MacCarthur's version of the Japanese Constitution stipulated that anyone born in Japan was a Japanese citizen - just like in the U.S. It was only later, when Japanese officials got the document, that they changed it from "anyone's" child to any "kokumin's" child being Japanese by birth.

Japan has enjoyed a short term benefit in that other countries were open to immigration from Japan (for a while), and after WW 2, Japanese exports were well received by Americans and Europeans. Those good times are all but over. If Japan does not start granting equal access to citizens from other countries, it is likely that Japanese individuals and corporations will start to fell the repercussions overseas.

Irodriquezsosa - I love it when people insist that Japan has 2,000 years of history, implying that Japan could never learn anything from the U.S. with only 200 years under their belt. Besides being b.s., what, exactly do you think 2,000 years of history has done for Japan? What wisdom does Japan possess, and is it wielded on a personal, or a national level? If a Japanese person leaves Japan, do they take it with them? Is J-POP the product of 2,000 years of cultural refining? How about rape anime? Elementary age kids in shorts in the winter snow? Where does cosplay fit into the "cultural refinement" picture?

In fact, the 2,000 years of history is b.s. China is in theory older, but Chinese people count their nation's age from when Mao reset the clock, after WW 2. Japan has only been unified for a few hundred years, and the current Constitution (with new flag = "under new management")is barely 60 years old now.

The U.S. is a seriously flawed example in so many ways, so why not compare Japan to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway?

jruaustralia - *****'s comments read to me like France trying to prevent English words from 'invading' the French language. How can anyone say that Japan's culture is "pure", let alone that there is ONE cultural standard that applies to all of Japan? There are cultural differences represented throughout Japan, including regional dialects and customs.

Examples of Japanese culture in flux: 1 - The Japanese language has always been a vehicle of change. Ever wonder why some Japanese Kanji have so many different Onyomi and Kunjomi? It is because they entered use in different parts of Japan at different times (Kunyomi), from different Chinese dialects (Onyomi)- and in recent times, as no one could agree to pair them down, Japanese today is essentially a "dekichata" language. 2 - With the massive number of foreign words that have entered Japanese since WW 2 alone, the Japanese language today is quite different than it was just 70 years ago.

How about "Bushido"? 150 years ago a Samurai could kill anyone for any reason, my how times and 'culture' change. Some Imperial Japanese soldiers thought they were practicing "Bushido-lite" (for those not born into the ruling class) in WW2, but then the emperor went and told everyone that contrary to what previous management had stated, he was, in fact, NOT A GOD.

Essentially, ***** will accept change brought upon Japanese "culture", but only that which is introduced by Japanese people. Change at the hands of non-Japanese is "meddling" or "interference".

I find it odd that many of the comments here are "Japan - love it or leave it", while most Japanese people I meet are much more relaxed about internationalization, and the changes happening all around them. Perhaps Japanese people are more secure in their identities than the "I must protect Japan from people who look like... ME" wannabes posting here?

Why are so many of you so vocal about "newly arrived foreigners must not try to change Japan". If they do not speak Japanese, who, exactly, other than the people posting here, are these new arrivals talking to and influencing? With some 127 million "pure" Japanese people, and less than a few hundred thousand "new arrivals", what influence are they really able to have? Besides this article, and subsequent comments, Japan is already on autopilot, and will continue to change at its own pace anyway.

jruaustralia at 02:55 PM JST - 4th December

And it is harder to be accepted in Japan because people here tend to have similar thoughts, opinions, behaviors whereas in some other countries there is more variety to begin with and therefore people who act or think a little differently are more likely to be accepted.

Japan should stay the way it is. As for Japan being completely indifferent to other opinions, I'm not quite sure. But put it this way, at least the Japanese are not as litigious as what Australians are becoming now-- to an extent that it's becoming farcical really-- or as politically correct when it comes to voicing opinions.

I think the region too should be wary of political correctness and the multicultural doctrine. Should we be diverse in Asia? Sure. But should we entrenched "Diversity" into laws. NO.

And the fact remains that pluralism of opinions (and diversity in its basic sense) have been an Asian tradition-- with or without multiculturalism.

jruaustralia at 02:55 PM JST - 4th December

If one simply wishes to maintain centuries of customs/traditions and one’s national identity, then no it is not.

Agree. The New Left afterall has categorically demonized 'nationalism'-- which is completely and utterly rubbish.

(But that's another thing)

jruaustralia at 03:12 PM JST - 4th December

jruaustralia - *****'s comments read to me like France trying to prevent English words from 'invading' the French language. How can anyone say that Japan's culture is "pure"

@KevininHawaii, *****'s comments on pluralism (in Japan) and multiculturalism (as doctrine) is utterly valid. I have no idea where you're coming from with the inclusion of 'pure' culture.

BUT ESSENTIALLY The New Left and the Harmony brigade would argue that it all comes down to xenophobia. And unfortunately with such bastardization of history-- as you did-- how can you possibly argue.

jruaustralia at 03:12 PM JST - 4th December

Why are so many of you so vocal about "newly arrived foreigners must not try to change Japan".

Who did? Could it be that your presentiment on any conversation regarding anti-multiculturalism equates assimilation and xenophobia? But yours is a box to simple that merits rethinking (and unfortunately, its-nothing-new). It won't be unique to Japan, and the diminishing of history for the sake of the likes of KevininHawaii and other multiculturalists won't be the last of it.

(Here's waiting for something new to come out of your enlightened mind)

realist at 04:23 PM JST - 4th December

Xenophobia rules in Japan. Simply, Japan is a "cold house" for foreigners. A poll some years ago drew the results that over 60% of Japanese people did not like foreigners. Racial discrimination is rampant here, and even foreign visitors to this country are very low compared to other Asian countries, where people get better value for money and are treated with more respect and friendliness.

The Japanese invited Brazilians of Japanese ancestry here a few years ago,thinking they were a kind of Japanese. They soon discovered that to be a false way of thinking, and then they offered money to send them all back home, and never to return to Japan. This country is supposed to be a developed country, but it is almost as closed as it was 150 years ago as regards the ways of thinking about foreigners and foreign countries. This might be partly because of the stagnant education system here.

Antonios_M at 09:09 PM JST - 4th December

There are many countries around the globe if you want to enjoy the "benefits" of multiculturalism. Japan is well....Japanese. Keep Japan as it is. The problems of the economy and the aging population are not enough to argue in favour of multiculturalism.

I am surprised by comments in this and the previous article about the refugees. Some people tend to ignore the problems and the potential threats that multiculturalism brings with it. NO, its not about xenophobia, or racism. It is simply politics and sociology.

genkimark at 09:17 PM JST - 4th December

Why does any country, Japan included, have a supposed obligation to change for the whims of foreigners? Anyone ever heard the phrase "When in Rome?"

BurakuminDes at 12:26 AM JST - 5th December

Some people tend to ignore the problems and the potential threats that multiculturalism brings with it

In the words of Pauline Hanson (check Wiki if you don't know of her) - Please explain? Can you please expand a bit - are you saying Zainichi Koreans and Chinese, Ainu, Ryukyuans, Yamato people etc have brought "problems" and threats with them to these islands? And genkimark - yes, we are familiar with that saying - but which of the abovementioned Japanese ethnic groups should be the standard to "conform to"?

sfjp330 at 03:29 AM JST - 5th December

nigelboy at 10:05 AM JST - 4th December sfjp330 saids: Even if the foreigner lives in Japan, the main obstacle that they have to overcome is how they are going to make a living because it's not based on capabilities

Nigel saids:Speak for yourself. From my experience, those who whine those things are in fact incompetent.

What I said was that Japan's employment opportunites are not based on capabilities, but a race and you indicated no. There are almost 2 percent of Japanese population that are considered foreigners that are permanent residence in Japan and some go back 3 to 4 generations that are Japanese citizens of different race. However, you do not see any mayor, govenor, SDF or LDP or influential goverment officials of different race. If you say equal opportunity based on capability and not race, then can you name me any of these govenment officials that are influential that applies to above?

nigelboy at 04:21 AM JST - 5th December

However, you do not see any mayor, govenor, SDF or LDP or influential goverment officials of different race. If you say equal opportunity based on capability and not race, then can you name me any of these govenment officials that are influential that applies to above?

"Race" is defined as "A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics." Hence, you can exclude Koreans and Chinese from the 2% from that equation.

Based on the above, nobody really knows how many "3 to 4 generations that are Japanese citizens" of Korea/Taiwan/Chinese decent are lawmakers (national/local level) if indeed their parents/grandparents/great granparents naturalized beforehand. As for those who specifically naturalized on their own, Renho and Jinhoon Baek of DPJ comes to mind . As for different "race", Tsurunen Marute is a member of DPJ.

stevecpfc at 04:26 AM JST - 5th December

sfjp330; Don't feed him, he may go away. Of course Japan like kost places has problems, but there are a lot of problems for foreigners in certain areas. I would consider living in rural Japan for a white man to be similar to a balck man living in an English village in teh 50's.

Japan has a long way to go to accept people regardless of their ethnicity, whatever some blinkered Japanophiles claim.

*****at 04:50 AM JST - 5th December

all of you people talking about "acceptance" on the part of the japanese are willfully ignoring the fact that most of the people you are asking the japanese to accept don't even speak japanese, can't communicate with the people. as japan is not a country like the usa or australia, for example, two countries that were established relatively recently based on immigrant populations (not to mention coercive force), the japanese have been here continuously for a very long time and established as a nation with recorded intercourse with other nations for at least 1500 years. moreover, japan is the only country on the planet that was never successfully invaded; that only changed with the loss and subsequent occupation in WWII. so, basically, there are a lot of people who come here strictly for economic reasons and then don't want to make the effort even to learn the language. granted that some of these people are from developing countries and they may not have the means to afford the time and expenses to learn the language, but many are from the usa and work in, like, the finance industry. they have a superior, condescending attitude of people from the empire coming to subjugate the locals. like, why should we bother to learn the language of the natives...type of disposition. and comments about living in the country and the like are simply nonsense. i've done it, and if you can speak the language, people will respect you to a certain degree for making the effort and having gained a certain degree of understanding of japanese culture and communicative strategies and the like thru your study of the language. and if your language skills are of a high enough level to engage the japanese in a meaningful conversation, they certainly will engage you, not shun you. mind you, of course, that the level of engagement will depend to a large degree on your level of understanding and ability to communicate intelligently in japanese. some japanese will be reticent simply because their culture is highly developed and if you haven't arrived at a certain level of understanding regarding a topic, there is little that can be done to impart knowledge that has taken a long time to acquire on their behalf. being a foreigner myself, and somewhat outspoken and confident of my intellectual accomplishments and effort, i'm sure that i have, on rare occassion, imparted an impression of haughtiness. on the other hand, as i am open to being engaged in rigorous conversation on any topic in which i have invested study, i've met many japanese who not only are very good listeners and comprehend things i didn't even say (deficient language skills, etc.) though certainly meant to say, but can actively engage me, and who enjoy that type of meaningful interaction. so, "multiculturalism" or whatever dogma that may appeal to the foreigner feeling alienated is not going to serve your interests, and will only be a crutch that helps you hobble along into oblivion.

nigelboy at 05:42 AM JST - 5th December

If they have capabilties, can you run for public office in high profile large city Mayor, Govenor or PM race and their background of race doesn't matter in Japan? What you're saying is true in U.S., but in Japan?

As ***** stated on the previous comment, you're comparing a nation that is mostly established by immigrant population so of course, a race of a candidate can be played either positive or negative. A hispanic candidate, in general, will appeal to hispanic voters and other minority voters and will probably have a negative impact on the caucasian voters. Hence you cannot conclude that the aforementioned candidate is elected based on "capabilities" alone. It's a same thing for Japan. Person's background will have both positive and negative impact. The degree of both depends on the distribution of the population.

Noliving at 06:25 AM JST - 5th December

We have to ask ourselves what is being asked to be "changed", all that I'm reading is that for example they don't want employers to encourage/force the employee change their name to a Japanese name, they don't want to be turned down for housing simply because they are not "Japanese".

I don't think those are unreasonable requests/changes.

The problems of the economy and the aging population are not enough to argue in favour of multiculturalism.

But they soon will be meaning that if Japan wishes to maintain their current standard of living they will be forced increase immigration.

sfjp330 at 06:27 AM JST - 5th December

***** at 04:50 AM JST - 5th December. all of you people talking about "acceptance" on the part of the japanese are willfully ignoring the fact that most of the people you are asking the japanese to accept don't even speak japanese, can't communicate with the people.

Many foreigners communicate well and some understand the culture better than the natives. There are over 500,000 Korean and Korean-Japanese residing in Japan and many of these 3rd and 4th generations speak and write Japanese equal to the natives but do not receive the same opportunity. The point is the opportunity for these people should be same in every level, regardless if they run for PM. For Japanese, the race is a issue, regardless of language skills.

Noliving at 06:31 AM JST - 5th December

So what your saying nigelboy is that when it comes to Japan a persons race would mean a great deal more in an election, in fact could be the deciding factor, than it would in the US, Canada and the continent of Europe.

nigelboy at 07:55 AM JST - 5th December

Don't know what you mean by "great deal more". Maybe you could elaborate.

mikehuntez at 08:49 AM JST - 5th December

I'd really like to see Japan not become MultiCultural. It's Japan. I don't want too many of any other nationality as a big group. I want the major "ethinc" group around me to be Japanese. A few individuals of different nationalities is fine but I don't want any groups to take over like they own the place and the country should bend down to them. Zainichi Koreans and Chinese can choose to take Japanese citizenship and then the possibilities are unlimited when they accept that they are really Japanese at heart and Korean and Chinese by ethnicity only. For the rest of us we can accept what we are. If I'm living in Japan, I would expect the Japanese to see me for what I am. A Canadian living in their country. Maybe with a visa, maybe with Permanent Residence. No big deal.

bcbrownboy at 09:05 AM JST - 5th December

A large number of Koreans were also conscripted by Japan during World War II, including into forced labor.

Why indulge in these nasty euphemisms and continue to support right wing fascist language. Say it like it is: Japan kidnapped and enslaved these Koreans. The Koreans were slaves. And now they are reviled by many Japanese. It is disgusting, and should be openly faced.

Publications should demand writers stop using phrases such as "forced labor" and "comfort women," which only help to perpetuate the idea that Japan is somehow not culpable for their terrible war crimes, and eventually leads to the idea that Japan was a "victim" of the US and Russian aggression.

sfjp330 at 09:34 AM JST - 5th December

mikehuntez at 08:49 AM JST - 5th December. I'd really like to see Japan not become MultiCultural. It's Japan. I don't want too many of any other nationality as a big group. I want the major "ethinc" group around me to be Japanese.

I think your missing a point. Japan will not become multicultural society. However, it's more about fairness of opportunity for everybody including foreigners living in Japan. With anticipated declining population in a short couple decades, Japan needs to adjust and attract younger educated people from neighboring countries for permanent residence. Without the gradual change in immigration policy, Japan will have a stagnent economy with liability from mostly aging population.

nigelboy at 09:54 AM JST - 5th December

Say it like it is

Actually, conscription labor for Koreans were enacted in September of 1944 and was implemented in 1945. Less than 300 fit those category. Prior to that, they came on their own will.

Google "半島人労務者ノ移入ニ関スル件ヲ定ム"

jruaustralia at 12:44 PM JST - 5th December

Multiculturalism is a doctrine that has come under attack in the west-- not just from the usual suspects but even those it's suppose to "protect" and empower, and even some in the academia are now arguing that governments and individuals rethink this multicultural doctrine.

(Copy+paste from various sources)

In Canada:

Multiculturalism as a doctrine stipulates all cultures are of equal merit and deserve equal treatment. What remain unspecified — perhaps deliberately — in this formula are the criteria by which the equality of cultures is assessed. (Via Toronto Sun)

UK PM on the multicultural doctrine:

"State multiculturalism is a wrong-headed doctrine that has had disastrous results. It has fostered difference between communities."

"And it has stopped us from strengthening our collective identity. Indeed, it has deliberately weakened it."

"Multiculturalism was manipulated to entrench the right to difference – which is a divisive concept. What we need is the right to equal treatment despite difference." (Via The Guardian)

** John HOWARD, though obviously one of these-usual-suspects**

"I believe that societies are enriched if they draw, (like Aust'l), from all parts of the world on a non-discriminatory basis and contribute, as the United States has done, to the building of a great society."

"But when a nation draws people from other parts of the world, it draws them because of the magnetism of its own culture and its own way of life. People want to live in the United States not because of some futuristic ideal of multiculturalism, but because of what they regard as the American way of life and American values."

Angela MERKEL

"Of course the tendency had been (in Germany) to say, 'let's adopt the multicultural concept and live happily side by side, and be happy to be living with each other'. But this concept has failed, and failed utterly." (The Guardian)"

Francis FUKUYAMA, author The End of History and the Last Man

(There's) an unresolved issue in the way we think about our politics and that, I think, is at the core of some of our contemporary problems with issues such as multiculturalism.

Cultural diversity was a non-issue, and the original theorists of modern liberal democracy--including John Locke and Thomas Hobbes--really conceived of the problem of a free society as the freedom of individuals from the power of the state. (BUT) when groups want recognition, to what extent does our tolerance and pluralism--or our belief in tolerance and pluralism--require us to give official recognition rights? The issue becomes particularly acute when that minority is formerly despised or outcast or marginalized in the society and, therefore, the demand for equal recognition is particularly large. This hole in the theory about group recognition is the hole through which the truck of multiculturalism (the doctrine) has been driven. (Entrepreneur magazine)

jruaustralia at 12:50 PM JST - 5th December

If I'm living in Japan, I would expect the Japanese to see me for what I am. A Canadian living in their country. Maybe with a visa, maybe with Permanent Residence. No big deal.

Agreed.

***** at 02:46 PM JST - 5th December

there have been many interesting and thought provoking posts under this topic. and as jruaustralia's list of pronouncements from public figures shows, it is receiving a lot of attention. in response to the comment about "race" vs what i said about communication, i would maintain that in the modern world, where people from diverse backgrounds increasingly come into contact and interact, the ability to communicate is of utmost importance. i can't see why anyone who wasn't being persecuted in their own country would want to venture to another country where they can't communicate with people. if you can't communicate with people, you cannot get along in a society that’s continually evolving, with everyone coping with various issues, many of which must be addressed collectively. in modern, democratic societies, communication in respect to issues of collective importance is established as a right in order to promote the continued viability of that type of social system. thinkers like habermas have written extensively on this topic. it can be said that culture is divided into public and private spheres. in the public sphere, let's call it our political culture, a high standard of communication is required if there is to be meaningful discussion relating to the issues at hand. in the private sphere, the rights of the individual are protected against intrusion by the public authority, so a diverse range of beliefs and practices--so long as they are in conformance with the norms we have encoded in our laws--are able to thrive. and when some form of culture generated in the private sphere is presented on some more widely accessible stage in "civil society", and is deemed to be of significance to a broader swath of society than its immediate affinity group, it constitutes a part of a broader, pluralistic modern culture. culture is alive and well in modern societies, until some revanchanistic elements try to reassert some claimed right from premodern times that they can't articulate. so, muticulturalism is a divisive doctrine/dogma used to balkanize modern societies into groups with mutually exclusive entitlement mentalities, who then attempt to force competing claims on public resources. you end up with a balkanized, dysfunctional society, in the worst case scenario, social disintegration leading to the dissolution of modern society, thrown back into some feudalistic social model.

rofea at 04:02 PM JST - 5th December

What if you're raised in a household with one English speaking parent and one Japanese speaking parent, in Japan, you're bi-lingual and have spent 7 years living in England but the rest of your life in Japan. You identify yourself as English/Japanese but currently in Japan you can only be one or the other. Multicultural style policy would accommodate the identity of hybrid identity within the national collective. So being English/Japanese citizen could be something to be proud of rather than being belittle as a half citizen. Effective government policy can make a big difference in everyday life and interactions.

Jraustralia: why do you fail to mention Australia multiculturalism, considering it's the shining example of how multicultural policy can work and support diversity within the national whole? All the quotes mentioned above fail to recognis how the official policy of multiculturalism can actually work to support hybrid identities (chinese/australian etc) and/or second, third generational identities become accepted within the national identity.

Japan is a land long populated by citizens of mixed ethinicity and race (whether they be 2nd or 10th generation). I'm not suggesting Japan should adopt something as bold as the Australian model; however smaller official steps are needed to recognize those with hybrid (ethnic, racial) identities as part of the national makeup. I don't feel the nation will collapse into identity confusion and division if the government makes a few small bureaucratic changes for example; discrimination laws, allowing dual citizenship; adding and recognising ethinicity as a category in official census forms (currently they only ask nationality, which is why Japan can claim to be 98% pure because categories such as Ryukyuan identity become just Japanese).

I haven't read all the above posts so sorry if I'm repeating points already raised.

lostrune2 at 04:22 PM JST - 5th December

If I'm living in Japan, I would expect the Japanese to see me for what I am. A Canadian living in their country. Maybe with a visa, maybe with Permanent Residence. No big deal.

Agreed.

In America, they treat you the same way, heheheh.

jruaustralia at 05:02 PM JST - 5th December

you cannot get along in a society that continually evolving, with everyone coping with various issues, many of which must be addressed collectively. in modern, democratic societies, communication in respect to issues of collective importance is established as a right in order to promote the continued viability of that type of social system.

Beautifully put, and it should be added that because of this political correctness and us-v-them indirectly created by the multicultural doctrine discourse in our society remains stymied, if not propelled through these various proxies of Multiculturalism. That's not healthy for democracy, and that's not pluralism!

cleo at 05:31 PM JST - 5th December

i can't see why anyone who wasn't being persecuted in their own country would want to venture to another country where they can't communicate with people.

Learning to communicate is a big plus for some. You don't have to be being persecuted to want to go and see if the grass somewhere else really is as green as it looks.

You identify yourself as English/Japanese but currently in Japan you can only be one or the other.

In terms of official nationality, yes; but in social terms, what's wrong with just being 'a person'? That's what my kids are, and my friends' kids, and it doesn't seem to put them at any kind of disadvantage.

being English/Japanese citizen could be something to be proud of

I always thought it was.....

adding and recognising ethinicity as a category in official census forms

Anyone asks me to fill in a form that asks for 'race', I write 'human'. Anything else is irrelevant.

as_the_crow_flies at 05:55 PM JST - 5th December

If I'm living in Japan, I would expect the Japanese to see me for what I am. A Canadian living in their country. Maybe with a visa, maybe with Permanent Residence.

Fair enough, you have your place in the world. What, though, if you're the great-grandchild of Korean slave labourers whose Japanese nationality was arbitrarily withdrawn due to ideological whim, your personal history is just sucked into the big melting pot and you're spat out as just one more Japanese? Quite apart from the fact that taking Japanese nationality will never make you, in many Japanese people's eyes, other than what your great grandparents were, why should you accept that robbery of your identity? Why should it not be accepted as part of what goes to make you what you are, if it's important to you? The fact that many ethnic Koreans refuse to take Japanese nationality, shows that for tens of thousands, if not hundreds, that it is important. The fact that the Japanese government lumps ethnic Koreans with the rest of us, is proof enough of why so many Koreans don't want to be "assimilated".

The case of returnees is another. The Japanese concept of Japanese is so two-dimensional, a lot of Japanese don't fit into it, if they haven't been cast in exactly the same mould as all the 'made in Japans'. Yet they are Japanese, ethnically, culturally. The problem is having a single mould and demanding to force everyone into that mould.

Just for the record, the concept of "assimilation" was discredited several decades ago in many parts of the world. Multiculturalism, for all its faults, was developed in the 60s and 70s to address the failings of the notion of assimilation. Assimilation is something imposed on groups seen as inferior. In the case of Japan there's a whole racial heirarchy underpinning it. Many posters probably fit into the Aryan pigeon hole in the Japanese mindset, so their Anglo culture is looked up to and emulated - they are less likely to feel the full force of rejection of their identity. On the other hand, if you come from one of the darker parts of the world, or happen to be one of Japan's neighbours, you'll experience much more of the uglier side of the old Imperial Japanese worldview. Your language and customs will be be more likely to be despised, not put on a pedestal like English and Anglo culture. As in, 'please don't give your child foreign food to bring at school as it upsets the other children'. It's quite easy to be a Brit or an American and be 'what's it to you?' in response to attacks on your culture and your identity, quite another to be Korean, Ghanaian, Burmese, or Peruvian.

stevecpfc at 07:06 PM JST - 5th December

nigelboy; I am not incompetent,i am running a successfull business from Japan, self taught. I am not rude to posters on a daily basis and i am not obsessed with any country to make myself a laughing stock.You need more than learning the language to be happy, each to themselves but some have pre determined ideas as they lack independent thought.

I would prefer a country to accept all as equals rather than strive to be multicultural.

jruaustralia at 08:16 PM JST - 5th December

Jraustralia: why do you fail to mention Australia multiculturalism, considering it's the shining example of how multicultural policy can work and support diversity within the national whole?

@ rofea: Huh?! I have not failed to mention (and appreciate) the diversity of cultures and ethnicities in Australia.

(Do scroll back).

SO, OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT DISCOURAGING DIVERSITY (but no one really did on this thread). It's the multicultural doctrine-- which Aust'l already dumped, and a doctrine majority of Australians don't support!-- that's what I'm scrutinizing.

And if there's something that I missed, on multiculturalism in Australia, it's a failure to mention the ugly scenes of Cronulla, Harris Park and the 2010 election that should be pointed. But perhaps it's the case of the buyer unaware of the fineprints when it comes to the multicultural doctrine.

Many posters probably fit into the Aryan pigeon hole in the Japanese mindset, so their Anglo culture is looked up to and emulated - they are less likely to feel the full force of rejection of their identity.

Rather naive to think of opponents of multiculturalism as indifferent or racialist (or, good grip, Anglophile).

BUT AS A CRITIC of Multiculturalism in Canada said, the doctrine may have resulted in excessive emphasis placed on "differences" (and alienation) and “diminishing emphasis on commonalities and values” that binds people.

Your post's an obvious example of his presentiments.

SolidariTea at 09:08 PM JST - 5th December

What they want could more accurately be called "McMulticulturalism."

Noliving at 03:43 AM JST - 6th December

Don't know what you mean by "great deal more". Maybe you could elaborate.

Ok here is the elaboration, race plays a bigger role in Japanese minds in determining who they would vote for in an election than it does in US, Canada, Europe election.

nigelboy at 04:43 AM JST - 6th December

Ok here is the elaboration, race plays a bigger role in Japanese minds in determining who they would vote for in an election than it does in US, Canada, Europe election.

Like I stated previously, a hispanic candidate running for office in a district where there are high minority % will utilize his/her background to gain votes. In this case, race plays a bigger role for this individual. If a hispanic candidate runs for office where there's just minimal minorities, the chances of him/her getting elected are minimal or none at best. In this case again, race plays a bigger role for this individual. There's a reason why Hispanic members in the Congress are from California, Texas, and Florida etc. while the other 40 states have zero.

As for Japan, are there districts where the situation is similar to that of California, Texas, and Florida where over 20% of population is represented by single minority group?

nigelboy at 05:05 AM JST - 6th December

In summary, race plays a big role in any election. The same reason that 40 other states in U.S. has zero hispanic members in the Congress is that same reason why Japan has zero minority members in the Diet through district elections. How did Renho and Baek Jinhoon get elected? Well, they were elected on proportional representation so there is a good chance that Japanese of Korean/Taiwan/Chinese decent who are eligible to vote lobbied DPJ enough so that they could be near the top of the list.

sfjp330 at 06:07 AM JST - 6th December

nigelboy at 05:05 AM JST - 6th December In summary, race plays a big role in any election.

There are exceptions. In the 90's, Gary Locke who is a Chinese-American became a govenor of Washington state at the time was predominately white, was elected for two terms. Robert Matsui of Sacramento was elected as congressmen with less than 5,000 Japanese Americans living there out of 400,000 in city population. Norman Mineta, another Japanese American was elected as a first Asian in City of San Jose. Currently there is less than 2 percent Japanese ancestory there, and now the10th largest city,, and Mineta later became a congressmen and Secretary of Transportation. As I indicated earlier, the candidates for the office in Japan should be measured by the qualifications and less race.

nigelboy at 07:13 AM JST - 6th December

There are exceptions.

Sure there are. Another aspect that you overlook is the fact that minorities in general also vote for other minority candidate. In Japan, there aren't simply any districts/prefectures that comes close to the examples you've given in regards to population mix where there are over 15% of minorities. This is why it's absurd to compare U.S. to Japan.

mikehuntez at 08:20 AM JST - 6th December

If I grew up in Japan speaking Japanese then I'd consider myself that. Japanese. If I still had a passport that was Korean then I'd wonder why I wasn't Japanese based on silly stubborn pride. I'd want to be officially recognized as Japanese then especially if I didn't speak or understand any Korean. And being an ethnic Korean I'd call myself Korean Japanese. Meaning a Japanese person of Korean origin. I don't care if Japanese Japanese see me as that as I am identifying myself as such.

A friend's Polish wife in Canada just became a Canadian citizen. I identify her as a Polish Canadian. She sees herself as the same. Becoming a Canadian didn't take away her ethnic Polish origin nor will it any of her offspring. She is still a Canadian and so will her born in Canada offspring although they may identify themselves as their ethinc version of their citizenship.

fishy at 11:39 AM JST - 6th December

Here the Japanese are saying we are basically the same and accepting them that way but that is unacceptable and they insist that they are different's but when they are treated different then we will hear the screams of discrimination.This is not just Japan but many other countries immigrants and ethnic minorities not native to the country will go around insisting they are different but then complain if they are treated different.And as for the zainichi and obtaining Japanese citizenship.

Limbo-

EXCELLENT COMMENT!! :) I fully agree!

sarahsuz25 at 12:05 PM JST - 6th December

Bilingual schooling is great for its intended purpose, which is to teach a second language to children. I worked at such a school here in Japan for a while, and the students achieved high levels of fluency in their second language, while remaining on target or above grade level for their native language. The second language was introduced at a reasonable pace, while the native language was reinforced. The problem is that you can't really use it to, for example, teach Chinese to native Japanese students and Japanese to native Chinese students at the same time in the same classroom very effectively, because the background knowledge of each is so vastly different. That doesn't mean the whole concept is a waste, though. Immersion is the best kind of language education.

jruaustralia at 04:03 PM JST - 6th December

In this case, race plays a bigger role for this individual.

And it shouldn't.

Another aspect... (overlooked was) the fact that minorities in general also vote for other minority candidate.

And they (these Hispanics) shouldn't.

jruaustralia at 04:03 PM JST - 6th December

Immersion is the best kind of language education.

Have you heard of the internet or foreign exchange program?!

dolphingirl at 05:46 PM JST - 6th December

mikehuntez: Yes! Exactly!

sarahsuz25 at 06:23 PM JST - 6th December

Have you heard of the internet or foreign exchange program?!

A foreign exchange program is immersion; that's the whole point of it.

savaman at 06:55 PM JST - 6th December

Read limboinjapan's comments. Some actual common sense in a world that seems to have very little of it these days.

I come from a supposed multi-cultural society and from my perspective it is simply a segregated society in large part, generally by choice. If people find they have enough numbers to congregate and create a look and feel for a place that makes them confortable then that is exactly what they will do.

To me Japan is a wonderful place because of its differences and its uniqueness. If you want to live there try and appreciate those first before demanding it changes just for 'you'.

The 'world' is what's multi-cultural, if I travel from one country to another I fully expect it to be different and I fully respect their rights to be different.

jruaustralia at 07:11 PM JST - 6th December

Should society penalize people who are bilingual, or people from non-Japanese-speaking background? NO. But these people should learn Japanese and encouraged to effectively communicate in Japanese.

As for bilingual schooling, back in high school we have language program to learn Bahasa Indonesian-- and none of the students in my year were Indonesian. The only immersion they got was, I believe, a month-long study tour of Indonesia.

BUT, LET ME ASK, how could immersion and bilingual studies possibly fits into a thread on multiculturalism as a whole?!

jruaustralia at 07:12 PM JST - 6th December

The 'world' is what's multi-cultural, if I travel from one country to another I fully expect it to be different and I fully respect their rights to be different.

Well put.

sarahsuz25 at 07:44 PM JST - 6th December

BUT, LET ME ASK, how could immersion and bilingual studies possibly fits into a thread on multiculturalism as a whole?!

Hmm, maybe because it was MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLE??

ka_chan at 08:21 PM JST - 6th December

Japan has been xenophobic since Tokugawa closed the country. For a country that considers children who studied overseas because of business circumstances as somehow beening less than Japanese, it seems a reach for Japan to become multicultural. It's better today that years before but it still seems fairly xenophobic. As for bilingual education, I never liked the idea. It's not meant to teach language but allow non-speaking native speakers to better function without really learning the native language. Especially for a country that has continually lowered it's own language skills until current adults would not pass a language test for 50 or 60 years ago seem... not that I consider kanji Japanese but if Japan is going to use it, it should use the proper Chinese form as it did in the past. Besides, for Japan to become multicultural, it has to have multicultures and allow those to exercise those cultures. Culture is more than language.

jruaustralia at 08:55 PM JST - 6th December

Besides, for Japan to become multicultural, it has to have multicultures and allow those to exercise those cultures. Culture is more than language.

Then it's best the Japanese people remain as they are.

fishy at 09:03 PM JST - 6th December

For a country that considers children who studied overseas because of business circumstances as somehow beening less than Japanese

born and raised in japan, i disagree with the comment above (it might have been true many many years, i'm not sure, but i personally never experienced any kind of disadvantage being mixed and having studied abroad several years in high school and university). kids who studied abroad are not seen any less than kids who studied in japan, and in many cases, there is much advantage than disadvantage for those japanese kids who lived and went to school overseas. the only disadvantage i would see is that their japanese (not spoken japanese but reading and writing, etc etc) might be weak if they didn't study japanese while living abroad.. but then, they are often accepted as returnee students by many universities and they are often excused from taking japanese exam if they had certain level of abilities in other subjects.

people in japan are usually envious of those who had the opportunity to live and study in a foreign country as a child.

Culture is more than language.

i agree with this, though :) one cannot fully learn the language without learning the culture, and vice versa. if people were to learn a foreign language, they should learn the culture of the country that the language is spoken.

learning language can be hard and there are definitely people who have the talent to acquire foreign languages, and there are also people who really have difficulty learning the second language.. so nobody should be just saying things like YOU HAVE TO learn Japanese to communicate... BUT, the attitude to learn the language is a nice gesture I think.. When you go to a foreign country and greet using their language, say a few things in their language, you usually make a positive impression :)

your attitude to try to communicate makes the other party want to communicate, and it is a great start to a multicultural society!

fishy at 09:04 PM JST - 6th December

it might have been true many many years, i'm not sure

i meant to say, it might have been true many many years AGO.

cleo at 09:22 PM JST - 6th December

not that I consider kanji Japanese but if Japan is going to use it, it should use the proper Chinese form as it did in the past

Why should Japan restrict itself to the same form of characters that China uses? And how far back in the past shouldthey go? Would you like to see an end to kana, since they don't exist in the Chinese ideography? Would you like to see a revival of manyogana?

I must say, I don't understand this Japan should/shouldn't be multicultural argument. Food-wise for example, Japan is now much more multicultural than it was 30-odd years ago when I first came here. Should they throw out all the fried chicken, fried potatoes, hamburgers, steaks, pizzas, naans and other foods because they're not 'Japanese'? Should the Chinatowns in big cities all be closed down because they're not 'Japanese'? At the same time people in the West and elsewhere are enjoying sushi and pot noodles. Surely mixing it all up makes us all richer?

BurakuminDes at 11:28 PM JST - 6th December

Surely mixing it all up makes us all richer?

Totally agree - as do all the Japanese people I know, including the missus. Curiously, the staunchest defenders of the notion of "keeping Japan Japanese " seem to be certain gaijin residents here - posting on JT. It's their Japan, you know...

BurakuminDes at 11:40 PM JST - 6th December

...anyway, I have no say in any Japanese policy - I'm just a guest here.

***** at 12:51 AM JST - 7th December

@burakumindesu "...Curiously, the staunchest defenders of the notion of "keeping Japan Japanese " seem to be certain gaijin residents here - posting on JT..." do you have a large number of japanese in your social circle? can you speak japanese so you can communicate with regular japanese people to understand what they actually think about what is going on in the world and what is going on in this country. by the way, do you 'have a say' in policy issues in your own country? or is that simply a sideways comment about voting rights? that would seem to relate more to political culture than culture as in "multiculturalism" per say.

***** at 12:59 AM JST - 7th December

@cleo so are you saying that culture is about food, that's it? i don't think anyone commenting here has mentioned restricted they types of food that can be sold in any country. the other person's comment on kanji is utterly uninformed, as any student of the language would know. and from a linguistics point of view the kana phonetic alphabet are only related to kanji in so far as they are graphic abbreviations of certain characters with similar sounds. they are a phonetic alphabet, however, which is alien to Chinese. this just goes to show that studying the language of any country one resides moves to from another country is rather important for understanding aspects of the culture of that country.

*****at 01:03 AM JST - 7th December

@ka_chan i don't quite understand what you mean by your comment, "...not that I consider kanji Japanese but if Japan is going to use it, it should use the proper Chinese form as it did in the past." what "proper Chinese form" and when in "the past" are you talking about? for your information, the Japanese have developed a number of kanji characters indigenously, which are not used elsewhere. moreover, the kanji used in mainland china is the most unrecognizable form of the characters used in any country in east asia, as they have sought to minimize the stroke counts for efficiency in printing and the like. do i still hear people saying that learning the language is not essential to learning culture?

cleo at 01:12 AM JST - 7th December

***** - I just picked on food as one aspect of culture that we're all apparently quite happy to pik'n'mix. I genuinely do not understand the fuss over 'keeping Japan Japanese'...they eat food from around the world, wear clothes from the West, sprinkle imported words liberally in their language, watch imported programmes on TV, listen to imported music....I just wonder what bit of 'being Japanese' these posters want them to cling to.

So long as 'ethnic groups' abide by the generally-accepted social norms, what does it matter if they do things differently? Or if they choose to do some things Japanese-style and other things their own way? Or if the Japanese choose to adopt some of their/our ways, if they find them appealing? I just don't see what the fuss is about.

AiserX at 02:04 AM JST - 7th December

I must say, I don't understand this Japan should/shouldn't be multicultural argument. Food-wise for example, Japan is now much more multicultural than it was 30-odd years ago when I first came here. Should they throw out all the fried chicken, fried potatoes, hamburgers, steaks, pizzas, naans and other foods because they're not 'Japanese'? Should the Chinatowns in big cities all be closed down because they're not 'Japanese'? At the same time people in the West and elsewhere are enjoying sushi and pot noodles. Surely mixing it all up makes us all richer?

No it does not make us all "richer". Also, all these things you described, hamburgers, pizza, clothing that originate from the west have a VERY distinct Japanese taste. A Japanese hamburger won't get you enlarged as the ones here in America would. Japanese distinct "western" clothing have Japanese phonetics and designs altered into them. If you think mixing us all up will make us richer then you don't know what it is like to liver under MC.

I would recommend that the pro-mc camp read up on Swedens constitution. Sweden has adopted the full blown MC doctrine and its constitution will be amended. Once this amended constitution for Sweden which will undoubtedly pass next year will make it a constitutional requirement for ethnic and religious minorities ways of life to be heavily promoted, where does the way of life for the indigenous swede come in no rights for him/her? And then the countries chief prosecutor will no longer actually HAVE TO be Swedish citizen to hold that position. This goes for other Swedish public offices as well. Under multiculturalism what happens is that the dominate culture is criminalized in favor of the minorities culture. Swedish kids can no longer sign their anthem because then it is "bigotry" towards minorities.

BurakuminDes at 02:06 AM JST - 7th December

do you have a large number of japanese in your social circle? can you speak japanese so you can communicate with regular japanese people to understand what they actually think about what is going on in the world and what is going on in this country. by the way, do you 'have a say' in policy issues in your own country? or is that simply a sideways comment about voting rights?

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

***** at 03:03 AM JST - 7th December

· @cleo i don't disagree with anything you're saying, as i personally do not find the japanese to be all that insecure or closed minded. the fact that there is diversity here in japan and among japanese themselves speaks to the fact that it is an open society that engages with the world. generally speaking, though, the japanese--like people in any country--have a certain set of sensibilities that have been developed over the course of their history, evolving along the way and continuing to do so. so the issue is not about protecting some set-in-stone japaneseness, but preventing people who don't understand the japanese from imposing some external norms on them, using this false doctrine of multiculturalism to somehow accuse the japanese of being behind the times or something like that because they are not more like americans, basically. there are people trying to wield empty theories like multiculturalism to undermine culture in countries that are much older and more attuned culturally than so-called melting pot societies like the usa. that would seem to be something like a form of reverse cultural bigotry--for lack of a better term--as far as i can tell. what would people in the usa have to say if someone tried to impose bilingual education in elementary schools, saying all kids had to learn a second language before they even had acquired their first language? the people wielding trying to wield multiculturalism as a concept representing some sort of superior, or more evolved social model are in fact only trying to homogonize cultures across the board. that, of course, makes people more easy to manage for those promoting corporate consumerism. if you have only one set of sensibilities, its easy to market to. that is not culture, but a form of crass consumerism promoted from an external source that has profit--not culture--as its motivation. it also deprives humanity of the diversity it currently has at its disposal around the world when peoples of different backgrounds can actually be brought together to do something with a view to the future, something meaningful and lasting.

nigelboy at 04:10 AM JST - 7th December

*****.

Most of the posters here who claim to have communications with Japanese are mostly done with natives who are able to speak English. And depending on their level, the information exchanged varies quite significantly.

I had one Australian guy who was telling me that his Japanese counterparts didn't have a clue about politics, society, and about Japan in general. Knowing that the people he was referring to couldn't communicate in English very well, I sense that the problem was not the lack of knowledge but more to do with their inability to express themselves in English. Few days later, same crowd but this time all speaking Japanese. And wouldn't you know it, the situation was complete reversal where the Aussie seemed very clueless among the crowd. What silenced this Aussie was when we were discussing crime and punishment he went on about how Japan is too laxed while in his country, the punishment is more severe. Then the Japanese guy said, "お前が言うな。 You know that your country has more than 10 times the violent crime rate than that of Japan?!(in Japanese)"

I doubt this Aussie or hundred of thousands like him will ever change their views about Japan and the population but I'm quite sure that they will continually find other aspects of their culture which they believe is better than that of Japan.

zhazam05 at 05:30 AM JST - 7th December

To HELL with that "Multi-cultural" Nonsense! As an American I am made to put up with all the Fringe groups from every stripe ! Gai-jins should NOT push to make Japan anything else but JAPANESE!

sfjp330 at 06:28 AM JST - 7th December

zhazam05 at 05:30 AM JST - 7th December. Gai-jins should NOT push to make Japan anything else but JAPANESE!

Problem is this is how the business establishment thinks, but reality is Japanese need to better understand the differences of culture. If you ask anybody in China about which international companies you would like to work for, U.S. is first and Japanese companies ranks last. Why? In most companies, management do not trust anybody outside Japanese people and they lack promotional opportunity. The Chinese worker do not eat with Japanese workers and very few communicate deeply. Japanese professionals need to adapt and respect the outside world because this is where most of the young professional will end up working in the future, in such places as China, Vietnam, India, North America, Brazil and Middle East. They need to have better understanding of different culture. The Japanese no longer cannot isolate themselves in Japan because they will be the next person going abroad to work.

sarahsuz25 at 08:16 AM JST - 7th December

BurakuminDes

Curiously, the staunchest defenders of the notion of "keeping Japan Japanese " seem to be certain gaijin residents here - posting on JT. It's their Japan, you know...

Yep, pretty much. It's funny that none of them feel the strength of their convictions enough to actually put their money where their mouth is and leave the country.

BurakuminDes at 09:07 AM JST - 7th December

Yep, pretty much. It's funny that none of them feel the strength of their convictions enough to actually put their money where their mouth is and leave the country.

ha ha ha! Ironic, isn't it?!

cleo at 10:45 AM JST - 7th December

Most of the posters here who claim to have communications with Japanese are mostly done with natives who are able to speak English.

On a day-to-day basis, the only people I talk English with are my kids and the dogs. And JT.

Japanese distinct "western" clothing have Japanese phonetics and designs altered into them.

Where do you shop? I have trouble finding casual clothes that don't have Engrish garblidge printed on them. The only stuff with 'Japanese phonetics' is in the souvenir shops catering to tourists.

Moderator: Back on topic please.

Noliving at 02:16 PM JST - 7th December

Like I stated previously, a hispanic candidate running for office in a district where there are high minority % will utilize his/her background to gain votes. In this case, race plays a bigger role for this individual. If a hispanic candidate runs for office where there's just minimal minorities, the chances of him/her getting elected are minimal or none at best. In this case again, race plays a bigger role for this individual. There's a reason why Hispanic members in the Congress are from California, Texas, and Florida etc. while the other 40 states have zero. As for Japan, are there districts where the situation is similar to that of California, Texas, and Florida where over 20% of population is represented by single minority group

Oh for the love of god do you honestly have to dance around the point?

The argument is being made that race plays a more important role in voters minds in Japan, more specifically the dominate ethnic/race group about who they will vote for then it does in Canada, US, or Europe or Australia.

The part I put in bold is going to emphasize my point, lets say two Hispanic candidates runs in an election, one in the US and one in Japan. In both elections the voting block contains no minorities whatsoever besides the candidates themselves. They both lose their elections, one of them received 2% of the vote while the other received 1%. The argument being made is that the candidate in the US received 2% while the candidate in Japan received 1% and the reason for that is because for Japanese race plays a more important role than it does for "white" Americans in determining who they are going to vote for. Do you agree with that or not ? It is a yes or no answer, any answer that is not a yes or a no will be interpreted as you trying to dance around the point/question meaning the answer is a "yes" but you don't want to admit to it.

jruaustralia at 02:32 PM JST - 7th December

The argument being made is that the candidate in the US received 2% while the candidate in Japan received 1% and the reason for that is because for Japanese race plays a more important role than it does for "white" Americans in determining who they are going to vote for. Do you agree with that or not ? It is a yes or no answer, any answer that is not a yes or a no will be interpreted as you trying to dance around the point/question meaning the answer is a "yes" but you don't want to admit to it.

Does this hypothetical candidate of yours represent the will of the People or the will of the multicultural lobby?! BTW it's rather contentious (and hypocritical) to argue which-one's-racist when, as the case here in Aust'l, candidates are obviously chosen by backroom officials. Whilst in the US, money's influence is no doubt a big factor in the primaries.

Noliving at 02:56 PM JST - 7th December

See this is what I'm talking about dancing on the issue. Assume everything is the same between the candidates and they both equally appeal to the voter base, the only difference is race.

pointofview at 03:09 PM JST - 7th December

Japan doesn`t have to become multicultural crazy like Canada, Australia etc. but they should be working a lot harder to snuff out the xenophobic propensities that run rampant in the country. Before anything they should at least do that. Once that is sorted, more opportunities will be available for non-Japanese.

Noliving at 03:10 PM JST - 7th December

I completely agree, I believe that is really what the people in this article are asking for.

jruaustralia at 03:35 PM JST - 7th December

See this is what I'm talking about dancing on the issue. Assume everything is the same between the candidates and they both equally appeal to the voter base, the only difference is race.

Huh?! Not dancing on the issue, mate... believe me as a critic of multiculturalism I will support any candidates in my area who will not dance on this particular issue (and we have some critics of the multicultural doctrine, not just in the so-called far-right). But for me to say Australia's less 'racialist' than the Japanese because of its insistence of the multicultural brand (or in selecting political candidates' who are of "color") is rather petty and naive.

Noliving at 04:02 PM JST - 7th December

ok...........

paperstars at 07:49 PM JST - 7th December

So, people have been asking what benefits foreign culture has bought to Japan....

-The Japanese Constitution was written by Americans, yet it is one of the oldest constitutions in the world.

-Americans introduced voting for women.

-Sharing of technology between America and Japan has helped it's economy to grow and thrive.

-The Japanese kanji are based upon the Chinese characters.

-The Japanese government looked at German and British political structures in order to develop a style of rule that successfully incorporated the Emperor and a Cabinet.

-Despite what some people have said, there is considerable difference between traditional Japanese dress and the Western attire worn by most Japanese people.

-Many of the liberal ideas that grew in Japan came from people who had travelled and experienced foreign ideas - these people would later lead post-war Japan into greatness

So why is it considered 'bad' for Japan to take things from other cultures? One of the amazing things I've found when studying Japan is how they have always managed to improve their country by adapting foreign techniques & ideas, but still managed to maintain a strong cultural identity. It is possible to do both.

If anybody would like to show some actual facts of why multiculturalism is a bad thing, I would be delighted to hear them.

Hashimoto at 09:26 PM JST - 7th December

I agree with some of the comments regarding the Korean taking as a negative when Japanese people say "Oh but you look just like us, you must be Japanese." It's one thing to say, "Well actually I am ethnic Korean," just to let them know, but to take offence at a comment clearly intended to make him feel welcome and part of Japanese society, something which Japanese people were well known for being so strongly resistant to in the past, is pretty over the top.

With regards to multiculturalism I think a lot of people pretty experienced in life are still not clear as to what it means. Multiculturalism - the coexistance of multiple cultures within one country, brought about by the evangelical practicing and proselytizing of multiple alien ethnic and religious traditions within a given country - is wrong, and leads only to social strife.

What I call "Multiracialism" or "multi-ethnic monoculturalism" on the other hand - the coexistance of individuals of multiple races within one country, practicing, living by and propagating the single culture of the country in which they are in - should be the goal of everybody. This means that whatever your race, if you live in Japan you should be living by the Japanese culture. That doesn't mean you MUST go to shinto shrines or that you MUST eat sushi. It also doesn't mean that you should no longer practice your ancestral faith, but you should do that in private or in a designated place of worship for that faith.

But it does mean you MUST speak Japanese when dealing with government agents or companies, and you MUST respect Japanese sensibilities and customs when dealing with Japanese citizens. Initially you will need help to learn the language, and that is where the government or volunteer groups come in. But there shouldnt be cases as we hear about in Europe about immigrants who come claiming to flee "persecution" living in France for 20 years and still not able to speak a single word of French because he's been living in a multikulti bubble with a state welfare handouts economy, with every government document printed in 50 different languages.

Trying to force your language or your cultural views (on whatever topic) onto the people who built the country you are now in is wrong. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And if you don't like what the Romans do, go back to whichever barbarian tribe you came from (joke) - obviously this applies more to recent immigrants than those brought against their will, but you do have the option.

nigelboy at 12:28 AM JST - 8th December

Shouldn't you provide some sort of evidence to back up your claim? My conclusion, in simple terms, is that there are more minority elected in the U.S. because there are more of them. And as evidence shows, those who were elected are from the voting blocks/districts with heavy minority population.

In regards to how Japanese population would vote for non-Japanese in a district election, Martti Tsurunen comes to mind.

Martti Turunen ran for the Upper House in Kanagawa District (3 seats) in 1995 but fell just short placing him 4th.(13 candidates) He also ran in 1998 (3 seats) but again fell short again placing 4th.(15 candidates) Both times, he ran as an independent. In 2000, he ran for the Lower House in Kanagawa 17th district but this time, he was endorsed by DPJ. However, he was running against Yohei Kono (former LDP president, chief cabinet secretary, foreign minister, Speaker of the Lower House) and lost 140K votes to 85K) I don't know about you but that thats a lot of Japanese votes when you also take into consideration that he had more votes than the LDP candidate in the 1998 Election.

kyushujoe at 01:28 AM JST - 8th December

@Hashimoto

Perfect post, my friend. My thoughts entirely!

Noliving at 01:48 AM JST - 8th December

No because I'm not making the argument, all I'm doing is asking is that argument valid and I'm not getting a clear answer. Your conclusion is irrelevant to the question I'm asking. We are not talking about how many minorities are voted in and or how big the minority population is, we are talking about how race plays a role in the dominant ethnic/race group of voters minds when it comes to voting for someone. The argument that has been made is that "whites" in Canada, US, Australia and the continent of Europe are more likely to vote for a minority compared to "Asian" Japanese.

Is that argument valid/do you agree with it? Because of the fact that your not willing to give a yes or no to that question and also the fact that you try to dance around the question by saying "well race plays a role in all elections or minority population size matters as they are the ones that generally vote in minorities, blah blah blah"

Because of the fact that your not willing to answer the question I have to assume that you believe the answer is "yes" but you don't want to admit to it.

sf2k at 04:16 AM JST - 8th December

This is nothing new and was already there when I was in Japan 10 years ago, and my friends 10 years before that. They just haven't had their delusions crushed yet.

sfjp330 at 05:42 AM JST - 8th December

Hashimoto at 09:26 PM JST - 7th December. But it does mean you MUST speak Japanese when dealing with government agents or companies, and you MUST respect Japanese sensibilities and customs when dealing with Japanese citizens. Initially you will need help to learn the language, and that is where the government or volunteer groups come in.

Why force these people? This is why there is a problem with inflexable Japan. Why do every ethnic race have to force speak and learn Japanese culture? It's more important for these people to retain their tradition of their culture. Language speaking ability is not as important as you think. Usually the first generation immigrants rarely adapts fully and embraces other cultures. Multi-culture is more about next generation children that will be raised from the childhood and it will come natually. They will have sense of belongings and responsibility in the new land.

nigelboy at 06:05 AM JST - 8th December

The argument that has been made is that "whites" in Canada, US, Australia and the continent of Europe are more likely to vote for a minority compared to "Asian" Japanese.

Because of the fact that your not willing to answer the question I have to assume that you believe the answer is "yes" but you don't want to admit to it.

You can assume all you want. The reason why I don't have an answer is because of cases like Tsurunen and even in the U.S. where the number of minority lawmakers don't come close to the population.(i.e. only 27 members for 16% of the hispanic population in the U.S.) As posters like jruaustralia mentioned, there are too many variables within the election itself and therefore, such scenario that you mention will never exist. There, there is no real answer to that, but you can find/gather evidence to support one answer or the other.

limboinjapan at 08:08 AM JST - 8th December

sfjp330:"Why force these people? This is why there is a problem with inflexable Japan. Why do every ethnic race have to force speak and learn Japanese culture?"

The answer is simple because this is Japan!

What do you think should happen that Japanese businesses and government start working in whatever language their non-Japanese residents and employees speak?

Should all the Japanese start learning Chinese, Portuguese, Korean and whatever language other new immigrant arriving speak so that these new and old non-Japanese can get a job and live here?

Sorry but you find me one country that officially gives services in anything other than the official language or companies that allow worker that don't speak the business language that the company uses on a daily basses and I will show you and country with major problems with it day to day functioning and probably also a major problem with its administration, I will also show you a company that is bankrupt do to inefficiency and total internal Chaos!

Lets get real here folks!

This is Japan and the Language, culture and work place is Japanese and if I want a job here I need to adapt to that.

I have lived in several countries and when there I had the work and live using that countries language and culture, when I lived and worked in Italy I had to learn Italian and follow their customs, in India at one work place where the whole company was basically vegetarian I did not bring meat dishes in my lunch and in the companies where others did eat meat I sure the hell didn't bring beef for lunch just out of respect for the prevailing culture.

It is just commonsense if you want to live in a country that is not of your culture then you must adapt to theirs when out and about and at work, in your own home you can do as you please.

Hashimoto at 08:17 AM JST - 8th December

sfjp330:

Because this is Japan, if they want to pratice their culture and traditions that is fine - do it in private or in a designate place of worship or cultural center. But if you are coming to live in Japan learn our language, otherwise don't come. What is wrong with you people who come here and then look totally bemused and shocked when asked to speak the language of the people of this nation! It is not a right to live in Japan, no body forced you to come here. If you are so keen on your culture and traditions, then why move to a foreign country in the first place?

illsayit at 08:22 AM JST - 8th December

The language is where there is not a sense of multiculturalism. Japanese like to have the upperhand where money is concerned. If you are loaded and talk with them they will listen no matter how crappy your J. is; if you are the average person with no money backing you, they say you have to talk correctly so they can understand "this will sell and make a profit". Usually the answer is then, "is it in Japan, buy locally". This whole questioning of is it in Japan, and asking a foreigner is a good sense of how racist J can be. Fancy asking a foreigner"is x in Japan". Like they dont know, but more they dont want to say, "its NOT in Japan". This is where I agree J needs to be more multicutural. Sharing things about Japan, instead of covetting what they consider their monocultural ideologies or specialities, really gets on my nerves. I hate the line "in Japan its different". This is perhaps not all J, but after being in J for a good amount of time, really gets boring and all I can say is that J isnt multicultural enough to see beyond their yen, and their pride can never see beyond the talk. imo. Its really very simple to see; how often do english (I can only speak for)speakers look beyond crappy english,and communicate, and in comparison, how often is Japanese vocab offered up in a normal conversation.

sfjp330 at 08:58 AM JST - 8th December

Hashimoto at 08:17 AM JST - 8th December. But if you are coming to live in Japan learn our language, otherwise don't come. What is wrong with you people who come here and then look totally bemused and shocked when asked to speak the language of the people of this nation! It is not a right to live in Japan, no body forced you to come here.

Yeh, nobody is forcing Japanese nationals to go to China, Vietnam or India either. There are over 100,000 permanent residence of Japanese nationals living in China and over 1400 Japanese companies in Vietnam and thousands in India & Middle East. Maybe these countries that are host Japanese nationals working in these companies should start listening to your advise and implement a law that you need to speak and write their native language if you want to be in their country. If they don't put them in Jail. Maybe Japanese citizens might learn how to speak Vietnamese and understand their culture and learn something. Wouldn't that be cool.

BurakuminDes at 09:13 AM JST - 8th December

What is wrong with you people who come here and then look totally bemused and shocked when asked to speak the language of the people of this nation! It is not a right to live in Japan, no body forced you to come here.

Wrong and wrong. The Zainichi Koreans and Chinese - the main focus here - speak and write Japanese like natives - they are not running around in shops, government departments demanding the Japanese speak their language. In fact, many of them can't speak their ethnic language themselves. Secondly - many Koreans WERE forced here. Read some history.

nigelboy at 09:20 AM JST - 8th December

Secondly - many Koreans WERE forced here

to be exact, 245. Can't say how much off spring they had afterwards.

In regards to examples that sfjp330 gave, those Japanese that intent on staying overseas (i.e. permanently) does learn their native language. If you're talking about those chuzai-in who's tenure is about 3 years, I say there isn't too much of a necessity but should learn anyways.

BurakuminDes at 09:25 AM JST - 8th December

to be exact, 245

Care to cite where that figure came from?

nigelboy at 09:31 AM JST - 8th December

Care to cite where that figure came from?

Foreign Ministry in the 50's. The findings were subsequently published in the newspaper. The figures aren't surprising considering the fact that the conscription labor for Korean people were enacted in September of 1944 and was implemented less than 7 months. It goes to you show you that if you repeat "many were forced" enough, it eventually becomes the "truth".

BurakuminDes at 09:33 AM JST - 8th December

Interesting, thanks.

BurakuminDes at 09:37 AM JST - 8th December

...I'd wager the Zainichi associations would claim a much higher figure than that though? Anyway, 245 too many...

southsakai at 10:34 AM JST - 8th December

If too many people from any specific group were allowed in to Japan, this would give them the power to change rules and forbid things we enjoy and cherish here.

**I can only imagine years down the road when we see many Japanese cultures/traditions such as festivals banned in public because "it will offend people who don't celebrate it" **

Racial diversity and multi culturalism will not work in Japan. Please Japan, learn the lessons from abroad and don't make the same mistake as many Western and European nations have already made.... because it's no turning back once you open your doors!

pointofview at 01:04 PM JST - 8th December

Strange. Japan has its doors pretty much closed off to immigrants yet it has just as many problems as countries advocating multi culturalism.

BurakuminDes at 02:29 PM JST - 8th December

Racial diversity and multi culturalism will not work in Japan.

Racial diversity has been working (relatively) well here, you have Ainu, Zainichi Korean and Chinese, Yamato, Ryukyuans etc - and they are rarely at each others throats - these days anyway. C'mon, lets dispel the myth of an "ethnically pure" Japan - that theory is about 100 years out of date!

I'm not arguing for a multi-cultural "model" for Japan - Japanese will have to choose a system which works best for them. But let me assure you - you have nothing to fear from diversity, southsakai. It could actually re-invigorate your country, and you could share the things you enjoy and cherish about your Japanese culture with others.

kusoyarou at 06:06 PM JST - 8th December

There are no safe multicultural country in the world. Japan doesn't need it.

Zenny11 at 06:11 PM JST - 8th December

IMO & IME multicultural is NOT something you plan to have, etc. It either happens naturally or it don't.

Nor is it something you can force onto someone(ditto for democracy). But it can happen when people are open to accept new ideas, customs and take the best of either side.

Much of which comes from their upbringing, if they are taught you are X and you are better/correct it won't happen as they will demand things on their terms(see article above).

Just my view.

Hashimoto at 07:15 PM JST - 8th December

BurakuminDes

If you bothered to read my first post then you would have seen that I made an exception for those brought against their will. Stop looking for arguments when there aren't any, and read what people say before putting your own prejudices onto others.

Hashimoto at 07:17 PM JST - 8th December

sfjp30

We aren't talking about Japanese in other countries. In any case, they don't go round India demanding Indians start bowing or learn Kanji, so you are really confused my friend.

jruaustralia at 12:13 AM JST - 9th December

We aren't talking about Japanese in other countries. In any case, they don't go round India demanding Indians start bowing or learn Kanji, so you are really confused my friend.

Multiculturalism is quite revered that its supporters would even notice the water off the duck's back. Don't feed 'em, Hashimoto.

amerijap at 03:10 AM JST - 9th December

What is wrong with you people who come here and then look totally bemused and shocked when asked to speak the language of the people of this nation!

Speaking language is one thing. Forcing non-Japanese to change their names under duress is quite another. This is what the folks need to understand in the first place, when they want to engage in the politics of identity and multiculturalism.

Hashimoto at 04:51 AM JST - 9th December

Well you could take name-changing as an assault on your identity or you could take it as a way of truly assimilating into a country when you naturalize. Note that you only need to take a Japanese name if you naturalize, you can be a permanent resident without any of that. The overall topic of this article and the discussion has been about whether multiculturalism should be promoted or not, and I my view is that it should not be promoted. I come to this conclusion through logical deduction. Simple.

fishy at 09:20 AM JST - 9th December

Note that you only need to take a Japanese name if you naturalize

And even AFTER/WHEN you are naturalized Japanese citizen, you are allowed to continue your original name, you just write it in Katakana. Sure people will pronounce your name with katakana accent, but that'd be the same even if your name was written in Alphabet... so, changing name, doesn't happen UNLESS one chooses to change.

cleo at 09:46 AM JST - 9th December

Forcing non-Japanese to change their names under duress

Note that you only need to take a Japanese name if you naturalize

You don't need to take a Japanese name at all when you naturalise; you simply have to write it in Japanese - kana is fine. How many other countries allow citizens to write their names in a language that is not the official language of the country? Do UK, US, EU etc passports have names written in Chinese characters when a Chinese or Japanese person naturalises? When 田中太郎takes UK nationality, the name on his passport becomes Taro Tanaka; is it so terrible when the same thing happens in reverse in Japan?

nigelboy at 10:03 AM JST - 9th December

You don't need to take a Japanese name at all when you naturalise;

I believe amerijap was talking about Mr. Kim in the article where the employers were asking their employees to change their names.

However, most zainich have what is known as "通名” or "alias" which many municipalities/local government grants them without too much hassle. Hence, the local governments will issue Health cards with their chosen "alias".

When a zainichi commits a crime and is reported on the news, most networks will report his/her real name while Asahi in particular, is known to report his/her "通名”。　

amerijap at 10:52 AM JST - 9th December

OK. You're making a political argument on identity and multiculturalism from the standpoint of a governing body. You bring up naturalization as an example for cultural assimilation, and contend that such choice is pretty easy by putting an emphasis 'only,' while overlooking its effect on those who make(or are forced to make) such choices(i.e., an employment to Japanese company regardless of their legal status or eligibility). Are you aware that some foreign residents (mainly Koreans and Chinese) are still facing employment discrimination, because the employers invoke name-changing as the condition for hiring, even though they are very fluent in Japanese, and competent enough to work at Japanese companies? Wonder how you see the conditions for cultural assimilation.

cleo at 10:54 AM JST - 9th December

Zainichi have names written in kanji that are pronounced differently in Korean and Japanese. When a Japanese person reads the name, they read it Japanese-style because they don't know the Korean pronunciation. There's no offence intended. People can either take umbrage, or shrug their shoulders and move on. Japanese people tend to find my 'real' name difficult to pronounce, too: I could make a fuss and insist they get it right, or I can do what I do do, which is let it go. It's no big deal. My real name is too long and cumbersome for everyday use, so I too use an alias for everything except 'official' stuff. And having a Japanese surname seems to make life a lot easier for the people around me who have to call me something. An English rose by any other name...?

sfjp330 at 11:06 AM JST - 9th December

Dealing with Japanese on a one-to-one basis usually comes very easy to non-Japanese, but dealing with Japanese as a group can be a different matter altogether. And no matter how nice you are, or how good your Japanese becomes, you will always be treated as an outsider. Many westerners see Japanese as aloof, shy, and always walking on eggshells. There is a lot of truth in that, Japanese are extremely sensitive to what others might think of them, or worse what they say behind their backs, and Japanese really do engage in gossip and are very hesitant to do something new, different, or independent. Being ostracized is one of the worst things that can happen to a Japanese, who is raised to be part of a group and depend on others. Therefore, when making requests, it often takes more time since the person asked usually consults others in the group to reach a consensus.

How Japanese view non-Japanese is a mixture of admiration, suspicion, and most often a lot of nervousness about dealing with someone who doesn't look or act like the Japanese. It is very hard for non-Japanese to get an apartment, or a loan, credit card, etc. There is no logical or rational explanation for this conflict since Japanese do not think in a logical, rational fashion, at least in western terms. Many people coming to Japan ask if the Japanese are racist and cold to westerners. The answer is not that simple. But it is no exaggeration to say that, bending the metaphor a bit, the Japanese see things through race colored glasses. It must be emphasized though that Japanese racism is in almost all cases never hostile towards others, so the idea of people screaming epithets at you like in the U.S. is inaccurate.

amerijap at 11:42 AM JST - 9th December

You don't need to take a Japanese name at all when you naturalise;

I believe amerijap was talking about Mr. Kim in the article where the employers were asking their employees to change their names.

Ah, actually, that's not my line. For all I know, they'll provide your name in Kanji, which translates your original name into Kanji. For some Koreans, however, they may feel uncomfortable when they see their names in Kanji-- possibly because of their parents’ bitter experience in a newly given name that apparently went beyond the translation from their original one. (i.e., "Kim" to "Kimura," "Kang" to "Kanemura" or "Kanemoto," "Koh" to "Kohsaka")

nigelboy at 11:59 AM JST - 9th December

For some Koreans, however, they may feel uncomfortable when they see their names in Kanji-- possibly because of their parents’ bitter experience in a newly given name that apparently went beyond the translation from their original one. (i.e., "Kim" to "Kimura," "Kang" to "Kanemura" or "Kanemoto," "Koh" to "Kohsaka")

Soushikaimei was optional and not forced upon so there is no bitterness attached to it. This is why so many Koreans changed their names voluntarily espeically in Manchuria because they were being discrimminated by other non-Japanese.

Those who kept their names are in hanja which is essentially same as kanji. Granted that Japanese to pronounce it quite differently, I don't believe that the issue here.

nigelboy at 12:25 PM JST - 9th December

Speak for yourself (once again).

It's amazing how many versions of Nihonjinron are dispalyed constantly on this site. And those who offer it are coicindentally, can't speak the language well enough to communicate on a periodic basis with them. It shows.

Therefore, you get this "Japanese are extremely sensitive to what others might think of them, or worse what they say behind their backs, and Japanese really do engage in gossip and are very hesitant to do something new, different, or independent."

It's equivalent of a Japanese person saying "(inserty your country here) are extremely insensitive to others, or worse they go straight to their faces to engage in confrontation , simply don't give a **** what others think and will force it down your throat"

thetruthhurts at 12:36 PM JST - 9th December

"Japanese are extremely sensitive to what others might think of them, or worse what they say behind their backs, and Japanese really do engage in gossip and are very hesitant to do something new, different, or independent."

How about when it is said by a Japanese? Does that make it true?

cleo at 12:59 PM JST - 9th December

For all I know, they'll provide your name in Kanji

?? 'They' don't provide anything, you decide for yourself what name you'll go by.

For some Koreans, however, they may feel uncomfortable when they see their names in Kanji

You do know that Korean names are written in Chinese characters to start off with?

you will always be treated as an outsider.

Not true.

It is very hard for non-Japanese to get an apartment, or a loan, credit card, etc.

Not true. Unless you're here on a temporary visa, have no credit rating, no guarantor, etc.

amerijap at 01:49 PM JST - 9th December

You do know that Korean names are written in Chinese characters to start off with?

You do know that Korean language style is different from Japanese Kanji???

cleo at 02:20 PM JST - 9th December

You do know that Korean language style is different from Japanese Kanji???

Looking at the list of Korean names on Wikipedia, most of the hanja characters seem to be identical to kanji.

Zenny11 at 02:24 PM JST - 9th December

Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation. Hanja-mal or hanja-eo refers to words which can be written with hanja, and hanmun (한문, 漢文) refers to Classical Chinese writing, although "hanja" is sometimes used loosely to encompass these other concepts. Because hanja never underwent major reform, they are almost entirely identical to traditional Chinese and kyūjitai characters.

Zenny11 at 02:27 PM JST - 9th December

For names older people write in hanja, younger ones in Hangul.

Hangul even though it existed for centuries was not adopted widely till well into the 19th &20th century.

fishy at 03:14 PM JST - 9th December

and there's always an option for them to use Katakana, not Kanji if anyone is bitter to use the kanji characters.. YOU can choose whether you change your name into Japanese or keep your original name. You can choose whether you use Kanji or use Katakana or Hiragana. your choice.

ANOTSUSAGAMI at 06:34 PM JST - 9th December

Well on the issue of the Japanese name thing, I think they mean when you get a job and they request you take a Japanese name for... I don't know, ease of pronunciation. I haven't heard of this happening to non-Japanese, but I know a friend of mine whose wife was forced to take her maiden name when she started work, even though her maiden name was longer and more cumbersome than her married name.

***** at 02:40 AM JST - 10th December

the korean word "hanja" is written with exactly the same characters as the japanese word "kanji". are you people for real? the character 「漢」means Chinese, and the character 「字」means 'character' (as in written, monosyllabic, graphically represented word). the characters have different pronunciations in korea and japan, but are by and large written the same. it seems that some of the contributers here have a neocolonialist mentality, and multiculturalism is an ideological tool in their arsenal. well, as an expat american here for reasons other than those, i have to again ask others to question what it is that such people are doing here. they seem to want something that they couldn't get in their homeland--that's why they left", and so now they are trying to superimpose the idealized circumstances (i.e., multiculturalism) they feel will help them attain their self-projected rewards for their self-evaluated worth--they want something for nothing. if you don't want to work at learning and using the language everyone speaks in the country, and you don't feel that the culture merits the effort to be engaged, then this expat thinks your so-called multiculturalism is nothing but an ideological tool for the deluded.

***** at 02:47 AM JST - 10th December

@burakumindesu incidentally, this topic is not primarily about koreans and chinese residing in japan, it is a general topic, of global import.

what is the source (or motivation) of your moniker "burakumin"? you state that you are a foreigner (aussie, right?) but you seem to be putting out spin that is not based on fact, as has been pointed out above in regard to the number of Koreans forced to come to Japan. are you on some sort of crusade???

limboinjapan at 03:44 AM JST - 10th December

What is all this crap about names?!

Japan does nothing different from other countries!

If You immigrate to a western country you cannot keep your Kanji, Hangul, Hiragana, Katakana, Arabic script, etc..name.

You need to write your name in the Roman alphabet plain and simple.

The same goes for immigrating to Korea you cannot keep your Roman Alphabet, Japanese Kanji (if you want the name to sound the same), Hiragana, ect.. you will need to use Hangul that is the closest to the sound of your name.

In Japan if your name is in Kanji and you keep that Kanji well it will be pronounced differently if you want to keep the name well like everywhere else you will need to write phonetically in either Hiragana or Katakana.

So will you idiot get off the subject and start looking at other places that basically do the same and stop always making it out that Japan is such a bad place or somehow wrong.

As for the rest of the crap, this is Japan and unlike places with minorities that were often already there ( do try and remember that in much of the south USA a large portion of the Hispanics where there first) the people coming here have no right to ask Japan to go provide emersion schooling or anything else in another language, they came here knowing this was Japan and that the language of the Government, schools and business was Japanese, to afterward say "well now that we are her we want blah,blah, blah....." is nuts!

Hashimoto at 04:35 AM JST - 10th December

amerijap

One Japanese government official put it this way - yes we realise that Koreans and others were brought against their will. But it is now decades later. The young generation weren't forced to Japan, and the young generation of Japanese didn't bring the young generation of Koreans to Japan. If you want to exist harmoniously with the rest of the Japanese and be treated as someone who has been assimilated, then change your name. If not that's fine too but you don't get to be a citizen. Citing some no doubt rare incidents of naturalization as an employment condition is just making mountains out of molehills. In any case amerijap, has such a thing personally affected you? I doubt it. Stop this indirect crusade.

I thinking you are thinking way too deeply about the entire issue. You are thinking "Under what conditions would I ask someone to change their name?" And then answering "If I was on a mission of cultural genocide," then you conclude "So that is what the Japanese must be doing." As I said to someone else, remove your own prejudices and try looking at it from the other person's point of view, you know, those people whose country it actually is.

stevecpfc at 05:01 AM JST - 10th December

Hashimoto; you made a good point there about why Japan needs to buck its ideas up., "then change your name"!! Change your birth name to satisfy right wing Japanese in a nation without anti racism laws, bah, humbug!!!

nigelboy at 05:09 AM JST - 10th December

It's hardly new at this wonderful site. When a related topic comes up, there are still quite many who believe it's the Japanese that took away their citizenship and are still refusing them to grant one. Even if you correct them, they go on about unfairness of Japan's government to not grant dual citizenship as if a loss of their Korean passport/gaijin card=death of their heritage even though most of all of them have NO intention of ever residing in Korea.

Any article that mention human rights, whether it's within Japan or the Japanese government criticizing other entity, the typical response you get is the "plight of burakumin, Ainu, and Ryukuans" boiler plate arguments even though most all of them have assimilated decades ago and the ones making noise are special interest groups who's just in it for the money.

Hashimoto at 07:01 AM JST - 10th December

stevecpfc

I'll say this one last time. If you don't like the rules and regulations pertaining to gaining citizenship of Japan, don't seek to naturalize. As others have pointed out, you don't even need to change your name, just write it in katakana. Sheesh what is so hard about this?

limboinjapan at 07:28 AM JST - 10th December

stevecpfc: "Change your birth name to satisfy right wing Japanese in a nation without anti racism laws, bah, humbug!!!"

So AGAIN I must repeat for those who have trouble reading NO ONE NEEDS TO CHANGE THEIR NAME all they have to do is write it in Katakana or Hiragana!

@stevecpfc are you saying that all the other countries like Australia, Canada, USA, etc.. are satisfying their right wing by forcing immigrants and naturalized citizens to write their name in the Roman alphabet only!

stevecpfc at 07:45 AM JST - 10th December

limboinjapan; was referring to post by hashimoto. If you condier the countrues you mentioned a similar to Japan in anti racsim and accepting foreigners tehn you are out of touch.

limboinjapan at 07:55 AM JST - 10th December

stevecpfc:limboinjapan; was referring to post by hashimoto. If you condier the countrues you mentioned a similar to Japan in anti racsim and accepting foreigners tehn you are out of touch."

Again you need to learn to read, it is you who is making it seem like only Japan makes people change the way their names are written in order to immigrate or naturalize!(if the name is originally not in the same writing format (alphabet) as their new country)

If anything Japan is advantageous when Koreans of Chinese immigrate as they have the choice to keep their Kanji names (something not offered in the west) yes it will no longer be pronounced the same but they can keep it.

amerijap at 10:07 AM JST - 10th December

One Japanese government official put it this way - yes we realise that Koreans and others were brought against their will. But it is now decades later. The young generation weren't forced to Japan, and the young generation of Japanese didn't bring the young generation of Koreans to Japan. “If you want to exist harmoniously with the rest of the Japanese and be treated as someone who has been assimilated, then change your name. “If not that's fine too but you don't get to be a citizen. Citing some no doubt rare incidents of naturalization as an employment condition is just making mountains out of molehills.

The assumption that Japanese people treat foreign residents based on their name— whether in good or bad way, to me, is dubious at best. The argument that young generations have a different life from their ancestors is quite misleading. Well, that’s typical character of arguments made by the government officials,--contrary to their ethos. Just like Sarah Palin.

In any case amerijap, has such a thing personally affected you? I doubt it.

What’s the point in asking such a question? I’m not a foreign born citizen, nor an immigrant. Both of my parents are Japanese.

Stop this indirect crusade.

LOL. Who the hell is nonsensical? It’s the matter of race, ethnicity, and citizenship.

You are thinking "Under what conditions would I ask someone to change their name?" And then answering "If I was on a mission of cultural genocide," then you conclude "So that is what the Japanese must be doing."

Huh? Cultural genocide!? What are you talking about? Why do you think name-changing leads to that consequence!? It’s not the Hawaii in the 18th and 19th century.

As I said to someone else, remove your own prejudices and try looking at it from the other person's point of view, you know, those people whose country it actually is.

I’ll turn the table to give that statement right back to you. I’ll ask you to stop making a load of nonsense by chanting an anti-multicultural sentiment.

kyushujoe at 10:36 AM JST - 10th December

when Koreans of Chinese immigrate as they have the choice to keep their Kanji names (something not offered in the west) yes it will no longer be pronounced the same but they can keep it.

As far as I know (which might not be very far), as long as your kanji are on the approved list you can assign them any pronunciation you want.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Relevant articles and comments deleted from JapanToday website: MULTICULTURALISM

The last installment of articles selectively deleted from the JapanToday site deals with multiculturalism, which is a topic that has come under intense scrutiny in recent years, and is another tool in the ideological arsenal of the corporatist infiltrators operating as CIA officers and MI6 officers.

The fact that they cancelled their subscription to Kyodo News Service when things were progressing in such a manner is highly suspect.

As in the case with post-modernity, you have to first have the modern. There is no post-modern without the modern, and insofar as pseudo scholars attempt to say that post-modernity represents the end of history or any other such nonsense, they are simply ideologues and charlatans.

Insofar as multiculturalism is premised on the existence of culture, the tendency of multiculturalism to distort and efface all culture is indicative of its pernicious and fallacious ideological character.

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