Presently, the relationship between Japanese and foreigners is so closed. In spite of the increasing of opportunity that we see foreigners is recent occurrence, and in our parents’ generation, many people don’t like to accept foreigners compared with our generation. Why?

According statics of change of foreign population, foreign population increased rapidly in 1990s. Especially, increase of population except for Chinese and Koreans is remarkable. It is related that many foreign businesses came into Japan. In 1990s, foreign company increased in Japan. People had inevitably many opportunities to have to do with foreigners in their life. It resulted in increased of foreign population. This is why it is easy to come to Japan for foreigners. Moreover, various foreign cultures even became an object for admiration for Japanese people. Foreign foods, movies or products often come into fashion and are often picked up on the TV, magazine, and so on. Similarly, many foreigners are fascinated with Japanese culture (including subculture), go to study or travel to Japan. And, Japanese who marry foreign people is increasing. The number of international marriage in 30 years ago is only about 7,000 families, while the number in the present is about 40,000 families. However the purpose that Japanese contact with foreigners was for business in the first time, become for life at this time.

That’s why Japanese people became tolerance for foreigners. The rising of the number of foreign people brings international society to Japan. In the past, Japanese people were exclusive to foreign people. However, now is we cannot live in the Japan without having to do with foreign people. It is not too much to say that foreigners bring Japanese present world.

by Ayako Takagi