Category Archives: Immigration

What does it mean to be Japanese?

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by Daiki Nishiyama

What does it mean to be Japanese? I cannot answer the question clearly even now. I cannot define what Japanese is. When I am said, “Are you Japanese? If so, show me something to prove you are Japanese”, I have no idea what I should show. Passport? Student ID? Japanese name? Speaking Japanese fluently? In the class, most of us were not able to answer the question. I am going to write what I think about Japanese.

In fact, what does it mean to be Japanese? What is the difference between Japanese people and “hafu”? I guess because Japan is said to be a homogeneous nation, the others, “hafu” and foreigner, are not comfortable to live in Japan. Japanese people tend to exclude something or someone different. I think this characteristic is based on the education system in Japan. I learned in a class that the aim of the education system in Japan was that children assimilated the other children to make devoted soldiers and workers. And Japan has continued this education style so far. As a result, Japanese people are very likely to exclude and avoid something or someone different. Because “hafu” people and foreigners look different from Japanese people, they have many disadvantages in Japan.

Here is an example. I have a Korean friend, who can speak Japanese as fluently as Japanese people. Recently, she applied for some part-time jobs. She was always thought to be Japanese because her Japanese is great. However, as soon as she said she is Korean, she was rejected because she is not Japanese. I was really shocked to hear the story and I did not know why she was rejected just because she is not Japanese but Korean. Her Japanese is really like Japanese. As this situation shows, Japanese people like to be similar to others. We are relieved because we are the same.

I think Japan needs to change this situation. We, Japanese people, should be more independent to live in the globalized society now. It is ironic that the education in Japan makes children like behaving as others doing, on the other hand, society now needs independent people. Japan should change the aim of the education system to make children become independent people. If so, Japanese people would accept difference and Japan would be the comfortable country for “hafu” people and foreigner to live in.

What is the problem of immigrants?

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by Naruko Nakagawa

I think Japanese people don’t argue citizenship of immigrants as serious as other countries, because of characteristic of Japan as island country and homogeneous state. So Japanese don’t put a special emphasis on this problem of immigrant. Of course I was also one of them. But I wonder; now I think immigrants haven’t gotten “citizenship” yet, but if they get a citizenship officially, how does it influence our lives? What’s the problem of immigrant?

First, one of concern is possibility of political takeover by foreigner. The consensus of nations was made by citizens. So the more immigrants get citizenship by legal procedure, the larger consensus will be formed. Though I don’t know the example, this logic was told ever. Second, the Japanese society may blame the increase of unemployment on immigrant, as well as recent some countries, like French. I think that rate of unemployment is not related to immigrant, originally it’s structural problem in society or reason among individuals. And as other concern, in general government doesn’t have to take care of people of other counties. Is giving citizenship defined as immigrants become nations, or not? Are giving citizenship and the naturalization synonym? Before this question, should citizenship be given to someone at all?

My primary concern is discrimination toward immigrant. Some problem stated above may create new common sense of discrimination. Immigrant problem regards as outlet of complaint of nations by particular political group.

However, when I was high school student, I heard a story from the man, who was discriminated because he is from certain community (we called Buraku) ranked bottom of hierarchy in Japanese society, as Eta and Hinin (it means “not people”) in the past. He said that if young people haven’t known about discrimination toward this certain community, it’s OK. This problem is old contents, so most of them don’t know about this problem in detail. So they don’t have to know, because they can take it easy and deal with them as normal people when they remain unlearned about certain community. I think there is something in what he said, but at the same time, I wonder people must improve the situation of discrimination, or don’t have to? All nations are responsibility to face this problem, or not?

I think that the discrimination toward to foreigner or hafu is from difficulty of understand and fear against uncertain something. So responsibility to improve is in individuals. Giving citizenship is including many serious problems, so we can’t make light of this, we should ready for the time Japan will address refugee problem.

Are “hafus” special?: Considering them as an individual

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by Yui Matsushita

According to Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2010), the number of birth in Japan which one of parents comes from a foreign country was 21,966, while the total number of birth was 1,071,304. That means about two percent of babies (one of 49 babies) in Japan have one Japanese parent and one foreign parent. They are commonly called a “hafu.” It can be said that Japan is no longer a racially homogeneous nation.

Japan is diversifying today; on the other hand, Japanese society does not recognize this situation well. It tends to consider “hafus” as different from Japanese. They are still constrained by its stereotyped images that “hafus” are “foreigners.” Typical questions that Japanese people ask them, such as “what is your parent’s nationality?” and “which language do you speak at home?” are clarifying the difference and do not accept them as Japanese. There are a lot of “hafus” who were born in Japan, brought up in Japan, can speak only Japanese and recognize themselves as Japanese, however, they are often apt to be misunderstood that speaking Japanese fluently is surprising and speaking English is natural even it is the result of their efforts. Japanese society tends to cast people with ‘different’ appearances and ‘different’ backgrounds out (as regards appearances, it is conspicuous in people who have a white parent).

Also, there has been a lot of debate over how to call mixed-race people. In Japan, these people are usually called “hafu,” which is derived from the English word “half.” However, some people object this word because it seems to mean incompleteness of “hafus,” and those people claim the word “daburu” (the English word “double”). Both words typically focus on a “blood” characteristic of “hafus” and tend to ignore cultural and racial backgrounds (Lise, 2011). It can be applied to other Japanese words which represent mixed-race people. Every time a new word comes out, its appropriateness is argued and its fault is pointed out, however, “hafus” themselves tend not to feel its negative meaning, and some of them even think the word “hafu” is convenient to introduce themselves. Due to this, the way to call them is not a big problem because most people are not aware of the original meaning of the word “hafu” or “daburu.”

The most important issue today is that “hafus” are considered as special people and society does not treat them as individuals. They are classified into a framework of “hafu” and their action is seen as characteristic to foreigners. What Japanese society has to do is to treat them as individuals and respect their identity as Japanese. They should be considered as not foreigners or specials but one of Japanese.

References

Lise, M. Y. (2011). The hafu project: Photography and research. The booklet of The Hafu Project.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. (2010). Demographic statistics: Annual transition of the number of birth classified by parents’ nationality. Retrieved 16th October, 2012, from http://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/jinkou/suii10/index.html

Ethnic and Civic Nationalism in Japan

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by Sakiko Maruyama

In the class, we learned there are two nationalisms; one is the ethnic nationalism and another is the civic nationalism.  While the ethnic one pays attention to the roots or ethnicity, the civic one emphasizes the attitude to obey the law. Then, we link the ethnic one with intolerance, while the civic one with tolerance for immigrants. In this way, both nationalisms seem to be opposite, but in fact, they can be seen in the same nation; there are some nations which their nationalisms change depending on the conditions, even if they have strong biases to one side. Japan is one of those countries which close to ethnic nationalism. We tend to regard the Japanese government as intolerance for immigrants and think the citizen is tolerant. But this matter is more complex than we think. We sometimes take more ethnic attitude than the government. I want to describe this situation by comparing the position of us and the government about two problems surrounding Korean school in Japan.

The first problem is about the compulsory education. Korean school isn’t authorized as the school participates in the system of compulsory education. Even though children graduate from Korean school, that doesn’t mean they meet compulsory education. On the other hand, many Japanese universities accept their applications because they have scholastic ability which is worth to take the entrance examination. In this problem, the government seems to be more ethnic and universities take more civic position.

The second one is the discussion about the free tuition of Korean school in Japan. Comparing to the first problem, we can find the government has different opinion about this discussion. The government seems to think seriously about the adoption of free tuition of Korean school, while some local governments obviously against it. The local governments independently focus on the question whether they give a subsidy to Korean school or not, and the local government which decides to cut it off is caused by ethnic reasons. For example, Osaka prefectural government cut it off because Korean school hold portrait of Kim Jong Il. Most of citizens agree with this policy, and free tuition may be out of the question for them. Therefore, in this case, the citizens support ethnic citizenship and the government sees the matter from the civic perspective.

In conclusion, we citizens sometimes take firm ethnic stance. We generally see the policy of the government as important to solve the question of immigrant. But seeing the above two discussion, I think the later problem is more serious. This is because we citizens seem to have a greater influence in this problem.

Is it more ethnic or more civic?

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by Marina Kouyama

“Is asking immigrants to Japan to learn the Japanese language reinforcing an ethnic sense of nationalism? Or is it promoting immigrants’ civic participation in the political process? Is it both?” This question was asked during class. The majority opinion was ‘both’. Then, the class discussed: “even if it is both which is it closer, more ethnic or more civic?” The most common opinion was that it is ‘more ethnic’, claiming that asking migrants to learn Japanese language means that they are forced to follow the proverb “When in Japan, do as Japanese do (When in Rome, do as the Romans do).” However, is it really ‘more ethnic’? Is there no place for the choice ’more civic’? I would like to rethink about that.

First of all, why does immigrants’ learning Japanese language seem like ‘more ethnic’? It related to Japanese history of assimilation. Japan is often called ‘homogeneous country’. However the origin of the concept ‘Japan is homogeneous’ appeared not so long ago. There were some ethnic minority groups in Japanese society, for example, Ainu or Okinawan. They were forced to act like Japanese, and ultimately, become Japanese. The main feature of this assimilation was domination of language, prohibiting their ethnic language and forcing them to speak Japanese. Hence forcing Japanese language to non-Japanese speaker appears to be based on ethnic nationalism.

In this case which questioned in the class, however, asking non-Japanese speaker to learn Japanese language does not seem like assimilate an immigrant into Japanese authorities. It is for immigrants themselves, rather than for Japanese society. Learning Japanese language helps immigrant to live in Japanese society. It is hard for them to lead their lives in Japan without knowing Japanese language, because most Japanese people speak only Japanese language. If they do not understand Japanese language at all, they could not get necessary information, they could not deal with troubles or dangerous situation, or they have less chance to be employed due to lack of the language. Therefore, learning Japanese language is promoting chance of their social participation.

It is not happening only in Japan. Imagine Japanese people immigrate to or study abroad in the United States. They probably feel a strong necessity of English skill. It is better for people to have a skill of the language which is dominantly spoken where they are.

For these reasons, it could be said that asking immigrants to Japan to learn the Japanese language is ‘more civic’, rather than ‘more ethnic’.

Hafu in Japan

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by Maika Kubo

Until I took this class, I have never thought about “hafu” so deeply. “Hafu” was just an admiration person for me. However, though this class, I learned their hardships as being “hafu” especially in Japan.

First, in Japan, “hafu” people are always seen as special, different people because of their appearance. Since they were born as “hafu”, they have no choice but be seen as special from others. For example, the “hafu” girl in the video we watched in class mentioned that they are always asked same question, “Where are you from?” Also, she mentioned “hafu” people are often given an odd look even if they do nothing. Because Japan is said to be a monoethnic, homogeneous country, this tendency is strong compared with other countries. In my opinion, Japanese people think there is a great difference between them and foreign people because Japan is an island country, and it has never been colonized. I think this fact is also connected to the problem that Japanese people can’t speak English.

Second problem is the meaning of the word “hafu”. I didn’t know that the word “hafu” is a Japanese coinage from English. Of course most Japanese people don’t use this word negatively, however, the meaning of the word “hafu” can be “incomplete person”. The word “hafu” can give impression of people who can’t belong to any countries or races. If I were “hafu”, I would think about this problem deeply, and might feel lonely. Japanese people tend to place a great value on harmony with others, so the group that they belong to is important issue compared with other country, for example, the U.S.

Third problem is that in Japan, the image of “hafu” is fixed. First, Japanese people’s image of “hafu” has wonderful appearance. They have long leg, big nose, and white skin. This image is permeated because of many “hafu” entertainers or fashion models on TV or magazines. However, in reality, each “hafu” people has different appearance. Second, the image of “hafu” can speak two different languages. However, in reality, if they don’t learn both languages (by parents or other), of course they can’t be bilingual. When I was in elementary school, my “hafu” friends were forced to learn their second language after school.

As I mentioned, through the class, I found three problems about “hafu” in Japan, and my way of looking them was changed a lot.

What are you?

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by Koichi Sugimoto

In this class, the professor said ‘’what are you’’ again and again, so this phrase has been repeated in my heart again and again, too. What does it mean? If I am hafu, I’ll answer ‘’I am Koichi. I have parents who have different nationalities’’. In this case, I am supposed to be hafu. Why they have to be called like that? I don’t think whether nationalities have to belong to countries which exist in this world or not. Nationalities or citizenship is certainly important to identify who he/she is, but they are not necessarily needed. I mean we all are human-being. We have each name, sense of values, thought, brief and identity. That is my thought.

By the way, in Japan, ‘’hafu’’ is a widespread word when we call someone who has one Japanese parent and non-Japanese parent because this word was coming in Japan first, used widely and which is derived from English word ‘’half’’. I learned that there is some areas in which people who call hafu ‘’double’’ live. It is because ‘’double’’ has a kind of positive meaning than hafu. How to call is occasionally formed under the influence of situation, so it’s hard to identify which words are better, but we can rethink how important it is for hafu/double. Why do they ask only hafu? We don’t have to be limited by nationalities. I am I, and hafu is hafu. That’s fine.

From readings, I pick up one example about hafu which is seems to give us something positive meaning to be hafu. Her name is Tanya Akiko Cornish, born and raised in UK. She stated when she is in London, she can identify with people living there, and also she doesn’t feel like she is something different, but in Japan, it is not comfortable for her to live in there because she is hafu. However, she stated in the last part, ‘’I’m fully happy with my racial and my class background and I feel like I’ve got an insight into all different areas and that it’s made me a better person’’. This made me more understanding, that is, there are not only necessarily bad things but also good things for them. They are in surroundings where they can learn, study and feel two different cultures and background. This is very precious things because that is a thing which almost all people cannot experience.

Finally, I could get deeper understanding of hafu through this class so far. People have each opinion, so some people are asking, ‘’what are you?’’, but that’s reasons why they don’t know hafu well, and they regard hafu as something rare or uncommon. However, hafu is coming to be close to us now. Hafu may be a main nationality in the future.

Hafu in Japan

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by Kie Maruoka

From the reading and the slides we saw in the last class, the Japanese population is changing. The number of people who get married to non-Japanese is increasing and the number of mixed-ethnic children increase. Then Japanese society should change and need to be adapted to the current world situation. However, according to the reading material, the recent emergence of the community of mixed-ethnic children is very challenging the Japanese traditions. This is because many Japanese regard our country as a homogeneous country or a single-race society for a long time. Can’t we change? We have to see the current situation and try to change the traditions. Unless we change, many mixed-ethnic children will continue to be discriminated from the school and society in Japan.

Also, in Japan, many people often use the word “hafu” to call people who are born from Japanese and non-Japanese parents. I’ve never thought that this use might not be well for people who are called like this. So I was very surprised when I knew this fact. According to the reading, parents who have mixed-ethnic children do not feel well if their children are called “hafu”. This is because this word sounds like special or different from others. In my opinion, many people who use the world “hafu” do not intend to discriminate those people or treat them as different person from others. But if they feel like being discriminated from others, we have to refrain from using this word and have to consider which word we can use. Before reading the material we used in the last class, I did not know the word “hybrid identity” to use in this topic. When I hear the word “hybrid”, I think about cars or technical machines. But the reading says that this word may connect to the privilege or self-esteem. Perhaps this word “hybrid” is better than the word “hafu” or “double”. Now I can’t say clearly which world is the best to use. However, I thought that we have to know that even if we take granted to call people who are born from Japanese and non-Japanese parent “hafu”, those people who called so might not feel well.

In conclusion, if we become one of the majority society, we tend not to think about the minority. Therefore Japanese society can’t catch up with the changing society within the increase of mixed-ethnic children. I want to know well more about this topic in order to be able to say my opinion clear.

Hafu People in Japan

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by Akifumi Kamamoto

I focus on the topic “hafu people in Japan”. When I chose this topic, I recalled what Prof. Robert said to us. His telling was like that: when we, Japanese people, meet hafu people who have Japanese parent and parent from foreign countries such as Europe or America, we regarded them as cool. Also we try to communicate them in English and asked them to speak English. Then we think them as hafu people. However, we regard them as foreign people when we meet hafu people whose parents are from Japan and foreign countries like Africa or Asia. This is because they look like “foreign people”. I could image this situation easily because I think Japanese people generally have the image of hafu people that they look cool or cute and they can speak two languages. However this image changes when we meet the latter hafu people. This division is wrong. Even though I don’t know how all hafu people think that they are called “hafu” and whether it makes them disgusted or not, I think this division is rude to them.

In order to understand hafu people, it is important for us to think about this question “how they want to be called or how should we call them? For example, should we call them hafu, mixed, double or other expression?” If I want to know correct statistics, I have only to take questionnaire, but now I can’t do that. Then, I can state just my opinion. The term “hafu” came from the origin of a word “half”. We can understand that it means that they are not one person but half person. The term “hafu” is a well-known word, but I think it is not suitable expression. Next, the term “mixed” is sometimes used. I think this is the worst expression because this term has discriminatory meaning. I have watched movies in which the term “mixed” was translated into “konketsu”, and in these movies the term included discriminatory meaning. So it is not good expression, I think. In my opinion, the term “double” is the most suitable expression. The term “double” has a nuance that they have two nationalities. The term has a nuance to force them to choose which nationality they will have, too. I think this choice is needed in order to make equal society that all people have just one nationality.

In conclusion, it is difficult to understand “hafu” people correctly, but we need to know them more and more.

Citizenship in Japan

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by Yuuka Kageyama

What is the meaning of being Japanese or having a citizenship in Japan? The answer can be various, depending on the idea of citizenship and when and where is the citizenship used or considered. Citizenship is usually defined as a form of membership in a community. One of the biggest features of Japan is that many people have same or similar culture, language (Japanese) and race, that is, Japan has less ethnic diversity compared to other countries such as America which has so many kinds of ethnic groups and immigrants. However, with the advance of globalization, Japan came to have various people and culture. In this society, how does the citizenship work especially on the immigrants from other countries or people whose parental origin are different from that of Japanese?  Let’s think about it from three dimension of citizenship.

First, in order to hold the citizenship as legal status, people need to have Japanese mother or father. However, there are many immigrants and people who were born and grown up in Japan but don’t have Japanese parents. Such people cannot be “Japanese” in terms of nationality. They also don’t have Japanese passport.  I met a student whose both parents are American but born and grown up in Japan and even have never been to America. He was educated as Japanese and his way of thinking and behavior is quite Japanese. However he doesn’t have Japanese citizenship in this regards even if he spends his entire life in Japan.

Second, citizenship ensures the right of participation in the community. In a society in Japan people who have right to be Japanese have responsibility to obey the law, which gives the government obligation to protect them at the same time. Moreover, individual needs to be treated equally as human right. Although it sounds natural and easy to implement, the reality is that people are not always equal in some part. For example, people who don’t have Japanese nationality cannot be national civil servant and cannot join the government by voting. It is true that there is a difficulty to give every citizen equally the right to be involved in the national important organizations, however, such people as immigrants should also have chance to reflect their wishes in some ways.

Third, citizenship gives people in a community a sense of belonging. People in a community share their own culture, belief, language and so on, which is closely connected with their identities. Immigrants who don’t share such identity can be ‘other’ in the society. The citizenship in this regard is different from the one which come from legal or political meanings.

Immigrants in Japan have still difficulty to join the society there is a need that Japanese government takes measures including achievement of substantive citizenship or expansion of the criterion to hold citizenship.