With the progress of globalization, the number of foreigners who live in Japan has increased. It would be usual that people who live next to you is from other countries. Despite the situation, Japanese people tend to set a boundary between Japanese and non-Japanese all the time. For example, foreigners are never called “Japanese” even if they can speak Japanese fluently and live along Japanese lifestyle. These people would be always called “foreigners” or “foreigners just like Japanese”. Or even if they have Japanese nationality, Japanese people would call them “foreigners with Japanese nationality”. They never use the word “immigrants”. Japanese people are apt to judge whether someone is Japanese or not only by their looks or languages. Why those who are from other countries are never considered as Japanese?

I think their experiences in early life are related to this situation. When I started thinking this problem, these following questions came to mind; how do children are taught about immigration or foreigners who live in Japan? And do they have opportunities to communicate with foreign people? At first, I asked my mother these questions because she is a teacher of elementary school. She said children had no chance to communicate with people from other countries except for ALT and they could learn about only the number of foreigners who live or come to Japan in the textbooks. It is ordinary situation in public schools. In my experience, I have never had a contact with foreigners except for ALT and my teachers said “stay away from them because they might be dangerous.” If one foreign child is in the class, he or she stands out in a negative way and other children would hesitate to speak to him or her.

However, it is not enough just to teach what immigration is or why they come to Japan and learn some languages. It might lead racial discrimination. Government should give children more opportunities to talk or play with foreigners. Then children could naturally learn how to communicate and feel no fear to foreigners. The boundary that we tend to set between Japanese and others will fade away.

In  the future, when Japan starts accepting immigration or refugees and the number of foreigner increases more, they would be left out of the society or communities in this unfriendly situation in Japan. It sometimes might lead conflicts. Unless thinking of people change, foreigners can never assimilate and become “Japanese”. Japanese people are sensitive to learning about foreign countries, but they should watch the situation in Japan now.

by Aya Sadahiro

   In Japan, we use the word “hafu” for a mixed-breed person. I think the definition of “half” is peculiar to Japan. We, the Japanese, tend to think the person who is of mixed with white and Japanese blood as “hafu”. Even though in Japan there are many people who are of mixed with Asian and Japanese, they are usually seen as the Japanese, because they look Japanese. Almost people who are of mixed with Asian and Japanese tend to think them as “the Japanese”. On the other hand, people who are of mixed with White and Japanese are inclined to feel the difference between them (“hafu”) and the Japanese because of our stereotype for them.

     One of my “hafu” friends told me about her story as a “hafu”. Her father is American and mother is Japanese and she has lived in Japan for 18 years. She was brought up with Japanese culture, but she often feels the difference because people around her think her as “hafu”. She said they emphasis on the difference between them and her, for example, her American face, characteristics, and so on, so she is over conscious about the American side in herself. Also other my “hafu” friend, he is half Japanese and half American, said “I think I am Japanese, but people around me don’t think so.” He has been displeased with our stereotype for “hafu” person. For instance, he was asked to speak English many times, even though his English is not good enough because he has lived in Japan all his life. Both of them want people around them to pay attention to the Japanese part of them.

     I think we, the Japanese, don’t understand people who are “hafu” well. Shouldn’t we change the attitude to them? What do you think about that?

by Moe Kawamura

I am native Japanese. However, when I was a little child, I was mistaken for a “hafu” by many people, because of my appearance. I had a little pigment cell by birth so that I had blond hair and my skin was white like a Caucasian. That is why many people thought that I am a “hafu”. I felt happy when I heard about this from my mother, because I thought that being “hafu” is very cool. Although, my mother felt bad. Some people doubted that I was a “hafu” so that means they also doubted that I was not my mother and father’s real child. I had given my parents trouble any number of times, because of my appearance. Then I noticed that some time people seem to discriminate against appearances.

I think that one example of discriminate against appearance is racism discrimination. Nowadays, some people tend to label other people from their complexion without knowing anything about their personality. It is very stupid, because we cannot know anything about a person from their appearance. For instance, how much did you know about your friend when you first met the friend? I think most people would say “No”, because it is difficult for us to get personal information at a glance. We gradually understanding what are friends like over time. So, I mean it is important for us to take a person for who they are. Discriminating against appearance is already outdated and unacceptable from a humanitarian point of view. People’s appearance has nothing to do with what they can do or whether we can become good friends. We should learn about a man’s worth as it exists inside him.

In conclusion, I am against to discriminating against the appearance of the “hafu”, race, and so on for the reasons stated above. What is inside is the greatest asset a person can have, and that is only thing to know about who he is. So, we should not judge a person by his appearance. I hope to be part of a society where all discrimination vanished and nobody suffers from discrimination against their appearance.

by Erina Hayashi

Canada is one of the positive countries to accept immigrants.  The Canadian immigration low was approved in 1869, because there is serious population problem in Canada.  The Canadian population is only about 3,600,000 people in 1870.  Canadian government accepted immigrants to get new workforce, and the population increased to 21,500,000 people for 100 years.  This means that about 9,300,000 people came to Canada as immigrants.  Now, I think the Canadian policy on immigrants succeed, because people who have various ethnic groups live together.  So, I think that Japanese government should follow the policy on immigrants in Canada.

     In 1967, Canadian government introduced point-system to select people who can contribute to the Canadian economy.  The point-system evaluates using many standards such as age, school background, language, work experience and so on.  Before the point-system was introduced, Canadian government accepted generously immigrants from Europe and U.S., whereas they control immigrants who are from Asia.  So, inspection of people who hope immigration to Canada became fair by using this point-system.

     Now, Canadian government carries out many supporting programs for immigrants.  For example, “Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program”, “Strong Communities Rent Supplement Program” and so on.  The purpose of their programs gives house to immigrants who are in financial difficulties.  And local self-government body such as the State of Ontario is also positive to support for immigrants.  They established funds to support immigrants.  Canadian government also carried out other programs on education and job support.

     In Canada, government and local cooperate on accepting immigrants.  Their cooperation is very important because I think Canadian policy on immigrants couldn’t succeed without their cooperation.  And support for immigrants is also important.  In Canada, these supports are very good, so I believe Canada is very comfortable country for immigrants.  Now, there is population problem in Japan, so Japan should accept immigrants.  I suppose Canada is the model of multicultural country, so Japan should refer to immigration policy in Canada.

by Mari Honda

In 1994, a terrible accident has occurred in Africa,Rwanda. One race killed another for rebel against their control. There are two races Hutu and Tutsi. Hutu occupies about 85% population and Tutsi takes about 15% population inRwanda. Tutsi was chosen as the ruler byBelgiumbecause they are small and easy to control than Hutu. This made Hutu angry and caused the accident. The holocaust surprised the world and United Nations intervened for solve these conflict. During this incident, some Tutsi run away from the happening and leave for other countries. They are called Diasporas.

Diaspora means that something which were sprinkled in Greek. The word derives from Jew who leaved fromIsraelto other place or their descendants. People who leaved their habitation after the incident happen is also called Diaspora. They are a type of immigrant. They migrated to various countries and study many skills especially IT and architecture techniques. In 21C, some of them return toRwandafor help the countries with the government policies like reduction tax of them. They use their ability and connection which created during their migration life to develop the economy. One of their works is development of farm village. They think there are good coffee beans but people don’t have ability to process and ship them. Therefore, the businessmen visit those villages and suggest famers to export the beans.

Through their cooperation, growth rate of GDP of Rwanda glowed up from -50% (1994) to 6.1% (2003-2008), school attendance became 95% and the rate of vaccination reached 98%. Add to this, governance of the country was evaluated for its stability or good effect of the government.

Most of Diaspora is Tutsi and it means that they were oppressed by another big population. However, they are helping person who opposed them. I think this is a good case as a reference for other immigrants. Although they were enemy, Hutu and Tutsi, they are joining with each other. I guess if any places which just have conflict between different races or immigrants and natives cooperates each other, it would lead development future.

by Koichiro Otani

The number of foreign worker is increasing in Japan. In 2009, there were 562,818 foreigners who had a job in Japan. The breakdown is; Chinese 44.3%, Brazilian 18.5%, Filipino 8.7%, Australian and New Zealander 7.8%, Korean 4.5%, Peruvian 3.3%, and other 12.9%. We may sometime see foreign worker in town, but we don’t know them well. Why did they come to Japan? How did they get a job in Japan? Let me take an example for this.

I work at an Indian restaurant as a part-time job. There are 5 Indian workers in the restaurant. Most of them work in this restaurant through an introduction from their friend, relative, or family, and they decided to work in Japan because they can earn more money in Japan than in India. They send most of salary to their family they live in India. I think they spend a hard and lonely life in Japan. They always work from 10:00a.m to 9:00p.m. They can go back to India for only 3 months on every 2 years. Most of them have wife and children in India, but they can’t often get in touch with their family. And they can’t speak Japanese well, so when they have a break day, they are usually in a home.

Their friend is only Indian and Nepalese even though they live in Japan. Moreover before I happened to see their salary amount and I was surprised because their salary is too lower than thought. (but I can’t tell in detail here…) I suspect that their condition of work goes against the law, but I’m not sure. Also Indian worker in this restaurant understand that their salary is too lower than Japanese, but they have no power to improve their condition.

In Japan there are companies they employ foreigner illegally. I think their condition should be improved. One of reason for this is that there are few chances that their condition becomes public. We should know more about Japan because we all lead a life in Japan. And we should make a rule that the employer of foreign worker have to show them the labor low of Japan. The number of foreign worker will be increasing. Now is time when we change our attitude to them, isn’t it?

by Moe Kawamura

Korean School (朝鮮学校) is ethnic education for Korean resident children’s school.  In 1910, Japan did Japan‘s Annexation of Korea (韓国併合), after, Korean people came Japan, because of forced labor.  The emancipation of Korea (defeat of Japan) made about 600 thousand Korean residents is living Japan who changed generation.  The present Korean resident was born in Japan.  New generation people brought up in Japan were born before, so they can’t speak in Korean.  They needed Korean education for Korean children, so Korean resident made a lot of Korean school in Japan.

Korean school do education as Korean, that is not only Korean class, but also Social, History, Math and physical education too (except for Japanese subject). However, student’s first language is Japanese, and teacher’s first language is Japanese too.  Korean resident have held mother language what is over the generation.

Japan has about 50 Korean schools now, however, Japan had over 100 Korean schools before 20years.  In kidnap issue after, some Korean resident changed Korean school to Japan school.  Korean school have relation to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan; Chongryong (在日本朝鮮人総聯合会; 総聯), and Chongryong have relation D.P.R.K.  The present, we have issue of D.P.R.K – Japan relation and act of D.P.R.K, Korean school have got some attack, and Korean school have some issue now, that is the exclusion of free high school bill (高校無償化) , attack to the right wing citizen’s group and decrease in students.  The exclusion of free high school bill and attack of the citizen’s group is big issue now.  In Korea University school festival, the right wing citizen’s group Zaitokkai (在特会) said “ we come for kill Korean!”.  That people is a part of Japanese, however, we should change that social.  We must aim for Multicultural symbolic societies, what is not relation to Japanese, Korean, Chinese and other people.  We should live with together.  Korean school teach that to us.

by Kazuki Baba

At present, there are a lot of halves who are TV stars in Japan. Besides, almost all of these stars are half westerners and half Japanese. For example, ベッキー, 土屋アンナ, ウエンツ瑛士 and so on. However, in Japan, the rate and number of half who are half westerners and half Japanese are small. Then, why are there many half westerners and half Japanese talents are popular among Japanese? Perhaps, it is because many Japanese think that the looks which are derived from European are beautiful. Well, why Japanese think so? There are two reasons why Japanese are fascinated by their looks. One is that because Japan has developed to catch up with the western countries and America in the Meiji era and after the WWⅡ. Second, it is because human beings tend to attracted by the thing which they have not.

When the Meiji Restoration was occurred in Japan, Japanese positively accepted a lot of western cultures, for example, Japanese made the dance hall for social contact, called Rokumeikan in Tokyo. In addition, after the WWⅡ, Japan had been affected by some western countries and America and remarkably developed to catch up with them. Japan has the national traits that accepting and adopting other cultures gradually as its own culture. By these historical points, Japanese might have a latent idea that the looks of western and America is ideal. Second, in terms of the psychology, human beings have the admiration for the looks which they have not. That means Japanese could tend to be fascinated by the higher nose, colorful eyes, blond hair and so on. Human beings are likely to feel that the feature they do not have is “good things”.

Finally, it is necessary that to insist that there are a lot of effects on us by the media when we see halves on TV. Media mainly pick up the topics or people that are popular and beautiful among the audience. But in this world, there are a lot of things we should see and grasp directly by going abroad on their foot. That helps us to make reasonable idea that there is no difference among halves. Also, simply, the world of show business is absolutely severe; only few people can steadily get the fans. However, it is the most important thing that every halves have the equal rights to get along with their life than any other reason. It is clear that we should prepare the equally working system for all people including halves by changing our points of view for halves.

by Sayaka Kurata

There are many foreigners in Japan now. It is to say that a lot of foreign children are living in Japanese society. They have same necessity of learning with Japanese children. Some go to international school, but there are some problems when they go and study in the school.

First is the cost of the school. International school fees are almost more than two million yen in one year. This is because that Japanese government does not accept them as an authorized school and help their working expenditure. For this reason, the schools should run their business and pay much salary of teachers themselves. Therefore, they demand higher money than other normal schools in Japan. This would weigh upon household economy.

Second is their language. Many international schools make class in English. Most of the students speak English as their mother language. However, Japanese children or others who live in countries where mother language is not English are going same school today. They need to pass an English examination when they want to go international school, but it is very difficult to pass. Add to this, after they entered at school, there are many issues. They would not get used to their difference, for example, cannot communicate with others, understand what teachers say or confuse during a lot of cultural differences.

These two problems is a part of issues. I think that it is very sad occurrence. They are children same as us, but why there are those problems for their education. The government tried to make free of charge of the school but it could not do. I think if they make some rules for help the school, it would be useful for those schools. However, changing the low about compulsory education and accept the school as an authorized school as one way to help them is next to impossible. This is because that the government needs long term to do it. Conducting a campaign to collect signatures is also difficult because someone does not like this campaign and sometime the government does not accept these signatures.

On the other hand, we can help the children to get used differences directly. We would see foreigners in our society. We could talk with them about our culture, customs or any differences during each other then. We could play with them at park. Recently, there are some opportunities to listen their lifestyle so we could hear them. Many ways we can do for help their education.

What do you think about this situation and what can you do for children who go an international school. This is a big issue now, not just an affair of other people. Please think about it and make your answer for solve it.

Reference: http://www.inter-preschool.com/policy/intl-school.html

by Koichiro Otani

Spain accepts a large number of “legal” immigrants who are from other countries. This number is the largest one in the EU countries. In 2008, she accepted about 499,000 immigrants. Mainly, Spain accepts immigrants from three regions; Middle and South America, such as Ecuador or Columbia, Africa, such as Morocco, and Eastern Europe, for example, Romania. Of course, there are many “illegal” immigrants. She accepts about 354,000 illegal immigrants per year. Among them, illegal immigrants from Africa are often picked up and are criticized by Spanish media in terms of religion and social issues. However, there is a man who changed the policy on it. He is Jose Luis Zapatero, the current prime minister.

After Zapatero became the prime minister of Spain, in 2004, he started to change the way of treating illegal immigrants. In 2005, he decided the new policy on illegal immigrants. These are that Ⅰ. If someone who is an illegal immigrant stays in Spain more than 3 years and he or she has a job, Ⅱ. If he or she marries or cohabits with Spanish, Ⅲ. If he or she is a relative of legal immigrants, he or she can become legal immigrants. Why he changed the policy is that in Spain, declining birth rate has become a problem same as Japan. That caused the shortage of working people and possibility of collapsing of pension system; therefore, the government changed the policy on illegal immigrants to develop their economy and have them pay reserves of pension. By this policy, many of them could get a job and social security.

However, after the business became dull, many labours, of course including immigrants, lost their job. To create much employment for Spanish, the government notified to go back to their own to immigrants. The government had to change the policy again, besides direction for cracking down on them. Yet they do not want to go back their countries because though they go back there, there is little possibility of getting a job again. And now, Spanish economy gradually goes down, so it must become a strong problem to immigrants. In addition, the Prime Minister Zapatero, who promoted these changes about legal and illegal immigrants, does not run as a candidate for the next Premier Election. Therefore, there is a possibility that the policy would return to strict one for them.

by Naho Tamada