Multicultural Coexistence in Japan: Follower, Innovator, or Reluctant Late Adopter?

Japanese people's attitudes toward acculturation and intercultural relations

“…However, according to the recent survey, a majority of the people hold the views that when the economy is in a downturn and jobs are scarce, employment opportunities for Japanese residents should be prioritized and that a more rigorous crackdown on illegal immigrants is desirable (Nagayoshi, 2021). Indeed, a few scholars point out that Japanese people tend to have ambivalent attitudes toward multiculturalism (Bradley, 2014; Stockwell, 2021).…”

“…This may be partly associated with its geographical isolation as an island country ( shimaguni ) (Dale, 2012). In Japanese history, it is only during the colonial period in early 20th century when the large number of foreigners (Taiwanese and Korean peoples) came to settle (Bradley, 2014). Since the Edo period in the 18th century or even before that, the core idea about Japanese national and cultural identity has been largely based on the ideology of the Japanese-ness ( nihonjinron ) that emphasizes the country as “one nation, one civilization, one language, one culture, one race.” This view was recently seen in an official speech of a former International Affairs and Communications Minister (Japan Times, 2005).…”

“…This finding is noteworthy in relation to the pervasive idea of "multicultural coexistence society" (tabunka kyosei shakai) in Japanese society. As described earlier, this popular idea of multiculturalism actually limits the integrative relationships between Japanese and ethnocultural groups into the larger society (Bradley, 2014;Chapman, 2006;Nakamatsu, 2013). Until recently, the idea has been mixed with the Japanese-ness (nihonjinron), that emphasizes cultural homogeneity and social conformity (Bradley, 2014;Dale, 2012;Japan Times, 2015).…”

Comunidades Interculturais – Da Tendência à Necessidade

“…A educação será, portanto, o ponto de viragem para a integração. Podemos considerar, como refere Bradley (2014), que, apesar das alegações fundamentadas de que grande parte da humanidade vive num mundo cada vez mais multicultural, a ameaça sempre presente de um conjunto de partições entre "nós" e "eles" transnacionalmente (mas também dentro dos países) parece incontornável.…”

“…Como afirma Bradley (2014), o multiculturalismo foi impulsionado pelo simples facto de ocorrerem maiores níveis de diversidade em muitos países que têm vindo a acolher imigrantes, há já largas décadas, oriundos de diferentes e variadas proveniências. Atualmente, não só a imigração está a aumentar e a espalhar-se por países tradicionalmente pouco escolhidos (como Portugal), mas também os tipos e as rotas de imigração estão a alterar-se.…”