Japan is at a crucial crossroads. Over the past two decades, migration into the country has been slowly, but steadily, increasing and diversifying. The nation’s newcomers pose a vital challenge and also potential benefit to... [ view full abstract ]
Japan is at a crucial crossroads. Over the past two decades, migration into the country has been slowly, but steadily, increasing and diversifying. The nation’s newcomers pose a vital challenge and also potential benefit to Japan, and how they are accepted - or not - from now will impact the nation’s future direction. At the same time, Japanese are forging new lives for themselves overseas in increasing numbers. These twin factors are causing a reevaluation of concepts of belonging, identity and the roles of language, education and fairness. These are the themes addressed by this colloquium
Domestically, debate regarding the issue of multiculturalism and multicultural coexistence is rapidly gaining in importance. The first presentation examines the various different actors involved in aiding this process in Japan and through several case studies shows the complexity of the work in progress.
Similarly, paper two looks at the difficulty involved around the concept of identity in relation to second generation persons of Japanese descent. It attempts to show how important, yet at times unfair the situation is for those struggling to find a place in “their” Japan.
Continuing in the domestic scene, the third presentation examines the emerging role played by social media in creating impressions of identity and space in particular with regards to education, arguing that in the particular case study examined, ideas of ‘site’ are defined differently in different situations.
Internationally, increasing numbers of Japanese are forging new lives for themselves overseas. In presentation four, the issue of ‘good’ vs. ‘bad’ migrants is taken up in the context of Japanese women in England. A strong argument is made to challenge the simplistic dichotomy which tends to ignore different cultural, linguistic and other differences overlooking the role played by some in growing multicultural societies.
The final presentation combines the twin factors of Japanese migrants abroad and their perceptions towards education in a foreign setting. The goal is to explore any gap in perception that may exist and the reasons, as well as to offer options for how Japan may attempt to navigate a fairer path to a multicultural future.
