Let #17: Japan

Question 1

Whta is Monoethnic Japan? and what are the 3 perceptions? Is this true or false?

Answer 1

• a dominant perception among some nations that the japanese are homogenous in their national demographic and ethnic composition and characteristics
• 3 perceptions are:
  
  • they act the same
  • speak the same language
  • share the same culture
• this is false!!!

Question 2

What is japan actually like? what are the 3 types of groups?

Answer 2

• Japan is composed of a number of racial/ethnic populations and there exists significant differences b/w the majority and minority groups
  1. ethnic japanese= majority
  2. domestic/indigenous minority groups: Ainu, Burakumin, Okinawans
  3. Foreigners who include
  
  • Old timers: chinese who ancestors immigrated to japan many generations ago and zainihci koreans
  • New comers include: southeast asian, chinese, filipinos, americans and nikkeijin

Question 3

Who are the Ainu/Utari?

Answer 3

• Indigenous/ethnic minority group that were victims of forced assimilation and lost their land, language and culture in the early 18th century

Question 4

Who are the Okinawans?

Answer 4

• They are of the non-indigenous category
• they were taken over by japanese empire in the late 19th century
• Japanese government policies (ex: education) influenced okinawans to be assimilated into the dominant japanese culture

Question 5

Who are the Burakumin?

Answer 5

• Non-indigenous category
• created by a caste system in an ancient Japan as part of buddhist and shinto religious based practices
• similar to the dalits in india
• relegated to polluting jobs (butchers, leather workers) as they were supposedly descendants of a lesser human race

Question 6

Who are Old foreigners?

Answer 6

• Chinese people living for centuries
• koreans who were brought to japan in the late 19th century as forced labor in farmlands
• Zainichi koreans have never been fully accepted into japanese society and they tried to assimilate into the dominant japanese society while retaining their cultural identity
• Zainichi koreans are excluded from many government positions and face informal barriers in corporate careers

Question 7

Who are the new foreigners?

Answer 7

• chinese people immigrated into japan seeking work in the 20th century
• south americans: form brazil and peru
• Labour shortage led japan to bring undocumented work from iran, pakistan and china
• But later the immigration control and refugee act in 1990 forced these people to leave japan

Question 8

What is Japanesness (Nihonjiron)?

Answer 8

Nihonjinron includes:

1. Homogenity: japanese are homogenous and unique people
2. Blood: Japanese “Blood” is essential for mutual communication and mutual understanding
3. Cultural competence: Foreigners are incapable of fully understanding japanese culture or mastering the language
4. Social participation: The sociocultural territoriality of japan should be defended, and foreigners must be excluded in the areas of marriage, employment, teaching, and political/artistic leadership