Let #17: Japan Flashcards

1
Q

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

A
  • 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!!!
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2
Q

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

A
  • 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
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3
Q

Who are the Ainu/Utari?

A
  • Indigenous/ethnic minority group that were victims of forced assimilation and lost their land, language and culture in the early 18th century
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4
Q

Who are the Okinawans?

A
  • 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
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5
Q

Who are the Burakumin?

A
  • 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
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6
Q

Who are Old foreigners?

A
  • 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
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7
Q

Who are the new foreigners?

A
  • 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
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8
Q

What is Japanesness (Nihonjiron)?

A

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
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