What do you think about the Japanese approach towards multiculturalism

What do you think about the Japanese policies towards immigration and generally the ethnic mix in Japan? Is it racist? Elitist? Or a model for sustainable population planning and society - bearing in mind Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world and the second lowest homicide rate along with low crime rates in general.

According to Wikipedia

Ethnic groups
98.5% Japanese,
0.5% Korean,
0.4% Chinese,
0.6% other

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Reply 1

Skip_Snip

It wouldn't kill us to take on a similar approach toward British people

Reply 2

Dominic101

I don't think there are that many foreign people who know Japanese anyway

Reply 3

The_Last_Melon

It seems they're not approaching it at all which is obviously foolish. Multiculturalism is the way forward even if it's painful to start with.

Reply 4

Clip

Original post by MTR_10

Although their attitude toward sexual offences would horrify most people in this country. Rape is not considered a particularly serious crime in Japan, and groping women in public places is extremely commonplace.

Reply 5

like a boss

Japan is a difficult place for any foreigner to live in. Even if they strongly encouraged immigration I doubt those figures would change drastically.

Reply 6

internetguru

Japan have got it right in a number of areas.

Reply 7

No Man

Original post by MTR_10

I think that has more to do with their culture of respect, composure and perfection that gets drilled in their heads from birth and also because it hasn't been diluted by political correctness, multiculturalism, etc. That cultural attitude is probably how they were so unfazed by the tsunami and just picked themselves up again after it hit. (compared to all of the chaos that would have happened if it hit somewhere in Britain, like Newcastle). South Korea has a similar culture to Japan in that sense.

Although saying that, Japan and South Korea are probably on the top in terms of suicide rates, because the tension will build up inside people who can't achieve perfection/their high expectations, and unbottling their emotions would bring 'dishonour' (for lack of a better word), so they resort to suicide.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 8

Brandmon

There is no Japanese approach to multiculturalism. Japan =/= Britain. They are more of an island nation than we actually are. Their empire didn't leave a pleasant taste to the only other culture they subjugated for a significant time; the Koreans. And furthermore, Japanese is not as widely known as either English or French, so potential immigrants have lower hopes of integrating in Japan. Multiculturalism is not even an issue in Japan. On the other hand multiculturalism is something Britain can't avoid.

That said the issues mentioned towards the end of the OP have absolutely nothing to do with multiculturalism. Health in Japan is up to diet and practices more than anything else. Japan sure has low homicide rates but it has high suicide rates. And furthermore a culture of discipline is instilled within children and therefore very few turn to crime or general civil disobedience. Much unlike that of certain British children.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 9

VeniViciVidi

And the fact that they don't need immigrants as their country's economy is pretty much homegrown expert-led.

Reply 10

natchina

Multiculturalism and multiracialism are two different things.

Multiculturalism is good. Multiracialism is bad.

Japan is a very multicultural society. It embraces all sorts of different cultures but, unlike Britain, it has not adopted the disastrous policy of suicidal multiracialsm.

I say good luck to Japan, china and south Korea. Learn from the folly of the west. Keep your borders closed.

Reply 11

Snagprophet

I don't like people because they are different. I like people because they are the same/similar to me.

Reply 12

Infallible

Original post by Clip

This makes me believe that those 'sharking' videos are actually legitimate. I always presumed that they were staged.

On topic: I think that their approach clearly works, but nothing is to say that it would in other countries. I don't think a 'one-size-fits-all' solution exists for this very serious problem. Firstly, we have to consider how their culture differs from ours and other European countries. If the liberals are to be believed, then we have been at the centre of immigration for most of human history, whereas the Japanese haven't. Secondly, how would their approach help countries already suffering as a result of 'multiculturalism'? Their methods seem effective at preventing immigration, but they aren't part of a union that practices free movement. We, as a nation, are unable to stop immigration from the EU - which is fine with me because most Europeans embody our views and morals. I think that the real problem lies with 'asylum seekers'. To be honest, I think that they should be denied entry because of the risk they pose. Most of these people will come from unstable countries and will be culturally incompatible with our way of life.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 13

okonomiyaki

I'm planning to take Oriental Studies at University, and I take a keen interest in Japanese learning and culture. OP worries me because it's a bad comparison for all the reasons Brandmon stated.

From listening to the experience of "gaijin" (foreigner) in Japan, being not of Japanese descent in Japan can be a good and a bad thing. The Japanese make it relatively easy for people to experience the country through work visas etc., but not so much to get citizenship. Dual citizenship is not possible, either. Until recently, gaijin in Japan had to carry something called an "Alien Card", which had mixed reactions from the in-Japan Vlogers I follow :rolleyes:

The word "foreigner" in Japan is more just a descriptive term, and doesn't have the negative connotations as it does elsewhere. But it's a lot to do with that if you look different, you'll never be considered "Japanese", and it will be often pragmatically presumed that you speak no Japanese. The collectivist attitude of the Japanese has a lot to do with this- although it's inclusive, sometimes it can be a little "us and them". Also, for good things about Japanese society from the POV of a westerner, I suggest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df6ooRzlmxk.

Reply 14

Nightstar-27

Wouldn't of hurt us to take a page out of their book but atlas its too late for us.

Reply 15

Brutal Honesty

They don't speak English in Japan so since Japanese isn't widely spoken outside of Japan they're not going to have as much immigration as other countries. Also they work extremely hard in school and work very long hours so it's not as if immigrants would be able to outcompete them for jobs anyway.

Reply 16

whyumadtho

The Queen and a working-class builder who likes watching football in a pub do not have the same culture; being born in a particular country does not imply a homogeneity of cultural values, and this belief that multiculturalism is a novel phenomenon that is concomitant to migration is completely ridiculous and unfounded. Throughout British history there have been noticeable class divides that have created sociocultural lacunas between the population, and no single country has a population that are behaviourally, socially and culturally homogeneous.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 17

SleepySheep

Original post by Brandmon

Huh? What about China? Or Taiwan?

Reply 18

g_star_raw_1989

Japan is known for its xenophobia maybe that is why its not the most multicultural place in the world.

Reply 19

Akinfenwa

Perfect, the Japanese people have forged a brilliant country and do not need anyone to help them.

Much like us, except we go and invite the worlds poorest here to "benefit" us.