Muticultural Japan?

[ArKhan]

Japan is the only really wealthy nation that isn't multicultural. France, United States, Britian, Germany, Australia, all these countries have large minority populations. But Japan only has Japanese. Aside from small minorities of Aniu and Japanese Christians, Japan only has one ethnic group. What would have to change for this to be different? (empire doesn't count)

[Aozhouhuaren]

There are sizeable Chinese and Korean minorities in Japan, although it could argued that they suffer discriminatory treatment socially and economically.

One issue with the Japanese is that while probably not extremely racist especially compared to previous generations, is still highly ethnocentric and nationalist, one could say even more so than the Chinese. They believe Japanese culture and language is worth preserving (which I strongly believe should be but through less racist means) to the point of excluding from the country anyone of non-Japanese origin. The Koreans and Chinese are a result of the occupations in the first half of the 20th century.

As well, media and literature goes so far as to portray foreigners, white and non-white in a very negative light, tourists are accepted obviously for economic reasons, but as immigrants, it is believed that the fabric of society would be torn apart.

Hopefully these slightly racist attitudes will change because Japan is suffering from a population growth crisis of sorts, population decline and aging is occuring rapidly. Although the Japan might be able to go the Aussie way, incentives for more children, that way theres no need for immigrants.

One of the main reasons for such apprehension and fear of foreigners, is probably the rowdy US Occupation forces that came in after WW2, IIRC there are still many US soldiers stationed in Japan. A Japanese friend told me that the soldiers get drunk, misbehave and perform minor misdemeanors such as causing fights, loitering, damage of public and private property etc. Perhaps have an Occupation force that behaves itself.

[BCO]

Originally Posted by Aozhouhuaren

...
The problem with the Japanese...
Hopefully these attitudes wll change because Japan is suffering from a population growth crisis of sorts, population decline and aging is occuring rapidly.

This must be a huge "problem", especially as any success of a non-multi-cultural society could give ideas to other selfish peoples that don't want to share their land, infrastructure, investments, and tax revenues.

So, how can we, the world community succeed in destroying the Japanese culture?

How about trying to convince them that the sum total of a nation's experience is their GDP, the goods and services produced in that land by anyone, and that one people has no more right than any other to live in any place? Maybe try to get them to agree to treaties that would make asserting that a to consider a native population as having more of a claim on a land than others a thought-crime of racism?

[David S Poepoe]

Originally Posted by BCO

that one people has no more right than any other to live in any place? Maybe try to get them to agree to treaties that would make asserting that a to consider a native population as having more of a claim on a land than others a thought-crime of racism?

Interesting idea, but I would have to side with the Japanese on these points. No one has a right to live any place they want. A native population does have more of a land claim to their land than others do.

[ArKhan]

Originally Posted by David S Poepoe

Interesting idea, but I would have to side with the Japanese on these points. No one has a right to live any place they want. A native population does have more of a land claim to their land than others do.

Why? If they immigrate with the consent of the natives and don't push them around...

[Nicole]

The issue with Japan is that their population is really far too high for their land as it is- Japan is not a large country, and a ridiculously high percentage of the Home Islands are mountain... it's not in a situation where large immigration is really likely.

[Aozhouhuaren]

Originally Posted by Imajin

The issue with Japan is that their population is really far too high for their land as it is- Japan is not a large country, and a ridiculously high percentage of the Home Islands are mountain... it's not in a situation where large immigration is really likely.

Hmm, thats true. Maybe a possible scenario, Japan becomes over-populated earlier than OTL, food shortages and economic downturn becomes more apparent causing millions of Japanese to immigrate elsewhere more so than in OTL. With more Japanese overseas, cultural changes will occur more frequently, as time progresses, if the population situation stabilises in Japan, there might be more emigration, with these overseas Japanese coming back, social change might be greater, including views and opinions on foreigners.

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by Aozhouhuaren

Hmm, thats true. Maybe a possible scenario, Japan becomes over-populated earlier than OTL, food shortages and economic downturn becomes more apparent causing millions of Japanese to immigrate elsewhere more so than in OTL. With more Japanese overseas, cultural changes will occur more frequently, as time progresses, if the population situation stabilises in Japan, there might be more emigration, with these overseas Japanese coming back, social change might be greater, including views and opinions on foreigners.

You could easily see the opposite, though- diasporas often tend to be more extreme on issues regarding the "homeland" than the people actually living there are- for example, the Jews of pre-Mandate Palestine were actually opposed to greater Jewish settlement because the diaspora Jews tended to be more extreme in their views and provoked trouble with the Arabs...

[Kidblast]

Originally Posted by Imajin

You could easily see the opposite, though- diasporas often tend to be more extreme on issues regarding the "homeland" than the people actually living there are- for example, the Jews of pre-Mandate Palestine were actually opposed to greater Jewish settlement because the diaspora Jews tended to be more extreme in their views and provoked trouble with the Arabs...

That still happens today. Hell, half of the "settlers" living in the West Bank are from Brooklyn.

[Max Sinister]

Ainu survive.

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by Max Sinister

Ainu survive.

Even at their height before the Japanese settlement of Hokkaido, there were never really that many Ainu, though... It's going to be hard to have them not get drowned out by Japanese settlers. And if they stay separate from Japan, it's not really a multicultural Japan, just a smaller one.

[Max Sinister]

OK, new idea: Mongols are successful in 1274 or 1281, make Japan a khanate, which lasts some centuries. Under their reign, lots of Chinese and Koreans settle there (and vice versa, Japanese on the continent). They're too strong to disappear, although the Mongols might be killed once the Japanese overthrow them.