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Nihonjinron Versus the World

Japan's National Identity Halting Globalization and Foreign Language Competency

Nihonjinron is literally translated as "theories of the Japanese people"

or as it is commonly used, "Japaneseness"

"People"

"Japan"

"Theories"

Ninhonjinron "should be read as a kind of 'mass consumer item' " and is the " 'intellectual fast food of consumer nationalism' (Watanabe)."

Five Main Tenets of Nihonjinron

1. "The only valid basis from which to study Japanese society is using native informants' judgements (emic), as opposed to external or foreign analysis (etic)."

Ironic, since one of the most influential texts of nihonjinron thought was written by Ruth Benedict, who was not Japanese and had never been to Japan.

2. The Japanese people are a single, homogeneous race that has remained as such, practically since its creation.

This concept extends to the country as well.

Ignores and excludes groups such as the Ainu, Okinawans, etc.

Othering

3. "The Japanese differ radically from all other known peoples in terms of society, culture, and language."

-"Us vs. them" dichotomy

-Sets nations apart by comparing themselves against an "other."

-Japan often uses "Westerners" as a means of comparison.

Nuances of Japanese Language

4. "Japanese 'blood' is essential in order to understand Japanese society, culture, and language."

Very contextual construction of "self"

-kokugo/nihongo

-uchi/soto

-omote/ura

-gaijin

5. "Foreigners are incapable of completely understanding Japanese culture and language."

Problems with Japan's Approach

Why It Matters

Possible Solutions?

English Foreign Language Education in Japan

-In the modern, "shrinking" world, Japan is limiting growth by stifling internationalization and foreign language education.

-Essentially, racism and discrimination disguised as "national uniqueness."

-Foreign language educators are placed in severely disadvantaged circumstances.

-Nihonjinron

  • Monoethnicity shuts down foreign languages
  • "Othering"
  • Multivocality of kokusaika
  • As a means of spreading "Japaneseness."
  • As a means of "Othering"
  • As a means of incorporating what they need from other societies while allowing minimal penetration in their own culture
  • English as a "tool"
  • AFELTs situation

-English seen as a "tool" rather than for communication.

-AFELTs have no room for promotion, little-to-no job security, and, even while residing in Japan, are never truly accepted in society. (uchi/soto)

-Ideology of Nothingness

  • Japanese ideology can never fail because it is eternally succeeding by eternally failing.

-More effort put into reforms.

-Closer examination of nihonjinron and replacing its outdated tenets.

The Omote and Ura of it all

Kokusaika: The Final (Multivocal) Word on Internationalization in Japan

Omote: Outwardly, Japan's government has made statements and issued policies that seek to advance the internationalization process within the country.

Ura: In practice, these policies are just a facade of internationalization and actually limit interaction with "Other" cultures and languages.

Kokusaika in Japanese means "internationalization," though what that means varies wildly.

Looking to the Past

1955-1963

End of WWII

1945-1954

Economic Boom

1964-1983

Tokugawa Japan

Late 1800's

Globalization?

1984-Present

Not to scale

-Beginning seeking link to historical roots

-Loss of the war

-American occupation

-Negativity towards "Japaneseness"

-Japan flourished while other countries struggled

-Superiority replaces negativity

-Discussions on unique/universal

-Education reforms

-Internationalization discussions

-Earliest origins of

nihonjinron thought

-Kokutai was similar in principle but focused on the Emperor

Miller's Law of Inverse Returns

1946

Ruth Benedict's

"The Chrysanthemum and the Sword

-The more skilled a foreigner becomes in Japanese, the less he will be accepted by the Japanese

-Very influential nihonjinron text

-Irony of Benedict's text as a leading text of nihonjinron thought

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