Being a homogeneous society has a certain stigma about it, some would even say a racist one, but there are benefits too, even for foreigners!
As one of the most homogeneous societies in the world, Japan has all the pros and cons of an isolated island nation you can expect. In today’s interconnected global community, it’s easy to label such monoethnic nations as xenophobic or, to some degree, racist, but the truth is certainly much deeper than that.
Living here for several years as a foreigner, I’ve noticed how when it comes to comparing homogeneous societies like Japan to multicultural societies like Australia, everything sort of “balances itself out” in the end. What I mean by this is that the pros and cons of each demographic template eventually add up to an even cut, particularly when the novelty of experiencing the other side begins to wear off.
Safety & Security
Even as a foreign resident, I feel a sense of safety and security in Japan that I don’t quite feel in other countries, not even back home in Australia.
I believe a multicultural society is like a double-edged sword that enables prosperity and joy through the mingling of cultures, but also increases the rates of conflict in society.
At its core, conflict comes from the clash of egos, and to smaller minds, their suppressed egos are revealed at the sight of physical differences in race and culture, exposing the darkness within.
That being said, while Japan may feel much safer with its homogeneous demographic, one must question to what extent this peace is true, or simply a result of not being truly tested with multiculturalism.
Xenophobia vs. Trust
The term “xenophobia” differs slightly from racism in that it’s not so much about physical appearances but more about nationality and cultural upbringing, though it does often go hand-in-hand with racism nonetheless.
Japan often gets accused of being xenophobic, more so than racist, and this comes from strong nationalistic and cultural traditions that are valued at a spiritual level.
In my own experience, I’ve found that working in Japan alongside the Japanese in a company and showing understanding and effort toward their practices can make even a non-Japanese-speaking foreigner like myself feel totally accepted as one of their own.
When a society is so strong in its cultural traditions, they are naturally on guard against newcomers, even other ethnically Japanese people who may have lived abroad for a time and are out of sync with the Japanese code of conduct.
Just Keep It Real
Honestly, you don’t need to “become Japanese” in a spiritual sense or otherwise in order to live a great life in Japan; you just need to be honest with yourself and with others.
I don’t pretend to be an expert on Japanese culture, and I certainly don’t try to appear fluent in the language, yet I always receive positive reinforcement and have pleasant interactions with the people here, simply because honesty and authenticity are attractive.
Keep things respectful and be willing to learn from the locals when in Japan, and you will get to enjoy all the benefits this homogeneous society has built over the centuries, even as a foreigner!
To learn more about life in Japan, check out my book: The Japanese Pursuit of Perfection. This book features my most profound observations of Japanese culture and society as a foreign resident. Available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Grab your copy today!