Yuji Takeuchi
Sessions
According to IMF statistics, Japan's nominal GDP per capita has fallen to 38th place (2024). Aside from the ranking, the fact that the figure has not increased for over 30 years and has been declining in recent years is a bigger problem. Japan's relative decline in economic power is leading to a loss of confidence in the structure of Japanese society and among the Japanese people, bringing about various changes. One of the biggest changes is how we interact with foreigners.
For many years, Japan and the Japanese people have had a strong sense of confidence in their title of "advanced nation," and have believed that they are superior in every way, especially to other Asian countries. However, this is an illusion, and Japan and the Japanese people, who have neglected to change, are likely to perceive diversity as "fear." What lies ahead is a new "攘夷"(JYOU-I, expulsion of foreigners) policy in the 21st century, and a further decline in Japan's international status.
In this session, researchers in their 30s to 60s with extensive knowledge of Asian countries will discuss the vulnerability of Japanese society from various perspectives, including community, education, information, and law, and consider the role of law and society.
The abstract of the first paper (in no more than 200 words): In recent years, Japan has begun to accept more foreign workers as result of labor shortages. However, tensions have emerged as individuals of different nationalities attempt to live together in shared communities. While Japanese society continues to advance toward individualization, some foreign residents place a higher value on ethnic solidarity, leading to differences in daily customs, values, and communication styles. These differences have, in certain instances, escalated into community-level conflicts and even riots. Such cases are no longer isolated but reflect a broader global trend in increasingly diverse societies. This study examines the friction that arises between the ideals of diversity and the practical challenges of everyday coexistence. By focusing on the Japanese context as a microcosm of global multicultural tensions, this paper explores whether a balance can be struck between individualistic and nationalistic tendencies. It also considers how societies might foster mutual understanding without compromising the core values of either group. This inquiry contributes to broader discussions in contemporary sociology on how to reconcile growing diversity with the persistent influence of cultural and national identities.