ALSA 2025 meeting

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.