Identity by exclusion: Japan’s exclusionary nationalism and its impact on domestic minorities

The Zainichi Koreans have been excluded Japanese society by a latent structure of discrimination that is encoded in the Japanese constitution and promoted by homogeneous society idealists such as Nakasone. This latent structure becomes blatant when the notion of Japanese homogeneity and cultural superiority is challenged. This drive for exclusion exhibits itself through anti-foreigner rhetoric of politicians such as Ishihara who instrumentalise fear and nationalism for their own political ends, and manifests itself as negative portrayals of Koreans in media and through Zaitokukai protests. Understanding the Zainichi Koreans within the context of Japanese national identity shows that Koreans are denied an identity, a history, and legal and economic rights by the dominant narrative of a homogenous and culturally superior Japan. When this narrative is challenged, it is then reinforced by nationalistic politicians and the Zaitokukai who actively exclude the Zainichi. Japan’s national...Show moreThe Zainichi Koreans have been excluded Japanese society by a latent structure of discrimination that is encoded in the Japanese constitution and promoted by homogeneous society idealists such as Nakasone. This latent structure becomes blatant when the notion of Japanese homogeneity and cultural superiority is challenged. This drive for exclusion exhibits itself through anti-foreigner rhetoric of politicians such as Ishihara who instrumentalise fear and nationalism for their own political ends, and manifests itself as negative portrayals of Koreans in media and through Zaitokukai protests. Understanding the Zainichi Koreans within the context of Japanese national identity shows that Koreans are denied an identity, a history, and legal and economic rights by the dominant narrative of a homogenous and culturally superior Japan. When this narrative is challenged, it is then reinforced by nationalistic politicians and the Zaitokukai who actively exclude the Zainichi. Japan’s national identity has been constructed in opposition to its heterogeneous past and contemporary heterogeneous countries. For its ethnic minorities that are associated with its multiethnic past, they face losing identity and blatant discrimination in modern Japan.Show less

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Identity by exclusion: Japan’s exclusionary nationalism and its impact on domestic minorities