Reimagining Japan: Multiculturalism, Identity, and Social Change
I strongly believe that, after visiting more than 80 countries, embarking on the journey of understanding a new nation involves immersing oneself in its evolving culture, engaging with its diverse communities, and reflecting on the fluid nature of national identities. I am always humbled to learn something new about each country I've traveled to; the more I learn, the more I realize how complex each place is.
I hope this serves as a non-traditional guide on how to approach learning about a new country.
Embracing Japan's Evolving Diversity
There are many reasons I've been able to live in Japan for 20 years. Access to better healthcare and childcare compared to the U.S. is a major factor, but what has truly helped me feel at home is Japan's growing diversity. While "diverse" isn't a word typically used to describe Japan, the country is changing.
“In fact, data from 2021 shows that 1 in 24 newborns in Japan has at least one foreign national parent.”
This means the Japan my child will grow up in will be quite different from the one I first encountered—and that excites me.
Exploring Multicultural Shinjuku
During our stay in Tokyo, we'll be based in Shinjuku, which has the largest population of foreign nationals in Japan—1 in 8 residents has an international background, according to data from Shinjuku Ward. This makes Shinjuku an ideal place to experience Japan's evolving cultural landscape.
One place I love exploring is Shin-Okubo, the next station over from Shinjuku. Known mainly for its vibrant Koreatown—filled with Korean grocery stores, restaurants, and K-pop shops—the area also has a growing Muslim community. Islam Yokocho, a small street lined with halal grocery stores, is an example of how the neighborhood is diversifying. If you're interested in further exploring Tokyo's Muslim community, I also recommend visiting the Tokyo Camii Mosque.
Personally, one of my favorite activities in Shin-Okubo is indulging in Korean-Chinese cuisine—a unique fusion that originated in Korea when Chinese immigrants adapted their traditional dishes to suit Korean palates, a phenomenon similar to American Chinese cuisine, which I also love. I always make time for a spicy bowl of jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup), such as the one at Hong Kong Hanten 0410 in Shin-Okubo—a comforting ritual that, surprisingly, takes me back to my childhood in Texas. Growing up, my family would visit the Asian market on weekends for groceries and conclude the day with Korean or Chinese food. Oddly enough, this tradition in Tokyo reminds me of "home" in Texas, much more than the Texas-style bar I visited a while back in Meguro called Little Texas.
While jjamppong is something you can actually eat in Texas, hopefully while I'm staying in Shinjuku with all of y'all, I hope to visit a Uyghur restaurant, featuring the food of ethnic minorities in northwest China. I've been wanting to go for a while; it's a 10-minute walk from our hotel, so this might be my opportunity. Of course, it's important to try Japanese food, but because Shinjuku is so diverse, it is also a great opportunity to try foods of the world you won't have access to back home.
Exploring Japanese Identity
Watching a movie in a theater in Japan (since it is not yet available for streaming) might not be on your bucket list, but "The Making of a Japanese" is worth considering, as you can watch it with subtitles and dubbing using the UDCast app. Directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki, who is of mixed British and Japanese heritage, this documentary explores what makes a person "Japanese" through the public elementary school system. Although the director doesn't explicitly state it, I interpreted the film as focusing on how deeply ingrained values, rather than ethnicity, define Japanese identity. I appreciate how the film presents everyday school life without clear conclusions, encouraging viewers to reflect on both the positive and challenging aspects of Japanese society. The director often points out how cultural traits—like Japan's famously punctual trains—stem from these values, which can be seen as both strengths and weaknesses.
Delving into Japan's Social Movements
Including this movie, which reexamines Japanese societal values and the education system, over the past two decades, I've witnessed a growing diversity of thought in Japan, spurred by major events like the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the #MeToo movement, anti-racism movements, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These shifts have prompted greater introspection and change. It's hard to get a sense of the movements with such a short visit, but perhaps visiting a local feminist bookstore called etc.books in Tokyo, or Sisterhood Bookstore Kanin in Kyoto—which I hope to visit for the first time when we're in Kyoto—could provide some insight. A bilingual magazine called Iwakan covers many LGBTQ+ issues and is available at various bookstores listed on their website.
Immersing in Japan's Creative Evolution
This wave of change is also evident in Japan's creative reimagining of its culture. While it's no longer showing, one of my favorite exhibitions last year was Afro-Mingei, Theaster Gates's first solo exhibition in Japan. This exhibition showcased his unique fusion of Black cultural aesthetics and the Japanese Mingei movement. It was held at the Mori Art Museum. Hopefully, there will be something of interest there during your stay, or at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, which I also love.
I’m not the most well-informed when it comes to fashion, but I’ve been to a few pop-up exhibitions at Marui Department Stores featuring inclusive Japanese brands. The most recent one was called SOLIT!, where I bought a blazer designed to be inclusive for wheelchair users and consciously gender-neutral in its aesthetic.
Reflecting on National Identity
In a recent episode of the podcast "What Now? with Trevor Noah," which I happened to listen to recently, co-hosts Trevor Noah and Christiana Mbakwe-Medina interviewed Professor Ruha Benjamin, a sociologist and MacArthur Fellowship recipient. Although their discussion wasn't specifically about Japan, Professor Benjamin's insights on nation-states resonated with my thoughts on Japanese culture. She emphasized that national identities are not innate or eternal but are constructed and maintained over time.
“Nation states are imagined. The national identity is not something that is... God given. It’s not something that... existed for eternity. These identities were created, maintained... made durable over time.”
This perspective aligns with my observations of Japan's evolving cultural landscape. I deeply appreciate experiencing and sharing this dynamic aspect of the country. When learning about Japan, I hope you recognize that its culture is not static; it is continually evolving and will likely be different if you ever come back to Japan again.
ALISA SANADA
Tradition and Innovation in Japan
Spring Break 2025
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