Same same but different

Recently, I was introduced to a book called ロールモデルがいない君へ by キリーロバ・ナージャ.
It’s a collection of 12 interviews of people who struggled with their identity in Japan. Each person shares their challenges and their advice, with the hopes that their stories can serve as role model for those going through similar experiences.

Reading their stories got me thinking about my own experience as a Zainichi Korean, who grew up in Japan and Australia. My experience in Australia was very positive, probably because Australia takes pride in welcoming “those who come across the seas” - its part of their national anthem! But when I came back to Japan, I began to feel the struggles regarding my identity. Japan is a uniquely difficult country when it comes to being accepted as an “insider”, or as Japanese. Even if you feel Japanese, you are often not seen as Japanese unless you meet the criteria called nihonjinron -something I explored in my thesis when I did my Bachelor’s. 

Changing the topic a little here, but the other day, I was interviewed by a group of middle schoolers for their Individuals and Societies class. They asked about my background and experiences as a Zainichi Korean. I shared with them about the history of the Zainichi community and the challenges we’ve faced, but I also shared the positives - the strong sense of community, the support network, and the opportunity I’ve had to educate others on the Korea’s history with Japan.  

At the end of the interview, one of the students asked if she could ask something that wasn’t on their list of questions. She asked me, Why don’t different minority groups in Japan work together?

She shared that at her school, Korean students usually stick with other Korean students, Chinese students with Chinese, and so on. For her, being in that group is comforting as they speak the same language, share similar memories, and share that “inside” sense of understanding. That makes sense. When the world around you feels unfamiliar or even unwelcoming, we naturally gravitate towards familiarity. 

But her question got me thinking,  why don’t we work together more?

Building connections across differences is uncomfortable because effort must be put in to overcome differences to make the connections, especially when we don’t seek differences unlike when we travel abroad. But maybe if there’s a clear purpose or shared goal, it may be easier to overcome those differences and the discomforts. 

This made me think about a quote by one of the interviewees in the book: Our differences are what make us unique, so why do people look down on them instead of trying to understand them?

When I came back to Japan, I felt the struggles. But I’m sure we’ve all had experiences of feeling like the minority because of your ethnicity, your background, your beliefs, or even something as simple as being the only one in your friend group who likes mint chocolate. Why has society made us feel like we have to fit it and be like others? In another interviewee’s chapter, they said  “What you feel is real and valid. It shouldn’t be hidden”.  I agree, and in university, I actually channeled this feeling and created a children’s story: You can read about the story though a blog someone posted who watched the performance here!

Going back to the topic now, our individual struggles are unique, but the feeling of being an outsider is often the same. So can’t we support each other through these difficulties? As I read through the book, I realized that many shared that they wished they had a role model that were similar to them, but couldn’t those who also fit the category of being a minority be of support? Could people from minority groups within Japan benefit from learning from each other and finding ways to collaborate with supporting the next generations?

As a teacher, I’ve always tried to bring these conversations into the classroom. I wanted to take the time to help students explore their identity, learn more about history through personal stories, and importantly, take action. But now that I’m taking time away from the classroom, I’ve been sitting with these thoughts, without a space to really process or share them.And I think that’s another reason for why I started this blog.

With that being said, I want to thank the friends who’ve encouraged me to share by sharing comments and words of encouragement. I also recently watched a friend’s TEDx talk, where he reminded everyone that we are all teachers - not just those who stand at the front of a classroom.

So maybe, by sharing, I can create opportunities to connect. And maybe, we can start finding ways to work together :)