Newspaper article summaries
An article by Daily Shincho, January 26, 2025 is summarized below.
The number of foreign workers in Japan is increasing, exceeding 2.04 million in October 2023, and the number of businesses employing foreigners is also increasing. Many foreign workers work in the manufacturing, construction, and service industries, and face particular barriers to learning the Japanese language. Japanese is difficult in terms of pronunciation, honorific language, and vocabulary, and the use of honorific language and respectful language in particular is a major barrier for foreigners. In addition, Japanese abbreviations and homonyms are also factors that cause confusion. Furthermore, many foreigners struggle with Japanese accents and dialects.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, language issues became evident, including unreasonable complaints against foreign workers and difficulty understanding conversations through masks. Foreign workers also face cultural differences and can suffer from loneliness and differences in lifestyle. In Japan, unintentionally hurtful words (microaggressions) are sometimes used, so consideration for foreign workers is required.
What are microaggressions?
Microaggression refers to unconscious or intentional prejudiced or discriminatory behavior toward a specific individual or group. Below are some concrete examples of microaggressions experienced by foreign residents in Japan.
Linguistic microaggressions
In Japan, even if a foreigner speaks fluent Japanese, they may be surprised and say, “Your Japanese is so good.” At first glance, this may seem like a compliment, but this comment contains the preconceived notion that “foreigners cannot speak Japanese.” In particular, for foreigners who have lived in Japan for many years and for whom Japanese is their everyday language, such comments make them feel like they are considered “permanent outsiders.” Conversely, ignoring a person’s efforts to use Japanese and speaking to them in English from the start can also be perceived as belittling their language ability.
Cultural stereotypes
It is common to ask foreigners “Where are you from?”, but after hearing the answer, some people make stereotypical remarks such as “The food in that country is spicy, isn’t it?” or “I’ve heard that people from that country are not punctual.” These kinds of remarks are a sign of prejudice that ignores the individual characteristics of the other person and generalizes them based on their nationality or culture.
Additionally, statements such as “After all, foreigners are good at this kind of thing” are also problematic. For example, if you say to someone from the United States or Europe, “It’s great that you’re a native English speaker,” or “You’re good at logical thinking,” this may come across as unconsciously belittling their other skills and abilities.
Appearance-related microaggressions
Because of their different appearance, they may be unconsciously seen as “tourists.” In particular, Asian and black foreigners are often seen as “not Japanese” in Japanese society, and may receive comments such as “Can I take your picture?” or “Your hairstyle is unusual.” These comments show that a different appearance from Japanese people is treated as “unusual” or “special.”
Additionally, comments about skin color or body type can also be problematic. Statements like, “I’m jealous because you’re tall,” or, conversely, “Your body type looks American” can be unintentionally hurtful.
Microaggressions in the Workplace and Education
In the workplace, foreigners may be given only menial tasks or their opinions may not be respected because they are foreigners. Furthermore, when foreigners work for Japanese companies, they are expected to get used to Japanese culture and customs, and they may lack consideration. Being told unilaterally that “this is common sense in Japan” can make foreigners feel like their own culture is being denied.
Even in educational settings, children who are mixed race or foreign may be repeatedly asked, “Where are you from?” or may be told, “Your Japanese is poor, so we can’t understand you.” This can lead to children questioning their own identity and lowering their self-esteem.
Experience in daily life
In supermarkets and restaurants, even if you speak Japanese, the staff may pretend not to understand you. Also, when looking for rental housing, it is not uncommon to be refused because “foreigners will cause trouble.” These are examples of how prejudice against foreigners unconsciously manifests itself in everyday life.
Some people have reported that when they sit down on public transport, no one will sit next to them, or they will get up from their seat. These actions may not be directly accompanied by words, but they can be perceived as exclusionary.
Summary
Microaggressions are often not noticed by the person who made the remark or acted, so when it is pointed out, they tend to excuse themselves by saying, “I didn’t mean any harm.” However, for the recipient, the accumulation of such acts becomes a psychological burden, significantly affecting their self-esteem and sense of social belonging. In order for Japanese society to accept diversity, it is necessary to deepen a broad awareness of microaggressions against foreigners.
To prevent this, it is important to convey the importance of “communication that respects the background and position of others” through education and awareness-raising activities. Specifically, it is necessary to consider how one’s words and actions affect others and adopt an attitude that is not based on cultural stereotypes or prejudices. In addition, in order to realize a multicultural society, it is necessary to specifically discuss the microaggressions that foreigners face in their daily lives and seek ways to improve them.