Identity and Minority: a world English point of view
BY
Toshihiro Okumura
A SHORT PAPER
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE OF
GRADUATE REPORT (World of English)
Kumamoto Gakuen University Foreign Language Department
English Course
SUPERVISOR: Judy Yoneoka
Kumamoto Gakuen University
Oe 2-5-1 Kumamoto
Japan
JULY 11, 2010
This paper consists of words
TABLE OF CONTENTS -
1. Executive Summary ………………………………
2. Introduction …....................................................
2.1 General Introduction……………………………………………
2.2 Monoculture vs. Multicultural in environment ………………………………
2.3 Issue of research…………………………………………
2.4 Research methodology………………
2.5Relevance, Reliability and Currency of Data Collected…
3. Case studies.…………………….….
3.1 Japan: Aiun issue ….…………………………
3.2 Canada: First Nation (Residential School)……………
4. Logic and Analysis of Data.....
5. Conclusion ...……………………………….........
6 Bibliography …………………………………………
7. Appendices …………………………………………
1.概要
日本語での概要（約200字）
CHECKED 2. Introduction
• 2.1 General Introduction
This research will focus on Japan's Multicultural and Minority Identity.
According to a Japan Time’s article (Tuesday, March 27, 2007), Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki called Japan "an extremely homogenous country." Foreign Minister Taro Aso described Japan as having "one nation, one civilization, one language, one culture, and one race." These comments indicate that they have some “allergies” (maybe a different word is better, like 'they are prejudiced against foreigners) against foreigners. In other words, they would like to keep having the same situation that they are used to. In fact, these are not only ideas but of these two politicians; the Japanese people still have some stigma against foreigners. This is a very concerning problem. (Some examples of this are reations to the USA military camp in Okinawa prefecture, immigration issues, complimentary of resident Korean’s high school (unclear), etc.)
In addition, Japan needs to deal with its low birthrate and shrinking labor force. Some people think that we should have more immigrants or start consulting to change policies as soon as possible in order to maintain current productivity and economic status.
Moreover, there are a lot of countries, cultures and people in the world, and each with its own characteristics, or an 'identity'. However, people sometimes don’t like the lifestyles of other people, so they want those other people to follow a way of life that matches their own. Some of them do change their lifestyle, but some, on the other hand, do not want to alter their lifestyle becaue they want to preserve their identity.
Furthermore, the majority would be able to be powerful and prosperous because of huge number people belong their side as a result of discriminating against minorities over hundreds of years. There are a lot of evidence of this in history. Thus it is necessary to look over some issues inside and outside so as to identify facts. There are keys that suggest reasons why we are having these problems and whether or not Japan is capable of becoming a multicultural country.
Hence, I found out that there are some similarities between counties throughout the process and these will provide significant clues. Several stages are requird in order to achieve a multicultural society.
Step 1: Mutual understanding
Step 2: Anxiety
Step 3: Recognition
Two case studies about the Ainu in Japan and Residential Schools in Canada will be referenced to support this hypothesis.
Thus, this research will be able to recognize the causes and influences and will help people to understand the multiculturalism. CHECKED
• 2.2 Monoculture vs. Multicultural in environment
Japan:
This country has a long history and they have been living only one race for a long time. Besides, they rarely committed national isolation in the history; it was not normal and even now. On the other hand, they have former inhabitant both southern island and northern island. They did hit a crossroad and it turned out to be brought different history significantly. The latter situation is very critical so it will be vital to look over issues what they have its present and had its past.
Canada:
This country is a quite new country and it has very unique history backgrounds. Their national language has both English and French this is related to national fundament. They are well known for one of the multicultural country in the world. However, they also have some issues such as a residential school, immigrant, and difference of living wage. Thing is often different between inside an outside so that we should pay attention to the internal problems more carefully. Eventually, it will facilitate understanding these things.
• 2.3 Issue of research
Culture and Language are intertwined. It is definite fact this is because history proved that they live and develop together over the past. Besides, Identity and Minority might be one of the consequences of fragments in order to develop the Multiculturalisms. We should weigh it to settle down this important question. Thus, key depends on the answers to three questions:
1. Does popular opinion of each country see ethnic, cultural, and racial diversity together with other people as positive?
2. How did it turn out to each country after it happened to them?
3. What is the most important element to share individual identity in order to make equal society?
• 2.4 Research methodology
• [Country data] – Secondary Data
First, it will be essential to look at those countries political environment and cultural lifestyle this is because it is able to show current market situation.
The data will come from:
A
A
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• [Case studies] – Secondary Data
Second, the information is very significant to reveal us what we have to carry out to take next step so it will be our one of the priority sources.
Hence, we will gather information from:
A
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• [Questionnaire] – Primary Data
Third, this would be direct feedback from the Japan so it let us know about their honest opinion in terms of ‘multicultural Japan and Identity’. Moreover, it will be very obvious truth to glimpse the next vista.
Thus, It will be clarified by the Appendixes－A Questionnaire that following:
1. Do you know about Residential school (or Ainu issue)?
2. Do you have fear against foreigner?
3. Have you ever been to other countries?
4. How often do you have opportunities to talk with foreigners in a week?
5. What will be the most essential elements to understand foreign people?
6. What do you think if you are capable of speaking English or other languages, you will not have any problem with other people?
7. Do you think that your country is multicultural?
8.
• 2.5 Relevance, Reliability and Currency of Data Collected
The internet is really efficient and convenient to research what you want. However, It make a new problem that researcher encounter with the internet is the issue of accuracy and authenticity because internet has created a global society in which almost anyone can be a publisher for very little expenses. Thus, the researcher can never be certain whether the information they are reading is propaganda, fake information.
Hence, researcher should ensure as much as possible, the authenticity, accuracy, currency and completeness of all research information they gather using internet.
To gather information from below of websites, please be careful.
• Wikipedia
• Blog site
• Individual website
Furthermore, researcher should apply to prevent it the flowing guideline:
• If there is any doubt about the information presented on a website, do not use it.
• Examine links such as ones labeled “About the sites” to try and discern who the authors of the websites are. Are they likely to have an ulterior motive for publishing information? Are they a reputable source?
• Check links on the websites to judge their currency and relevancy.
3. Case studies
3-1. Japan: Ainu issue
3-1-1. Ainu people
"Ainu" means "human". The Ainu are one of the ethnic groups of Japan and Russia. Ainu who lived in Hokkaido, the Kurile Islands and Sakhalin were called "Hokkaido Ainu", "Kurile Ainu”, and "Sakhalin Ainu"respectively. Now, Most Ainu live in Hokkaido. They think that there are gods that belongs to everything. These gods include that "nature" gods, such as of fire, water, wind, and thunder; "animal" gods, such as of bears, foxes, spotted owls and gram-puses; "plant" gods, such as of aconite, mushroom and mugwort; "object" gods, such as of boats and pots; and gods that protect houses, gods of mountains and gods of lakes. Besides, they prayed to and performed various ceremonies for the gods. According to a current survey conducted by the Hokkaido Government in 1984, the Ainu population of Hokkaido then was 24,381. There were 26,256 people in 1807 but they had faced sudden reduction of population due to contagious disease. Afterwards, their population was on the wane this is because of war, conflict, and so on.
3-1-2. History
In fact, it has a long history. Indeed, they had to face up to lots of problems throughout the years.
The "Ainu Culture" extended from about 1400 to the early 1700 s. According to one theory, the Satsumon Culture developed into the Ainu Culture through the influence of the Okhotsk Culture.
However, this theory is not a proven one. In the mid-1400 s, the Japanese extended their influence over southern Hokkaido, primarily Esashi and Matsumae. Later, they came to op-press the Ainu. To resist the oppression by the Japanese, the Ainu waged the Battle of Kosyamain in 1457, the Battle of Syaksyain in 1669, and the Battle of Kunasiri-Menasi in 1789. The Ainu lost each time. After losing the Battle of Kunasiri-Menasi in particular, the Ainu fell completely under the control of the Japanese.
They remained oppressed and exploited by the Japanese until the Meiji era. In the Meiji era, under the government policy of assimilation, the Ainu were prohibited from observing their daily customs. Given the status of former aborigines, the Ainu were forced to abide by Japanese daily customs. In 1899, the Hokkaido Aborigine Protection Act was passed. The act primarily aimed to provide relief for the Ainu and help them become engaged in agriculture. However, the act designated the Ainu as "former aborigines" and clarified the distinction between the Japanese and the Ainu.
In the late Meiji era, with an increasing number of Japanese colonizing Hokkaido from Honshu, the oppression and exploitation of the Ainu was replaced by discrimination against them. Discrimination against the Ainu still remains today and has become a major social problem.
At the Hokkaido Ainu Convention in Shizunai, Hokkaido, in 1946, the Hokkaido Ainu Association was established primarily to provide higher education and collaborate in the construction of social welfare facilities. In 1961, the association changed its name to the Hokkaido Utari Association. The association is actively engaged tackling in various problems regarding the Ainu. In 1984, the Hokkaido Utari Association resolved that the Government should enact the New Ainu Law (tentative name), a new law which replaces the current "Hokkaido Aborigine Protection Act." Since then, the association has been conducting an active campaign to demand that the national government enact the New Ainu Law as soon as possible. Furthermore, these days, various activities are being vigorously promoted to revive the Ainu language and to preserve and maintain Ainu culture, such as traditional dancing and various ceremonies. Ainu language classes are being held in various parts of Hokkaido. Moreover, associations to preserve traditional dancing have been organized to revive and conduct ceremonies such as iyomante and chipsanke.
3-1-3. Current situation
There are still a lot of problems for Ainu people. Even though Japanese government accepted Ainu as first nation recently, the Ainu needs to solve out some significant ongoing issues such as discrimination, difference in wages and education, and high average of using public assistance. These problems are intertwined so that it is very hard to untangle up. It is based on the government research for teachers who belongs to Hokkaido, 90% of the entire population of Japanese does not know about Ainu and Ainu people exactly. Thus, the government is trying to focus on notifying the general people about their history and culture, and language. In addition, there have had meeting several times a year between the government and well knowledgeable persons since 2008 because they need to understand their problems each other and find out some solutions.
It will enable the Ainu to improve their publicity in Japan and even more in the world.
However, it is not enough to settle down all problems.
According to the survey for Ainu people, what they want is to expand further support for education that can encourage the Ainu young generation to enhance achievement and improve the percentage of students who advance to higher education.
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