日本人とは？What Does it Mean to “be Japanese”?
This will be an interactive lecture where we discuss what it means to be Japanese. While in daily conversation many of us often say things such as “we Japanese” or “people from overseas,” have you ever really thought of the definition of a Japanese? And who gets to decide? Is it citizenship? Language? Identity? Customs and Values? DNA? Each of us has a different idea of what it means to “be Japanese,” and these unconscious beliefs may affect how we interact with people who may be off the traditional spectrum of “Japanese.” Let’s explore this topic together as we seek to grow and interact with those around us in an increasingly diverse Japanese society.
Anne Crescini is an Associate Professor at the University of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka, Japan. Originally from Wytheville, Virginia, USA, she has been living and working in Japan for 25 years. In addition to teaching English at her university, she has her own radio program, occasionally appears as a TV commentator, and has a regular column in a local newspaper. She has written 21 books and gives lectures all over Japan on various topics related to language and culture. She also reached her dream of being a TEDx speaker, appearing on the stage at TEDxFukuoka in 2018 and 2020.
