Lecture: What Does it Mean to “Be Japanese?”

日本人とは？

On May 12, Anne Crescini from the University of Kitakyushu gave an interactive lecture to our students about what being Japanese really means. While in daily conversation many of us often say things such as “we Japanese” or “people from overseas,” she asked the students whether they have 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.” In the lecture, the students explored this topic while seeking to grow and interact with those around us in an increasingly diverse Japanese society.