Coexistence without principle: Reconsidering multicultural policies in Japan

Abstract

Multicultural coexistence (tabunka kyōse) in Japan is as complicated as its definition. On the one hand, it is regarded as a challenge to the coherence of national identity that sustains the popular image of ethnic homogeneity in Japan; on the other hand, it has been considered a retrogressive force that destabilizes civic solidarity needed for the development of responsible citizens. After describing the multicultural policies proposed by local governments in Japan that have facilitated multicultural coexistence, this article critically reviews the policies' relevance as a viable democratic practice for foreign residents and warns against the dangers of exclusion and assimilation when multicultural policies are driven by local citizens without a regulative principle. Then, this article presents "reciprocal nondomination" as a regulative principle that prevents the practice of multicultural coexistence from leading to regressive consequences and provides a ground for democratic deliberation on various ethnic differences. © 2009 Center for International Studies.