With people of foreign origin
"Multicultural society"
How to achieve this
"Multicultural society"
How to achieve this
#Asia University research
KOIDO Akihiro Professor
Faculty of International Relations Department of Multicultural Communication
2025.11.01
In our series "If it's not interesting, it's not academia!", we introduce research content and anecdotes of Asia University faculty members. The 18th installment features Professor KOIDO Akihiro of the Department of Department of Multicultural Communication, Faculty of International Relations.
A shocking experience in France changed my attitude towards borders
"In the early 1980s, I majored in comparative sociology at the University of Tokyo. However, I began to feel uncomfortable with the sociological methodology taught there, which unquestioningly analyzed things in terms of Credit of 'nation' (national society), and with the students of my generation who accepted this method. I felt that events were occurring that could no longer be understood by a single country, such as the chaos caused by the oil shocks and environmental issues. In Graduate School, I decided to focus research on things and people that 'transcend national borders,' and it was a humble yet powerful experience in Europe that gave me the confidence to move in this direction."
Before graduating, I took my first international trip to Europe. This was before the EU was established, during the EC era. Traveling across borders across Western Europe using a Eurail Pass was incredibly exciting. One day, I boarded a reserved sleeper car from Spain to Paris. After passing through several carriages filled with white passengers, I arrived at my compartment, which was clearly reserved for people of color. There were two other African-American passengers in the same room. In the middle of the night, as we crossed the Pyrenees and approached the French border, French authorities suddenly arrived, surrounded one of my companions, and began a rigorous interrogation. He was eventually taken away, and by the next morning, he had not returned.
The fact that I was placed in a separate carriage as a minority. The strangely overbearing attitude of the French towards African passengers. And the fact that the border that I was able to cross without difficulty was a border of hardship for some people... I still can't forget the shock and indescribable discomfort I felt at that time.
Before graduating, I took my first international trip to Europe. This was before the EU was established, during the EC era. Traveling across borders across Western Europe using a Eurail Pass was incredibly exciting. One day, I boarded a reserved sleeper car from Spain to Paris. After passing through several carriages filled with white passengers, I arrived at my compartment, which was clearly reserved for people of color. There were two other African-American passengers in the same room. In the middle of the night, as we crossed the Pyrenees and approached the French border, French authorities suddenly arrived, surrounded one of my companions, and began a rigorous interrogation. He was eventually taken away, and by the next morning, he had not returned.
The fact that I was placed in a separate carriage as a minority. The strangely overbearing attitude of the French towards African passengers. And the fact that the border that I was able to cross without difficulty was a border of hardship for some people... I still can't forget the shock and indescribable discomfort I felt at that time.
Studying in the US and doing research on the US-Mexico border
At a Sunday Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border, families separated by stricter border controls join hands across the border fence, reaffirming their bond across the "wall."At the age of 27, he had the opportunity to research at Johns Hopkins University near Washington, D.C., on the East Coast of the United States. I regularly went to the West Coast and began to investigate and research the production of goods and the movement of people on the border between the "world's most advanced developed countries" and "typical developing countries" and the "United States-Mexico".
In the late 1980s, when I studied abroad, American and Japan companies were building factories one after another on the Mexican side of the border to produce products for the American market. This is because wages can be kept low, and there is also a preferential system that allows you to bring in raw materials and parts without tariffs. I was interested in this system that "used" the border in a sense, and I surveyed various factories such as Automobile Club products, electronic products, and furniture to see what kind of industries and how things are actually manufactured. Along the way, he moved to the University of California as a visiting research, where he continued to research until 1992.
What surprised me at the time was that even though the factory was located in a chaotic area where even transportation infrastructure was not well developed, machines using the latest automatic semiconductor mounting technology were introduced inside. Instead of the "labor-intensive factories that make use of cheap labor" that tend to come to mind in developing countries, manual work is only complex processes that are difficult to do with robots. It was said that it was a choice to improve production efficiency and stabilize production and reduce defective products, but I was very shocked at this time.
Looking back now, we can clearly see that this led to NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), Mexico's exports of industrial goods surged more than expected, and NAFTA was reviewed. Of course, I didn't know at the time, but I think it was valuable to be able to make fresh discoveries on site.
In the late 1980s, when I studied abroad, American and Japan companies were building factories one after another on the Mexican side of the border to produce products for the American market. This is because wages can be kept low, and there is also a preferential system that allows you to bring in raw materials and parts without tariffs. I was interested in this system that "used" the border in a sense, and I surveyed various factories such as Automobile Club products, electronic products, and furniture to see what kind of industries and how things are actually manufactured. Along the way, he moved to the University of California as a visiting research, where he continued to research until 1992.
What surprised me at the time was that even though the factory was located in a chaotic area where even transportation infrastructure was not well developed, machines using the latest automatic semiconductor mounting technology were introduced inside. Instead of the "labor-intensive factories that make use of cheap labor" that tend to come to mind in developing countries, manual work is only complex processes that are difficult to do with robots. It was said that it was a choice to improve production efficiency and stabilize production and reduce defective products, but I was very shocked at this time.
Looking back now, we can clearly see that this led to NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), Mexico's exports of industrial goods surged more than expected, and NAFTA was reviewed. Of course, I didn't know at the time, but I think it was valuable to be able to make fresh discoveries on site.
Expanding interest in Spain through border research
A scene from a multicultural coexistence facility for immigrants in the Canary Islands, a border zone between Spain and Africa. I had intended to go there to research border control, but even here I found that coexistence practices were progressing, with young Africans working on farms and beginning to adapt to Spanish society.
After returning to Japan and teaching at several universities, I spent a year abroad in Spain for research. Initially, I was thinking of comparing the borders between the United States and Mexico and Europe and Africa, but after learning about Spain's highly progressive immigration policy, I gradually began to focus research on that.
In the late 1980s, Spain shifted its policy to accepting immigrants due to its declining birthrate and aging population. Around 20 years ago, the country had already established a "National Forum for Social Integration" where government, citizens, and immigrant groups could discuss policy, greatly advancing policy coordination. Furthermore, the country had even proactively created a professional position called "intercultural mediators" in each region to act as a bridge between immigrants and local residents. I believe there are some elements of this that Japan today can emulate.
Living in Spain, I often saw people coexisting quite naturally. The apartment I rented in Madrid was located in a neighborhood where, in addition to Spanish residents, there were Latin American and Muslim residents, and in the evenings in the park, Spaniards and Latin American immigrants would enjoy playing chess and cards together. At a greengrocer in town, an elderly Spanish man would harass the Moroccan immigrant owner's sister, saying, "Hey, pretty girl (Guapa!) Give me a discount!" The quick-witted sister in her 20s would brush him off, saying, "That's impossible!" (laughs) There are anti-immigrant movements in some parts of Spain, and things aren't always going well, but I was impressed by the relaxed and easygoing atmosphere.
In the late 1980s, Spain shifted its policy to accepting immigrants due to its declining birthrate and aging population. Around 20 years ago, the country had already established a "National Forum for Social Integration" where government, citizens, and immigrant groups could discuss policy, greatly advancing policy coordination. Furthermore, the country had even proactively created a professional position called "intercultural mediators" in each region to act as a bridge between immigrants and local residents. I believe there are some elements of this that Japan today can emulate.
Living in Spain, I often saw people coexisting quite naturally. The apartment I rented in Madrid was located in a neighborhood where, in addition to Spanish residents, there were Latin American and Muslim residents, and in the evenings in the park, Spaniards and Latin American immigrants would enjoy playing chess and cards together. At a greengrocer in town, an elderly Spanish man would harass the Moroccan immigrant owner's sister, saying, "Hey, pretty girl (Guapa!) Give me a discount!" The quick-witted sister in her 20s would brush him off, saying, "That's impossible!" (laughs) There are anti-immigrant movements in some parts of Spain, and things aren't always going well, but I was impressed by the relaxed and easygoing atmosphere.
The reality of this country is actually supported by foreigners
A new generation of Vietnamese workers working in the manufacturing industry in the mountainous areas of the Chugoku region, along with their families (two wives and two newborns). These workers, who are responsible for the design and manufacture of machinery, have a high level of skill and can converse in Japanese without any difficulty.
So what about the situation in Japan? Many people have noticed an increase in the number of foreigners they see working in convenience stores, family restaurants, izakayas, and other places in recent years. However, did you know that many foreigners are actually working in places that we don't often see, supporting various industries in Japan?
The fishing industry supports Japanese cuisine, a World Cultural Heritage site. It's said that skipjack tuna pole-and-line fishing would no longer be viable without foreign workers. Many seafood processing jobs, such as removing oyster shells and filleting fish, are also performed by foreigners. Their presence in the construction industry is also growing. The new National Stadium would not have been completed without foreign workers, and the ongoing infrastructure construction and building demolition and construction across Tokyo would not be possible without them. As of January 2025, the number of foreign residents will reach a record high of approximately 3.76 million. The number of people with "foreign roots," including naturalized citizens, is expected to be even higher.
But don't you think it's strange? The Japanese government has long said, "Japan does not accept immigrants." Why are there so many "immigrants"?
The answer is simple. For roughly 30 years, from around 1990, Japan essentially accepted foreigners by keeping its "front door" closed and its "side door" open. Using various excuses, such as "because they have roots in Japan" or "to transfer skills to their home countries," Japan accepted foreigners as "Japanese-Brazilians," "technical Practicum," "highly skilled workers," "nursing and care workers," and so on, in an attempt to make up for the labor shortage caused by the declining birthrate and aging population.
This finally reached its limit, and the "front door" was opened for the first time in 2018. Due to amendments to the Immigration Control Act, "Specified Skilled Workers" with certain expertise and skills are now accepted in 14 industries. Furthermore, a new "Development Employment System" is scheduled to start in 2027. This system will replace the existing Technical Intern Practicum System, with the aim of improving the skills of foreign workers and providing long-term employment.
Japan's immigration policy has been implemented symptomatically, without any mid- to long-term direction. There are numerous challenges, one of which is the vagueness of the concept of "skills." While "skills" are cited as the basis for accepting foreigners, the essential content has not been adequately discussed. It is necessary to clarify the level of qualifications and skills required in each industry and to continually review them in light of changes and realities in the industry. What may at first glance seem problematic regarding the criteria for selecting foreigners may actually lead to a reconsideration of issues facing Japanese society itself, such as the realization of "equal pay for equal work" for Japanese people in Japanese companies and "career options."
The fishing industry supports Japanese cuisine, a World Cultural Heritage site. It's said that skipjack tuna pole-and-line fishing would no longer be viable without foreign workers. Many seafood processing jobs, such as removing oyster shells and filleting fish, are also performed by foreigners. Their presence in the construction industry is also growing. The new National Stadium would not have been completed without foreign workers, and the ongoing infrastructure construction and building demolition and construction across Tokyo would not be possible without them. As of January 2025, the number of foreign residents will reach a record high of approximately 3.76 million. The number of people with "foreign roots," including naturalized citizens, is expected to be even higher.
But don't you think it's strange? The Japanese government has long said, "Japan does not accept immigrants." Why are there so many "immigrants"?
The answer is simple. For roughly 30 years, from around 1990, Japan essentially accepted foreigners by keeping its "front door" closed and its "side door" open. Using various excuses, such as "because they have roots in Japan" or "to transfer skills to their home countries," Japan accepted foreigners as "Japanese-Brazilians," "technical Practicum," "highly skilled workers," "nursing and care workers," and so on, in an attempt to make up for the labor shortage caused by the declining birthrate and aging population.
This finally reached its limit, and the "front door" was opened for the first time in 2018. Due to amendments to the Immigration Control Act, "Specified Skilled Workers" with certain expertise and skills are now accepted in 14 industries. Furthermore, a new "Development Employment System" is scheduled to start in 2027. This system will replace the existing Technical Intern Practicum System, with the aim of improving the skills of foreign workers and providing long-term employment.
Japan's immigration policy has been implemented symptomatically, without any mid- to long-term direction. There are numerous challenges, one of which is the vagueness of the concept of "skills." While "skills" are cited as the basis for accepting foreigners, the essential content has not been adequately discussed. It is necessary to clarify the level of qualifications and skills required in each industry and to continually review them in light of changes and realities in the industry. What may at first glance seem problematic regarding the criteria for selecting foreigners may actually lead to a reconsideration of issues facing Japanese society itself, such as the realization of "equal pay for equal work" for Japanese people in Japanese companies and "career options."
The "challenge" for the future is also an "opportunity"
Our seminar also places great importance on fieldwork. We visit various sites based on themes of interest to our students, such as "education," "caregiving work," and "refugees." For example, during a visit to a city in Gunma Prefecture with a large foreign population, we spoke with students at a Brazilian school about their daily lives. We also spoke with a second-generation Japanese-Brazilian woman about the difficulties of language acquisition, having gone from a Japanese-language-centered school life to her parents' home country, where she learned Portuguese, and then, after becoming immersed in Portuguese, transitioning to English for practical work. We also interviewed staff from Vietnam, Nepal, and Indonesia at a nursing home in Kanagawa Prefecture about the challenges and rewards of their work. Our seminar students seem to gain a lot from experiencing these diverse life stories, and they are working many times harder than in regular classes (laughs).
Asia University is notable for having a large number of International Student with foreign roots, as well as international students. In my classes and seminars, I often hear things like, "I have two nationalities," or "My roots are one-quarter Japanese, and three-quarters Filipino and American." If the story is about someone close to you, rather than a complete stranger, you'll be more interested and will take it seriously. This naturally hones the intuition and ability to respond to multicultural coexistence that will be required in the coming era. I believe this is Asia University 's strength and an important value.
No matter where you look around the world, there is no example of a "multicultural society" being realized smoothly. Every step forward brings a backlash, and you have to overcome that and take the next step. The journey is a "challenge" that requires a great deal of preparation and effort, but it is also an "opportunity" to create a new, better society. Let's all think together about how we can realize a multicultural society in this country!
Related Links
- Faculty of International Relations TOP
- Faculty of International Relations Department of Multicultural Communication
- Four years of study Department of Multicultural Communication Faculty of International Relations
- Faculty of International Relations Department of Multicultural Communication Introduction
- Faculty of International Relations Department of Multicultural Communication Seminar
- Faculty of International Relations Department of Multicultural Communication Overseas Training Program
- Faculty Faculty of International Relations Department of Multicultural Communication