Becoming Japanese

Intellectual Traditions and the Shaping of Japanese National Identity

“Iaponia”, map of Japan by J. Hondius (Wikimedia Commons | )

When you think of Japan, what comes to mind?

Most people think about things such as sushi, anime, and video games. There are also many cultural stereotypes about Japan. These include the idea that Japan is a homogeneous society, that people are polite, and that harmony between man and nature is valued.

But it is not just Japan. We have stereotypes about all communities that affect our behavior to a greater or lesser extent. They can affect us in good ways (such as hospitality or kindness) or in bad ways (such as hostility or fear). In other words, stereotypes are all around us.

Stereotypes are an interesting phenomenon. They are constructed representations, supported by ideological and political views. Since stereotypes are constructed representations, this means that they have a history. They are born in a particular context, they live, they evolve, and they may disappear. As a result, we can study them historically.

In Japan, there is a field of study that has greatly influenced the way Japan and Japanese people are seen, as well as the way they see their own country and themselves. Specialists call this field of study nihonjinron (日本人論), which literally means…