A Shifting Culture

When discussing social issues that are controversial, within American society people tend to be more blunt and forward to deal with the issues. Unlike American culture, the natural way Japanese society to discuss such topics is more subtle, or not to discuss them at all. Communities like the LGBTQ community, crises for mental health illnesses, or strong minority communities are not very popular in the Japan. Although Japan has progressed to be more accepting of those within the LGBTQ community in the entertainment industry or anime, on an individual level within the community there is still a lot of stigma and embarrassment. Because of this stigma, there have been linkage to high suicide rates within sexual minorities in Japan. Currently, it is legal to be homosexual, but marriage is still unrecognized all across Japan. unclear within the Japanese constitution whether legal marriage pertains to those within the LGBTQ community or not.  In 2015, Shibuya, one of the most well-known districts in Tokyo recognized same-sex marriage. Now parts of Tokyo and Yokohama are in support of same-sex marriage. None of this is legally binding, however is showing the slow but sure growing acceptance to same-sex marriage. This is a start in the right direction to become more accepting of the LGBTQ community on a community-level, but will still take some time until people accept others on an individual level.

According to the World Psychiatric Association, 2/3 who suffer from mental illness never get the professional help they need. As mentioned in my last blog, Japanese feel a sense of needing to please the bigger whole whether it is the family, community, or nation as a whole. With that, I think that that individuals feel they will bring a lot of shame to others. In Business Insider Japan was ranked the 9^thhighest country with suicide rates. Due to the social pressures and the stigma to address mental illness, this causes a dilemma for many to not seek help and suffer in silence. This is of course unacceptable, and the Japanese government has taken notice and are making efforts to provide resources like suicide hotlines and professionals in the school and work environment. It will obviously take much more than this to tackle the stigma of mental illness and seeking help, but Japan is moving in the right direction to deal with these problems that have been going unaddressed for much too long.

Lastly, 98.5% of Japan is made up of Japanese. Minorities are not common within Japan and aren’t even really addressed within the government. This is fascinating compared to the US which is known as a melting pot. If you look at the Japanese history this would also make sense due to mostly doing their best to keep their doors closed to other countries. However, Japan is ever so slightly diversifying and although not America. You can only identify though, as one race unlike in the US. Mixed Japanese children naturally define themselves as Japanese. Unlike mental illness or LGBTQ community, it seems more so that there isn’t as much to address although there is still some discrimination to minorities. It will be interesting to see the progression of diversifying Japan and how the community will react.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/07/25/national/japan-aims-cut-critical-suicide-rate-30-10-years/#.W7X8Ty-ZNQI

http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/japan-population/

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(02)08698-1/fulltext

https://www.equaldex.com/region/japan

https://www.pri.org/stories/2015-08-25/why-anime-character-can-be-openly-gay-japan-you-can-t