I am supposed to do a year abroad in Japan next year or the year after that, which is something I’ve been excited about for a long time. Recently, however, with news coming out of Japan regarding the rise of the far-right and an increase in anti-foreigner sentiment, I'm no longer sure. I had applied before the House of Councillors election. This also ties into concerns about overtourism, which I would be contributing to.
From what I’ve seen in the news and on social media, there have been more open expressions of xenophobia, protests against immigration, and political rhetoric that feels unwelcoming to outsiders. I’m starting to wonder if this is just isolated internet noise or if it’s something I would encounter on a day-to-day basis as a foreign student. (Sanseitou’s vote share hasn’t exactly alleviated my concerns)
I don’t want to give up on the experience, but I also don’t want to walk into a situation where I’m constantly dealing with hostility or prejudice. I don't mean to bring race into this, but I've heard that this is mainly directed towards non-Westerners. I am a Westerner, so is it any different in that regard?
For anyone who’s in Japan now or has been there recently as a foreigner:
- How noticeable is this sentiment in everyday life?
- Is it more of an online/political thing, or does it spill over into regular interactions?
- Do you think it’s still safe and worthwhile to go ahead with an exchange program?
- And probably most importantly, are Japanese people less welcoming to foreigners now in a way that might make it difficult to make friends?
by LinkyShank