Japan

This chapter suggests that the myth of homogeneity has served to conceal a social reality that is somewhat more complicated. The myth of homogeneity is one of the key features of post-war Japanese national identity. The most pernicious examples of racial victimization in a Japanese context have been perpetrated by state agencies and that, by and large, civil society remains relatively free of violent racially motivated crime. The chapter focuses on the writings of former Japanese Prime Minister, Nakasone Yasuhiro. It also focuses on the criminal justice issues. One key element of the new populist here, political discourse on crime is the emphasis it places on crimes committed by foreign residents. Amongst the foreigners, Koreans are the largest foreign community, followed by the Chinese, Brazilians and Filipinos. Each of these groups are introduced in order to substantiate the diversity of contemporary Japan, and examples of on-going victimization are presented here.