On-line poster presentation (non-members eligible if recommended by a SIETAR member) ハーフだからー : Being Hafu and Living as a Hafu more

Sun, Nov 28, 12:30-14:20 Asia/Tokyo

In Japan, mixed-race children are called ハーフwhich means either of the parents is ethnically Japanese. Approximately, twenty thousand ハーフare born in Japan every year (MEXT, 2020 ). In a society where conformity and homogeneity are strongly emphasized, ハーフare also expected to fit in with their respective groups. Although it is possible to influence behavior, and achieve conformity, it is impossible to change someone’s physical appearance to blend in with the majority. This is one of the reasons why bullying occurs in school settings. Asahi Shimbun reported that close to 60% of 170 Tokyo public high schools require hair color proof certificate (Asahi Shimbun, 2020). In 2020, a high school student in Osaka was forced to dye her hair black causing her to drop out of school (BBC, 2021). I interviewed 20 mixed-race children to understand their experiences. Eighteen of the twenty subjects confirmed they were subject to one or more of the following; ハーフだからyou are good looking, you run fast, your skin is really white, and you can speak English. ハーフだから 」is derived from deep-rooted stereotypes in society. It undermines the person’s individual effort and creates unnecessary stress and anxiety. I would like to recommend a book entitled “ ほくはイエローでホワイトでちょっとブルー” by Mikako Brady. It offers valuable insights into the struggles of mixed-race children. I would like to end my presentation with the following words; there is only one race which is the human race. We give ourselves the best opportunities when we embrace diversity and collaborate with one another. Thank you for listening.