著者

Befu Harumi

出版者

関西学院大学

雑誌

関西学院大学社会学部紀要 (ISSN:04529456)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.99, pp.39-49, 2005-11-08

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A large proportion of the Japanese population is still clinging to the ideology of the ethnic and cultural homogeneity of Japan, in spite of the fact of ethnic and cultural heterogeneity. The Japanese are well aware of the indigenous Ainu and the Okinawans, "oldtimers" like the Koreans and Chinese, and "newcomers" like the Latin American Nikkei, recently arriving Chinese and Koreans, South and Southeast Asians, etc. Yet in the absence of any ideology to legitimate this heterogeneity, the ideology of homogeneity reigns. This ideology functions as a habitus of homogeneity and guides day-to-day behavior of the Japanese vis-a-vis non-Japanese, creating an exclusive environment for the Japanese and a hostile one for others. To combat this hegemonic, exclusivistic habitus, supporters of foreigners in Japan argue for the human rights of foreigners. However, being an "imported" concept which has not become indigenized in the Japanese ideological milieu, the human rights concept suffers from the absence of general acceptance as a "cultural norm." Supporters of foreigners perforce rely on legal means to protect them, insofar as human rights are clodified in law. However, as can be seen in the so-called Equal Opportunity legislation, law alone is hardly effective without the support of cultural norms. Human rights are a legal concept lacking such support. This is not to suggest doing away with the concept of human rights as a means of supporting foreigners. But I advocate introducing a new concept of hito no michi to complement human rights. Hito no michi as advocated here is a normative imperative to treat others, foreigners or not, with dignity and fairness. It does not take much thought to be convinced of the righteousness of helping those in need of help, irrespective of whether they are Japanese or foreigners. Hito no michi as an ideology advocates just that.