ALT in Saitama

Updated: 97/08/10 17:27:24

All writings are reserved By Eoghan O'Regan

Internationalisation in Japan

Much of the debate which is featured in this journal, or in English language newspapers,
or indeed in most of the English language Publications here seems to be based on the
following premise: that Japan and the West (especially the United States) are at
opposite ends of a cultural continuum. This cultural opposites theory has proved especially
useful in recent years to both the U.S. and Japan: both countris like to believe that their
respective conomic success can be attributed to unique cultural characteristics: the
American Dream and the Japanese Way. These beliefs Iead to strong cultural identity and
cohesiveness. But it is a little difficult to find where I fit into all of this. As an apparent
Westerner I am expected to take the only position on the continuum which is open to me. that
which is the opposite of Jabanese culture. And indeed most of the quality research which
might inform my thinking has been done from an American perspective. However the path.
which is open to me as the 'good foreigner'comer to Japan: get culture shock: marvel at the
cultural differences; try to adapt: teath the Japanese about foreign countries: realise that
despite our cultural differences we are an just human beings anyway; go home and tell Irish
people about Japan is not necessarily the one that is most obvious to me. The. following
observations on language education, religion, theories of homogeneity,and the differences
between Ireland and Iceland attempt to illustrate why the prewritten script of East vs. West is
not sufficient to describe my expenence in Japan.
There are two different types of internalisation going on at the moment in Japan and they
are only incidentaIIy related. The first type is politically inspired. lt is a pragmatic
recognition by the Japanese govemment of the imponance of its relationship with the
united States. There is nothing wrong with this. Both countries have worked hard for their
current economic preeminence. But a practical recognition of where Jepap's.economic
interests lie is not internationalisation as such. The other type of internationaliasation is that
whcih occurs at an individual level. It is the deep desire to learn about other peoples lives not
because it is official policy but because it stirs the Imagination. People who are curious about
other ways of life and who are never happy with the level of knovdedge whichi they have
already acquired are valuable in every country, not just Japan. These two types of
intenationalisation, one rhetorical and expedient, the other personal and sincere, are both
present in the Jet Programme. Our role is neither to serve the purposes of Japanese foreign
policy nor to open the hearts of Japanese people but rather to accomplish both at the same
time. And the standard of English education here will improve in the process.

-The level of knowledge about lreland in Japan is rather low. Ireland is frequently
confused with Iceland and I get many questions about volcanoes and glaciers, even
from people who have known me for a while and whom I thought should know better.
But this dearth of knowledge makes my self introductions more fun. When I introduce myself
to students I first ask them to find Ireland on a map - Which they usually cannot - and then ask
them to draw their impression of Ireland on a bIank sheet of paper. The most popular images
are usually Eskimos and snowmen, flowers, trees, highrise buildings, wndmills and girls in
clogs and funny hats. But by far the most common outcome is a blank page. At first this
bothered me. ln a society where so many resources are put into education how could such an
apparent lack of knowledge be justified?? And it isn't just a lack of knowledge about Ireland
either. But then I began to wonder if people have a right to be uninternational, not to have
young Engrishspeaking foreigners being set up as role models on a superficial basis. While lt
is regrettable that Japanese students knowledge of the world is minimal, they surely have a
right not to have 'internationalisastion' as national policy foisted on them.

Contact with foreigners is a wonderftul thing for young children in what is still an insular
society. But in a broader perspective telling people that they must internationalise may
result in strengthening the inferiority complex which exists here, increasing the lopsided
reliance on western culture and ultimately only strengthening Japan's perceived position on
one extreme of the cultural continuum. It is difficult to say what the effect of our presence in
Japanese schools will be in the long term. I suspect that students with imagination, a genuine
interest in the world outside Japan, will benefit enormously. The job is worthwhile for their
sake.

The advantage of being from a country with a low profile in Japan is the element of
surprise. I can say anything I like about Ireland and nobody can contradict me. Having
decided not to argue too much about cultural differences between East and West..I
instead have a selection of truisms which I utter at appropriate moments.

*It-is-the Irish way:
*Foreigners can't lern the Irish language;
*Irish students are very shy;
*We Irish are like this because we are an island people;
*lreland is a homogeneous nation;
*We lrish find it difficult to talk to foreigners.

There is an element of truth in each of these. However although an island nation we were
never really isolated thanks to our friendly neighbours; we are not really homogeneous
either, no more than any country is, including Japan; and while it is possible that
foreigners could learn the Irish language it would be more desirable if more Irish people could
learn it. Indeed the end product of Irish language education in Ireland and English Language
in Japan are strikingly similar.

The lrish (Gaelic) language is a beautiful and ancient language but the number of native
speakers has dwindled over the years. In the last century many native speakers either
starved or emigrated and the rest decided that they might have better luck if they began
to learn English. ln doing so lrish was almost discarded. We have done very well out of the
English language, reaching positions of power and influence in the Englishworld and even
getting comfortable employment in Japan teaching English. However there is still a
sentimental attachment to our native language and guilt about its near loss. Since the
foundation of the Irish state Irish has been com;ulsory all through primary and secondary
school. However the reason that it is compulsory rather than just available is for cultural and
symbolic reasons. lt is to legitimate the Irish state by identifying it with the distant past and by
distinguishing it culturally from Britain where the English language originates. The result of
teaching a language for symbolic reasons rather than to meet a demand is clear: after
fourteen years of study very few people, apart from native speakers, can speak Irish welL The
parallel with Japan should be obvious. Although English is obviously very useful it is not clear
why it should be compulsory. The answer is for reasons of cultural ideology: to identify Japan
with the English-speaking West rather than with other Asian countries. lt could be argued that
the latter are significantly more important to Japan's future. .

While the Irish language is still a living language other aspects of our identity are not so
contemporary. There has in recent years been an upsurge in interest in Celtic culture
and much of it focuses on Ireland. I usually take the label 'Celtic' with a grain of salt.
The Celts were a race of people who came to Ireland, defeated the inhabitants with superior
Weapons and imposed their language culture (there was no internationalisation in those days).
The AngloNormans (ie.the English) did something similar many years later but we don't
Consider ourselves English just because we speak English. Anyhow despite these

reservations, lost in a sea of English speakers in Japan, l find myself clutching at straws to
express my identity and distinctiveness from other English speakers. The winning Straw IS
inevitably the Celtic one. Japanese people, who rely, perhaps too much,.on historical theories
of uniqueness seem to identify with Ireland which also has an ancient history, ancient culture
and an ancient language. As long as theories of national origin are used as they should be, an
excuse to have some fun (Celtic Festivals etc), rather than something more sinister (an
excuse to morally justify war) I'll quite happily go along with this.
I have been told on several occasions by Japanese colleagues, usually at drinking parties,
that Irish people are just like Japanese people. As I have also heard of simillar storie
involving Canadians, Americans, British people, Australians and New Zealanders among
others I take this compliment in a light hearted fashion. But despite obvious dlfferences
including a completely different philosophy of life there are certain similarities which I can point
to: we want to be liked, we try to fit in, we are not so confident about expressing ourselves, we
tend to be cautious especially in meeting people for the first time, and the 'individual' is not the
defining cultural concept in Ireland (I think that the family or community -is slightly more
imponant). But the one similarity which I find more striking than any other is not so much the
presence of religion but the influence of religion past and present on Present-day culture.

This may meet with incredulity from anyone who has observed the materialism pf many
aspects of daily life here (and in lreland too). It requires a littlee further explanation. The
aspect of religion which I am concened with is the mixture of superstition, folk belief.
ritual and habit that become part of everyday life. The one thing which makes me feel most at
home in Japan is when l cycle around the countryside and come across an old shrine or a
roadside Buddhist statue worn from age. The presence here of ritual in everyday llfe and the
reverence for things of the past, superstitions, sacred objects and holy places is strangely
comforting for me. ln Ireland organised religion has been built on a strong foundation of pagan
spirituality. This reverence for what is completely inconsequential to modern consumerist living
is what makes it an interestng country to live in. To the extent that this reverence survives in
Japan, and to the extent that its true value is recognised, not taken to be a sign of lnferiority or
used as a defensive barrier and an excuse for cultural insularity, it can be used as a starting
point for internationalisation.

If Japan can recognise its own cultural strengths, and not find them inferior to modern
western culture or superior to other Asian cultures, and if it can recognise that culture lS
simultaneously both particular to an area and universal then Japan can call itself
internationalised.

If you have some message please mail me , I will transfer it to this writer.

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