Sink or Swim? A Tale of Island Mentality

Emily Bird

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Living and working in Japan has meant I’ve had many opportunities to talk to Japanese natives about culture, politics and language. What are people’s perceptions of British culture and how does this compare to Japan? With immigration being a contentious subject in both countries, perhaps our shared geographical isolation has a role to play in the way we think and act – namely about and towards foreigners.

A period of isolation

During Japan’s Edo Period, the nation’s borders were tightly sealed. Throughout this nearly three century-long closure, Japan was able to develop its own traditions and culture, namely seen through the now well-known art style and traditional dress produced at this time.

To understand the reasons for this period of isolation, we can look back to Europe during the 16^th and 17^th centuries. At this time, Christianity was spreading and had undergone a slight makeover as a result of Luther’s Reformation. This religious expansion in the west had made Japan cautious, resulting in its closure in 1603 – the effects of which can still be seen today in the country’s rich culture.

Decisions on demographics

Today, Japan is faced with a demographic issue that may well call for more conservative thinkers to shift their views. Like many economically-developed countries, birth rates are in decline, with women pursuing careers and choosing to have fewer children than the generations that preceded them. As a result, the number of births in 2022  dropped to around 800,000. With the looming effects of the grey tide, Prime Minister Kishida is encouraging more couples to focus on having families in fear of being washed away with it. Such a solution makes me question why discussion of immigration is not the first port of call.

“the narrative surrounding foreigners in Japan seems to be one of uncertainty rather than hatred or intolerance.”

In my conversations with Japanese natives, I have found that many share the view that immigration is needed, but not necessarily the desired approach to tackle population struggles. Some feel wary of foreigners not following rules or facing language barriers with officials and natives, for instance. Naturally, these are only my interpretations of a number of conversations, but I maintain that the narrative surrounding foreigners in Japan seems to be one of uncertainty rather than hatred or intolerance.

Japan and the UK

While the Brexit vote is a distant memory for most, we are now living the consequences. We face lower border checks, more paperwork and price hikes, to name but a few. In Japan, people seem to be rather ambivalent towards the topic – understandable, given the approximate 8,000 miles between us.

“I can’t help but wonder whether such views are a mere coincidence between our two nations, or a reflection of our shared so-called island mentalities?”

And yet, when asked whether an EU-style system would work in Asia, many give a hard no. Japan is proud of its distinct culture and traditions, and this appears to be the main reason why people are aversed to such an idea.

Reflecting on these perspectives, I can’t help but wonder whether such views are a mere coincidence between our two nations, or a product of our shared so-called island mentalities.

Island Mentality in Japan

Island mentality can be defined as a sense of moral, cultural and social superiority over those outside of one’s community. While this can manifest itself in more nationalist narratives, Japan’s version seems to me to be to be less grounded in superiority and more in pride and desire for self-reliance.

As an industry-led country, Japan is proud of its big-name manufacturers, such as Toyota and Panasonic. This independence has created a rhetoric reminiscent of Angela Merkel’s Wir schaffen das – except one where people support and rely on their own before looking elsewhere for help.

Island Mentality in Britain

Comparing this to a post-Brexit Britain, I notice some similar narratives which focus on self-reliance, autonomy and quite frankly a ‘we don’t need you’ verbosity. While Japan’s narrative surrounding immigration isn’t quite so extreme, perhaps such similarities in the way we think are linked to our isolated geography – a logic grounded in a desire to protect our own.

“perhaps it’s time to step outside of an island mentality and into a new vision of community.”

Looking to the future, it seems that we must bridge the gap between tradition and modernity, particularly when faced with ageing populations like Japan’s. If we are to move forwards as nations, perhaps it’s time to step outside of an island mentality and into a new vision of community.

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Featured image courtesy of Metin Ozer via Unsplash. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.