What does it mean ”Being Japanese”…? News about the winner of The Miss Nippon Contest is buzzing on SNS because she was born in Ukraine (Ukrainian Parents) and moved to Japan when she was 5. The Japanese Government granted her naturalization, so she is Japanese. However, because of how she looks, as the contest is a beauty pageant, there are various reactions to it.
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First, let me clarify what I think. I think She deserves it as a “Japanese”. Regardless of her appearance, she lives in Japan, speaks Japanese, and is part of the community in Japan. To me, it is even nonsense to question that. However, some Japanese can be exclusive to this topic from a “Cultural” & “Appearance” perspective. This is how we (Japanese) can be exclusive.
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Japan is a rare country that doesn’t allow dual citizenship. If I become a US citizen (which I am qualified for), I need to give up Japanese citizenship. Some argue that this “Citizenship” is the sign of “Being Japanese”. My daughter has a Japanese Citizenship, yet I do not think she is Japanese “yet” as her entire life is in the US. She is proud of it, and I do not force her to behave like the Japanese. Only thing I try to do, including this account, is to leave her something when she decides to be Japanese.
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When I say “Japanese” here, I do not indicate citizenship. Culture, Language, Ordinary… many factors will be part of it, and therefore I really wish the Sashiko “Teachers” will be able to understand Japanese language. Well… Japanese are very welcome to tourists – after/outside of that…? It’s another story.
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ミス日本コンテスト。グランプリの方がウクライナ生まれ＆日本育ちで西洋の顔立ち（両親共にウクライナ人の方）の為、SNSで話題になってます。日本国籍を持ち、日本語で会話し、日本で生活をする。これ以上「日本人」であることを証明する必要はないはずなのですが、「血」に日本が入っていない点で排他的になる人がいるのも、日本っぽいかなと思います。
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「日本人とは何か」は本当に難しい。「日本人以外が刺し子を教えることが駄目」という西洋の方もいるのですが、この場合「日本人だったらどれだけ未熟でも適当でも刺し子教えてOK」とも解釈する場合も会って、私は同意しません。日本人でなくても「言語習得」等の努力があって「当たり前が共有」できていれば日本人なんだろうなーと思うし、逆に日本人であっても刺し子に真摯に向き合ってないなぁと思う人とは仲良くなれないのです。真摯に丁寧に頑張っている人を応援できる社会でありたいものです。
#Sashiko #刺し子
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