History of Japanese Cultural Remixing

Surface Pretenses of Acceptance and Deep-Rooted Layers of Rejection

One commonly recognized characteristic of the Japanese people, widely acknowledged internationally today, is their exceptional ability to adopt foreign cultures. Geographically speaking, Japan’s island position adjacent to the vast Eurasian continent, particularly neighboring the historical powerhouse of China, clearly indicates multiple periods of substantial influence. Yet, when considering China, it is important to note that these influences are not limited to the Han Chinese majority predominant today but rather comprise complex, multiethnic interactions tracing back to ancient times. Furthermore, historical influences extend from Russia to the north, Southeast and Central Asia, and even distant cultures from the Middle East and the West, further complicating the narrative. However, it is plausible that such intricate historical interactions have deeply contributed to the development of distinct Japanese traits.

Nevertheless, analyzing these traits solely from external factors would be inadequate. Rather, I believe an intrinsic Japanese temperament, pre-existing these interactions, fundamentally enabled the unique characteristics we observe today. Comparisons are frequently drawn between Japan and Britain—both island nations neighboring vast continents. Indeed, having lived in London between 2018 and 2019, I concur that while not identical, certain similarities in temperament do exist between Japan and Britain. However, a significant difference I observed is that the distinctive Japanese spirit cannot be identified in Britain.

Thus, this article will first explore historical events that posed substantial threats and significantly impacted Japanese cultural and psychological history. Major factors include the introduction of Buddhism, the threat of invasion by Tang-Silla allied forces, the Mongol invasions, the arrival of Commodore Perry’s Black Ships, and the post-World War II occupation. However, tracing further back, influences begin as early as the Jōmon, Yayoi, and Kofun periods, each shaped by interactions among diverse ethnic and cultural groups.

To outline my perspective upfront, I view Japanese temperament as essentially very mild and calm, yet capable of rapid transformation, especially around periods of upheaval, swiftly reshaping into new cultural forms. While contemporary Japan and the Japanese people may seem very slow-moving, suggesting this temperament has disappeared, the current unsettled times imply we might soon witness a similar rapid transformation. If this happens, international perceptions and evaluations of Japan could shift dramatically. However, given we have already experienced historical influences from dominant powers such as China, Russia, Europe, Britain, and America, I believe no absolute superpower will emerge in the 21st century. The global dispersion of power appears inevitable, raising interesting questions about how Japan might absorb cultural influxes in the coming era.

For instance, if a major political upheaval occurs in neighboring China, many Chinese would inevitably flow into Japan. Similarly, instability on the Korean peninsula would result in substantial migration from Korea, and a Taiwan contingency could lead to significant Taiwanese migration into Japan. Additionally, from a unique perspective, I personally interpret phenomena like overtourism and the digital nomad movement—currently predominantly Western—as contemporary mass migrations. These compound factors are likely to strongly impact the Japanese psyche, evoking both significant influence and substantial resistance, as suggested by historical patterns.

Thus, I predict the widely held contemporary image of Japanese as peaceful and mild will drastically change in this era. Instead, we are likely to see heightened aggression and strong anti-foreigner sentiment, signs of which are already increasingly evident in Tokyo, as well as other migrant-rich regions such as Osaka, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gunma, Saitama, and Okinawa. Therefore, one must keep in mind that if a symbolic incident occurs, the speed of transformation in Japanese attitudes could be astonishingly rapid. This is not mere speculation but a conclusion I have reached through extensive analysis of Japan.