New Face of Japan

One of the things that makes teaching at a university exciting is that you get to interact with students from various backgrounds, which stimulates your thinking. For instance, in one of my critical thinking classes, a student narrated a compelling story about Identity conflict, which was quite thought-provoking. The student, who has roots in both Britain and Japan, said, "When I talk to Japanese people, sometimes they unknowingly strip off my Japanese identity, and as a result, I momentarily feel as if I have lost an essential part of my identity. Since the other person is Japanese, I think that I can't reclaim the lost part for some reason. It's more like I don't deserve to have that part of my identity because perhaps I am not Japanese enough. " Though unpleasant, this story is not unique, nor is it limited to any specific category of people. One of my Japanese students once recalled being called 'John' by his high school classmates just because he had non-Japanese features, which made him look foreign, i.e., a little 'different.' I too, have had the experience of being excluded from some situations because of my gaijin identity.  

Despite such random uncomfortable situations we all might have experienced, there is a trove of examples which exhibit the hidden potential of a more inclusive Japanese society, such as the recent success of the ethnically diverse Japanese national rugby team in the Rugby World Cup 2019. What can we learn from this? Can an ethnically diverse Japanese society become a reality? What challenges does Japan face as it becomes increasingly diverse? How can this society become more inclusive?

Looking for answers to these questions, I launched the 'New Face of Japan' project in October 2019, supported by my students. The term New Face of Japan alludes to the concept of a more inclusive Japan, with the ultimate goal of bringing this society a step closer to a symbiotic society. A society where nobody is left behind, and everybody regardless of their background, can live with dignity and respect. We believe, to achieve this goal, it is imperative to avoid any categorization of people whatsoever. Our focus is on the community as a whole, rather than a specific category of people like hafu (bi-racial), gaijin (foreigners), etc., since such categorization leads to the mutual exclusion of those who do not belong to that specific category. Therefore, all members of the society, including the Japanese majority, must take an active part in addressing and resolving the issues we face. 

To begin with, we have adopted interviews as our principal methodology of gathering information for this project. We are interviewing people who are willing to share their stories and personal experiences with us. In the interviews, our focus is on drawing out opinions regarding issues such as racial categorization, social prejudice, exclusion, racism, etc., and also discuss the challenges faced by an increasingly diverse Japanese society. Excerpts from the interviews will be uploaded on a dedicated Instagram account, Twitter, and my website. 

​We are also designing posters highlighting the issues that emerge through the interviews and conversations. Issues presented in the form of visual design are eye-catching, which we strongly believe will not only help initiate meaningful dialogue but will also send a strong message about the ‘New Face’ of Japan.

Posters and interviews will be updated on the Instagram photo and video magazine #VOICE @new_face_of_japan.

Logo of New Face of Japan

Designed for the New Face of Japan by Yu Kato.

The book with multiple gradations of the color red stands for the different people ‘new face’ that constitute the Japanese society. As the pages turn, a new page opens up, giving the book a whole new meaning, just like the ‘new face’ that makes up and adds a different color to Japanese society. The color red signifies the land of the rising sun, Japan.


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Posters of New Face of Japan

Videos of New Face of Japan

  “I am Japanese...”

  In this video, A.S talks about how he seems to be losing his religious identity after becoming a naturalized Japanese citizen.Even though he identifies himself as Japanese, his Japanese identity is invariably questioned by the people around him.

 "You are not Japanese...”

    In this video, S.K talks about how being bi-lingual and bi-cultural has affected her identity.  She grew up being told that she was not Japanese because she looked different.This madeher wonder if she could ever be Japanese enough to be accepted by the people around her.

Instagram videos of New Face of Japan

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