Being hafu (biethnic Japanese) in Japan: Through the eyes of the Japanese media, Japanese university students, and hafu themselves.

摘要

There is generally scarce research concerning the hafu (biethnic Japanese) experience in Japan; therefore, the current study sets out to contribute to scholarship on this subject by examining Japanese media images of hafu, and how those images affect Japanese and hafu individuals' conception of hafu in Japan. Five research questions were posed: (1) How are hafu represented in the Japanese media ethnically? (2) How do Japanese university students perceive hafu to be depicted in the Japanese media? (3) Do Japanese university students perceive hafu to be generally Japanese/White as suggested by media images? (4) How do Japanese university students perceive hafu individuals? (5) What are hafu individuals' perceptions of employment opportunities in Japan?;Two populations, Japanese university students (n=49) and hafu individuals (n=8), were surveyed, and the nationality and ethnicity of listed hafu celebrities on a Japanese internet celebrity database were categorized. Findings revealed that hafu celebrities tended to be commonly Japanese/White. Japanese university students perceived hafu to be depicted in the media as good-looking, subjects of envy for their Japanese/White appearance, and linguistically ambiguous. The general theme for impressions given for specific hafu celebrities was that they were not "normal" Japanese. Further, Japanese students perceived "real life" hafu to be more likely Japanese/Asian, rather than Japanese/White. Japanese university students perceived hafu in general as being multilingual, good-looking with foreign physical features, and having traits of "internationalism." Finally, hafu individuals who had grown up in Japan tended to perceive more employment opportunities in Japan; whereas, hafu who had grown up abroad perceived more employment opportunities abroad. However, hafu generally perceived more opportunities for employment in jobs that required bilingualism as a skill set in Japan.;The narrow stereotypes created for hafu by the Japanese media seems to affect how both Japanese and hafu individuals perceive "being hafu in Japan," as the common impressions given about hafu by Japanese students mimicked the media depiction of hafu, and hafu themselves felt more compelled to position themselves as "international" bilinguals in the Japanese job market.