Respectful Racial Dialogue in "Group Shitemo"

Interaction between Korean–Japanese Minorities and the Japanese Arising from Facing Mutual Differences

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide ideas for the psychosocial support of ethnic minorities in Japan. For this purpose, the author created a practical idea that plays a vital role in encouraging dialogue between Korean- Japanese and Japanese people. This study applied qualitative research methods to group interviews and documentary investigation of a peer-support group that uses "Tojisha-Kenkyu". An analysis according to the Modified-Grounded Theory Approach found three aspects of the dialogue: The first was the integration process of the "big" (socio-historical) and "small" (individual) stories of members in the Korean-Japanese minority group. The second was the process of change in the Japanese members, and the third involved the group’s characteristics that led them to such changes. The results also indicated three core elements that played an important role in their dialogue: 1) racial self-awareness, 2) respect for the life of struggling people, and 3) dialogue in responsive relationships. In the discussion, a new trial concept containing these three elements is proposed, which is designated as "Respectful Racial Dialogue".