On Race Relations and Racial Consciousness of Japanese Residents in South Africa

Abstract

Having abolished an institutionalized white supremacy called Apartheid, South Africa has been under black majority rule and is searching for ways to redress racial divides and inequality. Being the largest economy in Africa, the country has the largest Japanese community on the continent, offering these residents precious opportunities to deal with “racial” issues largely neglected in Japan. As the Japanese residents interact with variously racialized peoples of South Africa, they learn different racial perspectives and reflect on themselves as “Japanese.” While it remains to be seen if they are growing out of an accommodating attitude of “honorary whites,” the Japanese residents could share in post-apartheid ideals and cannot only make a difference in South Africa, but in Japan as well.