Is Japan ‘xenophobic’? Biden’s remarks spark anger, debate over cultural differences

Academics in Japan expressed mixed feelings about the label, with some acknowledging there was resistance to large-scale immigration – the context in which Biden made the remark – but contending that such a stance does not equate with a “loaded, negative term” like xenophobia, given Japan’s unique cultural context and history.

“One of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others,” the president said. “Why? Because we welcome immigrants.”

The White House attempted to walk back the president’s comments the following day, with spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre insisting that Biden was making a broader comment on the situation in the US rather than simply putting Japan and India – two key US allies – in the same category as China and Russia.

“Our allies and partners know very well how much this president respects them,” Jean-Pierre said.

The Japanese government has not commented on Biden’s statement. This Week in Asia requested a response from the foreign ministry in Tokyo, but had not received a reply as of Friday evening.

“For Biden to describe Japan as ‘xenophobic’ is too much,” said Sumie Kawakami, a sociology lecturer at Yamanashi Gakuin University.

She said it was “very unfortunate” that Biden “put Japan in the same category as Russia and China”, pointing out that China has been accused of oppressing its Uygur minority.

“Japan has become much more welcoming towards foreigners in comparison with a decade or more ago, and young people are more open to overseas cultures,” she told This Week in Asia.

“But if we are talking about immigration policy, I agree that there is more resistance to change there because Japan is quite a closed society and has always been that way.”

“Maybe Biden was attempting to tell