Organizational Autopoesis and Cultural Practices in Immigrant Integration in Japan

• In Event: Multicultural Japan in Motion: Identity, Policy, and Translation

Abstract

This study explores the difficulty of multicultural coexistence from a sociological perspective and analyses the sentiments of marginality and perception of discrimination immigrants often express in Japan. I employ several sociological theories in the analysis—Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory in understanding how organizations work, symbolic interactionism in conceptualizing cultural and identity production and Ann Swidler’s theory of culture as a tool kit. I argue that the emergence of seemingly discriminatory practices could result from the discordinance of organizational logic of operation within a system when facing complex environment. The understanding of a situation as discriminatory, on the other hand, reflects the individuals’ cultural repertoire for strategizing actions as well as interpreting their experiences. However, during unsettled times, individuals are constantly reflecting and engaging different cultural tools in dealing with the situations they encounter. New cultural practices emerge and so do new meanings and identities.

Author

• Gracia Liu-Farrer, Waseda University