Identity of Modern Japanese-Canadians

Paper Summary:

This study takes an unusual, exploratory approach to studying issues of identity in the Japanese community in Canada. It looks at two types of modern day Japanese in Canada. First, a young student studying at MIT is used as a real life case study. Second, various fictional depictions of Japanese-Canadians are used to delve deeper into issues of Japanese identity.

From the Paper:

"Thus, using Bourdieu's analysis, it is theoretically possible to apply it to the situation of Japanese-Canadians to try to delve deeper into their ethnic self-identity and individual make-up. However, there are various flaws when trying to apply Bourdieu's work. First, Bourdieu interviewed his participants in some depth for his study in order to get a detailed profile of each. This variety of data about Japanese-Canadians is not currently available for this study and would need to be obtained first-hand. Second, and more importantly, it is not possible to apply the same analysis intended for a Western, European nation such as France to a complex, Oriental nation such as Japan that prides itself on its "unique" ethnic identity and 90% middle-class (which, if true, renders analysis using economic capital as a variable useless anyhow)."

More papers on Identity of Modern Japanese-Canadians:

• Research Paper # 45218 : "Construction of Self: The Identity of Modern Japanese-Canadians"
• Analytical Essay # 130297 : "Negotiable Identities in Japan and Canada"
• Term Paper # 100120 : "Negotiable Identities"

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