Alex Kerr on Japan

The Japan Times has a decent interview with Alex Kerr, one of the most prominent writers on Japan. I met Kerr in NYC at a Japan Society event with Eiko Ishioka, who is good friends with Kerr. Most interesting is his comments on how the Japanese have read Kerr's critique of modern Japan "Dogs and Demons," as well as Kerr's thoughts on Arudo Debito, a naturalized Japanese citizen who has worked to raise issues surrounding civil rights and racism in Japan.

What kind of reaction did you get to Dogs and Demons?

I lot of people tell me that it is deeply disturbing, then after they read it they have this catharsis.

I'm (also) accused of being racist and all this stuff -- but you can't worry about that. It's very often people fresh off the boat; it's the newcomers who feel that way, (who) have come to make a new life in this exotic fabulous place.

I think of myself as coming from the inside. The reaction from the Japanese has been overwhelmingly positive. In the tourist industry (Dogs and Demons) is practically a bible at this point. I get constant requests to speak at Japanese tourist industry conventions. For the people who say, "how could he say this? Isn't this racist and terrible?" -- you have got to look at how the Japanese have responded.

The book is now in its 8th printing in Japanese. Ishihara Shintaro, of all people, has now given two press conferences holding the book up to the press and saying "why haven't you read this?"

In Dogs and Demons you argue that Japan has failed to internationalize. What do you think about the work of Debito Arudou and others to combat racial discrimination in Japan?

Well, somebody has to do it. I'm glad that there is a whistle-blower out there. But, I am doubtful whether in the long run it really helps. One would hope that he could do it another way. He's not doing it the Japanese way. He's being very gaijin in his openly combative attitude, and usually in Japan that approach fails.

I fear that his activities might tend to just confirm conservative Japanese in their belief that gaijin are difficult to deal with.

That said, perhaps we who live here are slow to stick our necks out when we sense an injustice, and quick to self-censor in order to get along smoothly in our communities.

To me the most interesting aspect of Arudou Debito is that, in taking on Japanese citizenship, he has brought the dialogue inside Japan. His activities reveal the fact that gaijin and their gaijin ways are now a part of the fabric of Japan's new society. A very small part of course, but a vocal and real part.

Japan sees beginning of change - 'Dogs & Demons' author Alex Kerr