Week 8 - William Chan

In Takeyuki (Gaku) Tsuda's article, When Minorities Migrate: The Racialization of the Japanese Brazilians in Brazil and Japan, Tsuda brings up interesting parallels to the Japanese-Brazilian identity that can relate to the Asian-American identity. It seems that both identities in both areas (America & Brazil), both carry a ethnic stereotype as well as an feeling of displacement. Tsuda brings up the idea that the Japanese are the positive or superior minorities in Brazil. This is a parallel in America because Asian-Americans, which Japanese are a part of in America, are also seen as the "model minority" and this creates friction within the Asian community with the other communities that are in Brazil or in America. It's very problematic because they still consider the idea that we're an "minority" and that word 'minor' is involved which creates a less valued or undermining definition within the word that people identify with. Another parallel that is connected between the Japanese-Brazilians and the Asian-Americans is that they have this feeling of being marginalized because when in the 'host country' (America/Brazil); they are seen as 'Japanese/Asian' and they are treated and perceived in this manner. When going back to the 'homeland'; they are seen as outsiders and are not familiar with their 'home' ethnics and culture. This feeling is among the entire Asian diaspora.

How can the Asian diasporic group (or any diasporic group), moving forward, create a sense of universal understanding and ideals to lessen this feeling of a 'minority complex' when returning to the home country or even when living in the host country?

Takeyuki (Gaku) Tsuda. “When Minorities Migrate: The Racialization of the Japanese Brazilians in Brazil and Japan.” Asian Diasporas.
https://simpsoncenter.org/projects/asian-diasporas-experiences