Week 8_Natalie Lortz_ASA150E

Tsuda analyzes Nikkeijin, or (2nd and 3rd generation) Japanese-Brazilians, in her chapter, " When minorities Migrate: The Racialization of Japanese Brazilians in Brazil and Japan". Due to Brazil's economic crisis and Japan's need for unskilled labor to support their growing economy, there has been a large "return" migration of Japanese-Brazilians to Japan. Culturally Brazilian, Nikkeijin develop a desire to assert their 'Brazilianess' to "avoid ethnic confusion and resist assimilationist Japanese pressures". Though they are accustomed to a different culture than those of mixed descent who grew up in Japan, the Nikkeijin are more highly expected to conform to being Japanese, meaning to speak the language, understand the customs, and "think" like a Japanese. In contrast, in Brazil, it seems no matter what they do, Japanese-Brazilians are considered an ethnic minority because they will always be identified as Japanese rather than Brazilian, largely due to their distinct facial features that are considered abnormal in Brazil. This ethnic exclusion has a more playful tone compared to the racial prejudice commonly experienced in America when it comes to calling out racial differences. Currently, in Brazil, the view on Japanese-Brazilians reflects Japan's high national rank as Japanese are seen as more "hardworking and diligent" in comparison to "lazy, irresponsible, dishonest" Brazilians. Additionally, their ethnic minority classification is respected for their positive cultural characteristics, compared to the other ethnic minorities that "suffer from low socioeconomic status, prejudice, and discrimination". The positive light on Japanese as an ethnic minority in Brazil mirrors the Model Minority in America, due Japanese or Asian cultural affiliations with being a reliable, good worker.
We are in Asian American Studies at a University in America, so its completely understandable why we would understand the Model Minority as an American phenomenon. However, it is clear that more countries associate their Asian citizens with similar cultural designations. Is this truly an aspect of Asian or Japanese culture? Or is it simply an association that fits "American Dream" concepts in many countries?