Naturalized linguist in Japan laments recent political trend to blame foreigners

The Mainichi

7 days ago

MUNAKATA, Fukuoka -- An American-born linguist who acquired Japanese nationality two years ago is concerned about the trend that was recently seen in the lead-up to the July 20 House of Councillors election in Japan. With one political party promoting a "Japanese First" agenda and misinformation spreading online, the scholar compared it to the division seen in the U.S. Interviewed before the upper house election, she said she planned to vote to support harmony.
The linguist, Anne Crescini, 51, an associate professor at the University of Kitakyushu, specializes in loanwords. While teaching English at the university, she is active in other areas, also serving as a "Munakata support ambassador" in the Fukuoka Prefecture city of Munakata, where she lives, promoting the region's attractions, and giving lectures in various areas on multicultural understanding and other themes.
Increasingly harsh online criticism
Crescini has about 25,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter). Her bright personality and talks in Fukuoka's Hakata dialect are popular, and she is often asked to sign her books at lectures. However, on X, she often receives defamatory comments, accusing her of being an "anti-Japanese foreigner" and telling her, "Go back to your home country."
"I'm mentally strong, but over the past week in particular, it's been tough, to tell the truth," she said ahead of the July 20 election, pained by the increasing fierceness of posts prior to voting.
Crescini was born in the U.S. state of Virginia and came to Japan in 1997. She learned Japanese by singing songs by the female duo Kiroro at karaoke.
Munakata, where she lives with her husband and daughters, is an irreplaceable location that she cherishes for the kindness of the people, the rich nature and the delicious food. In 2014 she acquired permanent residency and in 2023 she obtained Japanese citizenship.
It was the COVID-19 pandemic that prompted Crescini to acquire Japanese nationality. In March 2020, her father, who had lived in the United States, passed away at the age of 79. But due to border control measures, people of foreign nationality faced restrictions on entering Japan, and this was no exception for Crescini, though she had permanent residency.
Crescini gave up leaving Japan, fearing that if she departed, she wouldn't be able to return. It was two and a half years later that she was finally able to travel to the U.S. and stage a funeral for her father.
Despite her love for Japan -- wearing a kimono, playing the shamisen and visiting shrines -- being treated as a "foreigner" was a shock for her. "No matter what, I want to stay in Japan," Crescini resolved. She accordingly decided to give up her U.S. citizenship and choose Japanese nationality.
A society where everyone can live comfortably
Having gained the right to vote, Crescini cast her ballot in the Munakata Municipal Assembly and House of Representatives elections, and this year's House of Councillors election marked her first upper house vote. She felt joy when the voting information postcard arrived.
However, she has been increasingly anxious about the strength of recent criticism directed at foreigners which is more intense than ever before. "In economic hardship, society has less leeway, and politicians exploit people's desire to blame someone," she senses.
"Supporting any political party isn't inherently bad," she clarifies, but adds, "I don't think Japan will get better by giving anxiety free rein and abstractly making foreigners the object of attack."
Having witnessed division in American society under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, she emphasizes, "Japan still has the ability to stop."
Despite differences, Crescini hopes for a society where everyone can live comfortably. Her children are a significant reason for this hope. Her three daughters, born and raised in Japan, love the country. Even so, they have often been judged by their appearance. Though meaning no harm, others would say things like, "Your Japanese is good." One daughter, who dislikes standing out, found it difficult to remain in school in Japan, and chose to live in the U.S.
What is a Japanese national and what is a foreigner? Like it or lump it, this question was thrust upon her. This is why Crescini wants to convey to others the importance of connecting as people.
In April, Crescini organized the "Munakata international singing contest" with a local international exchange group. The event, where participants sang songs in languages other than their native tongue, featured 32 people in 20 groups including those who took part on the spot. They hailed from six countries, including Japan, Nepal, the U.S. and Vietnam, and it was a lively gathering. As the number of foreign residents increases, Crescini aims to continue serving as a "bridge" connecting them to Japanese society.
Unlike in the House of Representatives, the terms of those elected to the House of Councillors are long, lasting six years, and the chamber is not subject to dissolution. It is required to adopt a long-term view as an organ of good sense, and so Crescini hopes to see thoughtful policy discussions that consider the various "foreigners" living in the same society, from international students to technical interns, tourists, permanent residents and refugees.
Crescini holds one line from the poet Misuzu Kaneko close to heart: "We're all different, and that's just fine." In the upper house election, she said she planned to cast her vote so as not to give up on achieving such a society.