In Japan, the mixture of races is something that is rather uncommon. The equality throughout Japan has been protected over the years thats why Hafu in Japan struggle in todays society.

In Japanese Hafu (ハーフ) means half. It it is a word that is used to describe those who are half Japanese (either of the parents is Japanese). The term is used to describe these normal people without denigrating them or evoking negative connotations.

Earlier terms were Ainoko and konketsuji. Ainoko is a term that originated after the second world war in Japan. It was used to describe the half Japanese children that were born during war or immediately after war.

With the time it received a negative connotation because many of these children were born in poverty. The fact that this term was used to describe mixed animal species, as well, made the term just even more denigrating.

The problem with Ainoko became clear because it was not just a descriptive term but also a classifying term. It was a public judgment of morality. Today the term Konketsuji is used which means “Half-breed”.

But, “What is special about being Hafu?"

In Japan, being Hafu is a rather an uncommon thing and these people are looked at different. Hafu are not seen as Japanese nor Gaijin (foreigner). They are half of both and not recognized as either one.

Hafu are not well accepted mainly because the Japanese social system is unanimous and even. Hafu are usually bullied in schools for being different and when they grow up, they struggle finding a job in the rather conservative working system.

The idea of the companies is that you have to be Japanese to work with Japanese customers. If not, the customer may feel uncomfortable.

The irony in all this is that some of the most popular models in Japan are actually Hafu. Japanese like them because of their looks (bigger eyes). These Hafu are usually “Eurasian” (mix of european and asian).

Obviously time changes and Hafu are getting more accepted. It will still take more time for Hafu to be completely accepted in school, Work place and society in general. The good news is that Japan is changing rapidly.

You notice that change a lot in the young Japanese. If you take a look at the different j-rock bands and all the visual key mixed with the huge anime industry. All these groups are not well accepted by Japans general society. As these groups grow, they will become a majority and full acceptance will come.

Of course this is hard to understand for people in the west because here we are almost all mixed. I’m one third German, one third Peruvian, one third Russian. My grandparents half Asians and half Russians. I’m not even half anymore. Like me, there are many more.

I can just say that I'm certain that thing are getting better. Any Japanese who reads this, be sure that in the west we don’t care about your race ^^

For more info and seminars you can visit HafuFilm

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