Multicultural City　　The View from Okubo

Kyojukon's Purpose

Welcome To "Multicultural City" Okubo!
Kyojukon is a volunteer-based citizens' group whose aim is to carve out a new role for the "multicultural city" of Okubo as it is transformed by growing globalism. People of many different nationalities and ethnicities live, work, learn, worship, shop, and have fun together in Shinjuku, and more specifically in Okubo. Kyojukon's efforts to achieve "multiculturalism" are not just about achieving multiethnicity or multinationalism, but about ensuring that people across gender and generation lines, in different professions, at different status levels, and with different physical capabilities feel included in society. In other words, the goal of Kyojukon's activities is to create an open local community where people from diverse backgrounds can recognize their differences, respect one another, and enrich one another's lives.

Take a Walk in Okubo

Take a walk around Okubo and you'll find streets lined with soba restaurants and snack shops that have been around for years, as well as plenty of ethnic restaurants. The voices you'll hear on the street will not only be speaking Japanese, but other languages from all over the world, especially from other parts of Asia. Okubo has been described in newspapers and elsewhere as "ethnic town," reflecting its position as a place where people from Japan and other nations come to live, work, learn, and engage in a wide range of other activities. Okubo has enjoyed this kind of multiethnic atmosphere since the 1980s, but it was home to many Koreans and other native residents of Japan's former colonies even before that.

What Is Your Nationality?

People coming to Okubo for the first time may notice a lot of "foreigners" among the people they see on the street or in local shops. But have you thought about what "nationality" you are? A lot of people would probably answer that they are "Japanese." But if you look more closely at what defines a "Japanese" person from a "foreigner," you come to understand that these labels fail to convey the variety of complex and diverse backgrounds of the people they describe.

Just as the label "Japanese" obviously includes people who have different ways of speaking and different lifestyle habits depending on where they are from, the label "foreigner" also applies to a wide diversity of people. These people have diverse ethnic identities, and differ by how and why they immigrated to Japan and other life experiences. For example, a manager of an ethnic restaurant in Okubo has a strong aversion to always being referred to as a "foreigner" (whether the more polite "gaikokujin" or the less polite "gaijin") in spite of their having lived in Japan for more than 10 years. Another person came from South Korea to study at a Japanese university and then opened up a language school after graduating. That person says they feel like they have a adopted the "Japanese" way of thinking as their own. There are also people who have already obtained Japanese citizenship but who continue to honor their own native cultures, as well as children who have "double" cultures by virtue of having one foreign parent and one Japanese parent. A person may strategically describe themselves as either a "person from Shanghai," an "ethnic Chinese," or "of Chinese origin" depending on who they're talking to or the particular circumstances surrounding the interaction.

However, the same can be said of "Japanese" people who have either spent a long time living abroad or who were born and raised overseas. These people are sometimes negatively described as having ways of thinking and behaving that "are not typically Japanese," and sometimes they cannot even think of themselves as simply "Japanese."

If we lump people all together under the labels "Japanese" or "foreigner" without adequately understanding these various nuances, we may end up relating to one another through oversimplified stereotypes and losing sight of the great diversity we have to offer one another. The same is true of labels like "homeless" and "handicapped." What other kinds of words do we use to distinguish, and distance, ourselves from other people?

Kyojukon believes it is becoming increasingly important to look at every single person as a "human being" or "individual" and learn to understand and respect one another's different lifestyles and cultures. We need to exercise wisdom in our efforts to live comfortably alongside one another in society.

The Kyojukon's Activities

Apr. 1992
The Foreigner-Friendly Shinjuku Community Development Association (Kyojukon) is launched, and educational activities for local residents facing internationalization and multiculturalism are held.

Nov. 1994
First edition of the Town Dining Guide is published.

Nov. 1996
A mini-symposium entitled "Letﾕs Talk Together! The Okubo Community and People: How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?" is held.

Nov. 1997 - Jan. 1998
A seminar series entitled "I Want To Know More About My Neighbors" is held.

Jun. 1999
A showing of the video "A Multiethnic Society" is held.

Aug. 1999
The first issue of the bimonthly "Multicultural Communication Newsletter Okubo" is published.

Aug. 2000
Participate and cooperate in the First Multicultural Exploration.

Mar. 2001
Cosponsor the First Restoration and Community Video Festival.

Aug. 2001
Participate and cooperate in the Second Multicultural Exploration.

Feb. 2002
An office is opened in Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.

Apr. 2002
"Kyojukon" is adopted as the official name of the organization.

Jun. 2002
Cosponsor the Second Restoration and Community Video Festival.

Jun. 2002
The First Okubo Comic Chat is held.

Aug. 2002
Participate and cooperate in the Third Multicultural Exploration.
Participate and cooperate in the Multicultural Community Disaster Preparedness Drill Symposium, "Connecting with Multicultural Communities: Disaster Preparedness in Global Cities."

Oct. 2002
Okubo play "Retsu" is produced and performed.

Nov. 2002
The Second Okubo Comic Chat is held.

Mar. 2003
Okubo School opens the first-term Okubo Modernology Class.

Apr. 2003
The Third Okubo Comic Chat is held.

You can visit Kyojukon on the web at: www.ngy.3web.ne.jp/~kyojukon/

The History of Kabuki-cho and Okubo

Shinjuku developed as the post station town called "Naito Shinjuku" at the entrance to the Edo period Silk Road. Buildings that have remained since the Edo Period include Kiou Shrine and Chokoji Temple on Shokuan-dori Street north of Shinjuku City Hall, and Kinryuji Temple and Teppo Inari Shrine on Okubo-dori Street. This section will introduce you to Kabuki-cho, the Okubo and Hyakunin-cho neighborhoods, and Kita Shinjuku.

Kabuki-cho
The area centered around the Koma Theater was the home of the feudal lord Omura, originally from Nagasaki, Kyushu. It is said to have been a place of lush natural surroundings, with forests, lakes, and wild duck. In the first decade of the 20th century, the president of Owariya Bank purchased this land and flattened out the landscape by cutting down the trees and filling in the lake with land excavated during the construction of the Yodobashi Water Purification Plant. It was called "Owariya no hara." In 1920, the owner, Mineshima, offered the land up for the opening of the Tokyo government's 5th Women's High School. The school was burned down during World War II.

To restore this area of burned out fields after the war, Kihei Suzuki, the leader of the town association in the area, headed up efforts to create an entertainment center for the common people which would incorporate both the neighboring areas of Ginza and Asakusa. The idea was to build a kabuki theater, movie theater, performing arts theater, and dance hall. The name "Kabuki-cho" was adopted as part of a land readjustment project, but it became impossible to implement due various post-war restrictions. Riding the wave of interest in expositions at that time, community leaders hosted the Tokyo Industrial Culture and Peace Exposition here.

The kabuki theater that was contained in the original plan was never built, but the buildings used for the exposition were converted for use as movie theaters, game centers, and other facilities. The name of the town remained, and the district developed into the kind of entertainment district we see today. But in the 1940s and 1950s, the golden age of movies, Kabuki-cho enjoyed a wholesome, youthful image. It served as a gathering place where youth could come and watch the premiers of the leading movies and then visit local coffee shops and restaurants to discuss art and movies. Back then, the adult entertainment businesses had not yet developed to the extent they have today.

Okubo and Hyakunin-cho
This area was occupied by the Teppogumi Hyakunintai (100 musketeer brigade) of the Iga warriors that protected the Tokugawa Shogun during the Edo period. The musket-bearing samurai cultivated azaleas to such an extent that the area became known for them. The area also became popular as a destination spot within Edo (Map of Edo Famous Places). The area from Toyama-cho to the east and as far as Ichigaya housed many daimyo residences, and after the Meiji period (1868-1912), it was mostly used for military purposes. It was also home to the high military commanders until the middle of the Second World War. For nearly 60 years after the war, the outward appearance of this district remained largely the same, but the composition of the shops in the commercial centers changed significantly.

The development of the area around Shinjuku Station and the transformation of Okubo and Hyakunin-cho are interrelated. The areas of Hyakunin-cho 1-chome and Okubo 1-chome are especially reflective of the lifestyles of the people who lived there back in that time. These neighborhoods had especially close ties with Kabuki-cho, as the area north of Shokuan-dori Street became a bedroom community that allowed the people who worked at night in the entertainment district to live nearby without having to commute by train. This was also the time when overall economic growth helped promote the growth of the entertainment district. From the 1980s onward, waves of people from all over the world, especially from nearby Asian countries, came pouring into Japan in search of new employment and educational opportunities. Over time, the people who had originally come as exchange students became the next generation of entrepreneurs in the Okubo and Hyakunin-cho districts, and the number of people putting down roots here increased. This has become the new choice location for developing new businesses.

The area now has numerous language schools, places of worship for different religions, and Asian restaurants. It also features an abundance of Korean restaurants, as well as the Koryo Museum. It is known among music enthusiasts nationwide for shops that specialize in musical instruments other than pianos. The areas of Hyakunin-cho 3-chome and 4-chome to the north, as well as many of the former military areas, are now the sites of hospitals, residential complexes, and research laboratories.

Kita Shinjuku
In the mid-19th century, after the construction of the Kobu Railroad (now the JR Chuo Line) and the opening of Okubo Station, this area rapidly began to develop into a residential area. It was home to such famous figures as Christians Kanzo Uchimura and Masahisa Uemura, socialists Shusui Kotoku and Sakae Osugi, and author Shimazaki Toson. The collection of churches in Okubo speaks to the region's history. It also was home to a pharmaceutical school and other facilities.

Okubo Today
As working populations all over the world became increasingly mobile in the mid-1980s, even Japan saw a significant influx of foreigners. As an increasing number of foreign residents, many of whom came from Asia, began settling in Okubo and interacting with local residents, tensions and discord erupted. Some people felt uncomfortable with this new environment and opposed the increase in the population of foreign residents. Eventually, however, people came to realize the obvious: people from other countries, as in any population, include some people of good character, and some people of bad.

Today, foreign residents live right alongside the Japanese in this community, and it is not at all uncommon to have a foreigner as a neighbor. In the activities of business or everyday life, however, people tend to interact with groups of people who share the same nationality or come from the same place. This looks less like a true "community" and more like "social segregation." Nonetheless, ties that cross the boundaries of nationality and origin, language and culture, are beginning to expand in some significant ways.

Still, to create a community where everyone can live comfortably (a community where people support and strengthen one another), we need to get to know each other better. It is also important that we create a society (and social rules) that everyone can understand. Of course, doing this is not easy, but that is exactly what makes it so important that we continue to think about these issues and take action.

*As of January 1 of each year. The top 10 countries as of January 1, 2003 were: (1) South Korea/North Korea: 10,634 (2) China: 9,157 (3) Malaysia: 1,133 (4) Philippines: 900 (5) Myanmar: 882 (6) France: 872 (7) USA: 731 (8) Thailand: 587 (9) Indonesia: 579 (10) UK: 455.

	Population of registered native residents					Population of registered foreigners					Total	Percentage of foreigners
	Hyakunin-cho １	Hyakunin-cho ２	Okubo １	Okubo ２	Subtotal	Hyakunin-cho １	Hyakunin-cho ２	Okubo １	Okubo ２	Subtotal
1990	3,039	3,521	3,434	6,336	16,330	479	368	765	919	2,531	18,861	13.4 ％
1992	2,743	3,290	3,107	5,811	14,951	457	431	781	977	2,646	17,597	15.0 ％
1994	2,582	3,093	2,914	5,525	14,114	454	483	762	947	2,646	16,760	15.8 ％
1996	2,609	3,014	2,819	5,370	13,812	472	506	844	995	2,817	16,629	16.9 ％
1998	2,667	2,976	2,699	5,253	13,595	548	583	1,003	1,129	3,263	16,858	19.4 ％
2000	2,652	2,918	2,606	5,342	13,518	867	799	1,351	1,594	4,611	18,129	25.4 ％
2002	2,802	3,135	2,533	5,399	13,869	1,237	1,073	1,858	2,004	6,172	20,041	30.8 ％
2003	2,806	2,927	2,507	5,452	13,692	1,364	1,235	2,041	2,218	6,858	20,550	33.3 ％

Sightseeing Guide

Street along Shin Okubo Station
The stretch of street that runs for about 150 m along the station platform has an array of Thai, Chinese, Myanmarese, Korean, and Tunisian restaurants and businesses. There are also a lot of musical instrument shops on this street.

Shokuan-dori Street
Full of signs with Hangul characters, this street makes you feel like you've stepped into a town in South Korea. It used to feel like a buffer zone separating Kabuki-cho to the south (the business district) from the Okubo and Hyakunin-cho areas to the north (the residential district), but in recent years it has become a popular commercial district in its own right. The shops have also expanded.

Chokoji Temple
This temple was opened at the request of a retainer of the Koshu Takeda family in 1594 on the site where Yakushi-do Temple had long stood. There are tombs of the Teppo-tai Gunmen from the Edo period. This was also the temple where the tomb of Toson Shimazaki, a novelist, was built .

Koryo Museum
The Koryo Museum opened along Shokuan-dori Street in December 2002. Established by a civic group, it is a mini-museum of the history of relations between Japan and Korea. http://business1.plala.or.jp/kourai

Okubo-dori Street
Okubo-dori Street is the downtown district of this region. Starting at Shin Okubo Station, it is shaped by the Hyakunin-cho Development Association Shopping District to the west and the Shin Okubo Shopping District to the east. More than half of the patrons of these shopping areas are foreigners.

Hyakunin-cho 1-chome Neighborhood
This residential area is gradually being transformed into a commercial district. The hotels and inns that have flourished here since about 1950 welcome a lot of resident-Korean guests. The area began to see an increase in the number of vocational schools in the 1970s, and a lot of new businesses established by recent foreign arrivals in the late 1980s. There are also quite a number of single-family homes with gardens here.

Okubo-cho 1-chome Neighborhood
Though it might not be obvious at first glance, more than 40% of this area's residents are foreigners. Today, most of these are comprised of ethnic South Koreans. The area used to have a lot of single-person households, but changes in the residential environment have resulted in an increasing number of families. "Housing discrimination" problems are virtually nonexistent of here, and an ethnic Korean real estate industry has become well established.

Religious Facilities
Hyakunin-cho and Okubo have many Christian churches and Buddhist temples run by foreigners. The Tokyo Central Church supports about 2,000 ethnic Korean parishioners.

Kaichu Inari Shrine
The name "Hyakunin-cho" is derived from the "Teppogumi Hyakunintai" (100 musketeer brigade) which was formed around 1601-2 to protect Edo. As the base for the Hyakunintai Preservation Society, Kaichu Shrine now holds a traditional military send-off festival in alternating years. The musketeers' costumes are on permanent display in the first floor lobby of the Okubo Community Center.

Okubo Elementary School
About 30-40% of the students who attend this public elementary school are foreign students (from many different countries). They attend Japanese language classes in addition to their regular classes.

Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Park
This Grecian-style park was derived from the birthplace (Lefkada, Greece) of Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn). After moving from Matsue to Tokyo, Koizumi Yakumo spent his twilight years in Okubo. The historic remains of his home are on the site of the current Okubo Elementary School.