Beyond Multiculturalism? Rethinking Japan's 'Tabunka-kyōsei' through Axel Honneth's Theory of Recognition

Hiroyuki Ishimatsu^*

• Fukuoka Kogyo Daigaku, Fukuoka, Japan

In Japan, the concept of tabunka-kyōsei (multicultural coexistence or multicultural co-living) has emerged as a response to the growing number of foreign residents. Yet its ideological background and policy implications remain insufficiently explored in international theoretical discourse. Unlike the established frameworks of multiculturalism in Europe, Canada, and Australia, tabunka-kyōsei has developed under Japan’s unique social conditions and remains conceptually distinct. This paper examines the characteristics, challenges, and potential of tabunka-kyōsei from a political theory perspective, particularly through the lens of Axel Honneth’s theory of recognition. Rather than conducting empirical validation of specific policy cases, the study takes a normative theoretical approach, incorporating selected local initiatives illustratively to examine broader conceptual implications. It first outlines the historical development of foreign resident policies in Japan and the emergence of tabunka-kyōsei as a policy discourse. It then compares this with ideological and institutional characteristics of multiculturalism in Western societies, clarifying key differences and commonalities. Finally, through Honneth’s three-layered framework of love, law, and solidarity, the paper argues that institutional recognition and social solidarity are central to evaluating Japan’s multicultural practices—beyond the mere respect for cultural diversity. By integrating theory and selected examples, the paper aims to contribute to normative discussions of multicultural coexistence in contemporary Japan.