Below is an essay of approximately, exploring key insights from the article “Migrants, Hostages and Lessons of Hospitality from the Ancient World” (Elon University, August 14, 2025) and examining what Japan might gain as implications for its own immigration and hospitality discourse.
In her column, Professor Rosemary Haskell draws parallels between ancient hospitality in Homer’s epics and modern immigration and geopolitical crises—like U.S. migration policy and the hostages in Gaza. These ancient stories, particularly from the Odyssey and the final book of the Iliad, emphasize that hospitality is complex, often conditional, and deeply reciprocal. In Japan’s context, where immigration policies remain cautious and bounded by strict legal and cultural framework, these lessons offer meaningful guidance.
Conditioned Hospitality Is the Norm
In the Odyssey, Odysseus encounters a spectrum of hosts—from the dangerous (Circe, Calypso, Polyphemus) to the idealized King Alcinous, who welcomes Odysseus without even asking his name (albeit with an underlying motive) . Similarly, the Iliad portrays King Priam’s plea to Achilles for his son Hector’s body. Despite being his enemy, Priam is graciously received: Achilles offers a meal and agrees to a 12-day truce for proper burial . These stories illustrate that genuine hospitality is rare, and often comes with unspoken expectations—even goodwill bears strategic layers.
For Japan, this underlines how its current immigration stance—demanding cultural assimilation, language acquisition, and defined temporary status—mirrors a form of “conditioned hospitality”. Genuine inclusion may require reimagining this framework so that immigrants are viewed not merely as guests to be managed, but as potential partners in Japan’s societal growth.
Reciprocity and Humanization
Haskell references philosopher Jacques Derrida’s concept of “hostipitality,” suggesting that the boundary between host and guest is not static—roles can reverse, and guests can offer hosts an opportunity to express generosity . In the Iliad, Priam’s empathy for Achilles’ grief transforms their relationship. This reciprocity humanizes both parties.
Applied to Japan, this implies a need to shift societal perspective. Instead of seeing migrants solely through a transactional lens, recognizing their potential to enrich communities (through labor, innovation, cultural exchange) fosters mutual empathy and respect. Framing immigration as a reciprocal relationship—where immigrants contribute and, in return, elicit Japan’s best qualities as a host—could shift public sentiment and policy.
From Fear to Generosity: Reframing the Relationship
Japan’s historically cautious approach—prioritizing control, compliance, and short-term labor contributions—stems from concerns about social cohesion. Yet the ancient paradigm shows that hospitality, when practiced with regulated openness and empathy, generates dignity and bridges divides.
For instance, in Homer, even the “fierce host” Achilles is moved to compassion through shared grief. In modern Japan, spaces for meaningful interaction—such as shared community projects, local festivals, or workplace mentoring programs—could catalyze similar transformations. These spaces foster a shared emotional economy that dismantles “otherness.”
Summary and Forward Path
Drawing from Haskell’s reflection:
- Hospitality is rarely unconditional, but even conditional generosity—like Priam’s reception by Achilles—can restore humanity. For Japan, this suggests combining structured immigration with pathways to fuller human recognition.
- Reciprocity reshapes roles. Those invited to stay beyond economic roles can enrich the host’s moral landscape.
- Empathy transcends policy. Warm, relational engagements—beyond formal structures—can shift societal mindsets toward migrants.
In Japan’s evolving immigration landscape, adopting an “enlightened hospitality” model—firm yet humane—could support the integration of migrants as both contributors and co-creators of a diverse society. This framework urges policymakers, businesses, and communities to treat migrants not just as economic labor or temporary guests, but as individuals whose presence offers an invitation to deepen Japan’s own collective humanity.