According to Indians in Australia continue to face racist abuse one month on from anti-immigration protests(2025-09-27 ABC NEWS), concerns about racist harassment and violence are growing, especially among Indian residents, following the anti-immigration demonstration “March for Australia.” Given the recent trends in our country’s foreign policy, this is not something that can be ignored. This article discusses the implications of the importance of “racial literacy” education mentioned in the article.

1. The Article’s Message

According to the ABC report, following the anti-immigration protest “March for Australia,” Indian residents have reported an increase in racist harassment, verbal abuse, and threats. Examples include derogatory slurs such as “curry muncher” or “smelly Indian,” death threats on social media, and flyers portraying Indian immigration as a “threat.”

The article warns that leaving such incidents unchecked risks normalizing xenophobia and legitimizing racial hostility. In response, it emphasizes both institutional action and the need for “racial literacy” education—that is, the ability to recognize, understand, and speak about racism and its connection to power structures. Suggested measures include embedding racial literacy in curricula, workplace programs that go beyond superficial “diversity training,” and involving allies, human rights organizations, and political leaders to make racism visible and address it systematically.

This framework offers significant implications for Japan, where foreign labor and immigration are expanding but social attitudes toward diversity remain ambivalent.

2. Japan’s Current Trends in Immigration Policy and Social Attitudes

2.1 Policy Expansion

Japan, facing demographic decline, has expanded foreign worker programs through the Technical Intern Training Program, the Specified Skilled Worker system, and high-skilled visas. Local governments have introduced multilingual services, consultation desks, and “multicultural coexistence” initiatives.

2.2 Challenges

Despite these efforts, problems remain: complex visa systems, weak labor protections, wage gaps, language barriers, and community frictions. Media often reinforce stereotypes, highlighting crimes involving foreigners disproportionately.

2.3 Rise of Xenophobic Discourse

Alongside institutional reforms, negative narratives are spreading: fears of over-immigration, cultural “erosion,” crime, and strain on welfare. On social media and in some local communities, this rhetoric risks fostering prejudice and exclusion.

3. What “Racial Literacy Education” Should Mean in Japan

3.1 Core Components

“Racial literacy” should include:

  1. Knowledge: History of racism, structural discrimination, migration, and human rights.
  2. Sensitivity: Awareness of subtle bias and empathy for marginalized groups.
  3. Dialogue and Action: Ability to challenge discriminatory speech and support victims as allies.
  4. Structural Awareness: Understanding how policies, media, and institutions reproduce inequality.

3.2 Educational Stages

  • Schools: Integrate racism and diversity into civics, ethics, and social studies. Use project-based learning (interviews, media analysis) and cross-cultural exchanges. Teacher training is crucial so educators can facilitate dialogue and intervene in discriminatory incidents.
  • Universities: Offer specialized courses on race, migration, and human rights. Include general education modules so all students engage with these issues. Create safe spaces for dialogue between Japanese and international students.
  • Communities and Workplaces: Municipal centers, libraries, and companies should host workshops, seminars, and awareness programs. Workplaces need structures for reporting bias and fostering “psychological safety.”
  • Media: Establish reporting guidelines to prevent sensationalism and promote fair coverage of foreigners.

3.3 Practical Challenges

  • Risk of becoming empty rhetoric or moralizing.
  • Possible backlash (“political correctness,” “free speech suppression”).
  • Regional variation—areas with fewer foreigners may perceive racism as irrelevant.
  • Need for continuous evaluation (surveys, monitoring discrimination reports).
  • Education must be paired with laws and institutional protections (anti-discrimination laws, hate speech regulation, complaint systems).

4. Lessons and Potential Impact

4.1 Key Insight

The greatest contribution of racial literacy is making invisible bias visible. It equips society with the vocabulary and courage to confront racism, rather than ignoring or silencing it.

4.2 Potential Effects

  • Improved discourse: racist speech faces stronger public criticism.
  • Stronger community relations: daily contact between residents and foreigners becomes less fraught.
  • Political impact: greater citizen demand for fair laws and protections.
  • More allies: individuals ready to intervene against discrimination.
  • A sustainable infrastructure for multicultural coexistence.

4.3 Limitations

Change is slow, participation may be limited to already sympathetic groups, and without legal reforms, education alone risks being symbolic.

5. Policy Recommendations for Japan

  1. Establish a national basic policy on anti-racism and racial literacy.
  2. Require teacher training on racism and bias.
  3. Develop public teaching materials with input from experts and minority communities.
  4. Launch pilot programs in selected schools and municipalities.
  5. Connect schools with local multicultural centers for hands-on programs.
  6. Provide incentives for companies (grants, certifications) to adopt racial literacy training.
  7. Strengthen legal frameworks against discrimination and hate speech.
  8. Build evaluation systems to measure impact and share best practices.
  9. Involve minority and NGO voices from the planning stage.
  10. Run public campaigns to raise awareness and create social consensus.

6. Conclusion

The events in Australia are a warning, not a distant problem. Japan’s growing reliance on foreign labor makes it vulnerable to similar tensions. Racial literacy education is not about “being nice” but about equipping society with the structural understanding and practical skills to prevent exclusion and sustain democracy.

By embedding racial literacy into education, workplaces, communities, and policy, Japan can prepare not only to welcome foreigners as workers, but to live with them as neighbors and equal members of society.

Japan Immigration News