The role of matsuri in promoting sustainability and identities of ethnic groups in Japanese society: case of Ikuno district, Osaka

Abstract

People from various ethnic and diverse countries are living in the area we live in today. How can a city, a complex of such diverse members, achieve a sustainable local community? Currently, there are about 460,000 Koreans living in Japan. The largest number live in Ikuno district, Osaka. After the end of World War II to the present, Koreans in Japan have been subjected to discrimination and hatred in Japanese society, such as national education, fingerprinting refusal movement, and hate speech. By solving these social conflicts and problems, they needed an opportunity to strengthen their sense of fellowship through confirmation of their identities, and to inform the society and region of their presence. At this time, ‘Matsuri’, played a big role in expanding communication with other groups for maintaining their identity. ‘Matsuri’ is a traditional Japanese festival based on the religious purpose and the bond of local residents. In this article, we examine how the festivals in many ethnic groups played a role in reducing the conflict between the Japanese local community and the ethnic group. We will discuss a sustainable society where ethnic groups can live all together, through the analysis of ‘Ikuno Cultural Festival’ and ‘Ikuno Korea town Festival’ held in Osaka.