New documentary film to be released: "Being Japanese"

日本人とは BEING JAPANESE
The official poster for the film

What makes a Japanese person Japanese?

Is it the blood that runs through their veins? A parent they were born to? The country they grew up in? Is it how they look? How they act? How they speak? Their citizenship?
A few years ago I was interviewed at my home by a professional videographer who publishes popular streaming videos to the YouTube site, "Life Where I'm From".

Apparently, this topic was of great interest to Greg Lam … not necessarily just because of me or the fact that he lived in Japan, but more likely also because like me, his immediate family has many people who are legally, culturally, and/or genetically Japanese in one or more ways.

He has produced and directed a full length feature film (almost 2 hours) which explores the many facets of "Being Japanese": not just the "legal" aspect (which is what this site focuses on), but also on other, often not so easily definable and measurable aspects such as:

  • race / phenotype
  • ethnicity / culture / language and upbringing
  • citizenship / nationality

Here's the trailer:


It's no coincidence that some of the names and faces in the trailer may be familiar to some of the readers of this site. Three people interviewed in the movie are authors or contributors to this site:

  1. David CHART (チャート 出意人CHĀTO Deibito)
  2. Josh GRISDALE (グリズデイル バリージョシュアGURIZUDEIRU BarīJoshua)
  3. Eido INOUE (井上 エイドINOUE Eido)
However, don't let that make you think that the movie is entirely about naturalization. I have seen a pre-release version of the fantastic film and it covers the very complicated facets of "Japaneseness", including subjects such as:
  • Ainu （アイヌAinu）
  • Okinawa （沖縄Okinawa）
  • Zainichi-Koreans （在日コリアンZainichi Korian）
  • Nikkei-Brazilian （日系ブラジル人Nikkei Burajiru-jin）
  • Mixed Race （ハーフhāfu）
  • Returnees （帰国子女kikoku shijo）
  • Speaking Japanese
  • Nikkei （日系Nikkei）
  • Looking Japanese
  • Refugees （難民nanmin）
  • Dual & Multi Nationals（二重国籍／多重国籍nijū kokuseki / tajū kokuseki）
  • How do you be Japanese?
... and much more.

The movie will be released for purchase on Vimeo July 16, 2021, and will be available for rental starting August 13th, 2021.

You will be able to stream it or download it (DRM-free) in high definition using your favorite device: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, etc.

Subtitles are available for English and Japanese.

Additionally, those who purchase the film instead of renting it will receive Behind The Scenes bonus content (unfortunately, the scene of me getting a traffic ticket for improperly changing lanes while talking to the filmmaker is not included!)

Even though I've seen the pre-final release version, I can't wait to see the final released product and show it to my daughter, who grew up in Japan and inherits and learned much of who she is from her parents and their two countries.

Disclaimer: this site, including its participants who contributed to the film, receive neither monetary compensation nor remuneration from the promotion, purchase, or viewing of this documentary film.
Location: カナダ ブリティッシュコロンビア州 バンクーバー

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