I have followed Debito Arudou's articles for five years, whenever they show up, and find them interesting, but he seems rather like the Lone Ranger. He has had a political cause ever since he arrived and became a Japanese citizen, fighting the Japanese legal system and trying to improve its human rights record. More power to him, as it appears to be his karma to do so.
For me, now 60 and married to a 50-year-old Japanese national, the issue is less flag-waving than trying to enjoy the latter part of my life here in Japan. Maybe it's because I am a Chinese Canadian whose color disguise attracts less attention. Not sure. But coming from a culture advertising itself as a mosaic, not a melting pot, I tend to celebrate the differences between cultures.
Try to change Japanese society? Well, as an English teacher with my wife, we have managed to not only teach a few kids Western culture via language but also introduce them to a subtler way of thinking and of doing things over four years. Some say our future lies with children, not laws.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.