Civic nationalism is bullshit, says a Japanese observer

Civic nationalism, based on citizenship and shared values, can become a tool of exclusion if it is not accompanied by recognition of diversity.

## The citizenship trap

Civic nationalism, in theory, seeks unity based on shared citizenship, the law and democratic values, regardless of ethnic origin. In practice, however, it often remains a mere formality. The idea that someone is "Japanese" simply by holding a passport, eating sushi and believing in "Japanese values" is a simplification that ignores the complexity of identity. Apply this to other countries and you can see how it can be used to justify the exclusion of minorities, even when they meet all the legal requirements.

## Universal values or cultural imposition?

The problem arises when those "Japanese values", or those of any other nation, are presented as monolithic and immutable. Who defines those values? And what happens when they do not fit the experience of every citizen? Citizenship is a legal contract, but identity is far deeper and more multifaceted. Reducing it to a set of customs or beliefs can be a way of making differences invisible and forcing a homogeneity that simply does not exist in reality.

## Real identity

A person's identity is a blend of their origins, their culture, their experiences and their personal choices. To claim that citizenship alone fully defines who someone is, or that there is only one correct way to be "from a country", is to ignore the richness of human diversity. Misunderstood, civic nationalism can end up being just as exclusionary as the ethnic nationalism it claims to oppose.