Living in Japan While Black An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Black Experience in Japan during the Inception of the Black Lives Matter Movement
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Japan,
Black Individuals,
Counseling,
Black diaspora
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Abstract
Japan is a place that values collectivism and harmony (Davison & Peng, 2021); individuals who appear to be different can face challenges. Black individuals experience various challenges in society, including racial discrimination, systematic human rights violations (Brown, 2020), generational trauma specifically Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (DeGruy, 2005), racial trauma (Martin, 2022), historical trauma, identity confusion, and inequities in social determinant of health (SDOH) impacting various aspects of lives (Miller et al., 2019). In this study, we used interpretative phenomenological analysis to examine the lived experiences of five Black participants who have lived in Japan during the BLM movement in 2020, a time when race relations were at the forefront. Some studies have examined the experiences of Black people in Japan (Russel, 2023). Our findings revealed three main themes and several sub-themes, which are discussed, including implications for counseling.
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