Conceiving of self: a case study of the Brazilian-Japanese

Abstract

How the individual relates to society has been a central focus in cultural and personality studies within anthropology. The Brazilian-Japanese migration to Japan constitutes a unique situation in which to study societal influences on individuals. Before leaving Brazil, the Brazilian-Japanese predominately consider themselves to be Japanese, but once in Japan the culture in which the Brazilian-Japanese claim to share heritage with refuses to fully accept the Brazilian-Japanese’s concept of self. By attempting to understand the way in which the Brazilian-Japanese cope with this challenge, the application of George Herbert Mead’s theory of self which focuses on the interaction of individuals with the group in self formation, offers insights into how the Brazilian-Japanese “become” Brazilian.