when you live in an ethnically homogeneous society
Japan isn’t ethnically homogeneous. Westerners simply aren’t interested in learning the history and social makeup of the island, or even acknowledge anyone lives outside Tokyo.
The Ainu, the Ryukyuans, and the Yamato are all distinct cohorts. And that’s before you get into the post-Meiji cultural divergences.
Not entirely. But when you live in an ethnically homogeneous society you notice more subtle differences in people.
Japan isn’t ethnically homogeneous. Westerners simply aren’t interested in learning the history and social makeup of the island, or even acknowledge anyone lives outside Tokyo.
The Ainu, the Ryukyuans, and the Yamato are all distinct cohorts. And that’s before you get into the post-Meiji cultural divergences.