In Good Company: Thoughts on Belonging, Foreignness, and Community

Lately, there’s been a noticeable stir in the air. Among Japan’s foreign community, conversations are bubbling up about a shift in tone—particularly in political commentary. There’s been talk of foreigners being framed as the root cause of Japan’s economic or cultural challenges, a worrying development for those of us who have made our lives here, often quietly, for many years.

As someone from New Zealand living and working in Japan, I’ve so far been fortunate. I haven’t experienced overt racism. But I do sense a kind of fatigue, particularly in places that see a steady stream of tourists. There’s a weariness in the air—sometimes an edge, sometimes just a change in the warmth that once felt more readily offered.

It’s hard to know whether these recent political comments reflect widespread public sentiment or are simply a loud minority. Japan is not a monolith. In fact, many Japanese friends, neighbours, and customers have shown immense generosity and curiosity. Still, the rhetoric is unsettling. And it's got me thinking about who we are, what we bring, and how we carry ourselves as foreign residents.

In a recent conversation, we were talking about just how few New Zealanders actually live in Japan. We’re a small group—one of the smaller foreign populations here—and yet there’s something deeply grounding about finding one another in unexpected corners of the country. That’s what we’re quietly doing at North South Stewart: building a community. One connection at a time.

But it’s not only for New Zealanders. It never was.

The door is open to anyone who’s broad-minded, curious, respectful. Whether you’re from Hokkaido or Hawke’s Bay, Wellington or Wakayama, we’re here to create a space that honours warmth—in all senses of the word. It’s in the wool products we sell, yes. But it’s also in the way we speak to customers, the stories we tell, the cups of tea shared in the shop. It’s in the way we look out for each other.

So yes, we’re paying attention to the mood. But we’re not retreating. We’re staying rooted, with kindness and clarity. We stick together—not in defiance, but in quiet solidarity. We welcome the broad-minded. We lead with warmth.

And in doing so, we hope to keep making space for a different kind of story.