Konrad Hernblad

lexXicon: You are the founder of the International Interracial Association, whose motto is "Promoting racial harmony worldwide." Why should the average person care one way or another about "racial harmony"?

Konrad Hernblad: The answer is quite simple - to make friends and improve relations. Why is this important? Well, for many reasons. The biggest one is to avoid conflict. When people tend to stay within their own culture and/or race, they tend to take what their friends and neighbors say - opinions - at face value, without really knowing the facts. This can lead to stereotypes and misunderstandings about others. With people of the world interacting more and more, it is important to understand others' cultures. Doing so prevents us from making faux pas and offending others, which will help to avoid conflict. Going one step further and showing active interest in another's culture will give that person a favorable opinion of you and perhaps lead to a friendship. A friend is someone who helps you out in times of need. Why should the average person care? Because the average person doesn't know when they might need the help of another. If you ever go to another country and need help desperately, having a friend there or making a friend - from understanding the culture/language a little - can really be beneficial. Then, in the future, if that person ever visits your country, you can return the favor. In that way, you become friends and help to improve relations. The more and more people that have this experience, the less likely people from one country will want to become involved in a conflict with another country. Besides the reason of avoiding conflict, racial harmony also makes life more interesting because you can learn new languages, new perspectives on life, new, possibly more efficient ways of doing things, enjoy new forms of entertainment/leisure, and of course, eat new types of foods!

lexx: You are the product of an interracial marriage. How do you complete forms still using the old "black, white, other" racial designation boxes?

KH: When I was younger and felt that interracial people were discriminated against, I would always check the box that would benefit me the most depending on the situation. As I grew older, I didn't want to have to choose, so I began selecting "other" because I thought that this described me better than black or white. However, I still felt that "other" didn't describe me best because I wanted people to know that I was interracial, so that I could acknowledge both my parents. As a result, when filling out forms recently, I have begun drawing a new box , writing "interracial" next to it, and checking it.

lexx: Why do you think racism continues to thrive, albeit in a more covert form, even though human beings have made great strides in other areas of evolution and development?

KH: Psychologically, I think that people need to have a "scapegoat" on whom they can blame their mistakes and to make them feel superior. Because a person's race is often identified with their skin color and looks, visually-identifiable traits, these are the easiest ways to discriminate. One of the major factors that still contributes to racism is the media. Although media keeps us informed and entertained, it is also a major propagator of stereotypes. If you watch TV shows, commercials, news, movies, etc., rarely do you see people of different races interacting in a positive light. Many of these communication media also continue to promote long-standing stereotypes, despite all of the changes and interaction going on in the world. I would say that these forms of entertainment are behind the times, in terms of advanced thinking. Many of these media are designed just to make money, so they don't seem willing to introduce "positive interracial topics," which many people haven't accepted as a "normal" way of life yet. If you ever watch a television show, especially a family-oriented show, most of the characters are of one race, with token person of a different race. And most of the shows that I've seen about a group of friends of different races uphold stereotypes of each of the races. This type of mindset has to stop. When is the world going to wake up?

lexx: Let's talk about Japan - which came first, your interest in the country or the opportunity to work and study there?

KH: My interest in Japan came first. My first year in college, I was continuing my fifth year of French from high school, while one of my best friends, who is half Japanese/half American, was studying first-year Japanese. Every day when we had lunch together, he told me lots of interesting things that he learned in class about the Japanese language and culture. He taught me a few words here and there, and when he introduced some of his Japanese friends to me, I tried using the words that I learned. Many of his friends said that my pronunciation was very good and that I should study the language. I found most of the people that I met to be very friendly and courteous. My interest slowly grew and grew. When my best friend told me that speaking Japanese would be very helpful in multinational management, one of our majors/concentrations, I started seriously considering study of the language. When I considered that I was already proficient in French and that I could use Japanese to help improve relations between the U.S. and Japan (which at that time wasn't very good - a lot of Japan bashing in the U.S. and a lot of negative comments about the U.S. in Japan), I decided that I would begin taking Japanese classes in my sophomore year.

After studying Japanese for 3.5 years, after many tears and late nights studying for quizzes/exams, I decided that it would be a total waste if I didn't move to Japan and actually use what I learned. Luckily, I was able to find a job that combined my interests in the Japanese language, information systems (computers), and multinational management. On November 13th of this year, I will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of my move to Japan.

lexx: So would you say you're now fluent in Japanese?

KH: Although many of my friends say that I'm fluent, I feel that I'm just at a high level of proficiency. Until I have no problems in speaking or understanding the language, I won't consider myself fluent. Toward that end, I'm studying new characters/words every evening and continuously pester my co-workers to explain new concepts to me.

lexx: How would you compare your quality of life overall living in Japan with the quality of life you experienced in America?

KH: Japan and America have both good and bad points. When I lived in America I liked the diversity, in that America is made up of people from different backgrounds. I find Japan to be a very homogeneous society with little diversity. As a result, foreigners who don't look Japanese really stick out and are stared at quite often. Other points that I miss about the U.S. are the low prices and open space. Japan is quite expensive (because the cost of living is very high) and quite congested, especially when riding the trains. Looking at the positive aspects of Japan, it's very safe here, service is excellent, and it's close to many other (Asian) countries. Japan's middleclass population is very high, which helps contribute to a very low crime rate. Service is excellent here (e.g. trains/buses are almost always on time, customers are served quickly and treated well at restaurants, etc.) because the customer is a business' number one priority and they will do just about anything to make sure that the customer is satisfied. Since Japan is very closely located to other countries, it is very easy to travel abroad within a few hours and experience a different culture.

lexx: Do you plan to stay abroad long-term or return to the U.S. within a finite period?

KH: I would like to stay in Japan for 5 or so years, or until I feel that I've accomplished my goals of coming here, namely to 1) help improve relations between the U.S. and Japan, by making many friends and sharing one another's culture; 2) become fluent in the language; and 3) make a significant contribution to my company.

lexx: What do you miss the most about America?

KH: Family and friends, racial/cultural diversity, low prices, large meal portions, open space, and, to a certain extent, freedom to be yourself and make decisions without worrying about what everyone else will think.

lexx: What do you miss the least?

KH: Crime and violence, racial tensions, and inconsistency in good service. In America, we need to take pride in the diversity that our country offers, have more open forums for interaction/discussion, and serve as a role model for the rest of the countries in the world.

lexx: What valuable lessons, if any, do you believe Americans could learn from the Japanese people and way of life?

KH: Besides improving service and working towards reducing violence, it would be nice to see some Americans be more patient/accepting of foreigners. Concerning the latter, I've seen many instances in the U.S. where store clerks, administrative employees, and other people in service are very impatient with foreigners who are learning English. I think many Americans take speaking English for granted and expect everyone to speak it perfectly. I've found, through my experiences in learning Japanese and living here for a while, that Japanese people are fairly patient when speaking with me, particularly when I can't express myself correctly. It would be nice to see more Americans going abroad to learn a language and experience a culture that is completely different from that of the U.S. to understand how foreigners in the U.S. feel. In general though, I think it's a very positive experience for people to be exposed to a different culture than what they're used to.

lexx: How is the racial atmosphere there different than in America?

KH: Japan is a very homogeneous country, period. Despite many people thinking of Tokyo as an international city, it seems to be only so on the surface. Yes, you can see lots of English signs and billboards, buy Coca-Cola, and eat a Big Mac at McDonald's, but I think that it's very difficult to be really accepted if you're a foreigner. People living here seem to always worry about what others think of them, so it's not good to stick out. There's an expression here that goes, "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down." This is especially true when relationships come into play. Parents don't seem to mind if their children have friends who are foreigners, but many parents are still quite opposed to their children dating/marrying foreigners. One of the main reasons is because they are afraid of criticism from relatives, friends, and neighbors. Another disconcerting aspect of the racial atmosphere here is that not all foreigners are treated equally. I will not go into the details here, but foreigners will encounter different levels of discrimination based on their skin color. Unfortunately, many of the stereotypes that persist in the U.S. have somehow infiltrated Japan. I think that this comes from Japan looking too much towards the U.S. for entertainment/media, one of the leading proponents of stereotypes. I think both Japan and America need to learn how to stop judging others based on their skin color/looks. Rather, one should seek alternative ways, such as increased conversation/dialog, to learn about a particular individual and his/her personality. Personality, not race, is probably the most important factor in determining whether you are compatible with someone. People of the same race have many different personalities, yet society seems to pass judgments that people of a particular race have the same personality.

lexx: How different are economic concerns such as cost of living and salary ranges?

KH: Economic factors are a major concern. Salaries here are pretty much on par with the U.S., although the cost of living here is much higher. Here are a few examples of the high costs in Tokyo: a movie costs about $18, a quart of milk costs about $2, a full tank of gas can cost about $50, most drinks (10-12 ounces) cost between $1 and $1.10. These are some of the extreme cases. As a result, many people in their 20's and 30's have to be careful about how they spend their money, including me! It can be especially difficult for newlyweds or those in their 20's/30's with children. For some reason though, it seems as though most people get by fairly well. One reason may be because children seem to receive financial support form their parents, who have accumulated money over many years of working. I've heard that the rate of salary increase is greater in Japan (4-5% yearly) than in the U.S. (2-3%). If this is accurate, then this definitely contributes to the healthy financial situation of older Japanese workers/parents.

lexx: What surprised or surprises you most about living and working in Japan, and what do you like most and least about it?

KH: I like living here because it's safe, the quality of service is excellent, and many of my friends are here. As for working, I like my job a lot because I'm the only American/foreigner and I am often consulted for translations and for information about the latest information technologies emerging in the U.S. Despite my previous comments about not being really accepted here, I have been able to make a few really good friends. Number one on my list of 'dislikes' is probably the stares that I receive. Concerning dislikes at work, I feel that the hanko (signature stamp) system of approval and the necessity to have most documents printed on paper is going to limit the extent to which Japan will be able to take advantage of the latest technological developments in the shift to a paperless environment. In simple words, I feel that the approval process and other decision making can be expedited if advances in paperless technology become more accepted.

lexx: Do you keep up with American politics since being abroad? If so, have any thoughts on the upcoming presidential election?

KH: I can barely keep up with the news going on here, let alone American politics! I occasionally hear information about the upcoming election over th radio, but have yet to do extensive research. I usually vote for a candidate depending on the issues they support; in other words, I'm party-independent. I will cast my vote for the candidate who proposes the best solutions for promoting equality and racial harmony in the U.S. It's amazing how far society has come in terms of technological advances, but hasn't progressed significantly in terms of social issues, especially racial issues.

lexx: Americans love their TV and movies - how is popular culture different in Japan versus America?

KH: It seems that a lot of the celebrities here in Japan do everything. "Everything," meaning that I've seen many singers who are also in movies, in dramas, talk show hosts, comedians, in commercials, etc. It's a little bit like Whitney Houston and Madonna doing movies, but think of them appearing on TV commercials and dramas as well. This is quite different from the U.S. where an entertainer usually specializes in their own sphere.

lexx: Who or what do you feel has been most influential in helping to shape your sense of self and your sense of the world around you?

KH: Without a doubt, my parents. They have instilled good, solid moral values in me and have always been there to support me whenever I need help. My parents ensured, as much as possible, that I grew up in an international environment and was exposed to many different people and cultures. Because my parents were very open-minded in that respect, it allowed me to interact with people who were similar to my parents and me, but also with people who grew up in environments very different from ours. As a result of my parents' open-mindedness, leniency, and trust in me, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet many different people. Each person that I meet, I learn something from them, whether it's an interesting perspective on life or a recipe for a special food. I make that part of my culture as an individual. I am very grateful to my parents for the way they raised me and for allowing me to experience different things.

lexx: People often express concern about the children produced by an interracial couple. How big a factor was your racial identity growing up? What would you say to people who say "but what about the children?"

KH: As I mentioned before, my parents made strong efforts to expose me to international environments where I would be able to meet people from many different cultural backgrounds. As a result, I did not feel much pressure in having to identify with any one particular group. Also, education was and still is a very important value to my family, as both of my parents obtained their masters degrees. Because of this, I too focused most of my efforts on getting a good education and extra-curricular activities, like sports and international organizations. Aside from concentrating on my education, by having my parents' support and encouragement to be proud of who I am as an individual and what I have to offer to the world, I did not have many racial identity problems growing up. This mindset enabled me to do well enough in life to graduate from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and to find my current job with a successful computer consulting firm in Tokyo, Japan.

So what about the children? As long as the parents show the child love and support, teach the child to be proud of who he/her is as an individual and what he/she can contribute to society, and make efforts to expose the child to international environments, the child will be just fine.

lexx: Complete a few sentences. "The thing I'm most proud of is ....."

KH: My parents and what their support has enabled me to achieve in life.

lexx: "The most important thing I've learned in the past year has been ...."

KH: Not to worry so much about what everyone thinks. I should be happy knowing that I have loving parents and a small group of friends who care about me.

lexx: "The most difficult thing I've ever done is .... "

KH: Leave my parents to move to Japan.

lexx: "I'm happiest when .... "

KH: I'm able to help others.

lexx: "The quickest way to incur my wrath is .... "

KH: Can't really think of anything, except maybe if someone criticizes me when I'm trying to help him/her.

lexx: "I believe my purpose in life is ....."

KH: To help others and improve race relations.

lexx: "My evening meal yesterday consisted of ...."

KH: Korean barbecue.

lexx: "The last book I read was ...."

KH: "Java Programming."

lexx: Thanks for talking to us, Konrad.

KH: Thanks!

[update: The International Interracial Association is regrouping and will be back online soon.]