Relationship formation in the Philippines can be characterized as created by adoption and adaptation. This can be observed in how Filipinos managed different groups who they encountered. This paper explores how mimicry functions as a tool for communication among migrants in different cultural contexts, and the role it plays in the adaptation process of Filipinos in Japan. Based on participant-observation and in-depth interviews with Filipinos in Japan since 2015, I examine cross-cultural differences of mimicry and its interconnection with communication and migrant identity. While mirroring and reproducing behaviors, speech patterns, or mannerisms, culture, and so on, are pervasive, Filipinos also employed this for survival and resistance. The nuances of mimicry in language, social relationships, and identity among migrant groups in Japan have not received enough scholarly attention. In most studies related to culture, a premium is given to heritage preservation and legitimacy. However, in locations where people of various cultural backgrounds meet, cultural interactions and negotiations occur. Mimicry and imitation usually come with negative connotations because it is perceived as lacking authenticity and lazy. It is also thought as inferior to the one being copied and compliance to those in power. This paper aims to clarify this by exploring the various facets of imitation, including its utility for migrant learning, adaptation, and survival. Focusing on human agency in the midst of formalization and regularization of cultural practices, this paper aims to challenge and redefine what we know of cultural continuity and how cultural values and practices are transmitted across generations.

Authors:
Frieda Joy Angelica Olay Ruiz, The University of Osaka, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Frieda Joy Angelica Olay Ruiz is a Specially Appointed Associate Professor at the Division of Foreign Studies, Graduate School of Humanities, Osaka University, Japan.

Connect on ResearchGate
https://researchmap.jp/friedaruiz

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