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"Are Chinese in Japan united? I don’t think so. When Japanese people go abroad, they are extremely united—they form associations, business chambers, and support networks...

"As far as I know, there really aren’t any Chinese organizations here that fight for our rights the way you might imagine. I’ve never heard of anything like that. Honestly, the cohesion among Chinese in Japan just isn’t very strong...

"In Japan, there are some Chinese groups, but they’re usually limited to those with resources—bigger companies or specific circles, like people from Chaoshan. These circles exist, but we don’t yet have anything like the large, unified Chinese associations you see in America...

"From my experience, Chinese people in Japan are not very united. It’s rare to see us gathering to protest or even to help one another in times of need. Even in places like Ueno or Ikebukuro, where Chinese restaurants are clustered together, the reason is purely commercial—the business atmosphere draws people in...

"In Japan, Chinese people do gather in certain areas and open restaurants, much like in America’s Chinatowns, but the atmosphere is very different. There’s really no political element to it...

"There are overseas Chinese associations in Japan, but they’re very different from those in the U.S. They don’t really have a political role—most are just for social or recreational activities. I’ve taken part in a few events myself, though not that often...

"In the past two years living in Philadelphia, I often went to Chinatown to buy bubble tea, eat out, or pick up Chinese vegetables. Outside of Weee!, it was almost impossible to find things like napa cabbage or celtuce anywhere else...

"Compared to the United States, Chinese communities in Japan are not nearly as tight-knit. One major reason is that America’s racial diversity creates stronger boundaries between groups—socializing across racial lines can be difficult...