Final answer:
The statement 'Japanese residents can never be assimilated.' is false. Assimilation is influenced by many factors and there is historical evidence showing both the challenges and successes of Japanese assimilation, especially in relation to Japanese Americans post-WWII. Assimilation is a dynamic and ongoing process that evolves over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Japanese residents can never be assimilated." is false. Assimilation is a complex process influenced by numerous factors such as the socio-political environment, individual and community openness, and efforts by both the host society and immigrant communities. Japanese residents abroad and non-Japanese residents in Japan have shown the capacity to assimilate to varying degrees, depending on these circumstances. The modern state of Japan is very much a homogeneous society; however, it has become home to people following various religious beliefs and nonreligious ideologies, reflecting some degree of cultural assimilation and diversity.
Historically, there have been challenges to assimilation, such as the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, the existence of racial prejudice, and the struggle for Japanese internees to reintegrate into society post-WWII. Yet, many Japanese Americans, particularly the Nisei, made concerted efforts to assimilate, supported by various organizations, showing that it is certainly possible. Contemporary Japan has a strong national identity, but also exhibits adaptability and a capacity to incorporate foreign elements, as evidenced by its history of absorbing Chinese writing and Buddhism while maintaining native Shinto practices.
Nationalistic sentiments and the experience of being treated unfairly in the past, such as through extraterritoriality practices or during wartime, have affected external perceptions and internal policies. Nonetheless, these experiences are not immutable barriers to assimilation but rather challenges that have been navigated over time. Assimilation of Japanese residents, both inside and outside of Japan, is an ongoing process that can succeed under conducive conditions.