Half or Double?

A friend of mine is called a "half" because his father is an American and his mother is a Japanese. I don’t get it because he is a "double." He understands both cultures. But the way of understanding by those with more than one culture, like him, is different from that by those with a single culture. They see things from neither the Japanese nor American perspective, but from a broader perspective, i.e., the results of an exposure to, and a merger of, these two cultures since their birth. However, they are sometimes marginalized because of such uniqueness.
 
A Japanese friend of mine with a judo black belt once said that the current judo was "not authentic" because the rules, wear, etc., had changed under the global standards. Also, many Japanese disagree with the start of English classes in the third grade because, according to them, "it will prevent Japanese children from becoming 'authentic' Japanese." Another example is English. It is now the "global language," but that used as a communication tool may also be considered "inauthentic" by some native English speakers. 

Today, everything is globalized under the so-called "global standards." But this is why having your own unique standards is a fun. It enables you to appreciate things more deeply, richly and uniquely and gives you the opportunity to expand yourself and live your own life. The idea of whether being a "half or double" or "authentic or inauthentic" is meaningless and exclusive, and among other things limits your potential. Authenticity should be measured by your own standards.