Racism in Japan

Racism in Japan - a little history

"I am just reading a chapter in a book by McMillan on 1919, the 6 months - leading up to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. This chapter is titled, "Japan and Racial Equality". Can you believe it? Other than its desire for German islands in the Pacific and a couple of ports in China, their big push was for a guarantee of racial equality in the Covenant of the League of Nations! Even today in 2010 Japan is the only G8 nation that doesn`t even have a law against racism! Anyone can be banned from an establishment or treated unfairly based on race in Japan, and have no recourse, much like the American south for African Americans in the early 20th century."

--Andrew Carpenter

"Japan has many things to be proud of with their history, people and country. But there's no such thing asJapanese purity!"

--Banziwarrior at The Odawara Bulletin Board

I am a tall, caucasian Canadian. Most of the time I am treated even better than a lot of the Japanese. So maybe I shouldn`t really complain about my life in Japan. Still it bothers me if anyone is a victim of racism, and especially if it is me or one of my loved ones?

What kind of racism in Japan have you experienced?

I have experienced the garden variety - having a more difficult time finding a landlord that will rent an apartment to me, and I have heard the odd "kusai!" (You stink!) comment in my 21 years in Japan. But compared to what some minorities experience in Canada, what I have had to deal with is pretty tame.

Here is one experience I have had off and on over the years though while shopping at certain stores in Japan:

I just wondered if any of you ever feel you experience racism or are otherwise victimized by store clerks. I have written about it in a comical way here:

I enjoy shopping at toy stores and hobby shops. But sometimes the store clerks take a strange interest in me....so I figure,why don`t I join them! And you can too with this easy to follow advice! You can be the Store Detective!

Racism in Japan, are you Shudan Stalked - group Stalked?

I just got an Email from a man who claims he is stalked by shudan stalkers or group stalkers. He could be in need of counseling or it could be true.

Anyway, I sometimes feel that I am given extra attention at certain stores, as if they suspect I will shoplift.

If I am a regular customer then I usually don`t experience this, and it doesn`t happen all the time, but it has happened at a few stores I will mention briefly:

The Toys `r Us in Hadano, Kanagawa

Yellow Submarine Shop (that sells many boardgames) in Akihabara,Tokyo

And a recycle shop in Odawara (whose name escapes me)

At the last store, I was actually followed around. In the Yellow Submarine shop the store clerk was checking stock near me but kept moving to be close to me. Could have been just a coincidence but I really felt otherwise. Plus I felt they were talking about foreigners saying, "Kyo wa go nin kimashita."

"Taihen desu ne?"

But with Japanese, you don`t introduce the topic of what you are talking about often, so it is difficult to know if people are talking about foreigners in this case or not. The topic is open ended. However, 5 what? Women? People with one arm?

I can`t prove any of this and the store I`m sure would deny that they are racist, but I just wondered if any of you have felt the same way?

The Toys `r Us in Hadano often has store clerks near me or even behind me as I look at something, but when I wanted to actually talk to one, he walked away, until I finally had to yell,"Sumimasen!" It is comical now, but I felt angry at the time.I thought if you are going to stalk me at the store, at least be willing to help me when I have a question.

Racism in Japan - Am I just being Paranoid?

If you have never experienced this, I will sound paranoid. That`s always the risk if you bring any of this up.

But if you have had similar experiences, you will understand what I am saying.

Racism in Japan, Different from other Countries?

I have felt this way only once in North America, never in Europe, and never in any other Asian countries. Never felt it in Australia or New Zealand either. I travel a lot but don`t feel victimized in this way. Of course in many cases I am a white guy in a caucasian country. But that is my point, I feel sometimes I am treated differently because of my skin color in Japan, and in a hurtful, racist way.

So I suspect there is a bit of racism going on that I am picking up on.

Unfortunately some non-Japanese do steal, but I think they victimize foreign people, as I know that Japanese steal too, but I don`t think Japanese store clerks stalk them.

Racism in Japan - A Trait of Japanese People?

I feel that if one foreign person does something stupid in Japan, we are all branded with the same label. Be it shoplifter, or guy who doesn`t follow the rules (or know the rules) at the hotsprings baths. And we are all treated in the same racist manner as a result.

It is unfair!

What do you think about all of this?

I am very interested to know what other non-Japanese have experienced in Japan and what ethnicity are you? I think Asians or North Americans of Asian ethnicity for example, have a very different experience of Japan than I do.

Moreover, Nissei, and Sansei (second or third generation) Japanese North Americans or Japanese Europeans tend to blend into Japan, yet I wonder how they feel about all of this, what have you experienced in Japan?

People of African or Indian decent too, please tell us how you feel and how life has been for you here. I will be letting Amnesty International Japan know about this page, so hopefully it will be enlightening for them too.

The Other Side of the Coin

Racism against the Japanese in Canada before and during World War 2. A wonderful statement against racism anywhere. Deep down we really are all brothers afterall.

Sleeping Tigers: The Asahi Baseball Story

"This feature-length documentary tells the story of the Asahi baseball team. In pre-World War II Vancouver, the team was unbeatable, winning the Pacific Northwest Championship for five straight years. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, all persons of Japanese descent in Canada were sent to internment camps. The former Asahi members survived by playing ball."

From Racism in Japan to Daily Life in Japan

From Racism in Japan to Japan Living (home)

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