Discrimination in Japan

Here I talk about discrimination in Japan... what it is and where it usually comes from.

Note: Since the majority of commentators seem to be hearing only what they want to hear... here's a brief overview of what I'll talk about:

1. Racism and discrimination does exist in Japan. Just like any other country... it happens.
2. Most discrimination happens because of something that happened before, which was a bad experience from a foreigner.
3. Staring is NOT racism. It's interest and being too shy to speak up and talk to you. Best way to remedy it if it bothers you is to approach the person and strike a conversation. Or smile at them.
4. Most random discrimination will probably come from the older generation. The younger generation is usually more friendly to foreigners and have a general interest in them.
5. You may be stopped by the police for random investigation because you're foreign. They may target other races more than others.
6. All of these accounts are from my and my friends' experiences in Tokyo. However, now that I live in the country, I've found the people here to be quite different from city folk. That is, they're much friendlier and warmer.
7. I like Japan. I live in it now and have been for the past 3 years. I don't hate it. I'm just stating what I've experienced.
8. I'm half-Japanese American, and not an anime freak. Just living here to have an occupation, learn the language and discover my roots. So forget your opinions about me being a weeaboo or whatever...

Category:

Education

Tags:

• discrimination
• japan
• tokyo
• racism
• apartment
• mansion
• love
• hotel
• gaijin
• card
• passport

[mooncooninc83]

I'm an African-American man married to a Japanese woman who's been living in Japan for the past 2 years and I've been called "kurombo" (nigger in Japanese) so many times by older ppl. And every time I've had an issue with a younger Japanese person they've always included my Blackness, as well as my foreignness, in their insults of me. I've also seen many obviously stereotypical racist depictions of Black ppl on Japanese TV shows and shops (i.e. Sambo children books and blackface dolls).

[daiquirikiss]

@mooncooninc83 Sorry to hear that. The older generation can be such sticklers sometimes. But there's not much you can do about them. I've found the younger generation to be more accepting, but you're right, they insult you sometimes, even if it's not on purpose. I think they're trying to be kind, but they don't realize that their words are insulting when they're trying to relate to you, or make a comment about you being different. They're just not used to it. Island mentality...

[daiquirikiss]

@mooncooninc83 but I'm glad you married a Japanese woman. It means you're not totally turned off by Japan's occasional ignorance towards foreigners. I say occasional because my foreign friends and I (all speak enough Japanese to have a good conversation) have had more good experiences than bad, especially in a country setting. The cities suck...

[seonidh]

I live there, my friend has lived there for 20 years still does and only recieved one incident of discrimination someone a lone person said go home! I have had so many Japanese people interested in gaijin foreign people. In Japanese culture people don't like to directly make eye contact. Hardly discrimination its curiosity. As for Rappongi or Kabukicho the African people there are pests and aggressive trying to get you into clubs. Also how would the police know your friend is muslem?

[daiquirikiss]

@seonidh They didn't know he's Muslim, but his complexion is tan and his face is like a mixture of southeast Asian and Middle East. Thick black eyebrows, a large nose...

[SuperNomnomcat]

i want that bear!

i forgot what hes called like rokumaru or something like that so cute

[selfdedication]

well,people naturally see or stare what is strange for them,

if you look diffrent from them,it 's natural people see you.

this is not discrimination.you're misunderstanding with this.

you dont seem Japanese actually,but you dont seem American too.

and if you feel dicriminated from people in japan,it cause　language problem.

about police stopped you on the street,

there are many foregners in japan living ireagal,because they can earn money easy

[SamuraiTogo]

>>5. You may be stopped by the police,,,

This is sometimes true, but not always.

And it can't be helped.

Because many crimes in Japan have been done by foreigners.

It is not Japanese fault but foreigner's fault.

Of course, it has nothing to do with discrimination and racism.

★Rather, counter-discrimination of foreigners are becomming a problem in Japan,now

because Japanese are treating foreigners warmly too much

and giving a privileges for them too much , especially for Koreans and Chinese.

[SamuraiTogo]

>>4 ,,, from the older generation.

No, you are misunderstanding about this point

I'm a old Japanese, born in Japan, raised in Japan,

but mixed with a German-Russian Jewish blood.

Though, I've never experienced such a discrimination.

Rather, I've been treated well.

Moreover the class leader of my junior high school was a quarter of a African American. He had been popular and been respected among class mates and teachers.

★A colour of skin is nothing problem in Japan, unless you behave badly.

[310BPM]

@femmefatale1990

japanese people will know that other people are mixed asian, and if you're mixed, you're still seen as a gaijin.

unless you're full japanese, born and raised in japan, you're a gaijin. period.

[JuliusIsMe]

People complain that america is the most racist country in the world. When you see People in Europe, russia and east asia being racist assholes. The only least racist countries are America, Canada and the UK.

[daiquirikiss]

@SeventhSun women are too weak and inferior??

[mooncooninc83]

@SeventhSun

I find it very interesting that you chose to state that "black intellectuals OCCASIONALLY exist". And you went on to state that you "see most blacks as rappers and gangstas".

If you're a White person, to be honest, I'm not all surprised by your racist/White supremacist views regarding me and my ppl. However, if you're a so-called Asian...I suppose that you've just adopted a racist/White supremacist mindset to fit in with your White counterparts.

[SeventhSun]

@dalmain77

They would stare if you are good-looking and they are not.