Racism in Japan. How bad is it?

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by Tsuwabuki

So I find the term gaijin offensive, although gaikokujin less so. Whatever the Japanese term for Legal Resident, that's what I should be called. If I was a Japanese citizen, however, I would be quite offended by the use of gaijin. Whatever else Debito may have said or done, this I agree with him on: He's Japanese. Ethnicity does not matter under the law. Only nationality does, and even then only to a certain extent. Inherent civil rights should not be denied to any person. Again, the US has had only a marginally better track record with this than anyone else, but inherency is supranationalist and rather held by humankind as a whole by virtue of being human.

I do agree that the small group of foreign born Japanese citizens do have the right to dislike the term - within reason of course. Use it as a chance to educate, to bring to people`s attention the issues you just brought up.

In the end though, it does carry a strong indicator of race, so it`s a harder wall to climb than most people think at first glance - or when they first read "Gaijin means outsider, so it`s offensive!" somewhere on the net.

To me, I see it sort of as the difference between "Asian" and, say, "Chinese". Someone "Chinese" is a citizen of China. But "Asian" doesn`t mean that the person is a citizen of an Asian country. It reflects racial background. "Gaijin" tends to mean "European" or "Western" in Japanese usage. I would be offended to be called "American" after I took Japanese citizenship, but being called "Gaijin" would be much less frustrating. "American" after the other person knows that I have Japanese citizenship would flat out make me mad. "Gaijin" on the other hand would be a starter point to bring up the issues of race and citizenship.

The non-ethnic Japanese community in Japan has much too much to lose for these sorry children to be mucking around unsupervised.

Thank you. Idiotic activities, support of stereotypes, immaturity, etc does nothing to help anyone.

[steven]

"To me, I see it sort of as the difference between "Asian" and, say, "Chinese". Someone "Chinese" is a citizen of China. But "Asian" doesn`t mean that the person is a citizen of an Asian country. It reflects racial background. "Gaijin" tends to mean "European" or "Western" in Japanese usage. I would be offended to be called "American" after I took Japanese citizenship, but being called "Gaijin" would be much less frustrating. "American" after the other person knows that I have Japanese citizenship would flat out make me mad. "Gaijin" on the other hand would be a starter point to bring up the issues of race and citizenship."

Once again, this is where language plays a huge role. Knowing how the word is actually used is more important to some half-assed internet translation or some "definition" in a dictionary.

I would almost go as far as to say the term has good connotations depending on the context. As a foreigner, many Japanese will look at you as a source of knowledge about something they may not know about.

All words are like that... to use an example from American Engilsh (don't know if other countries do this... but I assume they do too), the word "genious" is like that. You can say "Albert Einstein was a genious". Or you could make fun of your friend who forgot to put his gas cap back on at the gas station and say "nice one genious". That example has to do with sarcasm, but that's basically what I'm talking about. It's all about in what feeling something is said and if it is meant maliciously or not.

Incidentally, there is a phrase in Japanese that is a little bit similar: "tabi no hito". This one, however, is mostly used negatively... but it can also be used to indicate that the person isn't from around here (to maybe cue a little less use of a dialect) or it can be used to describe someone from another place who you can learn from. So I guess what I'm saying is that gaijn isn't really that bad of a word in most contexts... and what's more, the Japanese have a word that I feel is typically worse to describe themselves with! That's how knowing a little bit of the language can help you understand this stuff better. I came to Japan having the notion that the word "gaijin" was in the bad category. Now that I live here and speak the language, I don't feel that way any more.

I have to say this though. A lot of Japanese people think that "gaijin" is a bad word. They think that way, I think, because they think that we (as foreigners) think it's a bad word. (haha, gotta love that sentence). So sometimes if a Japanese person calls you a gaijin, you'll here another one kind of scold that person for it. It makes me want to do more research on when and how the word "gaijin" was considered "bad". As far as I'm concerned (to repeat myself again), it is a harmless word in most of it's usage.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

Since your question is about racism I guess I will start there. Japan is not as multiethnic as New Zealand is so even in a big city like Osaka you will still get a few stares if you arent East Asian.

Really? I have spent much time in Osaka, and stares from anyone over the age of 5 just doesn't happen. I am very obviously non-Japanese, and speak well enough to do whatever I need to do. On my last trip (earlier this year) I was impressed that only once was I complimented on my Japanese. Not once did anyone try to speak to me in English.

Regarding the original post, I lived in Japan for a few years in the 90s, and never experienced anything I would consider racism. Sure there were questions (I worked at a high school) but no negative experiences whatsoever.

[steven]

In his defense, MMM, I do get stares pretty much wherever I go. I live in the inaka, so it's an everyday thing with little kids. Also, I think a lot of adults have seen me in the local newspapers or tv or wherever else I've been, so some people have the "it's really him" look on their faces... or the classic, "he has a car?!" look.

Even in my trips to Osaka, people do look at me. I tend to try to go to cafes that don't have the "welcome tourists!" sign on them, so when I go in the owners sometimes stare at me and wonder what the hell I'm looking for or tell me they don't have a bathroom in borken English and funny stuff like that. Once the conversation starts, then everything's normal, though. I can say this though, people look at me a lot less than they did when I was here on a trip about 5 years ago. I have noticed more foreigners in Japan since then, too.

I'd like to ask Nyororin a question: Have you noticed any changes in Japan as far as this topic goes over the 11 years you've been here? If so, what kind of things strike you the most?

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by steven

or the classic, "he has a car?!" look.

I tend to get this look from non-Japanese. Particularly in the summer or around this time of year. I drive a new, fairly nice car - not a beater or a kei. So apparently it gives them a shock as they`re waiting (dripping in sweat) to cross at the light and notice that the car stopped for them has a non-Japanese driver.

I'd like to ask Nyororin a question: Have you noticed any changes in Japan as far as this topic goes over the 11 years you've been here? If so, what kind of things strike you the most?

This is really pretty hard for me to answer as I have been here straight through the 11 years... So there have been a lot of things that have changed, without a doubt, but the changes are subtle things that add up slowly over the years. In other words, they`re hard to see or think of when put on the spot. And it`s also really hard to distinguish between what has actually changed, and what has changed because I have changed. For example - language ability improves, lifestyle changes, things like that. It can change your perspective and how people react to / treat you. Not to mention the normal changes that Japan has gone through.

I think there is a lot less of the "talking dog" reactions to me speaking Japanese. (As in reacting to the simple fact that I can talk, and not to what I`m saying. Like as if a dog walked up and started talking - no matter how profound and valid the things they say are, the natural first reaction is "Wow! A talking dog!") But I`m not sure whether this is because of my Japanese ability, or whether it`s an actual change. People tend to say that when you stop getting compliments on your Japanese, it`s a sign that you`re actually a good speaker. I`ve found that`s pretty true. Talk of Japanese ability never comes up these days. Once you`re past a certain point, people don`t dare mention it because it`s insulting really.

I have noticed that items and foods from outside Japan have become easier to get, and have become more well known. There has been a huge amount of religious awareness stuff done, so now it is automatically assumed that all foreigners follow a religion and that it should be respected. Japanese people no longer assume I am Brazilian, but more foreigners do (I don`t think I look Brazilian at all... But who knows.)

Most of the stuff I can come up with offhand though are just normal changes in Japan. Like the 24 hour supermarket. Stores being open after 8 and over the New Years holidays. Clothing costing less than an arm and a leg (I`ll never forget the shock when I was here the first time and wanted to pick up a couple t-shirts because I hadn`t packed enough... And discovering that no matter how hard I searched the absolute cheapest I could find was 4000yen, on sale, half off with discounts. And that there were people almost fighting over these "cheap" shirts...)
But that doesn`t really have much to do with foreigners in Japan.

[steven]

That's great! thanks for all that. I love reading your posts because you seem to have a good (as in very reasonable) outlook on your life in Japan. Comparing it to my experience, I don't get that sense of fantasy as I do with some other things I've read online.

I know what you mean about the talking dog thing. I do get a lot less of the "wow you're good at Japanese/you can speak Japanese" these days... but I still definately get it. I could attribute that to both the fact that I still need more work as well as to the fact that I live in the inaka and so I stick out like a slice of white bread sitting in the middle of some rice fields.

"There has been a huge amount of religious awareness stuff done, so now it is automatically assumed that all foreigners follow a religion and that it should be respected. Japanese people no longer assume I am Brazilian, but more foreigners do (I don`t think I look Brazilian at all... But who knows.)"

I'm a fairly laid back person (more so in real life than on the internet) when it comes to talking to people, but I do get tired of people being so concerned about my religion. Personally, I get tired of having to care about everyone elses religion, too. I know I probably offend people by saying stuff like this, but I'm getting to the point of being anti-christian lately. That's one of the things I like about Japan more than about America... is that people are less fanatic (as far as I can tell) about stuff like that... and I really think their society benefits from it. I know most people here are buddhist, and that a lot of the older houses have REALLY expensive butsudans, but they don't seem as sensitive about everything as religious Americans do. Realizing that the door to door christian people in my neighborhood come every weekend is just annoying. I mean, how straight do I have to tell them to get them to stop coming? I think I subscribe to the live and let live idea. Don't get in my way, and I won't get in yours.

[GoNative]

What interests me are what I'd consider bigger entreched issues than just things like being stared at or surprise I can utter more than a few words of Japanese or if a landlord is uncomfortable with me renting an apartment (I own my own house anyway). Those things really don't overly concern me beyond that they are representative of a general ignorance and distrust of foreigners.
What does concern me are things like when Renho became the first Dietmember of mixed ethnic background her ethnicity was brought into question by some politicians and groups within the country. It is this sort of racism at the highest levels of government that concern me as such things then filter down through society and result in some of the more minor things like I referred to above. There are very right wing parties here with considerable political clout that are quite openly racist or at least Japanese supremacists. They are completely opposed to any form of immigration or any diluting of the purity of the Japanese monoculture. And they have reasonable amounts of support out there.
Whether or not things like this affect you I guess depends on whether or not you intend on staying in Japan or moving on at a later stage or whether or not you're the sort of person who just doesn't worry about such things as long as they have little effect on your daily life. And certainly you can live here for a lifetime without ever being overly affected by such things. Certainly helps if you're married to a Japanese national though.
It does affect me a little though to know my daughter who was born and is being raised here will always be treated as a gaijin because she does not look Japanese. It is that sort of entrenched racism that I would like to see this country move on from.

[Nyororin]

Originally Posted by steven

That's great! thanks for all that. I love reading your posts because you seem to have a good (as in very reasonable) outlook on your life in Japan. Comparing it to my experience, I don't get that sense of fantasy as I do with some other things I've read online.

Thank you. I`m here for the long haul - and am a pretty boring person in real life. That`s probably why. We live a pretty dull and normal life. But I think that the normalcy kind of cuts out the fantasy.

I know what you mean about the talking dog thing. I do get a lot less of the "wow you're good at Japanese/you can speak Japanese" these days... but I still definately get it. I could attribute that to both the fact that I still need more work as well as to the fact that I live in the inaka and so I stick out like a slice of white bread sitting in the middle of some rice fields.

I don`t know. I don`t really think that location changes the situation all that much. I get the same reactions up in Fukui as I do in Nagoya. Being out in the countryside doesn`t seem to make that much difference. Actually, I`m almost wanting to say that when it comes to older people - in the countryside you`re less likely to get a surprise reaction. They seem to think it`s perfectly natural for everyone to speak Japanese and don`t give a second thought to it.

I'm a fairly laid back person (more so in real life than on the internet) when it comes to talking to people, but I do get tired of people being so concerned about my religion.

People talk to you a lot about it? I usually only get questions or "sensitivity" around holidays. Or is this about outside Japan?

I don`t want to get into religious discussion - it`s a no-no on here - but besides the handful of people who go around door to door... I don`t think it`s such a bad thing. People who do strictly follow religions are probably very happy to be receiving more acceptance and understanding of it in Japan. The other side to this though is the assumption that everyone who is not Japanese is strictly following some religion.

Originally Posted by GoNative

It does affect me a little though to know my daughter who was born and is being raised here will always be treated as a gaijin because she does not look Japanese. It is that sort of entrenched racism that I would like to see this country move on from.

It is my view that changes need to start on the legal level - changing laws to make the legal treatment of long term residents the same as the legal treatment of Japanese is a start. Otherwise, it strikes me as being similar to just wiping up the water from a leaking pipe without bothering to try and stop the leak itself. No matter how hard you work to mop up that water, the pipe is just going to keep leaking more out to replace what you wiped up.
It is very hard to expect the bottom to change without changing anything further up. This is why protests against signs in red light districts, against things like being asked about sushi, etc etc just cheapens the whole deal and makes it that much harder to get people to listen to you long enough to bring their attention to the legal issues... Most of which the average person is not aware of.

Another bit is that people need to realize that getting benefits, special treatment, etc is just as bad as being excluded from getting normal services, and being treated as less. Either way and you`re STILL being treated differently, and you`re STILL "different". Even if it`s in a way that is positive from your view. It does nothing to reduce issues, and makes things worse much of the time.

A good example I like to give is this;
Let us say a landlord has the opinion that foreign renters are troublemakers, that they cause more of a headache than they`re worth, get upset about stuff easily (trash rules, community cleaning, etc), and the like. He decides to not rent to foreigners.
Do you A; Talk to him about the issue in depth and do your best to educate him about reality, and give him an outlet for if this really happens (ie. Provide a support group to deal with issues...) and try to change his mind...
Or B; Tell him that if he doesn`t stop the policy you`re going to sue him out of business and make his life suck. (Talking to him first about the issue is optional)

Which will give him a better opinion of foreigners? Which do you think will change his mind?
Even if B gets the result you want (he rents to you/foreigners), do you really think his opinion is going to change? I don`t. I think it will only be worse. And the opinion he may have kept to himself is far more likely to be spread "Avoid dealing with foreigners at all! They`re nothing but trouble!!" Especially if there is legal action taken in the end.

This type of "Making a statement" activism simply doesn`t work well in Japan. It doesn`t get the type of reaction you would expect in the west. You don`t get people rising up and thinking about the issue - instead you get shock and everyone sides with the landlord and tosses the issue into the "lawsuit crazy foreigner!" bin.

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by MMM

Really? I have spent much time in Osaka, and stares from anyone over the age of 5 just doesn't happen. I am very obviously non-Japanese, and speak well enough to do whatever I need to do. On my last trip (earlier this year) I was impressed that only once was I complimented on my Japanese. Not once did anyone try to speak to me in English.

Regarding the original post, I lived in Japan for a few years in the 90s, and never experienced anything I would consider racism. Sure there were questions (I worked at a high school) but no negative experiences whatsoever.

Um yes really...

Its not everyone of course and it doesnt happen all the time. But it does happen often enough for me to notice.

[Sashimister]

Originally Posted by GoNative

There is an element in Japan that will not tolerate any criticism of Japan at all, mostly made up of ultra nationalists and right wing groups. They are especially intolerant of any criticism of Japan from foreigners.

How would those guys be so different from people like you who complain about things Japanese all day every day? Haters are haters. At least they have the guts to do it using loud speakers out on the street and you don't.

I have no respect for foreigners like you, none, who can't even start to read or write the country's language after having lived here for several years. And you weren't forced to live in Japan unwillingly, either. I do actually see a kind of racism in the line of thinking that we should learn English but you don't have to learn Japanese or that we do things just the way you do Down Under so you have an easier time living here.