Off Limits?

Glenski said:

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pipokun wrote:
Enlighten me. What exactly is it they are planning? I have seen zero in the way of anti-discrimination legislation proposed (in the English media, anyway).

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窶堙つ人ﾅ陳?窶琶ﾅ津ｬ窶邸ﾋ? (Jinken Yougo Houan)

The myopic state we're in
Fingerprint scheme exposes xenophobic, short-sighted trend in government
By DEBITO ARUDOU

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Ask him for your enlightenment. I believe he often enlightens you to offer translation of J media.
I am not for or against his/your opinons, but they are the good example you can be politically loud in Japan.

For anyone who truly, honestly believes there is no racism in Japan

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Where could I meet him/here?

Ah, Azabu, the oasis of tranquility. Let's have all of the millions of foreigners move there, ok?

Get out more. Even the Rogue's Gallery has postings for Tokyo. Open your eyes.

But, it is clear you don't give a hoot about this issue.

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I grew up in central Tokyo. The reason why I said Azabu is because that is the neighbourhood I know alot about. It's not a big problem. Debitto wish it was a big problem.

What? Is that a typo? I really can't believe you wrote that.

It seems that when some people discuss Japan, normally accepted moral standards are set aside.

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It is not a typo. I am very liberal. I think people can choose ideology, religion as they please and also choose to serve drinks, rent out apartments to people who they please.

Please do not start to moralise. It will only make yourself look racist. " I have such good moral values, the Japanese don't."

There are different types of racism. I would not support hate crimes. Or any kind of violent assults but apart from that if Neo Nazis want to march down town or whatever or if some guy don'twant to serve drinks to some dude. It's not my call. As stupid as their ideas might be we live in a free society. The freedom to be an idiot seen from your view is also a human right.

I really think a lot of teens should read this thread, along with any linked articles. To me this shows me about the strugges that Japan has with goverment, forieners, and rules and regulations. It doesn't put a negative light on Japan, but it does show that Japan has its ups and downs like the rest of the world.

Its weird to me when a teen is telling me how much they love Japan, they want to live there, and just give up America. They are only letting themseleves see one aspect of the society.

I like Japan of course, I havne't been so I can't say I want to live there. I like to ask myself questions on why I like a certain thing, and I really enjoy these forums to answer a lot of questions I have. Instead of just liking Japan, I have a lot more respect for Japan, they deal with hard issues.

centrajapan said:

I grew up in central Tokyo. The reason why I said Azabu is because that is the neighbourhood I know alot about. It's not a big problem. Debitto wish it was a big problem.

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Well, perhaps your tiny sector of the world has little or no obvious (I stress the word "obvious") discrimination. Japan is bigger than just Azabu, and I'm quite flabbergasted that any foreign resident of Tokyo, where the governor is a known racist, would not recognize such discrimination beyond his own little district's boundaries.

Debito is not the only person who believes this is a big problem. The UN also does.
DISCRIMINATION IN JAPAN "DEEP", U.N. REP SAYS AFTER NINE DAY-VISIT
Kyodo News, Monday, July 11, 2005 (excerpt)
www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=&id=343139
ﾂ TOKYO--Discrimination in Japan is "deep and profound," with government leaders lacking recognition of the depth of the problem and the public having a "strong xenophobic drive," a U.N. special rapporteur said Monday in wrapping up a nine-day visit in Japan.

ﾂ Doudou Diene of Senegal, appointed by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, called for stronger political will at the highest level to combat the issue, for Japan to enact a national law condemning racism as is obligatory under international conventions, and to improve its public education about minorities in the country.

ﾂ "It will be a long-term task to change people's mentality and it must be done through education," said Diene, special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intoleranceﾂ…

ﾂ "Japan has no comprehensive national law against discrimination," Diene said at a news conferenceﾂ…

ﾂ Diene said he had requested a meeting with Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara, known for his nationalistic views and controversial remarks against foreigners, but was denied an appointmentﾂ…

ﾂ Diene said he shared his preliminary findings with the Japanese government Monday morning and will wait for Japan's response before completing a final report to be submitted to the Commission on Human Rights next March.

ﾂ He will also present a summary of his findings in an interim report to the U.N. General Assembly this autumnﾂ…. (Kyodo News)

centrajapan said:

It is not a typo. I am very liberal. I think people can choose ideology, religion as they please and also choose to serve drinks, rent out apartments to people who they please.

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Yes, people can choose their own ideologies, religion, etc. However, they must also abide by human rights and Japan clearly does not. Refuse service based on nationality is a breach of human rights. You believe in human rights, but you clearly don't believe in enforcing certain aspects of them.

While I question the soruce Japan Today and how a person after 9 days was so sure that racism runs deep. It looks more like the gentleman already made up his opinion before entering Japan then.

I applaud to take a stance against racism and all but I don't agree with the methods. You can't beat a person on top of the head with laws, and regulations and have a screaminmg white American who thinks and wish he is Martin Luther King. I am talking about Debitto here.

You believe in human rights, but you clearly don't believe in enforcing certain aspects of them.

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Human rights or not. I believe more in personal freedom. If I owned a pub I would reserve the right to serve to those who I wish to serve.

centrajapan said:

While I question the soruce Japan Today and how a person after 9 days was so sure that racism runs deep. It looks more like the gentleman already made up his opinion before entering Japan then.

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You need to read more about him and the UN. Japan Today was only one of many news sources that released this report.

Besides, it doesn't take a rocket scientist years of research to see how deep it is here.

Read on:
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=17&ItemID=10066
In July 2005, the United Nations special rapporteur on discrimination and racism, Doudou Diene, went on a nine-day tour of Japan and talked to minority groups, anti-discrimination campaigners and government and police officials around the country. After releasing his preliminary findings to the press last year, Diene handed the completed 23-page report based on his research to the UN Commission on Human Rights in January.
Here is the 2006 report he wrote based on the 2005 visit.
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G06/103/96/PDF/G0610396.pdf?OpenElement

I believe more in personal freedom. If I owned a pub I would reserve the right to serve to those who I wish to serve.

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Seems to me you belive more in your own personal freedom to do whatever you like. That right doesn't exist.

Just for laughs, who would you reserve to right to serve and refuse? And, how would you assess that legally?

I have been to many places in Japan, with much exploration and socialization. I find it is more a matter of what city you're in and who you are that can make you more or less welcome. For example of all the places I've been, I have never been so often turned away as in Sendai, Honshu. All the other cities combined wouldn't equal Sendai. But even there, I had plenty of alternatives. Even when I walked into seedy little establishments that absolutely don't allow foreigners, I was treated with great respect, and kindly asked to leave. Though, It is not common. It is not embarrassing. And they usually put up a sign outside.

If you want to start off easy, only go to businessess that are very open, windowed, or have English writing. Also if it's a chain business you're good to go.

I have never been in a specific geographic area that was Nihonjin only, though an old drunk guy in Sendai did yell at me for being a foreigner. Later on though he apologized, profusely, for blocks. Just be respectful. You will always come out on top. Unlike in America for example, where you can get killed for looking at someone wrong. I know more ways to say 'please', 'thank you,' and 'sorry' in Japanese than in English.

Sure the Japanese are nationalist. Look at their television. They are infinitely fascinated with every aspect of themselves. But so are we, that's why we get along so well. They respect Amerikajin above all other Gaijin.

promontorium said:

For example of all the places I've been, I have never been so often turned away as in Sendai, Honshu. All the other cities combined wouldn't equal Sendai.

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So you found that too about Sendai. I was there last year and while I didn't get turned away from any place, their "no foreigners" signs were quite evident.

Kyushu seemed to be quite the opposite. They were friendly and hospitable.

Glenski said:

Japan is bigger than just Azabu, and I'm quite flabbergasted that any foreign resident of Tokyo,where the governor is a known racist, would not recognize such discrimination beyond his own little district's boundaries.

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His overtly insensitive publicized gaffe fell on deaf ears to some Gaijin,I guess

Gaffe... singular? More like gaffes (plural).

BlueThunderKuno said:

I really want to be a good ambassador of my country when I visit Japan. I have heard there are places that don't allow foreiners, what types of places are these?
I have been trying really hard to make sure I don't infringe on the Japanese people's way of life. I just saw a Tom Green special on when he went to Japan, and it really made me sick to see some of the stuff he did.

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I can imagine how you feel as I did when I first arrived.

I was so conscious of not wanting to do the wrong thing as I thought that Japanese were very polite.

Of course after many years, you soon learn it is not true.

Most city venues appear to be welcoming, or at least make it look like that.

I found in some smaller regional towns you may face discrimination/racism.

You learn to ingore it and laugh it off as it is simply pure ignorance..

Don't let it worry you or otherwise you will never go to Japan.

The Japanese are not always so polite.

So is it kinda like in Mr. Baseball where they kept telling him to "Accept"