Japan and foreigners

[DragonQuestWes]

I'm sure we're all aware of the fact that there are some issues with non-Japanese ethnic groups in Japan. I don't usually talk about this on a daily basis because it's not my biggest concern.

I consider myself to be a Japanophile (but not an "otaku" or "weeaboo"). I've been there before and I thought it was a nice place and I'm currently thinking about visiting again. As of for living there, I'd like to, but I don't really know if I can be there forever considering the limitations on foreigners. I even had to get my picture taken too after showing them my passport.

But what I want to ask you guys is "What's your thoughts and opinions on Japanese discrimination?" There are a few incidents such as when American-born Japanese citizen Debito Arudou sued a bath house for having a sign saying "Japanese Only."

Personally, I think Japan is no more or less racist than any other nation out there in the world. Sure there's a lot of nationalism over there but there's nationalism everywhere. I do however would like to see them loosen up a little on foreigner restrictions. I personally found it to be ridiculous when they payed a Brazilian worker to go back to her home nation.

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

Debito Arudou is a pathetic dick. I'd discriminate against such an arsehole myself, simply because he is so disgusting. Him and his imported American doors for his shitty gaijin-house in Ebetsu.

It's actually true that Japanese society is rather xenophobic however, for cultural and historical reasons. I don't fancy worthless fucktards like Debito Arudou will do anything about that issue however. More like make it worse.

I remember a site he linked to which basically complained about "Japanese statism" and demanded more free market, globalisation and liberalism. It was pretty disgusting.

Doesn't many South American countries have similarly restrictive immigration policies? I think many refuse to give work permit to anyone except when there really exists no one in the country that can do a certain task.

Moving to any other country is always a terrible hassle and great difficulty, no matter where. The requirements are often absurd and the bureaucratic regulation confusing as hell.

[DragonQuestWes]

Debito Arudou is a pathetic dick. I'd discriminate against such an arsehole myself, simply because he is so disgusting. Him and his imported American doors for his shitty gaijin-house in Ebetsu.

It's actually true that Japanese society is rather xenophobic however, for cultural and historical reasons. I don't fancy worthless fucktards like Debito Arudou will do anything about that issue however. More like make it worse.

I remember a site he linked to which basically complained about "Japanese statism" and demanded more free market, globalisation and liberalism. It was pretty disgusting.

Doesn't many South American countries have similarly restrictive immigration policies? I think many refuse to give work permit to anyone except when there really exists no one in the country that can do a certain task.

Moving to any other country is always a terrible hassle and great difficulty, no matter where. The requirements are often absurd and the bureaucratic regulation confusing as hell.

Speaking of "Free Market" and "worthless fucktards," I came across a couple of YouTube users who were British and living in Japan. One of them was a Free-Market Objectivist and the other was some fundamentalist Christian who constantly preaches about how "Communism is the devil." I couldn't even get past 15 seconds of any of their videos because of how batshit insane they were.

I can agree that acting like a "Baka na Gaijin" is just asking for trouble. Just like those American soldiers who raped an Okinawan schoolgirl. Sometimes I wonder if part of the reason for the xenophobia is because of the shit America has done to Japan.

I don't know much about immigration laws in South America nor do I know much about their job market there, but I do know there's been lots of job opportunities in China last time I checked.

[scarletghoul]

Japan is a very racist society.

However discrimination against Americans and other 'westerners' is not such a concern, as they are usually disgusting imperialist pig capitalists or occupying soldiers or whatever. The Japanese have good reason to hate Americans to be honest, given the ongoing US occupation.

What is troubling is the racism against oppressed minorities, like Koreans, Ainu, Chinese, Okinawans, etc. Many of them are not considered true Japanese and are segregated from the rest of society. For example Koreans go to special Korean schools (usually aligned with DPRK) and are not allowed into Japanese universities. In other words the racism is institutionalised, aswell as being perpetuated in culture. There is also the case of the Burakumin who are not a seperate 'race' but an 'untouchable' social group like the dalits.

Racism is very accepted and casual in Japan, it seems. I remember a few years ago a Prime Minister said he wanted to make the country a place where rich Jews would like to live . There seems to be an perception that the country is only for ethnic Japanese, and all minorities are regarded as foreigners, theres not acceptance that the country can be multi-ethnic

most westerners in Japan are disgusting pigs who deserve it though tbh.

EDIT: The other side of this is that Japanese are encouraged to view 'westerners' as superior and more beautiful.. Many get operations to have more 'western' eyes and so on. It's horrible. Anime for example uses some western features like big eyes and pale skin. The same is true in South Korea. This is a very interesting and troubling blog entry on racism being encouraged in South Korea - http://metropolitician.blogs.com/scr...do_korean.html

[Hiratsuka]

most westerners in Japan are disgusting pigs who deserve it though tbh.

Tbh you need to rethink your reactionary views.

[Raúl Duke]

I've been to Japan years ago and had a nice time.

Although I wouldn't be surprised if they were racist...
I remember watching this (9 minutes in they stalk about immigrants) and they had a part talking about immigrants.
While Japan is relatively open to visitors, Japan isn't very open to immigrants, they're not even that open to ethnic Koreans/Chinese that were born in Japan unless they completely and totally assimilate.

American-born Japanese citizen Debito Arudou

TBH, sometimes he complains about the most irrelevant shit (I remember reading something about some field day in Japan and he had some lame ass complaint about it; I thought it was stupid because America does the same kind of indoctrination towards the state; it's what schools usually do!) and he's quite insufferable I imagine.

[Queercommie Girl]

To be frank the Japanese are more racist towards the Chinese than towards any Western nation, even though historically much of Japanese culture was derived from that of China.

[FreeFocus]

Japan seems pretty xenophobic, although I admire what they did during the 1600s, preventing the spread of Christianity and defending themselves against European colonialism.

[The Red Next Door]

There was a point, when i wanted to move to Japan, but i cancel that Idea, after learning about the hardships i could face being an immigrant.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Certainly wouldn't stop me from visiting.

[Pavlov's House Party]

most westerners in Japan are disgusting pigs who deserve it though tbh.

So racism is OK in Japan as long as it's against white people? Fucking disgusting.

[khad]

^cry about your white privilege somewhere else.

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2010/0...-want-to-date/

Top 10 foreign nationalities Japanese would like to date.

1. USA – 4,194
2. Italy – 3743
3. UK – 3,467
4. France – 3,249
5. Korea – 2,706
6. Spain – 1,535
7. Russia – 1,256
8. Germany – 1,195
9. Brazil – 396
10. China – 296

[Raúl Duke]

Italy is almost 1st place yay

[DragonQuestWes]

Top 10 foreign nationalities Japanese would like to date.

1. USA – 4,194
2. Italy – 3743
3. UK – 3,467
4. France – 3,249
5. Korea – 2,706
6. Spain – 1,535
7. Russia – 1,256
8. Germany – 1,195
9. Brazil – 396
10. China – 296

I figured USA would be on the top for some reason. A lot of Japanese tend to admire Americans. At least the nice looking ones.

[Hiratsuka]

The other side of this is that Japanese are encouraged to view 'westerners' as superior and more beautiful..

I highly doubt that Asians in predominantly Asian nations teach themselves that Westerners are better. Anime is not a symptom of feeling inferior. The first anime developers were emulating American characters like Betty Boop and Bugs Bunny. Disproportionate eyes are everywhere a symbol of youth: human infants have large eyes relative to their head mass.

A lot of Japanese and Chinese youth have a fascination with American culture, and surprise, surprise, there's a huge group of American youth who are fascinated by Asian culture. It's just a fascination with what's different.

[Hiratsuka]

^cry about your white privilege somewhere else.

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2010/0...-want-to-date/

Top 10 foreign nationalities Japanese would like to date.

1. USA – 4,194
2. Italy – 3743
3. UK – 3,467
4. France – 3,249
5. Korea – 2,706
6. Spain – 1,535
7. Russia – 1,256
8. Germany – 1,195
9. Brazil – 396
10. China – 296

Half those nationalities aren't even commonly considered white.

I don't even know what one would call "American."

[727Goon]

It is totally disgusting I don't understand why people think it's okay to be racist against people just because they're white. I mean you're still judging someone because of their race and not whether they're a good person

There's a lot more racist against white people than people tend to realize, like how people stereotype white people as all being racist or stupid and won't talk to you just cause you're white. Even here in Baltimore where I live there are neighborhoods where you just can't go if you're a white person, how is that okay? I remember in middle school these puerto rican kids used to steal my lunch money and call me names like "cracker" and "fucking polack" how is that any different from using the n-word?

I think people in Japan need to relax and learn that we're all the same and welcome all kinds of people to their country not just asians

Awwww ickle whitey had his feewings hurt by the big bad negroes and illegals?

[MilkmanofHumanKindness]

Awwww ickle whitey had his feewings hurt by the big bad negroes and illegals?

Shut the fuck up. That is not at all what he said. Although that doesn't make what he said correct, it doesn't give you the right to act like a dick.

[bricolage]

I remember in middle school these puerto rican kids used to steal my lunch money and call me names like "cracker" and "fucking polack" how is that any different from using the n-word?

No Puerto Ricans ever had crackers as slaves.

"Billy cried "reverse racism" when the black boy called him a 'cracker' since it was not acceptable for Billy to call the boy 'nigger'. It's hard to understand how Billy was offended since no ancestor of his had even been called a 'cracker' as he was savagely whipped by a black man who owned him."
http://reverse-racism.urbanup.com/1081178

[Raúl Duke]

Most Puerto Ricans born and raised on the island don't normally have those words in their vocabulary, especially not the polish term.

They sound like nuyericans to me, in other words American.