Unbelievable racism in Japan

[Janus]

It is also common to be denied the right to own housing based on race throughout Japan. The most common excuse is that foreigners are loud and more likely to be disruptive. The Japanese media also portrays foreigners as trouble-makers. This xenophobia, which can be traced to the beginnings of the Tokugawa shogunate, is due in part to the fact that Japan is still somewhat of a traditional society and many Japanese rarely have the opportunity to interact with foreigners. This type of discrimination occurs in other countries as well, though less noticeable, and is due in part to many socio-cultural factors.

If the Japanese discriminate against their own race and nationality such as the Ainu, Burakumin, and Ryukyuan, then it's definitely surprising that they discriminate against non-Japanese.

The Constitution prohibits discrimination of race, gender, and social status but discrimination is still widespread. However, the fact that the government officials have supported this intolerance of foreigners and strong nationalism is still startling. Both these factors can lead to discrimination.

[JazzRemington]

Racism in Japan IS widespread, the problem is that the media does a good job of covering it up or playing it down. Racism in Japan is a little different than in most countries. Whereas in other countries, it's "you are one of them," in Japan it's "you are not one of us," what with Japan being very group oriented and all. They tend to tag all foreigners as being rude and disrespectful to Japanese culture and ways of life.

I remember hearing a story a while ago that a little girl was bullied rather severly for having "a little Korean" in her., though by majority she was Japanese.

[praxis1966]

But do you suggest that blind faith in a system which was made up in the 19th century and which interpretations have kind of failed in the 20th century should be followed blindly?

Dude, you don't do a whole lot of reading, do you? Try looking up Antonio Gramsci, an Italian communist who did most of his writing in the first quarter of the 20th century. The guy practically invented syndicalism. While you're at it, check out the history of the Wobblies in the U$ (aka the Industrial Workers of the World). They totally did away with Marx's analysis that capitalism is self-defeating, but still should be smashed because it is inhumane. After that, check out a guy named Paolo Freire. He's from right around the corner from you, a little place you may have heard of: Brazil. Most of his best work was written in the 1970s.

Communism doesn't begin and end with Marx and Engles, companero.

[fernando]

No. I did not suggest that. Please re-read my post.
I wonder why you would want to be in the club since you clearly have lost the 'spark' which brought you to the left.

Then what do you mean by this:
Sorry mate, but what are you doing in the 'commie club' then?
guess there isn't so high a bar for admission to it.

And do I want to be here? Well there are certain ideas I agree with and other ideas with which I dont agree.

Well sure, over time people can be conditioned to see anything as normal.

That can be said about any form of morality Your culture gives you your conceptions of right and wrong.

Those who do not share the ideas of communist society have a vested self interest in exploitation, personal accumulation of vast wealth, and/or oppression.

So everybody who isnt a communist is a selfish person who is only interested in oppression and exploitation? That is what you are suggesting here.

I certainly have no moral qualms with putting these human barriers to a better society in their rightful place.

So its ok to oppress people who dont agree with communism, but its bad to oppress any other minority? <_<

Dude, you don&#39;t do a whole lot of reading, do you? Try looking up Antonio Gramsci, an Italian communist who did most of his writing in the first quarter of the 20th century. The guy practically invented syndicalism. While you&#39;re at it, check out the history of the Wobblies in the U&#036; (aka the Industrial Workers of the World). They totally did away with Marx&#39;s analysis that capitalism is self-defeating, but still should be smashed because it is inhumane. After that, check out a guy named Paolo Freire. He&#39;s from right around the corner from you, a little place you may have heard of: Brazil. Most of his best work was written in the 1970s.

Communism doesn&#39;t begin and end with Marx and Engles, companero.

Thank you&#33; Finally somebody who doesnt turn all "you have to agree with us or else you are the enemy&#33;&#33;&#33;" I&#39;ll definately try to look up some of these things, Im here to learn more so this kicks ass&#33;

[fernando]

The racial classification system itself doesnt seem wrong, I mean the idea of race itself is a cultural thing. I mean if you look at the Brazilian racial classification system you are "lighter" when you are successful and "darker" when you are less successful. However, and this is where I agree with you (perhaps I kinda fucked up in my previous posts) the fact that a person would be excluded from society because he is part of a certain "race" is wrong.

South Africa followed a racial classification system which did have variations in races if I recall correctly, the white ones were just on top. Same goes for the WWII German (Nazi) one...however they also included Jews as a race, and their racial classification system had lots of ranks. (Aryan on top, jew on the bottom)
The Mississipy system, same as the South African one, had variation, not just the "us" and "them" like they have in Japan.

However if change is to be made it should be done bottom-up I think, so support the resistance against this traditionalism, trying to educate the people. Simply imposing something in the lines of "now you will follow our morality or suffer the consequences" isnt a very effective way of doing so.

[red_orchestra]

I have lived in Japan. I too have seen these signs in a very select few "elite" resturants and spas. I have never been told to leave because of my "race" or "country of origion". I remember meeting an East Indian fellow who told me that he could not enter a resturant because he "dirty" the resturants image. Pretty sick...
I actually made an attempt to contact a few close Japanese friends of mine and we went to the resturant with the East Indian fellow we met. We confronted the owner and asked why he said such a thing...
The owner said he was in the buisness of serving Japanese people only- he didn&#39;t like "curry eaters" ie/ East Indians. I wanted to knock his motherfuckin&#39; teeth out&#33; It all ended peaceful, I might ask and the buiness owner was told off and has his licence "black-marked" - later revoked because of his ill treatment of the cities guests.

[Shredder]

Japan has somehow achieved special immunity status when it comes to reactionary behavior. I have pointed out the terribly backward and racist culture of Japan, only to be called a racist for making such accusations. I reckon this has something to do with a nerd love of videogames and anime. Somewhere along the lines, a small trend sprouted up in the US which holds Japanese culture in high regard because of a few weird imports, when in reality the culture is highly racist and highly sexist. It is far more backward than any other "first world" nation.

[Vladislav]

One of my good friend&#39;s has a simple solution : put the same signs up in Korea except this time saying : KOREANS AND FOREIGNERS ONLY.NO JAPANESE.
I, being a communist,disagree with this. However, being Russian, I do not disagree with the drunken behaviour that my race may show. Japs seem to be very strict with rules and show a huge disgust at this sort of behaviour, however they have no right to put up signs like that. This is the first time I&#39;ve seen this sort of thing, but my views of Japanese has changed greatly.

[coda]

<<Example two: hypodecent. Hypodecent is a system which assumes that when a child is of "mixed blood" it would take the race of the parent which is an ethnic minority. So you could have a white child who has a black mother, this child would be classified as black.>>

Thanks Fernando, I am writing a paper about the racist blood quantum policies of the US and the "one drop rule".

I found this quote that sums up what you said nicely:

"The United States is the only country in the world in which a white mother can have a black child but a black mother cannot have a white child."