Racism in Japan

[Lanky Sempai]

My wife was just spat on while walking across the road from our local gym.
I wasnt there, mores the pity, though having a 6'4" male with her probably would've curtailed said event.
Now, not only am I filled with the most overwhelming rage and urge to kill, but I have lost a certain ampount of respect for this country and culture.
Wake the fuck up Japan, pull your heads out of your arses.
And yes, before the tirades of "one person doesn't make a counrty" and all the rest of the rhetoric come raining down on this thread, I dont think all Japanese people are fundamentally rascist, BUT, there is an overwhelming sense of being UNwelcome here. I am past rage now, and Im just sad. Its quite pathetic when you think about it, how scared do you need to be to pull bullshit like that?

[boldbhoy]

Sorry to hear of this, shocking to say the least!

[Satori]

This is freaky - I was just about to create a thread asking if it's true that although the Japanese are great towards tourists, they treat the foreigners living there like dirt. Sorry to hear mate.

[nzproud]

Lanky Sempai, i'm sorry to hear that.. You know there are always people like that in New Zealand too.. Pm'd ya.

[vapor]

I am sorry to hear this. It certainly isn't the Japan that I know and love- although I had a handful of experiences that make you shake your head.

vapor

[Billy no mates]

It seems to be a Universal failing,our penchant for being unpleasent to each other over vague notions of blood and belonging are ironically something most cultures seem to have a share off,doesnt make it any less sad though .

[Kris]

Was this a one time thing or did you suffer more of the same kind? Maybe it was an accident?

I have been living in Japan for 2 years now and have got nothing but respect. Just came back from a BBQ party at the dojo...

[Satori]

Accidentally spitting on someone? Can you come up with a semi-realistic scenario of how that might happen?

Kris what nationality are you? Do you stand out as a foreigner?

[Lanky Sempai]

It was no accident.
We have experienced racism here a few times, not the least was being refused membership from a video store because we are gaijin.
There are some f**king stupid people here.
That said, NZProud makes and excellent and equally true point, there are f**king stupid people everywhere. What we need is some kind of "dumb vaccine", oh wait!! we have one, education.

[Kyokugen]

sad to hear that,,but we all know that, there is always people like that around the world,anyway they just small community so maybe you can fix your point of view because i believe not all japanese having bad attitude like that

[vapor]

Having or not having a gaijin registration card makes a huge difference in how stores treat you....doesn't seem right, but enough people have soured things for those of us who are responsible.

vapor

[Satori]

What the devil is a gaijin registration card?

[vapor]

What the devil is a gaijin registration card?

The actual wording on the card is "Alien Registration Card"

Basically it is your official id....after you register yourself at the city or ward office that you live in.

Basically, police or other officials can ask to see it at any time, and not having it on you can land you in some hot water.

(Police in my neighborhood waved me over last year, acting like cops do every once in a while...because they were in the middle of this big sting to deport foreiners who had overstayed their visa....when they asked, in perfect Japanese I replied if showing my Japanese drivers license would help them to confirm my identity beyond just showing them my id card...they never bothered me once from that point on!)

vapor

[smoothsake]

Lanky senpai,

That is most unfortunate to hear of. Seeing that you are in Tokyo I find this even harder to fathom. Big city people are familiar with the frequency of gaijins walking amongst them. If you aren't Asian, try walking around the countryside and take notice of all the looks you will get. It will surely feel awkward. But to be spat on... that is unforgivable.

The Japanese people, historically, as you probably well know, have a very open mind to all things west, but have a very closed mind to their neighboring Asian countries. That usually is communicated through hard looks or unwillingness to help, not usually in violence or words or spit. There are however, as you pointed out, dumb people everywhere. In Japan, there are plenty -- fascists, yakuza, bosuzoku, furita, enjyo kosai, etc.

There are goods and bads with every country. I personally love Japan and for a long time thought the country was far superior to the my native US, but in fact there was something positive and equally negative about each country. Like yin and yang. So be the bigger man, and don't resort to kill. Just train harder. Osu!

[Shokei Marcsui]

We cannot let one person represent the feelings for the rest of a culture. Could you conclude that America has extreme hatred towards other cultures that are not Anglo based on the Ku Klux Klan?

I cannot say what I would have done being in your situation.. I commend you and your wife for being the "bigger man".

[boldbhoy]

It reminds me of a very distasteful incident in my own country.
A few years ago, I was in my then girlfriends hometown in Ayrshire walking to the fish and chip shop having just been to Glasgow to watch a soccer match (Celtic)
I had always heard how hostile that area was to Celtic/Catholics/Irish,
but had until then never experienced too much bother.
A middle aged couple were shouting obscenities about fenians and Catholics
etc. I never knew until after it that it was all directed at us for wearing green! I had been a few yards away from my girlfriend at the time.
Worse, Jacqueline never told me until I got home that she had been spat on too, mostly by this respectable looking woman!!!
Well, I was absolutely raging. I didn't have the patience and tolerance I have now.
My family came here 160 years ago, I might be fully accepted soon by all.
Well perhaps not......
I have changed through my training. I only feel sadness and pity for them.
Imagine having to go through life burdened by hatred and resentment in your heart??!!!?? Wow!
ps, we all look the same too! They have to ask questions ie which school did we attend or judge us (sometimes wrongly) by our names, if it sounds Irish or whatever.
Not to worry, I know loads of great people here and abroad, I would
definitely recommend travel for bigots. Osu!

[Kamikaze]

Sad to hear bro. But as people have said there are assholes in any country :(

[Kris]

Accidentally spitting
Kris what nationality are you? Do you stand out as a foreigner?

Swedish, Yes I have blue eyes and a typical Scandinavian look sort of.

[Aunty Ichigeki]

Ew that makes me FURIOUS! I wonder why Musashi didn't unleash some savage Rotorua violence on them? Boldbhoy is right though, you can only feel pity for people who are so angry... imagine what all that rage and idiocy does to their lives & relationships. :(

[Kris]

What the devil is a gaijin registration card?

A lot of things in Japan requires proper ID, such as getting a membership at Tsutaya (video rental shop) or getting a mobile phone.

Gaijin card (http://gaijindo.com/blog/2006/08/16/what-is-a-gaijincard/) or drivers licence works best, foreign passports not so good.

http://gaijindo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/gd2.jpg

[TakatomiMonsta]

Yeah, that sucks bro. I lived in Japan for three years and you definately get extremes at both ends of the spectrum. I guess the only thing to remember is what everyone has said already, you come across shits like that everywhere. Blatant racism is the worst kind of abuse though, so my sympathy to you and your wife.

[Shura]

I'm sorry to hear that about what happened to your wife. It's disappointing that a fun and cultured nation like Japan would do that to you and your spouse, Lanky Sempai.
When I visited Japan thee years ago (first time) to visit my cousin Jung-Bae (his father is Zainichi Korean), I got an eye-opener on how some Japanese treated Koreans, even third generation ones like Jung-Bae who don't even have a good grasp of Korean and was born and lives in Japan.
Reading through a world context from a Japanese perspective, it's true that the Japanese people in varying degrees have some form of xenophobia whether intentionally or not. It's not acceptable, but Japan is not the only nation guilty of this.
Even here in the States, I still get a few snickers and mock accents when I go out. I even had a few old people remark,"My, you speak good English. Most Chinese aren't that fluent.", these are people that I've never met before and yet for some reason, they can automatically assume that I'm of Chinese origin (which I'm not, but I'd be proud if I was), and that I'm not an American that happens to have Asian heritage. Even when I visited South Korea at age 9, I was subject to some pretty nasty experiences when the neighborhood kids found out that I was Korean-American and were mocking me for my "Yankee" accent and told me to go back to where I came from. So wherever you go, you're bound to meet some ignorant people, but don't let them ruin experiences for you. In the long run, they don't matter, and more people will wise up from their preconceived ideas and attitudes.

[ksan]

Osu,

A thing like this takes away a little of the shine that surrounds the reputation of a country like japan. Lets hope it was an isolated incident. I hope your wife and you are OK Sempai Lanky.

Osu

Ksan

[Lonewolf]

OSU! I am very sorry for what happened to your wife and you in Japan. It's nonsense like this that keeps us from progressing even further as human beings, created in GOD'S image. Whenever something like this happens anywhere in the World(including Japan), it basically boils down to "fear" and "ignorance". Educated and enlightned people do not behave like this. It is so sad to me. Education on all cultures and heritages is the answer to prevent things like this from occurring in the future. I thank God that when I see anyone, regardless of their ethniticity or national origin, I only see a person in front of me who I don't judge except for their character and personality. Again, I am sorry that your wife and you had to endure this terrible experience. OSU!

[Bloke]

Sorry to hear about that Lanky.

Any form of racism is intolerable but being spat on takes it to a new level. I was spat on once in an incident at a party - nothing to do with racism - just a drunk relative of a friend but I was so incensed - I walked away but I was really down about it for days so I can only begin to imagine what it must be like when it happens in a racist situation.

As everyone has said dont let the actions of the few taint the reputation of the many.

[bushido spirit]

soor to hear that bro. but beliv it or not it happens all around the world there r some dis-respectfull ppl unwell educated

[nzproud]

Next time brazillian kick them. :D They won't see it coming.

[Mindster]

Well, if even here in Brazil (a known miscigened country) There are minouries that beat people up for being black or things like that (they say they're white but 99,9% have black people in the blood) what can we say from Japan? The world is just stupid, and if you beat them up, you'll pass the rest of your life beating stupid people...

[cochito]

Sorry for reviving very old thread, but I feel so sorry for anybody discriminated. As a Japanese, I feel extremely ashamed of nasty racism in my country. It seems many Japanese people are not aware of what racism is. I once met somebody who said there's no racism in Japan :mad:. I witnessed Korean-Japanese, Iranians, and Filipinos suffer so much hatred in Japan. Maybe, the misunderstanding of what racism is come from the fact Japan is not as diverse as other nations, such us the U.S.
I want to thank my parents, who raised me sensible and who didn't hesitate to teach me about the racism in Japan.
Again, please accept my apology.
Osu-JP1

[ANTSAN]

Osu, I've heard quite a bit about the poor treatment towards foreigners in Japan, however I hear South Korea is far worse.
I travelled to Japan a while ago now and didn't experience racism as such but certainly got plenty of attention due to having blonde hair. Recently I've been thinking of heading back again with the intention of possibly tying in some Kyokushin training but it's stories like this that make the idea a little less enticing...

[Dent]

Osu!

IMO, we are all brought up with preconceptions and misconceptions. Everyone will risk being slighted if we choose to focus on the negative. No country can be judged by the actions of less than 100% of the citizens. Given that no country is likely to have everyone agree all at once, believing the actions of some as being representative of all is going to blind us to the potential of the others.

If those who choose to see the best in each other band together, then those who see the worst will simply be pushed aside. Positive thinking at a group level is just as strong as for individuals, while negative thinking is its own reward.

I wouldn't allow possible racism to deter me from my travels in the past, and certainly won't for the future either. Be positive, be respectful, and be happy. Why bother with anything else? :)

Osu!

[dreadful]

it is sad to hear that especially when you are doing martial arts and when you are doing it to become a better man or woman in you behaviour and your everyday life; however try to focus on the good moments you 've had there and try to ignore the rest . There is jerks every where.

[Martin]

Well, this IS a very unpleaseant event... I live in Chile, at the very south of southamerica, and as you know we aren't very welcomed at ANY country because of stupid racism that have nothing to do with what kind of persons we are....
Sorry to hear about this, I though that this didn't happened in every part of the world... shame to hear that I was wrong.
Osu!

[Dent]

Osu!

Well, this IS a very unpleaseant event... I live in Chile, at the very south of southamerica, and as you know we aren't very welcomed at ANY country because of stupid racism that have nothing to do with what kind of persons we are....
Sorry to hear about this, I though that this didn't happened in every part of the world... shame to hear that I was wrong.
Osu!

I'm a little confused here, Martin. Are you saying that you aren't welcome because of race, or because of national origin?

Osu!

[Martin]

Ohh sorry if I didn't make myself clear enough (lenguage issues xD), We (latinamerican people)as you probably know are called "sudaca" and words like that, and in general we don't have a very good reputation, but, the fact of being chilean (on Europe at least) gives you extra troubles, specially in Spain and the countrys nearby... I was refering to both, race and nationality... I think any discrimination is bad, but this thing comes along with being human, nothing to do about it.
Osu!

[Hontoda]

I think any discrimination is bad, but this thing comes along with being human, nothing to do about it.
Osu!

I understand your point but I think there IS something to do about it. People who descriminate others are usualy less educated. Especialy German people are very concerned about discrimination and due to the German history, there is no tolerance towards discrimination of others. However, stupid people exist everywhere in the world but if I compare my bad experiences with all the good experiences it's like 1:999999. By the way, I have never been treated so well like in Japan before. Everyone was so unbelievable friendly and I found many new friends and even love in Japan.

[Bloke]

I hate to say it but racism is growing here in Ireland and I just dont understand it. There was a time in the UK many many years ago when boarding houses would have signs saying "No Irish No Blacks" so you would think we would have some empathy but no sadly we dont - makes me sick.

EDIT: Im not picking on the UK just using one example - just explaining in case I offend someone

[Dent]

Osu!

Racism is as much about fear as anything else. People fear what is different, and some choose to prey on those fears.

Let me use South Africa as an example. Decades of division and oppression under the system of Apartheid was recognized as being a terrible violation of human rights. It was dismantled in the early '90's, and 1994 saw the first real general election. 14 years later, and fear of the current economic and crime situation led those same people who directly suffered from the abuses of Apartheid to inflict mob attacks on foreigners.

Why? Well, I believe it was the easiest target available. Disenfranchised people with little, or no, support within the government. Sound like anything in the country's own recent history?

We are constantly in the position of taking a moral stance. As Karateka, we know that character doesn't come with only one skin color. We should stand united in our condemnation of racism at all levels.

Osu!