Living While Black, in Japan Following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, several black people talk about their experiences of living in Japan and also how racism in the US led to their decisions to move to Japan. All Things Considered, NPR, 16 Sep 2021.
Black in Japan
What's it like to be black in Japan? An article about a video on YouTube in which 8 black people, mostly African-Americans, talk about their experiences of living in Japan. BBC Trending, 19 Oct 2015.
Black in Japan (full documentary) A video interview of eight people on what it's like being black in Japan. 16 Sep, 2015.
Black in Japan (Short version) This is an edited version of the above video. 16 Sep, 2015.
Black in Japan: Shifting the Narrative This is an article about Loranzo Dacres, from Jamaica, whose Black Experience in Japan YouTube Channel feature stories that show a more diverse, and often more positive, range of experiences than we usually see in the media. Nippon.com, 3 Aug 2020. Watch the YouTube channel below
The Black Experience in Japan YouTube Channel Many videos made by and about black people living in Japan form 2017 onwards.
Boy honors dad's roots with cornrow hairstyle, gets segregated at graduation in Japan This article explains the experience of a high school student whose dad is African American and mother Japanese who wore his hair in cornrows for his graduation ceremony to celebrate the African-American part of identity and was not allowed to join the ceremony with other students. It also explains recent criticism of school rules on appearance in Japan. Mainichi Shimbun, 2023.
Identities divided (Pt. 2): Okinawan Amerasians fight racism, embrace their Black roots Stories of mixed roots Okinawans who have one Japanese and one African-American parent. Mainichi Shimbun, 2022. More on AmerAsian people on the Hafu / Double / Hapa /Bicultural - people of mixed race/ethnicity page
Being Black in Japan: Biracial Japanese talk about discrimination and identity Four people with mixed Japanese and black roots talk about their experiences of growing up and living in Japan. The four people are: Raimu Kaminashi, 23, IT professional and model; Ayaka Brandy, 24, artist; Jun Soejima, 36, actor and television personality; and Aisha Harumi Tochigi, 24, Miss Universe Japan 2020. Washington Post, 24 Dec 2020.
Black American is Japan’s top commercial star An article about Dante Carver, the African-American, who has become Japan's No. 1 TV commercial star.
Tennis star Naomi Osaka finds new voice in anti-racism protests Rise to stardom propels Japanese-American player to action on social justice The article reports on Osaka's view on the racial injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement in the US but also her thoughts on Japan and racism. Nikkei Asia, 28 Aug 2020.
Black Lives Matter pushes Japan to confront racism To many Japanese, racism towards black people has long been considered something that happens in the US or Europe, not at home. But Black Lives Matter protests and marches in major cities pushed a debate about racism in the country, and whether enough was being done to confront and change things. BBC News, 28 Aug 2020.
In Japan, the Message of Anti-Racism Protests Fails to Hit Home A view that institutional racism is a faraway problem is keeping the country from more fully confronting entrenched discrimination. This article looks at anti-black and other forms of racism in Japan. New York Times, 1 Jul 2020.
Japan's NHK apologizes for offensive cartoon on US protests Japan's public broadcaster NHK apologized Tuesday for a short animation it used on a weekly news program on the background to the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. following accusations it presented racist stereotypes. Kyodo, 10 June 2020.
Japanese TV show featuring blackface actor sparks anger A Japanese TV programme has sparked accusations of racism and cultural insensitivity after a comedian painted his face to impersonate Eddie Murphy. Using makeup to lampoon black people - a practice known as blackface - is seen by many to be deeply offensive. BBC News, 4 Jan 2018.
Black Tokyo - a website for the black community in Tokyo.
Historically, Japan is no stranger to blacks, nor to blackface This is an article written about the history of black people in Japan and of discrimination against them, particularly the history of 'blackface', a stereotypical way of imitating black people by wearing black make-up with white lips. Japan Times, 19 Apr 2015
Japanese publisher defies Little Black Sambo protest Seventeen years after it was removed from bookshops for its racist content, the children's story Little Black Sambo has made a comeback in Japan. Guardian, 15 June 2005.
Japan Prejudice and Black Sambo This article looks at images and stereotypes of African-Americans in Japan: "Scholars from Japan suggest that their countrymen are not intentionally racist but are insensitive toward other peoples because of centuries of homogeneous and isolated development" Time Magazine, 24 June 2001.
Struggle and Success: The African American Experience in Japan This is the webpage to publicize this documentary film about African-Americans living in Japan. Global Film Network. You can borrow the video of this documentary from Mike.
African Americans In Japan Find Some Freedom From Race Many African Americans living in Japan have found success, despite the obstacles of race. They have experienced prejudice - and tolerance. This article reports the 1995 documentary film, "Struggle and Success: The African American Experience In Japan", Seattle Times, 4 Aug, 1995.