Japan's Hidden Apartheid: Koreans in Japan.(1/2) The report focuses on how Zainichi Koreans in Japan suffer discrimination and racism, particularly in situations such as applying for a job or searching for housing. It also look at the Kawasaki Fureai Kaikan which was set up with the support of Koreans living in Kawasaki. Aljazeera, 9 Dec 2007.
Japan's Hidden Apartheid: Koreans in Japan(2/2) The report focuses on how Zainichi Koreans in Japan suffer discrimination and racism, particularly in situations such as applying for a job or searching for housing. It also looks at Yokohama Chosen School. Aljazeera, 9 Dec 2007.
Gong Yiqun: Breaking Down Prejudice in Japan’s Rental Housing Market Despite Japan’s oversupply of rental properties, some groups of people still struggle to find a home, including foreigners, people on low incomes, people with disabilities, and same-sex couples. This article includes the story of Gong Yiqun who suffered housing discrimination herself as international student in japan, and now works to support people who face discrimination in the housing market and build bridges with realtors. Nippon.com, 2023.
30 yrs of backing distressed foreigners in Japan (Pt. 3): Fighting discrimination tells the story of Ippei Torii who is director of the nonprofit organization Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan and who fights against discrimination against foreign in Japan, and also explains his own experiences of discrimination. Mainichi, 2021. Japanese version this is the tird of three articles about Torii and his work.
Brazilian woman seeks human rights relief in Japan after welfare application snubbed The story of a Brazilian woman of Japanese ancestry women who was wrongly rejected for welfare payments by Anjo City on Aichi because she is not Japanese and was told to put her children into care or go back to her country if she couldn't afford to raise her family in Japan. Mainichi, 2022.
Coming to grips with a multicultural Japan This article looks at the bullying and discrimination that children of mixed ethnicity or 'hafu' face in and explains the story of Lawrence Shimotaka Shimoji who started the website, Hafu Talk. NHK World, 14 June 2019.
Learning from the Experience of Mixed-Race Japanese In this article, Shimoji Lawrence Yoshitaka explains the story of his own mother who was born in Okinawa to a Japanese mother and an American father and also presents the experiences of discrimination and prejudice of 'hafu' living in Japan today . nippon.com, 2018. Japanese version here: 「ハーフ」「日本人」を考える（下）：日常生活の証言から見えてくること
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.
Zainichi: Being Korean in Japan About Ryoung Song, a Zainichi Korean high school student who often faces discrimination for being a Korean migrant. Al Jazeera, 2018.
Japan-born Koreans live in limbo This article tells the story of Chong Hyang Gyun, a Zainichi Korean resident not allowed promotion to a managerial position by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and her family. It discusses the discrimination she has faced in both Japan and Korea,. New York Times, 2005.
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.
Many foreign children in Japan enrolled in special-needs classes for 'language' reasons An article about why there is a high number of children with foreign roots in special-needs classes , including the story of Nayara Natsumi Kinjo, a Japanese-Brazilian person whose teacher at elementary school wrongly told her she might have a disability. Mainichi, 12 Apr 2022.
Korean resident of Japan's legal battle for dignity ends in her favor but problems remain Freelance writer Lee Sin Hae won a case against anti-Korean group Zaitokukai for making statements against her to incite and intensify discrimination against Korean residents of Japan. This was the first case in japan that recognised "composite discrimination" - discrimination against someone on the basis of both race and gender. Mainichi, 2018.
Racial profiling, discrimination in Japan far more serious than stats reported by police The Mainichi Shimbun delved into the reality of police discrimination by examining specific cases where foreign residents were the targets of abusive language, body checks, and other unjust actions by authorities. Mainichi, 2022.
Foreigners in Japan face significant levels of discrimination, survey shows Almost 40 percent of foreign residents who sought housing in Japan had applications turned down and almost a quarter were denied jobs in the past five years, highlighting discrimination in a largely homogeneous society. Reuters, 2017.
'There is no discrimination in Japan': survey results show statement is far from true This article reports on a survey focusing on the experience of Zainichi Koreans that shows there is much discrimination in Japan that is unseen by the majority of the population. Mainichi, 2021.
Survey Investigates Discriminatory Police Questioning in Japan A survey of people with foreign roots living in Japan found that over the past five years many had been questioned by police in the street and other public areas, and some had faced questioning several times. Nippon.com, 2022. Japanese version here: 日本語
Japanese companies confront reality of racial harassment This article looks at the situation of racial harassment and discrimination in the workplace, and looks at action being taken by an Osaka NGO to counter it , including adding racial harassment to policy guidelines under the law for women's empowerment and harassment regulations. Kyodo News, 2020.
Foreign teachers in Japan face discriminatory treatment, glass ceiling at public schools Foreign teachers, even if they pass the same exams as those sat by their Japanese counterparts, have been hindered from promotions or pay hikes based on their experiences and abilities, even if their job descriptions are no different from those of their Japanese counterparts. This article looks at discrimination against public servants with foreign nationality in japan and UN criticisms of this. Mainichi, 2022.
Survey Finds 40% of Non-Japanese Refused as Tenants Due to Being Foreign Simply being foreign is enough reason for some Japanese property owners to refuse tenants, adding to the issues they face. Nippon.com, 2019. Japanese version here: 日本語
Report on the Current Situation of Migrant Women and the Discrimination They Face in Japan Prepared for the 63rd Session of CEDAW (UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women) by Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan (SMJ),February 2016. Downloads as a pdf
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.
Onur on Fukuoka hotel check-ins in: Police creating unlawful “foreign passport check” signs in the name of (and without the knowledge of) local govt. authorities! Blog post on Debito Arudo's website about hotels in Fukuoka asking foreign guests to show and allow their passports of foreing residence cards to be copied, after being instructed by the police, qwhen this is not required by law. 20 Nov 2016.
Train conductor warned after apologizing for crowding due to 'many foreign passengers', Mainichi Japan, October 11, 2016.
Anti-Korean stickers posted at several points along Shikoku pilgrimage route Several racist stickers have been found posted at 13 locations along a famous pilgrimage route in three prefectures in Shikoku. Japan Today, 11 Apr. 2014.
New Dissent in Japan Is Loudly Anti-Foreign An article about a new type of ultranationalist group in Japan that are openly anti-foreign in their message, and unafraid to win attention by holding unruly street demonstrations.Their protests have been directed at not only Japan’s half million ethnic Koreans, but also Chinese and other Asian workers, Christian churchgoers and even Westerners in Halloween costumes. New York Times, 28 Aug 2010.
Book is behind bullying of mixed-race children A letter by a Canadian of African descent about discrimination faced by his children who have a Japanese mother. Japan Times / Live Journal, April 10, 2012.
Ana Bortz’s Law Suit and Minority Rights in Japan by Keiko Yamanaka, Japan Policy Research Institute, Working Paper No. 88, September 2002 This article looks at a legal case bought and won by a Brazilian women who was told to leave a jewellery shop in Japan because she was a foreigner.
Racism in Japan Looks at racism against different groups and ethnic minorities in Japan and .in different areas of society Wikipedia.
Japan Prejudice and Black Sambo An article that looks at racist images of blacks and African Americans in the Japanese media and popular culture. It presents the argument that this is the result of centuries of Japanese isolation, rather than of intentional racism, but it also notes that Japan has adopted many of the racist attitudes common in the US itself Time , 24 Jun 2001.
Japanese Discrimination Against Korean and other Ethnic Schools For half a century, Japan has permitted ethnic minorities, notably Koreans, to run their own schools while refusing to recognize these schoolsgraduates by denying their students the right to sit for entrance examinations at national universities....Recently, the Ministry of Education extended this right to three international schools while continuing to require that graduates of ethnic schools take a preliminary examination to determine eligibility to sit for the regular examination. The issue has long been central to the movement for the rights of ethnic minorities in Japan. Japan Focus (originally in the Japan Times), April 12, 2003.
The Otaru Lawsuit Information Site from Debito Arudou, one of the people who successfully brought a law suit against an Onsen in Hookaido that refused entry to non-Japanese people. Debito.com
The Diene Report on Discrimination and Racism in Japan In a report by the the United Nations special rapporteur on discrimination and racism, Doudou Diene, the country was criticized in quite forceful terms for its “deep discrimination” which he said the government was not doing enough to combat. The report was especially harsh in criticizing Japan’s treatment of the over one-million people of Korean and Chinese descent in the country, but also called for measures to protect the rights of Japan’s indigenous Ainu and Buraku minorities and small but growing number of foreigner immigrants. The Asia-Pacific Jpournal Japan Focus, 2006
A thousand cuts: A 'Zainichi' Korean reporter's deep dive into microaggression in Japan A throw-away quip here, a thoughtless comment there, none meant to hurt anyone's feelings, but revealing of certain ingrained attitudes, and still painful to the person on the receiving end. These are "microaggressions." Mainichi 2020 Japanese version
FEATURE: Japanese society begins to grapple with microaggressions A couple is out shopping for an expensive item, but the store clerk addresses only the man. A person of ethnic Korean descent but born and raised in Japan is complimented on their impeccable Japanese. Someone from the LGBTQ community is told by a friend, "You're going through a phase. You'll be cured one day." These are examples of microaggressions. Kyodo, 2022.
What exactly is a microaggression? Answers questions about microaggressions and how they relate to and differ from other forms of discrimination. Vox, 2015.
マイクロアグレッションとは・意味 Ideas for Good
Microaggressions hidden in everyday life This article focuses on the unintentional nature of many microaggressions and identifies three different types of microaggressions. Rakuten People and Culture Lab, 2022.
のりこえねっと / Norikoeru Net (We Shall Overcome) An anti-hate speech group formed quite recently in Japan
The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) (in Japanese here) - Japanese organization campaigning against discrimination against Buraku, Korean and other minorities in Japan, for gender equality , and against discrimination internationally.
People's Front of Anti-Racism (in Japanese) A Japanese organization campaigning against racism and hate speech
Counter Racist Action Collective (in Japanese) A Japanese group that takes direct action against racist groups and demonstrations
Chapter 7. Minority Groups: Ethnicity and Discrimination, in Sugimoto, Yoshio. (2003). An introduction to Japanese society. Cambridge [England] : Cambridge University Press. Available from: Chuo Library 中央書庫 309.152/S94 & Mike. Includes sections on: claims by politicians of ethnic homogeneity in Japan; different kinds of Japanese identity; the Buraku problem; Korean residents; indigenous Ainu; immigrant wokers from overseas; and Japanese abroad.
“Racists Go Home!”, “Go Crawl Back to the Net!” – Anti-Racism Protestors Confront the Zaitokukai レイシストは帰れ！」、「ネットに這って戻れ！」在特会に立ち向かう反レイシズム活動 by Matthew Penney. Argues that Zaitokukai and it's anti-Korean racism are very different from attitudes to Koreans amongst the majority of Japanese people and that the popularity of Korean cultural products and sports personalities is still very important. The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus, 22 Apr 2013.