1. Racial Discrimination against foreigners in Japan: Exist or Not?
Yuri Sato
B11612

2. Universal Periodic Review
On the other hand…
In JAPAN…
Universal Periodic Review
⇒ 48states are reviewed per year in a 4 year cycle
According to the Human Rights council
⇒　170 recommendations for Japan to improve its human rights record
“prohibiting all forms of discrimination: religion, ethnicity or nationality and adopting specific legislation to outlaw direct and indirect racial discrimination and guaranteeing access to effective protection and remedies through competent national courts”
(United Nations Human Rights:2012)

3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (外務省)
The Constitution of Japan guarantees fundamental human rights to foreign residents in Japan
Government actively pursues the goals of
(1) ensuring equal rights and opportunities for foreigners
(2) respecting foreigners' own cultures and values
(3) promoting mutual understanding to realize a society in which Japanese and foreigners can live together comfortably
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (外務省)
AIM:
contributing to maintenance of peaceful and safe international society, and develop harmonic foreign relationships
#20
(MOFA:2013)

4. Who Can We Trust?

5. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

6. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

7. Racial Discrimination against Foreigners in Japan: Exist or Not?
Defining terms
Racial Discrimination against Foreigners in Japan: Exist or Not?

8. Defining terms
Racial Discrimination: To treat differently a person or group of people based on their racial origins. Power is a necessary precondition, for it depends on the ability to give or withhold social benefits, facilities, services, opportunities etc., from someone who should be entitled to them, and are denied on the basis of race, color or national origin (racism.org:2008) 人種差別
1969 UN International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (あらゆる形態の人種差別の撤廃に関する国際条約 or CERD)
、「人種差別」とは、人種、皮膚の色、世系又は民族的若しくは種族的出身に基づくあらゆる区別、排除、制限又は優先であって、政治的、経済的、社会的、文化的その他のあらゆる公的生活の分野における平等の立場での人権及び基本的自由を認識し、享有し又は行使することを妨げ又は害する目的又は効果を有するものをいう。

9. Defining terms Foreigners:
A person born in or coming from a country other than one’s own (oxford dictionary:2013)
People who do not have Japanese racial origin. (Non-Japanese race)
外国人・在日外国人
Non-Japanese race

10. Racial Discrimination against Foreigners in Japan: Exist or Not?
Defining terms
Racial Discrimination against Foreigners in Japan: Exist or Not?

11. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

12. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

13. 3.1 Hate speech 3.2 Signs and labels
3. Evidence for Exist
3.1 Hate speech 3.2 Signs and labels

14. What is Hate Speech? 3.1 Hate Speech
Different than simply teasing , shouting an ugly word at them in a single moment of anger or frustration
Hate speech consists of verbal and nonverbal expression that is used to promote violence against someone on social or ethnic groups. In many cases, hate speech is created by people who are part of a majority population directed toward a minority population.
Examples:
Racist cartoons
Ethnic slurs or other derogatory labels for a group
Burning a cross in the yard or an ethnic minority

16. To treat differently a person or group of people based on their racial origins

17. 3.1 Hate speech 3.2 Signs and labels
3. Evidence for Exist
3.1 Hate speech 3.2 Signs and labels

18. 3.2 Signs and Labels
1993 onsen at Otaru, Hokkaido posted a JAPANESE ONLY sign
2000: Debito Arudou有道 出人
　(Natualized Japanese citizen) → refused for 　　 　his foreign appearance

19. Supporo(ramen restaurants, bars)
Kyoto(Hotels)
Okinawa ( karaoke)
Osaka(real estate agent)
To treat differently a person or group of people based on their racial origins and are denied on the basis of race, color or national origin
Shizuoka(internet café)
Osaka( Optician's shop)

20. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

21. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

22. 4.1 Foreign workers 4.2 Foreign tourists
4. Evidence for Not
4.1 Foreign workers 4.2 Foreign tourists

23. The need for Japan to admit more foreign workers
Energize their organizations and increase their international competitiveness through the addition of a variety of sense of values
It is predicted: in the future, Japan will not have enough skilled personnel in such sectors as nursing, care giving, agriculture, manufacturing, construction and machine assembly
Nippon Keidanren
Recommended that the Japanese government take advantage of the diversified sense of values, experiences and skills of workers from other countries to increase Japan's capacity to create added value.
Non-Japanese people should be admitted to introduce different cultural ideas and sense of values into Japanese society and corporations and to promote the creation of new added value, as this would accelerate innovation
(Keidanren:2007)

24. …of which non- Japanese
4.1 Foreign Workers
Japanese Companies Foreign Hiring 2012/2013
Company Name
Total Recruits
…of which non- Japanese
Panasonic
1390*
1100*
Fast Retailing (Uniqlo)
1200**
1500*** **
1200***
Rakuten
410**
120**
Hitachi
750**
5-6%**
Lawson
99**
23**
7-Eleven
250**
20**
Sony
187***
56 (30%)***
Yamato Transport
100***
20***
Toshiba
500**
50 (10%)**
To treat differently a person or group of people based on their racial origins, and are denied on the basis of race, color or national origin
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun (2011); Japan Times (2012a); Asahi Shimbun (2012); Nikkei Business (2010).
Notes: *2011 Figures **2012 Figures. ***2013 Figures

25. 4.1 Foreign workers 4.2 Foreign tourists
4. Evidence for Not
4.1 Foreign workers 4.2 Foreign tourists

26. 4.2 Foreign tourists
Tourism agency: # of tourists visiting Tohoku have fallen 20% to 40% from the 3.11 earthquake
『Destination Tohoku』tourism campaign ⇒ help promote and revive tourism in the Tohoku region started March 　　 　(Japantimes:2012)

28. Translations

29.
(AgriNews:2013)

30. 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Abe Shinzo: “Large numbers of overseas visitors will come to visit Japan. It is also incumbent upon us as the host nation to welcome them with the greatest possible hospitality.”
To treat differently a person or group of people based on their racial origins, and are denied on the basis of race, color or national origin
(Prime minister of Japan and His Cabinet: 2013)

31. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

32. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

33. 3.1 Hate Speech
Anti-hate speech group launched in Japan (9/26/2013)
The group, called "An international network overcoming hate speech and racism" (Norikoenet), held a press conference on Sept. 25 to announce its establishment. (Mainichi Japan:2013)
Norikoenet: Anti-Hate speech group ⇒Organization opposed to hate speech against ethnic Koreans and other minorities in Japan. (Mainichi Japan:2013)

34. 'Stop discrimination!' Citizens raise their voices in march on Tokyo (10/11/2013)5
More than two thousand people--Diet members, lawyers, musicians, residents--took to the streets of Tokyo's Shinjuku district, shouting slogans in unison. September 22, (ajwAsahi:2013)

35. 3.2 Signs and Labels
1993 onsen at Otaru, Hokkaido posted a JAPANESE ONLY sign

36. 3.2 Signs and Labels
February 2001: sued the city of Otaru for violation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, a treaty which Japan ratified in 1996
Each received 1 million yen
Took down label
Reason: Russian sailors ignored the bathhouse rules Drove away Japanese costumers 6

37. …of which non- Japanese
4.1 Foreign Workers
Japanese Companies Foreign Hiring 2012/2013
BUT
Company Name
Total Recruits
…of which non- Japanese
Panasonic
1390*
1100*
Fast Retailing (Uniqlo)
1200**
1500*** **
1200***
Rakuten
410**
120**
Hitachi
750**
5-6%**
Lawson
99**
23**
7-Eleven
250**
20**
Sony
187***
56 (30%)***
Yamato Transport
100***
20***
Toshiba
500**
50 (10%)**
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun (2011); Japan Times (2012a); Asahi Shimbun (2012); Nikkei Business (2010).
Notes: *2011 Figures **2012 Figures. ***2013 Figures

38. Visa Requirements in Japan
ONLY cover the kind of work that requires high level of professional knowledge or skills.
NOT POSSIBLE: manual/ simple labor
Visa Requirements in Japan
It is necessary to get a VISA in order to live in Japan
27 types of visas in Japan ⇒ divided into 3 main groups:
Working visa
Non-working visa
Family related visa 3

39. 4.2 Foreign Tourists
The Attitudes of Japanese Accommodations towards Foreign Tourists by Types of Facility, 2008 5
MAJOR REASONS:
1. Can’t speak foreign languages
2. Facility is not suitable to accept foreigners
3. Afraid of dealing with problems
4. Worried about payment methods
5. Prefer domestic travelers
6. Not enough tourists attractions near the facility
(Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: 2009)

40. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

41. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion

42. 6. Conclusion
Exists Not Racial Discrimination against foreigners in Japan EXISTS 5 3 11 8 6 5

43. Outline
Introduction
Defining terms
Exist
Not
Analysis
Conclusion