Complete Discrimination

And I'm mad as hell. At first I didn't want to post this because there will be accusations of Japan being completely xenophobic, but seriously I never been discriminated against so I don't know how to feel. Mostly mad really.

I went out tonight with three other friends to go out to eat and for some Karaoke. There was Me, my friend Akina, her boyfriend Gene, and another girl I just met tonight (technically yesterday or last night now...).

We went to "white pole road" which basically is a street with several shops, restaurant, and clubs that look deserted in the morning but comes alive at night.

We tried a place none of us have been to before called San Roze for some Karaoke. However, when we tried to go inside an old lady came run over and told us to leave and kept saying "Sumimasen". She promptly spun me around and pushed me out the door. My friend Akina asked if they closed early today, but what the lady answered back (and she probably was assuming I could not understand her) was "You should know if you bring an American here we cannot let you in. We have signs outside that say so."



Well, as much as I ever saw three Japanese people get "mad", they argued that that was discrimination and against the Japanese Constitution. Then the lady said she would ask the manager because I was a girl, so it might be okay (I guess American MEN really aren't allowed). BUT SHE NEVER CAME BACK. Akina's boyfriend pounded on the door until a man (maybe the manager) came outside and said he would call the police if we did not leave.

This is probably the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me, and honestly I almost wanted to cry when we went upstairs (the stores are setup inside buildings) and the restaurant there had the same sign that was downstairs. I was not allowed in because I was "Non-Japanese".

Outside:


3rd floor inside:


We quietly left and went to another place down the street without incident and without talking about what happened besides mumbling in agreement that the owners of the two restaurants were prejudice.

Anyways, I got home a few hours ago and looked up the places and found they've BEEN DOING THIS FOR A DECADE. I also found these pictures from someone else who had gone through the same experience. Because I didn't prepare a camera to take pictures of racist signs, I didn't take my own pictures - really I just wanted to leave as quickly as possible. Anyways I guess they've had the same signs up for about ten years now, being racist bastards since I was 11.

I know not all Japanese are like this, not even close, but I can't believe I was actually kicked out of a place because of pure racisism.

Cool. You live in Japan. That's awesome.

You totally are missing the point. Some times it is very unawesome.

I never had this problem but i guessing your in tokyo.
Only problem i ever had was the word damn gaijin (外国人をクソ gaikokujin wo kuso ).

Nope, it is the town of Misawa. It is a smallish town but not so very small. I think you've said you live in okinawa or somewhere off the main island? I hear it is very Americanized down there. I think the women here are afraid they'll get raped by American men. There was something about how she said I might be allowed in because I was a girl.

I'd rape her.

I hope you are joking sir.

There are LAWS against this, JAPANESE LAWS. Would you tell the same thing to a black person pre-civil rights? If you don't like getting bricks thrown through your window or attacked by police dogs, GTFO?

I should be able to go to a karaoke box without being turned away because I'm not Japanese enough as if Japanese is a higher standard that you can only hope to reach. Or how about my friends? They couldn't get in because they brought along someone not Japanese? That is horrible.

Forgive me if I seem incredibly biased, but I'm not a tourist. I LIVE HERE. I shop down the freaking street. To say there is a place in the town I live I cannot go because I am American is stupid and honestly makes me furious.

Actually, Badguy would say that. He would even say that now. herp derp

Then I have nothing to say. I always thought discrimination was horrible, but once you are actually the victim it feels sickening. It only happened like a couple hours ago... and to have someone threaten to call the police? I think that is the worst part. It is like, "What did I do? I didn't do anything to deserve being treated different, so why are you treating me worst than other people and embarrassing me like this?"

That's horrible though nothing new. Japan is known as a little bit xenophobic, especially in rural areas. Racism like that is everywhere in the world, really.

... neko-chan, can we swap lives?

Pffft, old people. I'm not surprised they have this kind of prejudice. I would suggest sneaking in by fooling the old lady into thinking you're Japanese, order something to eat, and as you're leaving, take off your disguise and reveal your true identity while laughing maniacally. But eh, I wouldn't take any legal action; just forget about it.

nope Osaka... was living there intil a month ago. Was station in okinawa in 2000, and my wife family came from one of the island there back in the day. I guess some places are more modern progressive thinking then others.

Human ignorance, stupidity and intolerance at it's finest.

I wish I could say something, but in all honesty, there isn't much, is there?

That kind of behavior is inexcusable and is one of the reasons why people tend to view Japanese as xenophobic and somewhat hypocritical, but old, past-stuck people and butthurters were, are and will be like that.

Well normally I'd say "The solution is obvious, arson." However at this point I will say that but also say that if you were able to go about your daily life, and find another karaoke place to sing at without incident than that leads me to the assumption that this particular karaoke place is either run specifically buy a gang of Uyoku truck guys, or just hardcore racists that took something an American did at their establishment as a flimsy excuse to ban people. The way I see it there's 3 options for you [though the other two aren't as fun]
1] Arson
2] Boycott
3] Fuck 'em just go to the other karaoke place and occasionally smear the racist karaoke place's door with poo or something. Extra points if you can shape the poo smear into the shape of the kanji 日本人だけ下さい！

So are they just turning away American tourists? What about tourists from other places like the UK, Australia, Canada and Europe?

I can understand why you ask that when the sign is so hard to read with the broken English and all. What it says is:



Which means, "It is a shame that you've come all this way to SAN ROZE, but this store in particular will only allow entry to Japanese people. Our deepest apologies, but we we ask for your understanding"

Which I think makes clearer that Canadians, UK, Australians and Europeans are not allowed as they are not Japanese. There were like 4 other signs around the area that had the exact same sign with just the store name changed. So maybe the Yakuza are bossing around the local business leaders and giving them the same signs.

I was going to go to sleep, but I got to go to school like in an hour so I think I might leave early to stop by and leave a flaming bag of poo at their door step or sumthin.

Fine, I'll leave a dove holding freaking olive branch. Surely this will change their minds.

Two things, to start can you really be all that shocked it happened? I mean, people that took part in world war 2 are still alive and probably hold all the same grudges. Your people bombed the shit out of their country and made them (the people who value honor and that other junk) surrender out of fear. It really would not surprise me one bit. Do you honestly believe some black people would not ban white people from their establishments if they could? The second point I have is that most likely you have encountered a nationalist family/owner; you do know about Japanese Nationalists right? It's simply not surprising. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the same thing as Badguy, and I also abhor poor treatment and overall bad business sense but I think it's somewhat understandable, try contacting a better business bureau or something.

I swore there was Canadian's in the pacific war, but i think they were in the English army regiments. Kind of like my grandfather was in the US army fighting in Spain with the Abe Lincoln brigade.