Institutional Discrimination against foreigners in Japan.  

I have quite a few friends who share your feelings about how Japan treated them during the pandemic. It all sounded incredibly frustrating.

Congrats on almost getting up to 5k been watching you for a while. I know you can keep going up up easily

As for the rental issue, when I hear the landlord's reasons for refusing to rent, in quite a few cases I sympathize with them because of past problems. I have a certain understanding of their not renting out, and you can find them in places where foreigners are renting to foreigners. Interesting story, there was a landlord who started renting to foreigners because he thought it would be good business because Japanese people wouldn't rent, but it was so bad that he stopped renting it out, which was a bit of a controversial issue. This is partly discrimination, but it is also self-preservation because the landlords who are renting out are not protected and cannot prevent damage, and we actually hear the same story in other countries even though they have laws. I hear that there are very many cases of restaurants and other establishments refusing foreigners because of past troubles around military bases. It is correct to say that it is discrimination, but even if trouble occurs, the police cannot intervene in personal troubles, and American military personnel are protected by slightly different cases than Japanese law. The restaurant you spoke of may be one that has had some kind of trouble in the past... It is easy to call it discrimination, but why did it happen? I think you should also know why it happened. 10:28 This is a tree(元・雷神社の御神木) and the site of a shrine that was burned by lightning in 1559. The shrine(雷神社) was rebuilt elsewhere nearby. As for the pandemic, there are various cases, and even in the case of Japanese people, they were refused and foreigners went back home! There were people who said, “I was refused even by Japanese people, while foreigners went back home! There were also cases of Japanese who were not allowed to get off the plane and returned home. Similar cases are happening in other countries, even in the G7, and what every country says and what they do are different. I believe that there are lucky people and unlucky people. I am not saying that discrimination does not exist. But I think it is important to know why it is so.

Yes, being banned from reentry into Japan during the pandemic was the most blatant experience of institutional racism here. What has made it even worse is that the majority of Japanese people even still today believe that the policy was the correct decision. That's what really hurts.

And thats why Mongolia has a higher english proficiency than Japan.

When I lived there I used to put things like these down to a Japanese form of cultural inner-panic. It seems extreme measures are taken due to the fear of being left with the responsibility and blame if things go wrong. The whole shame-game in Japan is at it's own level.

I think it's good to discriminate against most of our western thought (especially american) and entitled styles of behavior. The guests need to show they are worthy and factual results have been that things turn to shit the more foreigners come with their inability of respect. They should and they probably will cherish their own ideals and culture.

I am from South Africa and Im moving to Japan on the 28th of September on an 18 month student visa. I am planning on living there for many years so your videos have been a massive help. Thank you so much for the videos!

The first one with landlords not wanting foreigners. The thing I was told is that they are a flight risk. And I've heard of many stories of foreigners that give up living in Japan and just book a flight home without informing anyone.

To me, it seems that the five forms of discrimination you describe could be grouped under the umbrella of 'risk aversion'. That is, not having to 'deal' with the foreigner, whether that is language/culture/lifestyle, management style, unique financial needs, catering to unusual customer needs (e.g., no English menu), or health ('dirty' foreigners). Perhaps I'm wrong, but this seems to be an aspect of collectivist societies like Japan. That is, 'I don't want to be bothered' is part and parcel with 'I don't want to be a bother'. I'm sure that there are individuals that flat out dislike foreigners, for whatever reason they have. You could go to any other part of the world and find discrimination in some form against the foreigner - the other - sometimes institutional, other times ingrained into the culture, and by the individual. It is not pleasant being on the receiving end! Again, a good and thought-provoking video!

These videos are a real gem.

I felt this one! Good video topic and congrats on moving toward 5K! I remember a これはペンです video that showed how speaking English contributed to the spread of Covid, as I was waiting to return to my wife.

There are so many reasons to love Japan, it's is heart breaking to hear the things that destroy the bright side of it's people and culture. Japan has some serious growing to do and many reports are coming from Japanese who have simply moved to new prefectures where community clique's have intrusive rules and harsh punishments to those who refuse to fall in line. A very xenophobic society, not only to foreigners but to those coming from other districts or city life to rural. On the upside, there are enough great Japanese people to off set the upset as long as you hang out with the positive crowd. May the sun stay at your back and the clouds be white.

Helpful to know that a new video will drop on Saturday mornings in the northeastern US--arigato!

This is the same for being an Asian in America. We call it "The Bamboo ceiling".

I do like that they make it hard and these things serve as a deterrent. Look at the West now doing the opposite of Japan - it’s a disaster. I hope Japan never changes.

Australia did even worse.

差別ではなく区別です

Would you ever do a video at Shibuya Sky, or at another Observation deck? Enjoying view from a height instead of a walking video. It would have to depend on how it sounds and where you are allowed to record but it seems interesting

If you want a cheat code for getting a Japanese apartment. Please become an English teacher for the JET program.

Also, regarding the blocking foreign residents coming back during those times, what if a Japanese person who was born and raised in America, but lived in Japan (temporary visa or permanent resident), would THEY also have the same issues coming back?

A lot of the policies feel more like "Look where doing something!" instead of figuring out a real solution. But that's most governments I think hahaha!

I learned about 20-22 years ago that this crap, ignorant people play worldwide, is just due to their own insecurities. Japan like every country on this planet has racism. Japan's flavour of racism is quite unique compared to other first world nations. Life is short so unless you really want to help support a business that doesn't want your business because you're a foreigner, just to prove a point, I'd just move on spend your money and time where you're wanted.

Hi! First time to see your video and kudos to you for the effort. As a long term (23yr) resident here's my tuppence (two cents) worth: 1) Yes, some landlords will refuse to rent to foreigners but that is more because they are seen as a liability more than anything else - I've seen foreigners just up and leave after racking up a few months of unpaid rent. I've also sponsored people but some landlords even wanted a Japanese company to sponsor me as a sponsor!! We went somewhere else! 2) Why would you want to be a civil servant here? 3) Banks are banks and want info wherever you are. I don't care, but I understand your point. 4) Yeah, shit happens but it's very rare, maybe more common out of town? It's never happened to me...yet! 5) The pandemic really did bring the stupid people out of the woodwork didn't it. Not experienced myself but I do know those who got stuck abroad and those who got back but had to quarantine for a week (Japanese and foreign). I think maybe it was something to do with where they were coming from....? At the end of the day, I still prefer to live here than my original country - it's Japan and I accept their ways (even if I don't agree with them, and you'll find that even some Japanese don't understand the logic!) and I don't expect them to budge for me. However, if I get to retirement and they tell me I can't have a pension, then the shit will really hit the fan!!!!

Thanks Paul for the vlog. Always good to get us thinking… We were certainly discriminated against when trying to find a rental in Kyoto in the late ‘80’s even though my Japanese husband was with me. Didn’t bother us too much though, as we soon found a better place anyway!

You mention a lack of laws, but even if the laws were implemented, that wouldn’t stop the discrimination because discrimination is hard to prove. America is the perfect example of that

Because gaijin don't pay rent and run off to their home countries. Of course I'm not one of them.

3:01 You mean some foreigners THINK they speak Japanese. 😂

what about when we check into hotels and there's a Japanese salaryman who's also checking in at the next counter but only we get asked for additional ID (zairyu/passport etc)

yea that credit card thing seems a little susssss

Interesting video. I have serval credit cards and bank accounts and haven't received any such notifications. Was this recently? Also, with my 30 plus years here in Japan I've never been turned away at a restaurant. What kind of restaurants were turning you away? In the US DoD civil servants are required to be US citizens so I don't think the US citizenship requirement is unique to Japan at least for higher level positions especially ones that require a sercurity clearance.

7:20 If they're asking for residence cards then only non-Japanese have them, and I see no indication that they didn't ask Japanese customers for something else. The then implied discrimination also seems to be more guesswork than your other points.

What do you think about the new law stating the J gov can take away your permanent residency if they suspect you’re not paying taxes?

didn't know foreigners could become civil servants to begin with...

It’s fun for me to find out where you are walking these days. Today you started Oppma(追浜. The name of O'pama was first found in 904 AD. Ikazuchi（thunder）shrine was built here. People worshipped fire at the shrine. last scene was taken near shoko-ji（正光寺）寛文元年（1661年）に頓譽（とんよ）上人の創建　The temple was built in 1661 by Tonyo, the priest. PEACE✌

Do you know how long foreign residents were banned from returning during the pandemic? I ask because at one point a permanent resident co-worker suddenly had to return to the UK for a family related problem and upon return to Japan she had to quarantine in a hotel room for about a week, but could then go home.

Wow like you said. They take you tax money, you contribute to the health system, education system ( brain, knowledge) and they treat you like a rag.... so much for human rights... Bon courage

3:42 into the video and it's very apparent that the part of Japan you're walking through has lost a lot of business or they went away for summer because the overgrown weeds and bushes is looking VERY 'UNJAPANESY'.

It is unfortunate that discrimination and racism is a thing in any country. We are all people/ human at the end of the day. The Japanese are no different. If only people would be nice, and treat others the way they want to be treated. But at the same time, it is understandable to want to keep foreigners out of Japan, since there are so many elderly people that live there, and they are the most vulnerable to Covid. They likely wanted to minimize casualties due to the pandemic. It was a rough time for everyone, so i can empathize. Thank goodness more people didn't die durring the pandemic! We should count our blessings that we are still alive and well. Having some gratitude helps a lot. Hope it helps! Have a great day! Take care!

Read 'obasan' by Joy Kogawa. ❤

Hello unicorn here! I rented a place from Abel Housing in Nishinomiya in 2009 J spouse at my side. I had just returned to Japan after a nearly five year absence. I had a “promise” of a job nothing more. Go figure. The gods were on side on that day. Re financial services/ credit cards etc. don’t you think that US citizens in Japan get a harder time than say a Brit or Aussie?

yup yup yup

Aussie here, living in Japan. I have some difficulty with some of the allegations in your video. As a foreigner, I had no difficulty returning to Japan during the COVID pandemic. Please get your facts right.

Man who can remember how Japan acted during covid I was in Korea at the time when Japan closed its borders Had to wait until 2023 to visit due to my busy schedule Now I'm finally moving to tokyo in 10 days But I'm cautious this time around if another pandemic hits i may prefer to return to life in America Asian countries take pandemics to the extreme which hurts its citizens 😢

Thank you to be very earnest with us.❤I do hope that not all Japanese people agreed with such Decisions of JP Government after COVID.Many Japanese people left the country after Pandemic because Distribution of the Financial support After Covid also was very problematic.Thanks again

It's even worse in America

Finance related companies often face government regulations that seem discriminatory, for example collecting information on non-citizen clients. The discrimination is not from the company but from the government. The stated reason is to protect against abuse, but the real reason is for the government to collect information. I have personally faced rental discrimination in Japan despite having a Japanese spouse.

The fact that the Japanese government allows ANY form of discrimination just disgusts me.

People who always complain about racism in Japan, probably never did much about the worse racism in their own country.

It's interesting to me because we are the opposite in Scotland, if you're staying here for a while you are welcome to consider yourself Scottish - you won't have a choice because your accent will change anyway xD

1. It's called the free market. I'm a long-time foreigner in Japan, and wouldn't rent to a foreigner. Sorry, but I know how Japanese are, and how foreigners are. No language barriers - just I don't trust you. 2. dunno about this, but it makes sense. This country was paid for in blood and taxes by Japanese for thousands of years. Sorry, but we didn't pay that price. 3. Yes, I understand. Foreigners can't be trusted because they can just hop on a plane and leave. 4. Mostly, they don't need to deal with foreigners. I've seen this and laughed. Oftentimes they're thinking of their Japanese customers who don't want to deal with us. 5. The same is true in the states. American citizens cannot be refused entry. Same as Japan. Japanese can't be refused entry, whereas we can.

The rent situation *is* justified. Because foreigners do just flee the country without paying. As much as it sucks change starts with us.

Is it considered discrimination if a woman doesn't want to date you? Perhaps you should leave Japan?

First!