I am African. I work for an English Language school in Osaka. I work in a school at Tennoji station. I work with several white co-workers and have a great relationship with them and the Japanese staff. However, last week, 2 men told me, "Who are you? What are you doing here?" and "You are a teacher aren't you? You must use the service elevator!" I was shocked. I asked several times who they were but they refused to answer. I later found out they were building security. I spoke to my co-workers and staff and no one had ever been spoken to or approached in this way; except for one other co-worker. He also is of African descent.

My white co-workers and Japanese staff did not respond until my African co-worker and I decided to make a formal complaint. Yet, these same co-workers complain about Japanese racism.

Many people in the forums I have looked over seem to ignore, or have failed to recognize the racism that lumps us together and the racism that divides us. :-(

That's so sad...
I can't believe you had that kind of experience in Japan.
I think you can sue them!!

I am japanese.

I am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience.

But i wanna tell you something as a japanese,

there is a racism(人種差別) in Japan, but it's not that cruel(残酷).

We are homogeneous race(単一民族) and living in the small island. we have been isolated for a long time.

We don't know how to react to foreigners. there is no big different you are white or black.

we do not know how to deal with foreigners. we are not used to it. especially, older japanese people.

they are curious about you alot.

Once they know you, they treat you very good and become so close. They try to talk to you more and know you more.

I am talking about in general. there are some exception everywhere.

but in general, I do not think our racism is not that bad.
You don't need to care about it.

You will meet a lot of japanese people who want to know you and treat you like a family member!

I hope you understand what i mean,

good luck!

I've heard this argument lots about racism in Japan. Japanese are not used to dealing with foreigners and, therefore, are excused for any racism.

I don't believe that, in this day and age, there is any good "excuse" for racism.

I will say that "Japanese racism" seems based more in ignorance than the racism I have experienced in the west, which usually seems based more in hate. Whether that comes from lack of exposure to foreign people or simply terrible images portrayed on TV (haven't all Americans in Japan been asked whether or not they own a gun...or just me?) is debatable. But neither is better than the other, and experiencing either one sucks.

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Ha ha ha!! You forgot to tell us that Japan has 4 seasons!!

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ur very true japanese peoles like white peoples either they were swippers in their countries they dont care i just hate those peoples .

ur very true ichi but u dont need to be so yasashi as all fingers are not equal every humman is not same in this world

ALI......