Job Discussion Forums

[markle]

[SeasonedVet]

Everything we think is discrimination is not always discrimination. But I guess when people start living in a foreign country where they can't understand the language or the culture that alot more things seem like discrimination than really are Or where discrimination does exist in a particular area that any little thing that happens must then be discrimination.

On the point of landlords refusing to rent to foreigners, it can depend on ALOT of things.
There are certain nationalities that might require stronger references/guarrantee persons than others based on something that might happen time and again with that particular nationality and the building owner gets tired of it and says No More people of that nationality or even No More Foreigners. (Whether or not the building owner is justified in his/her conclusions about a particular nationality or foreigners in general is another matter)

I have been to the Real Estate Company by myself more than once. My Japanese is far from perfect but I know enough to get the info I want and to negotiate if I have to. In alot of cases the Agent has the information of the particular building and it's owner and they know if they have to call and check if foreigners are allowed or not.
I have heard comments from the agents to the effect:

" That apartment? The building owner is a really weird guy, I don't recommend that one"

" The building owner might be willing but he is worried if you can speak Japanese or not, if there is a problem then communication would be difficult"

" The building owner will be ok with foreigners living there but you might want to reconsider as there are lots of " Asian foreigners" (maybe among others) My Japanese friend who was there explained what he meant. He was referring to the night workers (plus their families) hostesses etc etc tends to get noisy at night etc etc.

" No foreigners period"

" The last foreigner didn't pay the rent and his Japanese guarrantor also disappeared so No More Foriegners"

" The building owner said as long as you have a guarranee person you can livethere and he also said Yes he is willing to negotiate the deposit and rent"

" The building owner askes what country you are from? Oh ok he said it's fine as long as you have a guarrantee person"

These are just a few I can remember as I have been to the Real Estate Agents numerous times. I have also been to the Kanri Gaisha which acts like an Agent/Maintenance/etc company and actually cut out the Real Estate Company and their fees (but we usually don't know how to find the kanri gaisha, I was fortunate there)

One final note, a single Japanese female who does not have a great or very stable job, will be Refused also Unless she has a guarrantee person.
I suspect males might be too. it's not only foriegners, some Japanese people need guarantee persons too. I know this because I have seen it happen. I was there.

[bluefrog]

Good point, Markle. Just because landlords give less favourable treatment of a person on racial grounds compared with the treatment of a person from another racial group in the same circumstances DOESN'T mean its racism.

It just means you're white and need to get over yourself. OR you could also be Chinese, Iranian, Korean, Pakistani, African American, Nigerian, Ghanan, Bazillian, Peruvian, Maori, Thai, or Filipino and need to get over yourself. Anyway, the point is that negative discrimination based on race is not racism.

Japanese landlords who discriminate MUST have another viable reason for their blanket "No Foreigners Policy" besides racism.

[gaijinalways]

But I have seen people refused by landlords who have never had a foreign tenant (the landlord said so). And the logic is?

My wife even had a difficult time placing a student of hers until they found out he worked for Asahi Shimbun here. The agent and the landlord had some impression that he couldn't afford the rent and deposit. A similar situation evolved when a friend of mine working for Reuters was looking for an apartment.

[bluefrog]

[southofreality]

[southofreality]

[SeasonedVet]

southofreality:

[Glenski]

[matador]

I guess one of the issues is: can racism be (to any extent) excused? Can you make allowances for it?

"Well, its Japan and people are not so familiar with foreigners so its understandable. I don't like it but....thats how it is here!".

[Inflames]

I always get a kick out of reading Japan's latest plan's to attract (some sort of) foreign workers. Their last plan (to make Tokyo an attractive place for foreign financial firms) involved things like late night Italian restaurants. Of course they never address things like racism.

I moved this month and some places just outright said no to a foreigner. Everyone I know has had this happen to them too.

[gaijinalways]

[Vince]

This is going back several years, but I caught some discriminatory stuff. As a real estate agent was driving my wife and me to see an apartment, he called ahead to say we were coming and to ask if foreigners were okay. He listened to the landlord for a second, then asked me what country I was from, then listened to the landlord, then asked me where I worked... When we finally got the approval to see the apartment, the agent gave me the thumbs up. Gee, thanks!

My wife and I saw another apartment that we said we'd take. We submitted the paperwork and were told it was ours. Then, suddenly, the deal was off. My wife called to ask why, and she said the answer sounded very tatemae. Maybe it was because I was a foreigner, or maybe not.

After we got an apartment and moved in, the landlord asked my wife how I used the bath/shower. I told her I refused to be subjected to that and wanted her to tell him exactly that. She probably told him the safest thing. Whatever.

[gaijinalways]

I would have been tempted to show the landlord the 'sin city' use of the toilet for noisy parkers like him .

[cjuno]

The last time my JP wife and I were apartment hunting the real estate agent tried to sell me some weed while we were driving around checking out various apartments. I guess all young Americans are pot heads in his mind. Whatever.