Job Discussion Forums

viddy · Joined: 07 Jan 2004 Posts: 50 Location: London, England

From the threads on this board on the subject of racism in Japan, I get the impression than non-Caucasians get a rougher deal that Caucasians. As a British-Indian, what kind of prejudice could I expect from students and in day-to-day life? If I was to try and find another job, would this be a big problem?

G Cthulhu · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 2:11 am Post subject: Re: Prejudice

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Our new teacher has been telling us that when he was staying in a gaijin house in Tokyo a few weeks ago, one of his roommates/flatmates was a Pakistani-Canadian (1st generation) and since having come to Japan had been stopped on the street by the police and asked for his passport no less than 8 times.... I don't know in what timespan, but I have never been asked. (I AM caucasian). I was stopped by police on the street once, but they didn't even want to see my gaijin card.

If you look for it, it's out there, but everyone's experience is different. There are many Sri-Lankans here learning Japanese in the schools and I hear they get hassled sometimes, because many of them arrive and stay illegally, so the authorities are natuarally suspicious. Maybe it depends on whether you live in an area where there have been recent issues with gaijin, specifically non-caucasian gai-jin.

unchi pants · Joined: 20 Dec 2003 Posts: 64

Hi Jim...

Regarding your Canadian Pakistani friend ... I imagine that the area in which he was living/staying would make a difference. The "shonkier" the area, the more chance of being stopped.

An acquaintance of mine (Caucasian) has been stopped by the police no less than 15 times! He lives in Adachi-ku which is a pretty dodgy area with a fairly high crime rate (by Japanese standards).

I have only been stopped once ... It was while walking along the sidewalk one day (around lunchtime), carrying a small bag and my o-bento. The police asked to see my gaijin card, searched my bag and my o-bento! I'm caucasian too. A few times I've been stopped on my bike and they've checked the registration. All of these incidents happened in less salubrious parts of Tokyo.

The "hiring only blond/blue eyed gaijin" attitude does exist, but if you look you will find plenty of places that are keen to employ people of all ethnic backgrounds.

Good luck.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I am not sure of the meaning of "shonkier", but I can tell you this. I've been stopped once in Sapporo in 5 years. Sapporo is a stone's throw from Otaru, a major port that caters to Russian business among other things. At the time I was stopped, the news media had been reporting on how many foreigners had overstayed their visas, and this included a lot of Russians, I guess.

FWIW, I was in the middle of Sapporo train station with my suit and tie on, so it's not like I looked "shonky".

unchi pants · Joined: 20 Dec 2003 Posts: 64

It's good to know you don't look shonky, Glenski.

The shonky theory was only a theory ... Mind you, there's a bit of a difference difference between being stopped once and being stopped 15 times.

cafebleu · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 404

Hi Viddy,

Don`t worry about prejudice from your students. If you can get a job at a school that recognises native speakers don`t all look like stereotypical Hakujin, your students will be alright.

Maybe at first your students will assume you are Indian and therefore are not a native speaker, but when you let them know that you are a native speaker and in fact English is your first language or one of your first languages, I think you will be accepted. A good, pleasant personality goes a long way in one`s professional and private life here, and so long as you are a decent and approachable teacher, the students will accept you.

In fact, in some cases someone who seems a bit `exotic` is very interesting to Japanese students of English.

bshabu · Joined: 03 Apr 2003 Posts: 200 Location: Kumagaya

I have been here for a total of over 5 years. One year as a college student and 4 1/2 years now.

I have been stopped driving once but they were checking everyone for drunk drivers. They didn't check my Gaijin card or to see if I had a driers licence.

I was ask to show my Gaijin card once, but in this case I witnessed an accident and they needed to take a statement.

Also, my friend I Indian-English. He had no problems the year he was here.

viddy · Joined: 07 Jan 2004 Posts: 50 Location: London, England

Thanks for the info guys - really confirms what I expected.

My cousin went out on the JET programme a few years back and had no problems either. In fact, like you said, a lot of students were interested in her "exotic" background.

Little did they know she's from Edgware, North London (which, if you're not from these parts, is probably the least exotic place on the planet! Laughing

).