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ROGUES’ GALLERY OF “JAPANESE ONLY” ESTABLISHMENTS
Don’t let anyone convince you that the problem isn’t spreading nationwide in Japan…
www.debito.org/roguesgallery.html
“THE ROGUES’ GALLERY”
PHOTOS OF PLACES IN JAPAN WHICH EXCLUDE OR RESTRICT NON-JAPANESE CUSTOMERS
July 16th, 2008 at 3:45 am
This is a business hotel’s listing on Rakuten Travel that explicitly says no foreigners (“外国人不可”).
http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/HOTEL/18740/18740.html
This is pretty unusual, right? for a business hotel to explicitly say no foreigners, and for an otherwise respectable website like Rakuten to publish this.
Incidentally the お客さまの声 section is quite funny. It sounds like a very, very bad hotel.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Ed,
I checked today (8/18) and didn’t see it. Maybe someone contacted them.
I hate Shinjuku anyway because it is pretty much infested with yakies. In December, I was refused entry to a “normal” Japanese drinking establishment with was most likely yakie controlled. The tencho and staff didn’t know what to do when I caught them in a lie and Japanese started flowing out of my mouth. They dealt with it by telling me 意味が分かりません. The customers also ignored me. I had just worked on a friggin nuclear energy translation the SAME DAY at my former company!!!!
Unfortunately I find myself avoiding nights on the town because of incidents like this. When I say that, I mean that I am more afraid of what I might when being discriminated against directly. I remember the rage I had trapped in my body for one week after that. Happy that you can read about it here instead of in the headlines.
BTW, do you have a Japanese Only T shirt? I got mine last year and love wearing it. I get two different responses, either samurai-like eyes of death or “Hahaha. American joke!”
Tom
–Sure, many T-shirt sizes are still in stock!
April 9th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I thoroughly enjoy reading the articles on your web site. I’ve lived in Japan more than half of my life (now two months from my 59th birthday) and am possibly the oldest foreigner (or individual) who continues to travel by hitchhiking in this culturally rich country. I linked back to you in my new blog 3 times. My older blog: http://www.kt70.com/~jamesjpn/hitchhiking_in_japan.shtml
I lived in Sapporo for a year in 1975, 北18乗、東1丁目
Regards from Niigata,
James Arendt
– Thanks James. Close to Hokudai, I see. Bests, Debito
September 25th, 2009 at 5:16 am
It was quite a humiliating experience for me when I was refused service in not one but two yakitory restaurants in the Shinjiku area for the simple reason that I was not a Japanese. I was flabbergasted when such a thing still occurred in this day and age in an advanced country such as Japan, even though I was respectful, polite and properly dressed and did not do anything to draw attention to myself. That experience not only ruined my trip, but caused me great distress. I think each of us needs to bring this blatant discrimination to news services or programs such as 20/20 or 60 Minutes.
July 3rd, 2010 at 9:35 am
“Unfortunately I find myself avoiding nights on the town because of incidents like this. When I say that, I mean that I am more afraid of what I might when being discriminated against directly. I remember the rage I had trapped in my body for one week after that. Happy that you can read about it here instead of in the headlines.”
Yeah people say Japan is a safe country, and youll never have any trouble. That is generally true, but what they leave out is situations like this that can get you worked up. Then you get into trouble. I know that rage feeling well. Just have to avoid those situations until times change.
August 2nd, 2010 at 12:26 am
I have never even visited Japan, which would explain my ignorance. Let me begin by stating that.
However, isn’t it nonsensical to post 外国人不可 to keep out foreigners, as quite a few would be tourists, would they not, who would have no idea what 外国人不可 means? What’s the idea here? To insult long-term residents? That seems to be the sole outcome. Brash non-Japanese tourists like me would not understand the insult, smile and simply brashly push their way in. Does that happen? As it appears that the Japanese don’t like scenes, the only way to get rid of you would be to cause one. At least you ruin their day as much as they ruin yours.
Or have I got this all wrong?
Cheers, Ivonne
Louisville, Ky., USA