See also http://www.debito.org/otarulawsuit.html
www.debito.org
Arudou Debito's
LINKS PAGE
These are sites which deal more with information access and
dispersal than with entertainment.
Have a gander if you're interested.
（日本語のリンクもあります）
JAPAN-INTEREST SITES
THE COMMUNITY
IN JAPAN
Founded in September 1999, this site offers an archive of organizations, systems,
and various social phenomena which explicitly or implicitly put non-Japanese residents
at a disadvantage and actively diminish their domestic standard of living. Examples
include NTT DoCoMo instituting (from April 1, 2002) a 30,000 yen deposit for all
new non-Permanent Resident foreigners, advertising campaigns engendering fear of
foreigners in order to hock their wares (Miwa Lock Co.), and police pamphlets profiling
local foreign residents in ways both unrealistic and unfair (Shizuoka-ken Police
HQ booklet entitled "Rainichi Gaikokujin Hanzai no Tokuchou"--to
help local shopkeeps racially profile). Have a look, even join us in our efforts,
if interested.
See also http://www.debito.org/otarulawsuit.html
CHILDREN RIGHTS NETWORK JAPAN SITE
(http://www.crnjapan.com)
A Site on Children's Rights Issues In Japan
(excerpted from the site) Japan has not ratified the Hague Convention on the
Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Japan does not have laws which allow
enforcement of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
Japan does not enforce child custody orders from foreign countries. Parental kidnapping
is not considered a crime in Japan. Japan does not honor extradition requests for
crimes involving a non-custodial Japanese parent abducting their child back to Japan.
More information and documentation on: (http://www.crnjapan.com/en/issues.html)
JUSTICE FOR NICK BAKER SITE (http://www.justicefornickbaker.org/)
(excerpted from the site) In 2002 Nick Baker, 32, traveled to Japan in advance
of the World Cup. He was arrested at Tokyo's Narita Airport when ecstasy pills and
cocaine were found in the false bottom of a suitcase. Nick protested he had been
duped by a traveling companion, James Prunier, but Japanese police allowed Prunier
to leave the country without questioning him. While Nick was spending some 10 months
in solitary confinement for apparently "refusing to confess", it happened
that Prunier was arrested in Belgium for allegedly tricking three other British travelers
into smuggling drugs. Nick's defence attorney requested that the facts of the Belgian
case be admitted as evidence, but presiding Judge Kenji Kadoya, who in more than
a decade on the bench has never found a single defendant "not guilty",
refused this motion at the request of the prosecution. Instead, in June 2003, Kadoya
sentenced Nick to 14 years in prison with hard labour, largely on the basis of testimony
Nick was made to sign (written in Japanese, a language he does not understand). Nick
protested that the testimony was inaccurately translated, and is currently appealing
the verdict, a process that could take up to one year. Nick's family and supporters
have put this site up in the desperate hope that the Japanese authorities, aware
that the world is watching, will admit relevant evidence and provide Nick with a
proper hearing.
THE JAPAN POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (JPRI)
Headed by Dr Chalmers Johnson, the authority on Japan's Industrial Policy, JPRI brings forth insightful viewpoints on the interactions between Japan, Asia, and the West which might not otherwise make it to the discussion table. Note: the web site is for information about the organization. Access to many (but not all) of the articles is for members only, but I encourage anyone with an interest in Japan to have a look and join. Want a writing sample? Read an essay I wrote for them on my Residents Page.
THE JAPAN ASSOCIATION FOR LANGUAGE TEACHING (JALT)
The largest association for language teachers in Japan, and a good place for the professional instructor and linguist to get materials and feedback.
THE PROFESSIONALISM, ADMINISTRATION, AND LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION (PALE) Special Interest Group (SIG)
Gotta love the acronym. Seriously, this is a select group of JALT Members who
are concerned with professional and employment issues, particularly in the Japanese
university system. In recent years, we have been documenting specific legal cases
that will have long-term effects on the treatment of non-Japanese employees in a
Journal of Professional Issues. Officially, "The PALE Journal of Professional
Issues focuses on teachers, administrators, and communities for all education levels.
Concerns include work conditions, legal issues, ethics, and research affecting language
education." I just happened to be one of the editors of the Journal for
several years, so again, if you can't get enough of my writings, check it out. We
are saving many court cases from obscurity.
FRIENDS' SITES
HOKKAIDO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (HIBA)
HIBA is a group of local non-Japanese (and some Japanese) businesspeople who share information about opportunities in Hokkaido. Who's of interest up here and what we do. I've been a member since 1991 and their Secretary 1993, and 1997-2000, so I can vouch for our experience and enthusiasm. Note that the site is not updated often, so it will provide sometimes outdated information on recent projects.
JAPAN NEWS SITES (in brief)
Yomiuri Shinbun (in Japanese and English)
Nikkei Business (in Japanese and English)
Mainichi Shinbun (in Japanese and English)
Asahi Shinbun (in Japanese and English)
Japan Free Press (in English)
OTHER INFORMATION SITES
Japan's Government Sites (linked together by the PM's office, in Japanese)
Japan's Economic Planning Agency (in Japanese)
Japan's International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Japan's Overseas Development Assistance (with links to stats on Japan's exports, imports, and investment in Asia)
MIT's references on Japanese
materials science and engineering
The Blacklist of Japanese Universities
American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA)
Washington State Apple Growers' site
(click for info on why apples matter to US-Japan relations)
The Pentagon's Latest Projects
Nautilus Institute Daily Press News (including Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean sources)
Archipelago (unusual tacks on recent Japan news stories)
OTHER SITES
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (English and Japanese)
(click here for shady background info on Sasakawa and his foundation)
ChangingLINKS.com
A list of my publications, ahem.
Find other sites you find that tickle you? Let me know!