{"id":14078,"date":"2016-07-05T13:40:36","date_gmt":"2016-07-05T23:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14078"},"modified":"2016-07-05T13:41:47","modified_gmt":"2016-07-05T23:41:47","slug":"info-site-traveloco-jps-japanese-only-rules-people-with-foreign-sounding-names-refused-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14078","title":{"rendered":"Overseas online info site Traveloco.jp’s “Japanese Only” rules: “People with foreign-sounding names refused service”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hi Blog. Here we have an online information site called Traveloco.jp<\/a>, which apparently reserves its services “for Japanese Only living abroad”. This is another permutation of Japanese corporate practices erecting arbitrary firewalls between people<\/a> due to their nationality<\/a>, ethnicity<\/a>, etc<\/a>., or, in Traveloco.jp’s case, “having a name that does not appear to be Japanese”. I wonder how “Arudou Debito” would fare. \u00a0And as MT says below, why can’t anyone who can read and write Japanese be allowed equal access and service? \u00a0Debito.org Reader MT sends this report. Dr. ARUDOU, Debito<\/p>\n

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

Date: \u00a0June 27, 2016<\/strong>
\n From: MT<\/strong>
\n Hi Debito,<\/strong><\/p>\n

I am thinking of suing traveloco.jp site because they closed and banned my account right after I informed them of my name ([MT]), which is not Japanese.<\/em><\/p>\n

In the email below, the reason I was refused service is that “your name does not appear to be Japanese”. \u00a0Our correspondence, in reverse order:<\/em><\/p>\n

================================
\nFrom: \u30c8\u30e9\u30d9\u30ed\u30b3 <info@traveloco.jp><\/strong>
\n To: [MT]<\/strong>
\n Date: 2016\/6\/27, Mon 09:14<\/strong>
\n Subject: \u3054\u767b\u9332\u89e3\u9664\u306e\u3054\u9023\u7d61\uff08\u30c8\u30e9\u30d9\u30ed\u30b3\uff09<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u304a\u8fd4\u4e8b\u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002
\n\u30c8\u30e9\u30d9\u30ed\u30b3\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n

\u3054\u767b\u9332\u60c5\u5831\u3092\u78ba\u8a8d\u3055\u305b\u3066\u9802\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u304c\u3001
\n\u65e5\u672c\u4eba\u306e\u65b9\u3067\u306f\u306a\u3044\u3088\u3046\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/strong> [emphasis added]<\/p>\n

\u5927\u5909\u7533\u3057\u8a33\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u305b\u3093\u304c\u3001\u5f53\u30b5\u30a4\u30c8\u306b\u3066\u30ed\u30b3\u306b\u767b\u9332\u3057\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3060\u3051\u308b\u306e\u306f
\n\u65e5\u672c\u4eba\u65b9\u306b\u9650\u5b9a\u3057\u3066\u304a\u308a\u307e\u3059\u306e\u3067\u3001\u5916\u56fd\u4eba\u306e\u65b9\u306f\u3054\u767b\u9332\u9802\u3051\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002<\/strong> [emphasis added]<\/p>\n

\u3088\u304f\u3042\u308b\u8cea\u554f\uff1e\u79c1\u3082\u30ed\u30b3\u306b\u306a\u308a\u305f\u3044\u306e\u3067\u3059\u304c\u3002
\nhttps:\/\/traveloco.jp\/faq#faq-13<\/a><\/p>\n

\u307e\u305f\u3001\u4eca\u56de\u306e\u3054\u9023\u7d61\u3044\u305f\u3060\u3044\u305f\u30e1\u30fc\u30eb\u5185\u5bb9\u304b\u3089\u3001\u793e\u5185\u3067\u691c\u8a0e\u3055\u305b\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3060\u304d\u3001
\n\u30b5\u30a4\u30c8\u5229\u7528\u898f\u7d04\u300c\uff13\u67614.vi\u300d\u306b\u8a72\u5f53\u3059\u308b\u3068\u3057\u3066\u3001\u767b\u9332\u3092\u89e3\u9664\u3055\u305b\u3066\u9802\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002
\nhttps:\/\/traveloco.jp\/pages\/terms <\/a><\/p>\n

\u3054\u4e86\u627f\u4e0b\u3055\u3044\u3002<\/p>\n

————————————-traveloco
\n\u30c8\u30e9\u30d9\u30ed\u30b3
\nmail: info@traveloco.jp
\nURL\uff1a http:\/\/traveloco.jp\/
\n> —– Original Message —–
\n> From: \u30c8\u30e9\u30d9\u30ed\u30b3 <info@traveloco.jp>
\n> To: [MT]
\n> Date: 2016\/6\/27, Mon 01:27
\n> Subject: Re: \u30ed\u30b3\u5fdc\u52df\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066
\n>
\n> \u304a\u8fd4\u4e8b\u3042\u308a\u304c\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002
\n> \u30c8\u30e9\u30d9\u30ed\u30b3\u3067\u3059\u3002
\n>
\n> \u3054\u9023\u7d61\u9045\u304f\u306a\u308a\u3001\u7533\u3057\u8a33\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002
\n>
\n> \u304a\u554f\u3044\u5408\u308f\u305b\u306e\u4ef6\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u3001
\n> \u5177\u4f53\u7684\u306b\u306f\u3001\u30d7\u30ed\u30d5\u30a3\u30fc\u30eb\u60c5\u5831\u306e\u304a\u540d\u524d\u6b04\u306a\u3069\u306e\u9805\u76ee\u304c
\n> \u6b63\u3057\u304f\u767b\u9332\u3055\u308c\u3066\u304a\u308a\u307e\u305b\u3093\u306e\u3067\u3001\u6b63\u78ba\u306b\u3054\u767b\u9332
\n> \u3044\u305f\u3060\u3044\u3066\u304b\u3089\u3001\u3054\u5fdc\u52df\u9802\u3051\u307e\u3059\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b\u3002
\n>
\n> \u30d7\u30ed\u30d5\u30a3\u30fc\u30eb\u60c5\u5831
\n> https:\/\/traveloco.jp\/mypage\/profile\/ <\/a>
\n>
\n> Traveloco\u306f\u533f\u540d\u3067\u3054\u5229\u7528\u3044\u305f\u3060\u3051\u308b\u30b5\u30a4\u30c8\u306b\u306a\u308a\u307e\u3059\u304c\u3001
\n> \u30ed\u30b3\u3078\u306e\u767b\u9332\u306b\u3042\u305f\u3063\u3066\u306f\u3001\u6700\u4f4e\u9650\u306e\u500b\u4eba\u60c5\u5831\u3092\u767b\u9332\u3059\u308b
\n> \u3053\u3068\u306f\u3001\u7686\u69d8\u306b\u5b89\u5168\u306b\u3054\u5229\u7528\u9802\u304f\u305f\u3081\u306e\u5fc5\u8981\u6761\u4ef6\u3068\u3055\u305b\u3066
\n> \u9802\u3044\u3066\u304a\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002
\n>
\n> \u306a\u304a\u3001\u30ed\u30b3\u306e\u5fdc\u52df\u5be9\u67fb\u4e0a\u3001\u6b63\u3057\u3044\u60c5\u5831\u306e\u767b\u9332\u304c\u78ba\u8a8d\u3067\u304d\u308b\u307e\u3067\u306f
\n> \u4e00\u90e8\u6a5f\u80fd\u306f\u505c\u6b62\u3055\u305b\u3066\u3044\u305f\u3060\u3044\u3066\u304a\u308a\u307e\u3059\u306e\u3067\u3001\u3054\u4e86\u627f\u4e0b\u3055\u3044\u3002
\n>
\n> \u3069\u3046\u305e\u3088\u308d\u3057\u304f\u304a\u9858\u3044\u81f4\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002
\n>
\n> ————————————-traveloco
\n> \u30c8\u30e9\u30d9\u30ed\u30b3
\n> mail: info@traveloco.jp
\n> URL\uff1a http:\/\/traveloco.jp\/
\n>
\n> 2016\u5e746\u670825\u65e5 15:12 :
\n>> \u79c1\u306e\u8aac\u660e\u3092\u3061\u3083\u3093\u3068\u8a60\u3093\u3067\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044 \u554f\u984c\u306e\u539f\u70b9\u3001\u6559\u3048\u305f\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3002
\n>>
\n>> \u60c5\u5831\u306e\u4e00\u90e8\u306b\u4e0d\u5099\u3000\u306f\u3001\u56de\u7b54\u3068\u306a\u3063\u3066\u306a\u3044\u3002
\n>> \u3069\u306e\u90e8\u5206\u304b\u3001\u6b63\u78ba\u306b\u6559\u3048\u306a\u3055\u3044\u3002\u3069\u3046\u3084\u3063\u3066\u306a\u304a\u305b\u308b\u304b\u3000\u3068\u3044\u3046\u3053\u3068\u3092\u3061\u3083\u3093\u3068\u8aac\u660e\u3059\u308b\u306e\u306f\u3001\u30b5\u30dd\u30fc\u30c8\u306e\u4ed5\u4e8b\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\uff1f
\n>>
\n>> \u30c6\u30f3\u30d7\u30ec\u30fc\u30c8\u306e\u56de\u7b54\u3092\u51fa\u3059\u3088\u308a\u3061\u3083\u3093\u3068\u3057\u305f\u56de\u7b54\u3092\u4f5c\u3063\u3066\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044\u3002
\n>>
\n>> \u5176\u306e\u4e00\u3000\u307e\u305a\u306f\u3001\u79c1\u306e\u8aac\u660e\u3092\u8aad\u3080\u3002
\n>> \u305d\u306e\u4e8c\u3000\u5185\u5bb9\u3092\u7406\u89e3\u3059\u308b
\n>> \u305d\u306e\u4e09\u3000\u5185\u5bb9\u3092\u7406\u89e3\u3057\u305f\u4e0a\u3001\u5185\u5bb9\u306b\u6cbf\u3063\u3066\u89e3\u6c7a\u6848\u3092\u51fa\u3059
\n>>
\n>> \u4e0a\u8a18\u304c\u5e38\u8b58\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3002
\n>>
\n>> \u30ed\u30b3\u306e\u30b5\u30fc\u30d3\u30b9\u306e\u4e8c\u5341\uff05\u53d6\u3063\u3066\u3001\u3053\u3093\u306a\u6700\u60aa\u306a\u30b5\u30dd\u30fc\u30c8\u3092\u3059\u308b\u3064\u3082\u308a\uff1f\u5197\u8ac7\u3067\u3057\u3046\u3002
\n>>
\n>> \u79c1\u306f\u30ca\u30cb\u3092\u3059\u308c\u3070\u3044\u3044\u304b\u3001\u30b9\u30c6\u30c3\u30d7\u30d0\u30a4\u30b9\u30c6\u30c3\u30d7\u3067\u6559\u3048\u306a\u3055\u3044\u3002<\/p>\n

================================<\/p>\n

MT<\/strong>: Their terms of use do not mention such a thing, nothing like “our services are meant to be used only an exclusively by persons holding a Japanese passport” or something similar, nothing. They just kick out those who has a western name, based on the NAME itself.<\/em><\/p>\n

Terms of use of their services: (from\u00a0https:\/\/traveloco.jp\/pages\/terms<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n

4. \u5f53\u793e\u306f\u3001\u767b\u9332\u7533\u8acb\u8005\u304c\u3001\u4ee5\u4e0b\u306e\u5404\u53f7\u306e\u3044\u305a\u308c\u304b\u306e\u4e8b\u7531\u306b\u8a72\u5f53\u3059\u308b\u5834\u5408\u306f\u3001\u767b\u9332\u304a\u3088\u3073\u518d\u767b\u9332\u3092\u62d2\u5426\u3059\u308b\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3042\u308a\u3001\u307e\u305f\u305d\u306e\u7406\u7531\u306b\u3064\u3044\u3066\u4e00\u5207\u958b\u793a\u7fa9\u52d9\u3092\u8ca0\u3044\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002
\n\u5f53\u793e\u306b\u63d0\u4f9b\u3057\u305f\u767b\u9332\u4e8b\u9805\u306e\u5168\u90e8\u307e\u305f\u306f\u4e00\u90e8\u306b\u3064\u304d\u865a\u507d\u3001\u8aa4\u8a18\u307e\u305f\u306f\u8a18\u8f09\u6f0f\u308c\u304c\u3042\u3063\u305f\u5834\u5408
\n\u672a\u6210\u5e74\u8005\u3001\u6210\u5e74\u88ab\u5f8c\u898b\u4eba\u3001\u88ab\u4fdd\u4f50\u4eba\u307e\u305f\u306f\u88ab\u88dc\u52a9\u4eba\u306e\u3044\u305a\u308c\u304b\u3067\u3042\u308a\u3001\u6cd5\u5b9a\u4ee3\u7406\u4eba\u3001\u5f8c\u898b\u4eba\u3001\u4fdd\u4f50\u4eba\u307e\u305f\u306f\u88dc\u52a9\u4eba\u306e\u540c\u610f\u7b49\u3092\u5f97\u3066\u3044\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f\u5834\u5408
\n\u53cd\u793e\u4f1a\u7684\u52e2\u529b\u7b49\uff08\u66b4\u529b\u56e3\u3001\u66b4\u529b\u56e3\u54e1\u3001\u53f3\u7ffc\u56e3\u4f53\u3001\u53cd\u793e\u4f1a\u7684\u52e2\u529b\u3001\u305d\u306e\u4ed6\u3053\u308c\u306b\u6e96\u305a\u308b\u8005\u3092\u610f\u5473\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002\u4ee5\u4e0b\u540c\u3058\u3002\uff09\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3001\u307e\u305f\u306f\u8cc7\u91d1\u63d0\u4f9b\u305d\u306e\u4ed6\u3092\u901a\u3058\u3066\u53cd\u793e\u4f1a\u7684\u52e2\u529b\u7b49\u306e\u7dad\u6301\u3001\u904b\u55b6\u3082\u3057\u304f\u306f\u7d4c\u55b6\u306b\u5354\u529b\u3082\u3057\u304f\u306f\u95a2\u4e0e\u3059\u308b\u7b49\u53cd\u793e\u4f1a\u7684\u52e2\u529b\u7b49\u3068\u306e\u4f55\u3089\u304b\u306e\u4ea4\u6d41\u3082\u3057\u304f\u306f\u95a2\u4e0e\u3092\u884c\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3068\u5f53\u793e\u304c\u5224\u65ad\u3057\u305f\u5834\u5408
\n\u767b\u9332\u5e0c\u671b\u8005\u304c\u904e\u53bb\u5f53\u793e\u3068\u306e\u5951\u7d04\u306b\u9055\u53cd\u3057\u305f\u8005\u307e\u305f\u306f\u305d\u306e\u95a2\u4fc2\u8005\u3067\u3042\u308b\u3068\u5f53\u793e\u304c\u5224\u65ad\u3057\u305f\u5834\u5408
\n\u7b2c10\u6761\u306b\u5b9a\u3081\u308b\u63aa\u7f6e\u3092\u53d7\u3051\u305f\u3053\u3068\u304c\u3042\u308b\u5834\u5408
\n\u305d\u306e\u4ed6\u3001\u5f53\u793e\u304c\u767b\u9332\u3092\u9069\u5f53\u3067\u306a\u3044\u3068\u5224\u65ad\u3057\u305f\u5834\u5408<\/p>\n

Note that there is no mention of anything that refers to this funny “Japanese only” policy though (only in the QA section: https:\/\/traveloco.jp\/faq#faq-13<\/a>, but this is nothing to do with legal terms, since the terms of use are\u00a0not mentioning it explicitly), so I gave it a try with registering, since I had some interesting ideas for them and some services to share with those Japanese who would be interested in my country or would be coming to [my country of origin].<\/em><\/p>\n

The whole correspondence started via their website so the first part when I was asking why I cannot register my page and services (at first, it was a technical question but they failed to reply in details, instead they sent me some template bullshit to send me off – so, understandably, I got very upset), is missing since it was not done via email but via a form on their site on my account page – and I have no access to that any more.<\/em><\/p>\n

I would like to ask The Japan Times to track this down, and ask them publicly why are they doing this in the 21st century, where human and personal rights should be taken very seriously? Even in Aichi, Nagoya, where they are located.<\/em><\/p>\n

I would like an official apology from the company’s main rep, Mr. SHIIYA Yutaka (\u690e\u8c37\u8c4a, facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/yshiiya<\/a>) via Japanese mass media. And I want them to review their policies, so that everyone (regardless of race) who is capable to communicate in Japanese could use the site with no discrimination against them – especially not based on their western-like names (if it is not a “Japanese” name)!<\/em><\/p>\n

My correspondence above with them speaks for itself. And these are young entrepreneurs, not just some old folks, but the Y-generation!!! This sentiment and notion of Japaneseness is routed very very deeply even in these young men<\/a>, who are brainwashed (or getting on some nationalist waves to make big money, maybe?). They are getting their foot in the door of the start-up world. <\/em><\/p>\n

In the meantime I am seeking legal help, because I want others to know this. This site is “only for Japanese”, the online version of “Japanese only” bars, “Japanese only” onsens<\/a>, etc…<\/em><\/p>\n

Of course, you have my permission to make a report on your own site about this.\u00a0In case I sue them, I will keep you updated.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thanks a lot, Debito, and pls keep up the good work. I have just read about your book, Embedded Racism<\/a>, and will get my copy soon<\/em>. Sincerely, MT<\/strong><\/p>\n

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

ENDS<\/p>\n

Do you like what you read on Debito.org? \u00a0Want to help keep the archive active and support Debito.org’s activities? \u00a0We are celebrating Debito.org’s 20th Anniversary in 2016, so please consider donating a little something. \u00a0More details here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here we have an online information site called Traveloco.jp, which apparently reserves its services “for Japanese Only living abroad”. This is another permutation of Japanese corporate practices erecting arbitrary firewalls between people due to their nationality, ethnicity, etc., or, in Traveloco.jp’s case, “having a name that does not appear to be Japanese”. I wonder how “Arudou Debito” would fare. And as MT says below, why can’t anyone who can read and write Japanese be allowed service?<\/p>\n

MT: I am thinking of suing traveloco.jp site because they closed and banned my account right after I informed them of my name, which to them “does not appear to be Japanese”. Note that there is no explicit mention of this in their official terms of use (enclosed), and I had some interesting ideas for them and some services to share with those Japanese who would be interested in my country or would be coming to [my home country]. <\/p>\n

I want them to review their policies, so that everyone (regardless of race) who is capable to communicate in Japanese could use the site with no discrimination against them – especially not based on their western-like names (if it is not a “Japanese” name)! My correspondence with them speaks for itself. And these are young entrepreneurs, not just some old folks, but the Y-generation!!! This sentiment and notion of Japaneseness is routed very very deeply even in these young men, who are getting their foot in the door of the start-up world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,54,43,34,5,13,55,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-embedded-racism","category-pinprick-protests","category-bad-business-practices","category-exclusionism","category-human-rights","category-media","category-tourism","category-8"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14078"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14078\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}