{"id":14973,"date":"2018-04-20T16:47:48","date_gmt":"2018-04-21T02:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14973"},"modified":"2018-04-20T16:48:13","modified_gmt":"2018-04-21T02:48:13","slug":"mainichi-zainichi-koreans-legal-battle-ends-in-her-favor-bravo-but-mainichi-plays-word-games-mistranslates-racial-discrimination-jinshu-sabetsu-into-ethnic-discrimination-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=14973","title":{"rendered":"Mainichi: Zainichi Korean’s hate speech lawsuit ends in her favor. Bravo. But Mainichi plays word games, mistranslates “racial discrimination” (jinshu sabetsu) into “ethnic discrimination” in English!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hi Blog. Let me turn the keyboard over to JK for some update and analysis:<\/p>\n

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
\nJK<\/strong>: \u00a0Hi Debito: Here’s a follow-up article by Mainichi on the Lee Sin Hae Case, which I originally submitted to Debito.org in late 2016<\/a>:<\/em><\/p>\n

Korean resident of Japan’s legal battle for dignity ends in her favor but problems remain<\/strong>
\n http:\/\/mainichi.jp\/english\/articles\/20180320\/p2a\/00m\/0na\/003000c<\/a><\/strong>
\n March 20, 2018 (Mainichi Japan)<\/strong><\/p>\n

OSAKA — A Korean resident of Japan whose damages lawsuit against an anti-Korean hate group and its former chairman ended last year with the top court ruling in her favor told the Mainichi Shimbun in an interview, “The ruling doesn’t mean we’ve crossed the finish line. It means we’ve just started on our way toward ridding the world of discrimination.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Freelance writer Lee Sin Hae, 46, filed a lawsuit with the Osaka District Court in August 2014 against<\/em> <\/strong>[officially-acknowledged hate group<\/a>] “Zainichi tokken o yurusanai shimin no kai” (“Citizens’ group that does not forgive special rights for Korean residents of Japan,” or “Zaitokukai”) and its then chairman, Makoto Sakurai, demanding 5.5 million yen in compensation. Lee alleged that the group defamed her by calling her “an old Korean hag” during rallies in the Sannomiya district of Kobe and “a lawless Korean” on Twitter.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The district court ruled in September 2016 that Zaitokukai had made the statements with the intent to incite and intensify discrimination against Korean residents of Japan, and ordered the group to pay Lee 770,000 yen in damages.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Lee’s attorney, in June 2017, the Osaka High Court became the first court to recognize that a plaintiff had been subjected to “composite discrimination” — in Lee’s case, ethnic and gender discrimination<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>[emphasis added]. \u00a0However, the high court upheld the lower court’s compensation amount of 770,000 yen. Zaitokukai appealed, but the Supreme Court’s Second Petty Bench turned down the appeal late last year, finalizing the Osaka High Court’s decision.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was through her writings criticizing hate speech that Lee herself increasingly became a target of hate mongers. She looked back on her three-year legal battle, during which she suffered insomnia and sudden-onset deafness as a result of stress caused by remembering painful incidents as she collected evidence for her case. “It’s been made clear that if one singles out another as a target of hate speech, they will have to pay for it with money,” she said.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Lee is hopeful that the precedent the courts set by recognizing that she had been subjected to composite discrimination will serve as a deterrent against discrimination in the future. Yet, people continue to take part in hate speech even when their identities are made public or they are ordered to pay damages, resulting in a reality in which hate speech is still plentiful both on the streets and on the internet.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

“With the lawsuit, I became keenly aware that my strength alone was very weak,” Lee said. “Society won’t change unless the central government and administrative agencies come together and pour all their efforts into ending discrimination.” What Lee demands now are effective measures that include criminal punishment.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hiroko Kotaki, an attorney who represented Lee in the lawsuit, offered a certain measure of praise for the Osaka High Court’s ruling for its recognition of the composite discrimination to which Lee was subjected. But Kotaki pointed out that it was problematic that claims to recover damage done by hate speech directed at an indefinite number of people, such as “Korean residents of Japan,” are not possible under current laws. With that in mind, she said, “In addition to establishing new legal standards, internet service providers need to work to reinforce their self-monitoring capacity.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

When the Osaka District Court ruled in favor of Lee in September 2016<\/a>, former Zaitokukai leader Sakurai released a statement through his lawyer, accusing the ruling of being “unjust, as it was based on societal prejudice toward Zaitokukai.” When the Osaka High Court upheld the lower court’s decision, he released a statement that said, “I praise the fact that the compensation amount was limited to 770,000 yen, dealing a blow to the intentions of those who hoped to politically exploit the ruling.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Japanese original
\n\u5bfe\u5728\u7279\u4f1a\u30d8\u30a4\u30c8\u88c1\u5224
\nhttp:\/\/mainichi.jp\/articles\/20180310\/k00\/00m\/040\/095000c<\/a>
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\u685c\u4e95\u6c0f\u306f\uff12\uff10\uff11\uff16\u5e74\uff19\u6708\u306e\u5927\u962a\u5730\u88c1\u5224\u6c7a\u6642\u3001\u4ee3\u7406\u4eba\u5f01\u8b77\u58eb\u3092\u901a\u3058\u3066\u300c\u5224\u6c7a\u306f\u5728\u7279\u4f1a\u5074\u3078\u306e\u793e\u4f1a\u7684\u504f\u898b\u306b\u57fa\u3065\u304f\u3082\u306e\u3067\u4e0d\u5f53\u300d\u306a\u3069\u3068\u3059\u308b\u8ac7\u8a71\u3092\u51fa\u3057\u305f\u3002\u307e\u305f\u3001\u6628\u5e74\uff16\u6708\u306e\u5927\u962a\u9ad8\u88c1\u5224\u6c7a\u6642\u306b\u306f\u4ee3\u7406\u4eba\u5f01\u8b77\u58eb\u3092\u901a\u3058\u3001\u300c\u8ce0\u511f\u91d1\u304c\uff17\uff17\u4e07\u5186\u306b\u3068\u3069\u307e\u3063\u305f\u3053\u3068\u306f\u3001\u5224\u6c7a\u306e\u653f\u6cbb\u5229\u7528\u3092\u3082\u304f\u308d\u3080\u52e2\u529b\u306e\u601d\u60d1\u3092\u304f\u3058\u304f\u7d50\u679c\u3068\u306a\u3063\u305f\u3053\u3068\u3092\u8a55\u4fa1\u3059\u308b\u300d\u3068\u30b3\u30e1\u30f3\u30c8\u3057\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3002\u3010\u5f8c\u85e4\u7531\u8036\u3011<\/p>\n

\u5927\u962a\u30d8\u30a4\u30c8\u30b9\u30d4\u30fc\u30c1\u8a34\u8a1f
\n\u685c\u4e95\u6c0f\u304c\u795e\u6238\u30fb\u4e09\u5bae\u3067\u306e\u8857\u5ba3\u6d3b\u52d5\u3067\u300c\u671d\u9bae\u4eba\u306e\u30d0\u30d0\u30a2\u300d\u3068\u767a\u8a00\u3057\u305f\u308a\u3001\u30c4\u30a4\u30c3\u30bf\u30fc\u3067\u300c\u4e0d\u901e\u9bae\u4eba\uff08\u3075\u3066\u3044\u305b\u3093\u3058\u3093\uff09\u300d\u3068\u66f8\u304d\u8fbc\u3080\u306a\u3069\u3057\u305f\u308a\u3057\u305f\u306e\u306f\u540d\u8a89\u6bc0\u640d\uff08\u304d\u305d\u3093\uff09\u306b\u5f53\u305f\u308b\u3068\u3057\u3066\u3001\u6771\u5927\u962a\u5e02\u5728\u4f4f\u306e\u674e\u3055\u3093\u304c\uff12\uff10\uff11\uff14\u5e74\u306b\u5927\u962a\u5730\u88c1\u306b\u63d0\u8a34\u3002\u5730\u88c1\u5224\u6c7a\uff08\uff11\uff16\u5e74\uff19\u6708\uff09\u306f\u300c\u5728\u65e5\u671d\u9bae\u4eba\u3078\u306e\u5dee\u5225\u3092\u52a9\u9577\u3001\u5897\u5e45\u3055\u305b\u308b\u610f\u56f3\u304c\u3042\u3063\u305f\u300d\u3068\u8a8d\u5b9a\u3057\u3001\u5728\u7279\u4f1a\u5074\u306b\uff17\uff17\u4e07\u5186\u306e\u652f\u6255\u3044\u3092\u547d\u3058\u305f\u3002\u63a7\u8a34\u5be9\u5224\u6c7a\u306f\u4eba\u7a2e\u5dee\u5225\u3092\u8a8d\u3081\u305f\uff11\u5be9\u304b\u3089\u8e0f\u307f\u8fbc\u307f\u3001\u6027\u5dee\u5225\u3068\u306e\u300c\u8907\u5408\u5dee\u5225\u300d\u3082\u8a8d\u3081\u305f\u304c\u3001\u547d\u3058\u305f\u652f\u6255\u984d\u81ea\u4f53\u306f\u5909\u308f\u3089\u306a\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3002
\n==================<\/p>\n

JK COMMENTS:<\/strong> \u00a0From the article, we learn that Lee Sin Hae’s case wasn’t finished in September 2016 — in June of 2017, the Osaka High Court upheld by the decision of the Osaka District Court to fine Mr. Sakurai ~$7200, and late last year, Mr. Sakurai and Zaitokai appealed the case, but the Second Petty Bench of the Supreme Court denied the appeal.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now one of the things I find curious in the article is that we’re introduced to so-called “composite discrimination” (\u8907\u5408\u5dee\u5225) which, in the Japanese version of the article is defined as racial discrimination (\u4eba\u7a2e\u5dee\u5225) plus “gender discrimination” (\u5973\u6027\u5dee\u5225; I think ‘sexism’ would be a better choice of words).<\/em><\/p>\n

However, in the English version, “composite discrimination” is defined as “**ethnic** and gender discrimination”.<\/em><\/p>\n

How is it that \u300c\u6c11\u65cf\u5dee\u5225\u300d now equates to ‘ethnic’ instead of ‘racial’?\u00a0<\/em>And if the intent was to convey the notion of ‘ethnic discrimination’ (whatever that is), why does the Japanese version not use \u300c\u6c11\u65cf\u5dee\u5225\u300d\u0080\u008d instead?<\/em><\/p>\n

The only explanation I can offer is that Mainichi is playing word games and deliberately whitewashing ‘racial discrimination’ with ‘ethnic discrimination’ in the English-language version because the latter is more palatable to the reader.\u00a0What’s your take?<\/em> Regards, JK<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

DEBITO COMMENTS<\/strong>: \u00a0The mistranslation is very indicative. \u00a0My take is that one of three things happened:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The mistranslation was accidental<\/strong>, because Japanese society is so blind to the problem of “racial discrimination” in Japan (as Debito.org has demonstrated, it’s taken decades for it to be explicitly called “jinshu sabetsu<\/em>” in the Japanese<\/a>) that editorial standards have reflexively reverse-engineered the language to make it “ethnic” all over again.<\/li>\n
  2. The mistranslation was deliberate<\/strong>, because Japan has no races, therefore “racial discrimination” cannot exist in Japan (after all, holds the liberal Japanese view, “Japanese and Koreans are the same race, therefore discrimination against Koreans isn’t racial; it’s ethnic<\/a>“). \u00a0More on that below. \u00a0Or,<\/li>\n
  3. The mistranslation was subterfuge<\/strong>, because the translator at the Mainichi happened to be\u00a0one of those White Samurai types<\/a>, who personally doesn’t see “racism” as a problem in Japan (despite the original Japanese wording), and sneakily changed things to protect his Japan from the outside world.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Of course, this all begs the question of people in Japan still accepting the antiquated notion of “race” as an abstract, biological concept — as opposed to a socially-constructed one<\/a> that differs from society to society in its definitions and enforcement, or as\u00a0a performative one that is created through the process of “differentiation”, “othering”, and subordination<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    So strong is this centuries-old belief that even Mali-born naturalized Japanese Dr. Oussouby Sacko, recently-elected president of Kyoto Seika University (congratulations!), made the bold statement in the New York Times<\/a> that his differential treatment in Japan is not due to racism:<\/p>\n

    “Dr. Sacko, a citizen of Japan for 16 years, says he is treated differently because he does not look Japanese. But he distinguished that from racism. ‘It\u2019s not because you\u2019re black,’ he said.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Sorry, that’s not now modern definitions of racism work anymore, Dr. Sacko. Differential treatment of Visible Minorities in Japan is still a racialization process<\/a>. \u00a0But I guess anyone can succumb to the predominant “Japan is not racist” groupthink if it is that strong.<\/p>\n

    In this light, the Mainichi can be seen as merely maintaining the narrative, reverse-engineering the censorious language into English this time. \u00a0Dr. Debito Arudou<\/p>\n

    ===================================
    \nDo you like what you read on Debito.org? \u00a0Want to help keep the archive active and support Debito.org’s activities? \u00a0Please consider donating a little something. \u00a0    More details here<\/a>. Or even click on an ad below.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Freelance writer Lee Sin Hae, 46, filed a lawsuit with the Osaka District Court in August 2014 against [officially-acknowledged hate group] “Zainichi tokken o yurusanai shimin no kai” (“Citizens’ group that does not forgive special rights for Korean residents of Japan,” or “Zaitokukai”) and its then chairman, Makoto Sakurai, demanding 5.5 million yen in compensation. Lee alleged that the group defamed her by calling her “an old Korean hag” during rallies in the Sannomiya district of Kobe and “a lawless Korean” on Twitter.<\/p>\n

    The district court ruled in September 2016 that Zaitokukai had made the statements with the intent to incite and intensify discrimination against Korean residents of Japan, and ordered the group to pay Lee 770,000 yen in damages. According to Lee’s attorney, in June 2017, the Osaka High Court became the first court to recognize that a plaintiff had been subjected to “composite discrimination” — in Lee’s case, ethnic and gender discrimination. \u00a0However, the high court upheld the lower court’s compensation amount of 770,000 yen. Zaitokukai appealed, but the Supreme Court’s Second Petty Bench turned down the appeal late last year, finalizing the Osaka High Court’s decision.<\/p>\n

    Submitter JK comments: Now one of the things I find curious in the article is that we’re introduced to so-called “composite discrimination” (\u8907\u5408\u5dee\u5225) which, in the Japanese version of the article is defined as racial discrimination (\u4eba\u7a2e\u5dee\u5225) plus “gender discrimination” (\u5973\u6027\u5dee\u5225; I think ‘sexism’ would be a better choice of words). However, in the English version, “composite discrimination” is defined as “**ethnic** and gender discrimination”.<\/p>\n

    Debito comments: \u00a0The mistranslation is very indicative. \u00a0My take is that one of three things happened:<\/p>\n

    1) The mistranslation was accidental, because Japanese society is so blind to the problem of “racial discrimination” in Japan (as Debito.org has demonstrated, it’s taken decades for it to be explicitly called “jinshu sabetsu” in the Japanese) that editorial standards have reflexively reverse-engineered the language to make it “ethnic” all over again.
    \n2) The mistranslation was deliberate, because Japan has no races, therefore “racial discrimination” cannot exist in Japan (after all, holds the liberal Japanese view, “Japanese and Koreans are the same race, therefore discrimination against Koreans isn’t racial; it’s ethnic”). \u00a0More on that below. \u00a0Or,
    \n3) The mistranslation was subterfuge, because the translator at the Mainichi happened to be\u00a0one of those White Samurai types, who personally doesn’t see “racism” as a problem in Japan (despite the original Japanese wording), and sneakily changed things to protect his Japan from the outside world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,43,36,35,52,5,15,13,65,68,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pinprick-protests","category-bad-business-practices","category-bad-social-science","category-good-news","category-hate-speech","category-human-rights","category-lawsuits","category-media","category-racist-images-in-media","category-victories","category-8"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14973","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=14973"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14984,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14973\/revisions\/14984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}