{"id":16174,"date":"2020-07-20T13:25:09","date_gmt":"2020-07-20T20:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=16174"},"modified":"2020-07-20T13:25:09","modified_gmt":"2020-07-20T20:25:09","slug":"debito-org-newsletter-july-20-2020-special-issue-on-japans-blanket-ban-on-foreign-resident-re-entry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=16174","title":{"rendered":"DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER JULY 20, 2020: SPECIAL ISSUE ON JAPAN’S BLANKET BAN ON FOREIGN RESIDENT RE-ENTRY"},"content":{"rendered":"

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DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER JULY 20, 2020<\/strong>
\nSPECIAL ISSUE ON JAPAN’S BLANKET BAN ON FOREIGN RESIDENT RE-ENTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Table of Contents:<\/em><\/strong>
\n\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
\nJAPAN’S BLANKET BAN ON FOREIGN RESIDENT RE-ENTRY<\/strong>
\n1) German journalism on Japan Govt\u2019s COVID policy: Tohoku\u2019s Dr. Oshitani: Foreigners (not Japanese) brought it in. And that\u2019s why govt policies specifically exclude only foreigners, even NJ Permanent Residents.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2) Japan\u2019s National Universities call on the Education Ministry to protect int\u2019l students from expulsion and exclusion (a report from Debito.org Reader Mark)<\/strong><\/p>\n

3) American Chamber of Commerce in Japan calls on J govt to cease \u201cdouble standard restricting [Foreign Japan Residents\u2019] travel, economic, and familial opportunities based on nationality\u201d in Coronavirus policy<\/strong><\/p>\n

WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?<\/strong><\/p>\n

4) NHK TV\u2019s racist video explaining Black Lives Matter for a children\u2019s news program: Why their excuse of \u201cnot enough consideration made at broadcast\u201d is BS<\/strong><\/p>\n

…and finally…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

5) SNA Visible Minorities Column 11: Advice to Activists in Japan in general (in the wake of the emergence of the Black Lives Matter Japan Movement), June 22, 2020.<\/strong>
\n\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/<\/p>\n

By Debito Arudou, Ph.D. (debito@debito.org, www.debito.org, Twitter @arudoudebito)
\nDebito.org Newsletters as always are freely forward able.<\/p>\n

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

JAPAN’S BLANKET BAN ON FOREIGN RESIDENT RE-ENTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) German journalism on Japan Govt\u2019s COVID policy: Tohoku\u2019s Dr. Oshitani: Foreigners (not Japanese) brought it in. And that\u2019s why govt policies specifically exclude only foreigners, even NJ Permanent Residents.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When the Japanese media observes omert\u00e0 on how Japan\u2019s policymakers engage in racist politics, it\u2019s sometimes up to overseas media to expose it. Debito.org Reader Maximilian Doe offers a full report from German media: How even Japan\u2019s scientists (particularly a Dr. Oshitani Hitoshi, professor of virology at Tohoku University, and leader of the health advisors to the Japanese government) couched COVID as an overseas contagion, not something also brought into Japan by Japanese (such as the cruise ship Diamond Princess). This led to policies that reflectively exclude all \u201cforeigners\u201d (including NJ Residents with valid visas) from entry or even quarantine.<\/p>\n

OSHITANI<\/strong>: Spread of COVID-19 in Japan had two major waves so far. The first wave was originated by people with travel history to Wuhan and other places in China. From January to early February, the number of cases from China found in Japan was 11. Of course, there were considered to be more imported cases from China in reality, but it was likely somewhere around several tens to about a hundred. These people traveled to Japan for sightseeing or other purposes, and later, through places where people congregate, such as sports gyms and small concert houses, transmissions spread across the country including Hokkaido, Tokyo, Aichi, and Osaka. This first wave had come under control by mid March with number of cases relatively low, but the second wave came as the first wave was calming down. Second wave was originated by infected people from a wide range of countries, such as Europe, US, Southeast Asia, and Egypt. We confirmed about 300 cases who had entered Japan from such countries, so the actual number of cases who entered Japan is estimated to be around 1,000 ~ 2,000. Although local transmissions of the second wave in Japan began in early February, infected people from abroad were coming to Japan and able to move around the country almost without any restriction, until the government put restrictions on travel at the end of March. This resulted in a large outbreak.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG: Virologist and government advisor Hitoshi Oshitani says: \u201cThe data clearly shows that Japan\u2019s measures were more effective than those of Western countries.\u201d No G7 country has so few Covid-19 fatalities as Japan. The high standard of hygiene of the Japanese is also claimed as an additional reason for this. Now the government of the right-wing conservative Prime Minister Shinz\u014d Abe wants to make sure that foreigners will not cause the next wave.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

COMMENT FROM DOE<\/strong>: These German articles are not hard proof whether Dr. Oshitani is actively okay with shutting out even legal residents or not, but in combination with the Japanese and English articles published on the website of Oshitani\u2019s lab I get the impression that he and his team of other advisors had a very strong influence, if not the most critical influence, on the government implementing this current entry ban. I also think that it\u2019s enough evidence that he at least doesn\u2019t care about the problem for stranded NJ residents. A curious behavior for an academic or one of Japan\u2019s national apex universities, since universities are those \u201cbusinesses\u201d disproportionately affected by this. Besides this he\u2019s clearly responsible for the \u2013 let\u2019s say \u2013 special testing policy Japan has implemented. I\u2019d like to hear your thoughts about this.<\/em><\/p>\n

COMMENT FROM DEBITO<\/strong>: My thoughts are there is a pattern here. Foreigners, as we\u2019ve seen from the days of AIDS, SARS, and even the Otaru Onsens Case, are more likely to be seen as riddled with contagion, and treated as such by policymakers either with benign neglect or overt reactionary policies. However, instead of having a government and civil society that rightfully points out that associating disease with citizenship leads to racism, in Japan we get blanket exclusion. And it\u2019s even backed up by Japan\u2019s scientists.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=16130<\/a><\/p>\n

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

2) Japan\u2019s National Universities call on the Education Ministry to protect int\u2019l students from expulsion and exclusion (a report from Debito.org Reader Mark)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark, a graduate student at a Japanese university, sends word that Tokyo University\u2019s International Student Support Group has been doing its job assisting its NJ students, noting that the Japan Association of National Universities has made demands to the Ministry of Education clearly advocating on behalf of international students in Japan. The latter on the national government to (ISS\u2019s translation):<\/p>\n

1) ensure that the international students and researchers who already obtain a status of residence can have the continued education and research opportunities by promptly allowing them to re-enter Japan. Also, it should be based on a thorough infection prevention measures.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2) promptly resume the visa application process at Japanese Embassies\/Consulates for international students (new students) and newly hired international researchers, carefully monitoring the infection situation in each country.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, while this isn\u2019t on the scale of what you get in the United States, where a very large front of universities, states, and even corporations lined up lawsuits to defend international students from getting their student visas revoked by the Trump Administration if they were taking online-only classes (resulting in the Trump Administration actually backing down yesterday, mere days after ICE unilaterally declared it policy). But for Japan it\u2019s a start. And a rather rare example of organizations that aren\u2019t \u201cactivist groups\u201d advocating on behalf of NJ rights (especially since the GOJ\u2019s activities lately have been especially isolationist and xenophobic). And since these are Japan\u2019s flagship universities, including Toudai, it\u2019s a precedent and a template. Bravo. Mark\u2019s report follows:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=16162<\/a><\/p>\n

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

3) American Chamber of Commerce in Japan calls on J govt to cease \u201cdouble standard restricting [Foreign Japan Residents\u2019] travel, economic, and familial opportunities based on nationality\u201d in Coronavirus policy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now the ACCJ has spoken out against the Japanese government\u2019s coronavirus policy treatment of NJ Residents that you see nowhere else in fellow developed countries. This is in addition to the Japan Association of National Universities\u2019 similar call on behalf of international students:<\/p>\n

ACCJ: The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) today issued a second statement [included below] in response to re-entry travel restrictions placed on residents of Japan who are not Japanese citizens and called on the Government of Japan to provide fair and equal treatment for all residents regardless of nationality. \u201cForeign residents of Japan who have made a decision to build a life here and contribute to the Japanese economy should not be subject to a double standard restricting their travel, economic, and familial opportunities based on nationality,\u201d said Christopher J. LaFleur, ACCJ Chairman. \u201cWhile we applaud and support the Japanese government\u2019s efforts to manage the COVID-19 crisis, a resident\u2019s nationality provides no basis on which to assess risk or assign travel privilege in relation to COVID-19.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Foreign nationals actively and positively contribute to Japan\u2019s economy and society, and do not pose any greater risk than Japanese citizens re-entering Japan. The ACCJ statement expresses concern among our international business community that the prohibition currently in place is detrimental to Japan\u2019s long-term interests\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSuch individuals, especially those with permanent residency (eijuken) and their accompanying family members or those who are immediate family members of Japanese nationals, and those with long-term working visas and their accompanying family members, need to be allowed to enter Japan under the same conditions as Japanese citizens to continue living and working in this country. Such foreign nationals are actively and positively contributing to Japan\u2019s economy and society, and do not pose any greater risk than Japanese citizens re-entering Japan\u2026 At minimum, Japan should adopt the approach of other G7 countries to allow foreigners with established residency status and their immediate family members to depart and enter the country on the same basis as Japanese nationals.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=16166<\/a><\/p>\n

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

WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?<\/strong><\/p>\n

4) NHK TV\u2019s racist video explaining Black Lives Matter for a children\u2019s news program: Why their excuse of \u201cnot enough consideration made at broadcast\u201d is BS<\/strong><\/p>\n

A couple of weeks ago, we covered on Debito.org a flap about TV network NHK (\u201cthe BBC of Japan\u201c) broadcasting a racialized anime to Japanese kids explaining the Black Lives Matter movement in America. It portrayed African-Americans as scary, angry, thieving, sinewy stomping and guitar-strumming urban folk. With a few more stereotypes thrown in. (And note that there wasn\u2019t even a mention of George Floyd.)<\/p>\n

Here is the NHK video in question, with translation version afterwards. Soon after, on June 9, according to the Mainichi Shinbun, NHK apologized for the video, saying, \u201cThere was not enough consideration made at broadcast\u201d, and removed the program was removed from its online streaming services.<\/p>\n

Debito.org cries BS about NHK\u2019s claims of \u201cnot giving enough consideration\u201d, because in fact, NHK hired this production crew BECAUSE they are famous for creating these outlandish videos. They\u2019re evidently the same crew who did sequences for legendary TV show \u201cKoko Ga Hen Da Yo Nihonjin\u201d some decades ago. Consider the similarity in style between the above NHK sequence and this \u201cKoko Ga Hen\u201d segment, as analyzed by Kirk Masden. Also witness the tone of this \u201cKoko Ga Hen\u201d segment from February 28, 2001.<\/p>\n

Given that \u201cKoko Ga Hen\u201d routinely racialized and othered its foreign panelists for the purposes of entertainment and maintaining the constant Japanese media narrative of foreigners as scary outsiders, I aver that NHK knew exactly what it was doing when it subcontracted out to those producers. NHK just didn\u2019t expect to be called out on it.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=16152<\/a><\/p>\n

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

…and finally…<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

5) SNA Visible Minorities Column 11: Advice to Activists in Japan in general (in the wake of the emergence of the Black Lives Matter Japan Movement), June 22, 2020.<\/strong><\/p>\n

SNA: Within recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations, a wider range of people are finally decrying, for example, the Japanese police\u2019s racial profiling and violence towards visible minorities. [\u2026] This column would like to point out some of the pitfalls that activists may face in Japanese society, based upon my experience fighting against racial discrimination in Japan for nearly thirty years. Please read them in the helpful spirit they are intended.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

1) Remember that, in Japan, activists are seen as extremists<\/em><\/strong>
\n2) Keep the debate focused on how discrimination affects everyone in Japan<\/em><\/strong>
\n3) Be wary of being fetishized<\/em><\/strong>
\n4) Be ready for the long haul<\/em><\/strong>
\n5) Control your own narrative<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Full article at https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=16123<\/a><\/p>\n

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

That’s all for this month. Thanks for reading!
\nDebito Arudou, Ph.D.<\/p>\n

DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER JULY 20, 2020 ENDS<\/strong><\/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. \u00a0More details here<\/a>. Or if you prefer something less complicated, just click on an advertisement below.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Table of Contents:
\nJAPAN’S BLANKET BAN ON FOREIGN RESIDENT RE-ENTRY
\n1) German journalism on Japan Govt\u2019s COVID policy: Tohoku\u2019s Dr. Oshitani: Foreigners (not Japanese) brought it in. And that\u2019s why govt policies specifically exclude only foreigners, even NJ Permanent Residents.
\n2) Japan\u2019s National Universities call on the Education Ministry to protect int\u2019l students from expulsion and exclusion (a report from Debito.org Reader Mark)
\n3) American Chamber of Commerce in Japan calls on J govt to cease \u201cdouble standard restricting [Foreign Japan Residents\u2019] travel, economic, and familial opportunities based on nationality\u201d in Coronavirus policy<\/p>\n

WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
\n4) NHK TV\u2019s racist video explaining Black Lives Matter for a children\u2019s news program: Why their excuse of \u201cnot enough consideration made at broadcast\u201d is BS
\n…and finally…
\n5) SNA Visible Minorities Column 11: Advice to Activists in Japan in general (in the wake of the emergence of the Black Lives Matter Japan Movement), June 22, 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newsletters"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16174","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=16174"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16175,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16174\/revisions\/16175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}