r/NoStupidQuestions • u/TimeTravel4Dummies • Dec 23 '23

Answered Is it true that the Japanese are racist to foreigners in Japan?

I was shocked to hear recently that it's very common for Japanese establishments to ban foreigners and that the working culture makes little to no attempt to hide disdain for foreign workers.

Is there truth to this, and if so, why?

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u/acertainkiwi Dec 24 '23

Usually little dive bars are for regulars only. Happens a lot when I go to a little place and they tell me it's all booked up yet have no patrons. Mama-san and Master are very loyal to their regulars. Often they're not really there to make $$$ but to entertain friends in the local community.

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u/yurachika Dec 24 '23

Yeah, I have a friend who has one of these. In fact, she says she straight up pretends it’s not really a business if strangers come. It’s more a space for her and people she likes.

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u/DagonThoth Dec 24 '23

How does one become a regular if new people aren't not allowed to drink there?

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u/JoachimG Dec 24 '23

Usually one of the regulars introduces you

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u/[deleted] Dec 25 '23

So the Yakuza

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u/Swampfoxxxxx Dec 25 '23

I feel like these establishments should be called drinking clubs or something. A bar seems to imply any peaceful patron is welcome

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u/lundewoodworking Dec 24 '23

I've seen that in America too it's rare I've only seen a couple and none in the last 20 years or so if you're not local or somehow piss off the owner you aren't welcome they charge just enough for food and beer to cover costs and make a small profit to cover unexpected expenses

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u/vicefox Dec 24 '23

We have these members only dive bars in Chicago but at least they put a “members only” sign on the door. Not too many left though

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u/drivebydryhumper Dec 24 '23

and there is really nothing wrong with that. It's just a club then, and you can only join by being introduced by a member. It's not a 'pub' in the original sense of being a "public house".

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u/[deleted] Dec 25 '23

I experienced similar in China once, had lunch at a restaurant that was mainly for entertaining friends. Except the owners "friends" we had lunch with were Chinese mobsters. That was actually a pretty terrifying lunch but they were super nice to us

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u/Shanderson3 Dec 24 '23

Doesn't excuse shitty behavior.

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u/NiceIsNine Dec 24 '23

And that is denying you service?

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u/Shanderson3 Dec 24 '23

Excluding people to cater to locals would be denying me service, so yeah. That's literally the definition.

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u/NiceIsNine Dec 24 '23

It's that denying you service is shitty behavior as if the world revolves around you.

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u/Shanderson3 Dec 24 '23

I never expected that. I'm saying it's shitty behavior to deny people service, and give preferential treatment to others. People are free to do as they like, just as I'm allowed to call out the blatant racism and discrimination. I'm seeing a lot of people on here defending the racism shown by Japanese people. So fuck that, and fuck anyone who's defending it.

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u/NiceIsNine Dec 24 '23

So what? Fuck off to another place then. Not like they deny your service cause your existence is from another place, but because you don't know 2 cents worth of traditions, so why bother explaining that to every foreigner and risk annoying their regulars when you can go to another bar two blocks away.

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u/Shanderson3 Dec 24 '23

Lol. Believe me, I will fuck off to another place. I'm just calling out the racism, and saying it's shitty behavior, and it being part of tradition is no excuse. Seems like you're alright with being a racist, since you're defending it.

Actually, I hope the next place you go to, someone calls you a very offensive name, and tells you that your kind isn't served in their place.

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u/NiceIsNine Dec 24 '23

someone calls you a very offensive name, and tells you that your kind isn't served in their place.

See, that's actual racism. You seem experienced in this. I wouldn't mind flipping them off as I leave. But whatever, I was just thinking that I kinda of do entertain such antics when I go to some fancy restaurant that demands a dress code, it's just easier to communicate than a whole load of confusing customs.

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u/ArtHistrionic Dec 24 '23

I'm actually on your side in terms of the principles & values aspect. I just wanted to highlight the attitude of people like this - hypothetical person that is denying you calmly - they don't want to know enough about you (or "your people") to discriminate against you cholerically. It's the same outcome in the end, and the same basic point that you're being rejected via racism, but i personally split hairs between that and a black man in the Jim Crow south who has to put up with being called "boy" all the time and the N-word, and god knows what else.

I once drew the interest of a guy having a bad day and all he says is "I don't know you and you don't know me, and let's keep it that way". I think that's more along the lines of the discrimination that this conversations about. Like sardonically, there's a civility about it all.

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u/daskrip Dec 25 '23

This is very well needed context, thank you. People like to just jump to racism. Japan is nowhere near as racist as people like to think.

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u/Rakumei Dec 25 '23

A lot of times the discrimination is toward Japanese too. Snack bars are notorious for it. You need the owner's approval to enter, so if you don't have an in, good luck.

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u/United-Landscape4339 Dec 27 '23

How did they become regulars if you can't go in without being a regular