Japan’s lack of fondness for foreigners

The often informative Tokyo Times blog is reporting on a story in Japan about a growing and widespread dislike of foreigners in Japan. This is not a new story; it's been around for decades but keeps cropping up when some politician or another opens his mouth and inserts his foot, or when a tourist sees a "Japanese Only" sign and decides to make an issue or blog posting out of it.

Granted, being unwelcome because of your skin colour is an unpleasant feeling but it's important to consider why signs like this might be erected in Japan.

Consider the onsen that banned all foreigners because of an ongoing problem with rowdy, drunk Russian fisherman in Otaru, Hokkaido. Or the ryokan in Tokyo that put up a "Japanese Only" sign because foreign backpackers have been stealing dishes and ruining the tatami mats. Or the dozens of other ma-and-pa hotels in Japan who prefer Japanese guests because they can't speak any other language and so few visitors bother to learn Japanese.

None of this makes discrimination against foreigners in Japan right or fare, but it might make it understandable. After all, we're not talking about lynchings, beating, and other forms of racial hatred and violence--were talking about minor inconveniences.

And most foreign visitors in Japan will still be warmly welcomed and treated better here than they are in their own country. That's just the way it is.

Japan’s lack of fondness for foreigners? — Tokyo Times