young & angry Japan

[spiritchasa]

I was at club Yellow this past Friday/Saturday and was attacked by a group of young Japanese kids. Ostensibly because I was talking to a girl, and they did not like that. The club security grabbed me, although I never raised a hand throughout the entire altercation. After separating me from the attackers, I attempted to convince the security that I was being attacked not the one instigating violence. The kids came over to where I was and again hit me in the head. I was stunned and dragged up the stairs like an animal as the continued hitting me. When I was finally taken out of the club, the club management accused me. They refused to tell me who hit me, and told me to go home. I have filed a police report and contacted a lawyer... but I want to know if there are any anti-discrimination orgs that I can contact... what's happened to Tokyo?

[Mandylion]

Sorry you had such a tough time. I hope things work out for you. Below is a little something I dug up on the web. It is fairly current so they might be interested in helping you. The web page is advertising a lecture, but the contact info looks good. They might be more of a trauma group and not really what your post seems to be after, but I am sure they can point you to more resources. Good luck!


http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/e/minato/mm011201/1201.html

Counseling on foreigners' human rights
If you are being subjected to discrimination because you are a foreigner or have other problems related to human rights, contact the Human Rights Counseling Center for Foreign Residents at the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau (No. 2 Common Government Office 4F, 1-1-15 Kudan-Minami, Chiyoda-ku), Tel. 5213-1370.
Counseling is offered in Chinese on Mondays and English and German on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hours are from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

[spiritchasa]

thanks for the info... I will check it out... I never really paid to much attention to this sorta thing before, but when your a victim of some random crime... it get you... and guess what the first thing everyone says... "it's no big deal"... I appreciate your help. --spiritchasa

[blade]

spiritchasa that is truely unbeleivable and wrong! I cannot imagine something like that happening in todays world! If you dont mind me asking are you of a different race or color other then white?

[Malice Mices]

Yeah that is true, NOT right but true. african americans DO get placed in the sterytype as trouble makers and its just plain wrong. But related to the topic, that's just unfair! *hugs*

[Ami]

It is unfair and quit sad for such a thing to happen. -.-

[infinitijapan]

i cant belive this?all my japanese friends tell me that americans arnt descriminated in japan?this story kinda makes me rethink going to japan for exchange student program...I DONT WANT MY ASS KICKED!?

[Raion]

It doesn't matter where you go there's always a possibility that you'll get your ass whooped. So I think you should go there if you have the chance..

[Ami]

bring security or someone strong with you._. :box: I don't know how about Pepper Spray._. :atchoo:

[Malice Mices]

Nnn, i think you're all over reacting a bit. I think traveling to any foreign contry you get the possiblility of gettin discriminated against, that's life. I eman i went to japan (the kyoto and tokyo areas) and I'm a 5'7 white female. I friggin stood out like a sore thumb, but everyone was nice to me, and if anyone had a problem with me they kept thier thougths to themselves. They even gave me little tissues when i wlaked down the street (evedently they people who hand them out aren't supposed to give the little tissues to foriegners, or at least that's what one of the teachers there told us)

[maji]

i cant belive this?all my japanese friends tell me that americans arnt descriminated in japan?this story kinda makes me rethink going to japan for exchange student program...I DONT WANT MY ASS KICKED!?
i personally dont think that its a good idea to avoid visiting a country for racism reasons. i mean racism is a barbaric and whatever thing remaining in some peoples brain for... ah well, you know what i mean.
but i think, as said in another post, it always depends when you are where with whom and how you behave. if you are informed about the situation and know what you do and where you are, then i think you shouldnt be in danger. bad things can happen to everyone of us at any time so thats no reason to hide under the blanket at home and try to ignore the existance of the world.

i mean, when i was still in school i made a trip to london with my english course although just in the year before two girls from the same school who did the same thing were beaten up in london. horrible thing for sure but i still went to london and i would have missed so much if i wouldnt have been there.
and i think same its with you and japan. if you visit japan as you planned you will miss a lot for sure.

[jspecdan]

i cant belive this?all my japanese friends tell me that americans arnt descriminated in japan?this story kinda makes me rethink going to japan for exchange student program...I DONT WANT MY ASS KICKED!?

Hate to say this, but it depends what kind of american you are. For instance, caucasians are kind of gawked at. African americans are stamped with the stereotype that they are all trouble makers. Basically if you are anything but asian, you'll get singled-out. Even people who are half/half will get picked on.

[ViciousBrutality]

You shouldn't worry about your ass being kicked, you could go to a club anywhere and you could talk to the wrong girl and be beat up or even killed, its happening all over the world, not just Japan, we're most likely ALOT worse then them in that sense. One day you'll get ur ass kicked, be ready, get mace...or mob ties...

-X-

[Atmos_Fear]

all thease things i heard about japan people and the way the think about foreigners are making me feel sorry about them. This isn't right and i really think that there is no excuse for that. But i agree that this can happen anywhere on the world.

Hate to say this, but it depends what kind of american you are. For instance, caucasians are kind of gawked at. African americans are stamped with the stereotype that they are all trouble makers.

are really japanese people so stupid ?? This is a joke right or a rare case. Well i hope so, coz if it's a usual thing in japan ( i serius doubt it ) there is nothing Japan can teach me :sorry:

[doudesuka]

I am sure it depends on what area you venture into. Always have some friend or friends with you. Safety in numbers.
Usually Japanese are reserved people in nature towards foreigners. But, I don't know about those thugs. Maybe they were the bozosoku better yet obnoxious bozos. :stickouttongue:

My father-in-law's car was vandalized with black paint and tires slashed during the night a few years ago. We can hear the bozos cruising late at night around the neighborhood.:mad:

These guys actually have the police scared of them.
One time near the station where I live, the bozosoku
had some kind of show and I couldn't believe all the japanese
people sitting there enjoying it knowing these guys have no regard for laws and order. But, I guess I don't really understand the japanese mind. I guess I am not meant to.:confused:

There are so many double standards that a foreigner gets confused on how these minds work. Maybe that is their secret.
sorry to go off on a tangent! :gomen:

[doudesuka]

spelling correction:bosozoku.

[baruah]

Well, I know of at least one similar case where one of my colleague at the University got into trouble. He is a tall and wellbuilt guy from Czech and was just talking and dancing with a pretty girl in a bar in Tokyo when this really big japanese guy came and told him to go home. He was surprised and tried to argue , but that guy just became angry as if he wanted a fight. My friend had no option but keep quiet and leave the bar with his other friend.

A different kind of discrimination also happened to me, in the GasPanic bar in Shibuya. I am from India and has a mild complexion, though I think I have a face that looks more like a say, brazilian or phillipino. That night I went with my half jap-half german, Korean and Americal friend to that bar to find that all but me was allowed to enter. The guards, a japanese and a black guy, stopped me and asked for my Alien registration. Once produced, they asked me if I am really working at the Univ. of Tokyo which just made me angry...they said that they can't let me enter. Perplexed, I asked the reason, the answer was I am not japanese. I pointed out that my friends, which were on the stairs going to the bar, are also not japanese. At this point, the guards were just indifferently silent and just mumbbled they are sorry, the boss told them not to let Indians enter there. I was just dumb and so were my friends.. they tried to argue, but I didn't want to spoil that evening and tried to make the thing look like nothing, so they also retreated. We went to another club and had fun. for Other Gaspanics however doesn't have this problem. I am now going to make a case for it after collecting some hard evidence against this with my friends.

I think discrimination in there in many nightspots of Tokyo. I know of few places in Shibuya where there were no discrimination before, but becoz of troubles from foreigners (as they often like to blame it on that way) they have started to forbid the gaijins from entering. I don't disagree that, foreigners also get involved into brawl sometimes, but japanese make more and in many cases, they start it as I have seen.

[Chipi]

Well to my ear this sounds a bit odd, that american is thinking not to go to japan because it might be unsafe...for what I hear in the news every day, I think America is _a lot_ more unsafe place... sorry :)

Anyways, you shouldnｴt think that the whole country is going to beat you up, just because of one case. There are rotten people in all places, and I also think that the way you behave is very important in these things...

[Muppette]

As many have said in this thread, when you're in a club and you make the moves on the wrong woman...that's it. You either leave the club a bit frightened or you leave the club with a limp. But, when they just outright discriminate against you for being a different nationality, that's just morally wrong. Because we all know that if they went over to any other country and were booted out of somewhere because of their race they'd be pretty miffed too. Perhaps we can all hope that there will be some sort of payback for them for acting this way later on in life. Yay for Karmic justic, right?

I don't know if this is really on topic or not, but how many cases of foreign women being attacked and raped in Japan? I've been a bit curious about this. I am, one day, planning on visiting Japan and I don't want to be paranoid every second I am there. I mean, I've always been told that when it comes to crime Japan is a pretty safe place. I'd like to believe that is still true.

[beastiebacon]

Unfourtunately that can happen anywhere. I would assume it's less common in Japan. There are areas you can stay where gajin's are more welcome, such as Roppongi, and small towns seemed to be extreamly safe. I'd feel safer anywhere in Japan over anywhere in the US.

[eidii-kun]

I would have to give my opinion on this matter. I think that this case is probably rare, or uncommon. And about which place is more unsafe, I would say America too. (Sorry!) But there isn't much of these cases in Canada (where I live! :))

[SticKs iN tHe tHroAt]

i have lived in japan for six years,during which time i have lived in some of the "roughest" areas of osaka,spent a lot of time in bars and clubs downtown,and in that time i haven't encountered any trouble/violence whatsoever...when i compare that to how much blood i saw spilt every weekend back home in England..not to mention the torrent of racial abuse that my japanese wife suffered..
I am not one of those people who naively believes in a "safety japan" but when compared to England and thus, by default ,the US it most certainly is a relatively safe place to be.

[mad pierrot]

Not that this makes it any better, but Japan is a revatively safe place compared to many other Asian nations. I personally know a 6 foot 6 Dutch man who was mugged by a Mongolian not even half that. Japan is fairly racist, but rarely dangerous.

[Feral-Darkness]

This is why I like my right to bare arms =) Nothing says don't F with me like a .357 magnum.

But honestly next time, eaither just leave or lay the beat down on some of em. As the saying goes, I am not sure how many of them itll take to beat me but I know how many they were gonna use.

[Timsan]

Feral-Darkness: Typical gun toting American idiot.

I don't think Americans should have the right to bear arms any longer. The only reason this law was instilled in the bill of rights was because before and after the revolutionary war there were often circumstances that required hastily constructed militias. Totally unecessary in our society today-only thought otherwise by backwoods hicks and inner-city gangbangers.

[kirei_na_me]

I definitely agree, Timsan. Just try to tone the name-calling down...

Anyway, Japan has very strict gun laws. I think you must take a training course, and then, everything about your gun is recorded by the government--even down to every single bullet.

I think the statistics are something like....10 gun-related deaths in Japan in one year, to America's 11,000 or something like that. It's just ridiculous.

[Keeni84]

Timsan:

It is not only the "backwards hicks" and "inner city gangbangers" that have such backwards ideals about guns and gun laws.

Many middle class and rich people supoort the same ideals "Gimme my gun" as those you've mentioned above.

My grandfather is very wealthy, and the people in his [wealthy] neighborhood tote guns everywhere they go save for church and the supermarket.

I personally don't think that guns are America's problem, especially since you look at a state like Canada and see that most of their population totes a gun, yet they barely have murder numbers like America (representative of their population, of course). I believe it has more to do with the American propensity to try to look for a "quick fix" to a solution, i.e. let's just fight and get it over with.

But back to the post:

Don't let fear of "racism" or discrimination deter your from going abroad. I used to live in the Czech Republic, and seriously, it doesn't get any "whiter" than that. As a black girl, I stuck out like an unhammered nail in plywood. It was bad at first, but then you make friends, and people's ignorant comments and rude stares don't seem to matter as much as they did in the beginning. :)

Living in the Czech, I even got chased by some crazy military guys. It was freaky, but my friends were there to help me. All in all, I learned that some folks just aren't able to handle that people of a different skin color or nationality exist and that we aren't just going to go away because they want us to!


:)

[Glenn]

I agree with Keeni84. I would say that another example of the American easy fix solutions would be the war on drugs. How long has that thing lasted, and how effective has it been? Anyway, there are those people who own guns and are extremely responsible with them (must of the legal gun owners, most likely). Also, if someone just likes shooting a gun at a range for fun, relaxation, release, etc., what is the harm in that?

[Erik]

Guns don't kill people, dangerous minorities do! - Peter Griffon

[mad pierrot]

I'm ashamed to say that last statement made me laugh!

[fsuman110]

that's just messed up no matter how you look at it. you should fight that to the fullest extent possible.

I'm a 5'7 white female. I friggin stood out like a sore thumb, but everyone was nice to me, and if anyone had a problem with me they kept thier thougths to themselves.

no offense, but i seriously doubt you would think he's overreacting if you were beaten up like he was, and then BLAMED FOR IT!!! you had a nice experience, as most visitors to japan do, but can you really tell me you could just brush off getting your butt whooped simply because you're a foreigner? i don't think so.

that story sickens me and it just goes to show how far japan has to go in regards to their treatment of gaijins. don't get me wrong, i love japan. but this stuff just will not fly.

[Golgo_13]

Did this attack take place in a Buddhist temple or a Shinto Shrine? Or in a college cafeteria or on the subway platform?

No! It happened in a club where there are drunk young punks!

A long time ago, my dad and his associates went to Shikoku on a business trip. They ended up going to a bar at night, and one of the associates kind of flirted with a female patron there. Well, one of the local boys didn't like that one bit and a huge bar fight ensued and a bunch of people were arrested, including my dad. Was this racially motivated? I guess . . . since they were all of the same race.

If I went to a club in LA where it might be predominantly Hispanic and some gangbanger saw me hitting on a Latina, I might get my ass kicked because of my race or regardless of my race. Does that make all Hispanics racists?

Does your incident mean all Japanese are racists?

[fsuman110]

i don't think anyone meant to imply that ALL japanese are racist.

[antantrevolution]

spiritchasa,

Listen, I know that it sucks being in the situation that you were in. But I can say that generally I was left alone and treated with nothing but kindness and respect by everyone I met and talked with while in Fukuoka. I was worried that I would have encountered more problems because the city is smaller than say, Tokyo. But aside from maybe two people giving me attitude while I was there, one whom gave my fiance a dirty look for holding hands with a Gaijin and the other at a speed shop that may have been embarrased because they couldn't understand me clearly and sought to just not bother talking, everything was roses.

I can say that the ass that gave my fiance a dirty look was sternly talked to by me and I even got to emphasise my words with a few well timed taps to my temple while yelling at him. Needless to say, I wasn't sorry I did it, but I also didn't want to fit into the loud American stereotype. But man, he was dissin' my girl.

I actually think the best conversation I had was with two old guys outside of the 7-11 there. They were hilarious, making fun of eachother and just helping me with my Japanese.

Honestly, don't let stories like this dissuade you from visiing a great country with an astounding culture and history with people that are cool as hell. If I had never gone, I'd regret it till I died.

Three best random people I met in Japan...

1. The car mechanic at the dealership across from my fiancee's apartment building fixing a Skyline and with his helping my Japanese and his English, I almost got to drive the car of my dreams until the boss showed up and everyone had to go back to work.

2. Tied between the grade school kids that cheered for me and all wanted to meet me while I was having a smoke at a bus stop and the two old dudes in front of the 7-11.

3. The girl at Narita that wanted to touch my hair because it looked so cool, she thought.

God, I miss Japan.


Ant

[RockLee]

Waaaaaa :p ...Girls want to touch your hair...Imma gonna get me a nice haircut b4 I go to Japan :cute:

[Cameron]

This is why I like my right to bare arms =) Nothing says don't F with me like a .357 magnum.

I dunno. I think that me being a big bloke that knows how to carry himself and can pull out a reasonable fight if I need to says more than your fire-arm. But hey, whatever makes you feel more secure. You have no right to bare arms anywhere except your own country, so what good does it do you in the bigger picture?

Learn a life skill, like a martial art, instead of learning how to hide behind a chunk of steel and wood. You'll be better off for it.

**edit: And in case you're wondering, yes I can shoot as well, I'm just not going to delude myself into thinking it is a more useful skill than it actually is.

[Distant]

Well to my ear this sounds a bit odd, that american is thinking not to go to japan because it might be unsafe...for what I hear in the news every day, I think America is _a lot_ more unsafe place... sorry :)

Anyways, you shouldnｴt think that the whole country is going to beat you up, just because of one case. There are rotten people in all places, and I also think that the way you behave is very important in these things...

America is actually one of the safest countries in the world. Most non-Americans only know about us from what they see on TV. The movies are fantasy, and the news is inflated because, "Bad news sells", and America is all about selling. The cable news networks believe no one will watch, if they show good news.

But there is good news all over the country. People helping people, and not just people they know, but often total strangers. America isn't perfect. I would be the last to say that it is. But we at least try to be better today, than we were yesterday.

[jkami]

how unlucky being attacked for talking to a japanese girl. to be honest i have never heard of such a thing in all my time here...and i have talked to tons of girls in clubs, including in yellow etc. and the same thing goes for other foreigners i know. i always have a blast when doing the club thing in japan. of course the more japanese one can speaks the lower the chance of miscommunication when drunk i suppose.

to topic starter...you were just unlucky and by now way was the behavior of these japanese hooligans indicative of japanese youth in general.

Edit: oops sorry for reviving such an old thread...i hadn't noticed.

[kiuyiw]

lol it sounds rediculous. being attacked because was talking to a J girl.

[ryanno]

lol it sounds rediculous. being attacked because was talking to a J girl.
ehm...could be because J boys are easily to get jealous ??i mean everything start after u talked with J girls..
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[Dutch Baka]

to say agian this happen everywhere, rasisme happen every country, im my country when you are from maroco you have a hard time to come in, even when you where born in this country, australia when you are a backpacker.

japan is one of the most safe countrys in the world isnt?

[TwistedMac]

This is why I like my right to bare arms =) Nothing says don't F with me like a .357 magnum.

But honestly next time, eaither just leave or lay the beat down on some of em. As the saying goes, I am not sure how many of them itll take to beat me but I know how many they were gonna use.
and nothing says "oh my god, a bullet through the pelvis hurts a lot more than I thought. Also, I wasn't as cold about killing a guy as I thought I would be." as when the very same right to bear arms is used by the OTHER drunk guy who doesn't want anyone to "F" with him either.

[If time can talk...]

I've heard of several things that are of the same kind.Yeah it's true this kind of thing happens in every country.But in Japan,there seems more.Here in China,a necessary lesson for people who learn Japanese is the behavior manners that must be seriously followed in Japan.
I don't know how this happened.But it did.

[zoneiscool]

I'am very embarassed as japanese but note this. Not all japanese are like thi. Mnay like foreigners and many foreigners are on tv shows and alot on commercials( mostly celebritie like natilite portmant, avrill avigne etc) but iam sorry

[BlackenedEyes]

I think it all depends on what area you are refering to. I live in Cali and I've noticed it's a whole different world in SoCal then the Bay. When I was a kid I remember thinking that Gunshots and Sirens in the middle of the night were comon place. My Middle School actualy had a hit list floating around and what's more, the students just laughed at it, since everyone just assumed that a person would have to be crazy to walk in with a gun in hand. (It was kinda an unsaid thing, but there were at least 4-6 people in each class that you could tell they were either carying a gun or a weapon of some sort. Heh, we were talking about it one day in class and a friend of mine jokingly said that if it actualy happened, he could immagine a few of his teachers pullin out one. That and his math teacher with his yardstick.)

Where I came from, we just hated everyone equaly. We had our little groups (mostly everyone we played basketball with in the morning waiting for the bus) and I think if that as adults alot of us are very tollerant, but other than that we weren't much different than those japanese people you discribed.