Indian wins damages for skin query

Maciamo · Jan 16, 2003, 22:22

Indian in Japan wins damages for skin query

A Japanese court has ordered a real estate agency and one of its employees to pay damages for asking an Indian man if his skin colour was "normal" when he phoned the firm to find an apartment.

"Asking a foreigner his or her skin colour is a clear violation of individual rights," judge Sota Tanaka told Saitama District Court, north of Tokyo, awarding Srirama Chandra B Murthy damages totalling 500,000 yen.

Hehe, happy to see foreigners have at least some racial rights in Japan.

Murthy, who works for a software company, had demanded the company, the employee and Saitama prefecture pay a total of 1.2 million yen for the distress he suffered.

The judge rejected the argument that the prefecture should also be held liable as it is obliged to supervise the agency.

But of course the government stays untouchable. Is there a real separation of the legislative and executive in Japan ? It seems that the former keeps protecting the latter all the time (see the Otaru bath discimination case, where the bath owner was charged but not the the city of Otaru )

thomas · Jan 17, 2003, 19:41

These are of course political decisions, otherwise official bodies and authorities would face a flood of similar cases (like in the Otaru case). Since there are international treaties Japan has to oblige to the question is if supervisory authorities like prefectural or municipal administrations carry any responsibilities. So far Japanese judges interpreted these supervisory duties to be quite limited.

abhi · Apr 5, 2004, 06:03

glad 2 see one of my boys getting some payback he derserved

Jan 16, 2003, 22:22	#1
Maciamo Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Jul 17, 2002 Location: Austrasia Posts: 6,647	Indian wins damages for skin query Indian in Japan wins damages for skin query A Japanese court has ordered a real estate agency and one of its employees to pay damages for asking an Indian man if his skin colour was "normal" when he phoned the firm to find an apartment. "Asking a foreigner his or her skin colour is a clear violation of individual rights," judge Sota Tanaka told Saitama District Court, north of Tokyo, awarding Srirama Chandra B Murthy damages totalling 500,000 yen. Hehe, happy to see foreigners have at least some racial rights in Japan. Murthy, who works for a software company, had demanded the company, the employee and Saitama prefecture pay a total of 1.2 million yen for the distress he suffered. The judge rejected the argument that the prefecture should also be held liable as it is obliged to supervise the agency. But of course the government stays untouchable. Is there a real separation of the legislative and executive in Japan ? It seems that the former keeps protecting the latter all the time (see the Otaru bath discimination case, where the bath owner was charged but not the the city of Otaru ) __________________ Over 100 destinations in the Japan Sightseeing Guide + detailed Tokyo Guide and Kyoto Guide Eupedia : Your Guide to Europe in English Read the "Maciamo FAQ" "What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?", Winston Churchill.

Jan 17, 2003, 19:41	#2
thomas Decommissioned ex-admin Join Date: Mar 14, 2002 Posts: 4,209	These are of course political decisions, otherwise official bodies and authorities would face a flood of similar cases (like in the Otaru case). Since there are international treaties Japan has to oblige to the question is if supervisory authorities like prefectural or municipal administrations carry any responsibilities. So far Japanese judges interpreted these supervisory duties to be quite limited. __________________ Remember what the dormouse said, feed your head, feed your head!

Apr 5, 2004, 06:03	#3
abhi Junior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2003 Location: Born and breed in England but Origin is India Age: 29 Posts: 3	glad 2 see one of my boys getting some payback he derserved __________________ no way as way and having no limitation as limitation

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode