Racism in Japan is a complex conversation that many enthusiasts of Japanese culture often overlook or outright deny. While explicit racial slurs and overt displays of hostility are not as common as in some other countries, subtle forms of discrimination and prejudice manifest sporadically, their intensity contingent on your location and personal attributes.

Daily Life in Kyoto: Encounters with Alienation and Racism

Living in Kyoto, a city celebrated for its rich culture and tranquil beauty, my routine trips to the local supermarket were often marred by instances of alienation. The stares ranged from casual glances to outright rubbernecking. Despite the city’s familiarity with tourists, it is still perturbing to find myself the subject of intrusive photographs and hushed cafeteria gossip. Friends of various ethnicity and skin tones experienced similar or far worse experiences as well.

Coping with Discrimination over the Years

Fast forward three years, and the intensity of discrimination has ebbed in my locale. However, occasional stigmatization still underscores my being an ‘other’ in Japan. Fortunately, my steady presence and sustained engagement with neighbors have fostered a sense of acceptance, cultivating a comfort zone in my immediate surroundings.

Racism in Major Cities – Tokyo and Osaka

Compared to Kyoto, major metropolises like Tokyo and Osaka exhibit fewer instances of openly racial tendencies, but that doesn’t imply their absence. Feelings of alienation and discomfort can persist, especially for those who are visibly different. However, experiences vary widely, with some East Asians reporting even more striking discrimination.

Finding Kinship amid Strangers

Amidst these accounts of discrimination, many instances of human connection remain, where ethnicity or birthplace didn’t dictate the interaction. However, instances marred by prejudice, invasions of privacy, or where I felt reduced to an exhibit in a human zoo, left an indelible impression, overpowering the positive encounters.

The Struggles of Long-Term Living in Japan

To anyone visiting Japan for a week or two, it might all sound like a minor inconvenience, something to shrug off or even laugh about. However, when you have built a life in Japan, working, studying, and embracing the local culture for years, these episodes of discrimination can become exhausting and challenging to ignore.

There are even those who are born here but come from mixed heritage, legally Japanese citizens, and constantly told they are not “real” Japanese and treated as nothing more than a tourist who doesn’t belong their entire lives.

The unfortunate reality is this is not uncommon at all and often gets swept under the rug in the international scope of things to promote a “perfect” image of Japan and people hate having their little bubble image burst.

The Spectrum of Human Attitudes in Japan

It’s important to note that Japan is not devoid of welcoming, polite, and helpful individuals who take you for who you are. My experience with such open-hearted individuals far outweighs the negative encounters. However, stark racism—like being pointed at and labeled an outsider to denied housing services, entry into buildings—is unforgettable.

Originally shared on Sonder.io in 2013, this post has been updated for Capture The World. It’s all about keeping the conversation about racism and discrimination in Japan alive as it is something that people experience every single day, without getting too “high-nosed” about it. Living as an expat in Japan is quite a ride – let’s make sure we’re actually talking about the whole journey.