Sunday, 23 September 2007

Fingerprinted at Japanese Immigration

Go watch this: http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg1203.html

RANT TIME: Seriously, what the fuck was that?!? I've known about this for over a year now but not only does that video not explain with any logic why these new measures have been implemented but it insults our intelligence as well!!! How exactly does having our fingerprints reordered protect us more than Japanese people?

I know Japanese tv likes to treat it's viewers like children with ridiculously dated approaches to educating adults but this just takes the cake.

This just reeks of racism. Why? Because it's only non-Japanese who will be fingerprinted. If they were really concerned about national security everyone would be fingerprinted as the only major terrorist attack in Japanese history was conducted by Japanese citizens!

Statistically, Japanese people commit more crimes than non-Japanese yet the right wing propaganda continues to convince Japanese people otherwise.

Demanding non-Japanese to be fingerprinted and photographed upon entry into Japan is a slap in the face and just reflects badly on the country as a whole.

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Labels: japan, Racism

Thursday, 29 March 2007

English Teacher Murdered

I just read about this seconds ago and am really shocked at this. The full article can be read here and I really recommend you give it a look for all the info.

After the obvious shock and sympathy something occurred. I felt a little confused. How exactly could a man, bare foot, escape from the fourth floor of an apartment building with a police presence? Sure, I don't know all the facts but I find if hard to believe that he got away that easily. I'm actually wondering if the police actually bothered pursuing or simply stood where they were and yelled for him to stop.

It's also just a bit strange that the police are saying that they're not issuing an arrest warrant for the suspect despite the fact that they found the body in his apartment, he had been stalking her and he ran from the crime scene. Come on.

Japanese police have always been a joke for me. From their complete lack of intimidation to their dated policies and racial discrimination I simply have no respect for them. But, damn. They can give directions like nothing else.

For those wondering how safe Japan actually is... well it definitely feels safe but when you sit down and discuss things like sexual assault, stalking and racism you really have to define what "safe" is. Personally I'm a 26 year old man and I've been groped several times on the trains and experienced one of the most traumatising situations of my life; an elderly man physically restraining my arm and licking it several times before yelling racial slurs at me after I turned down his advances. This was just on my way home from work on the train when I was working in Saitama.

I've been stalked by a student who wanted to "be my friend" (I don't think he had any) and constantly emailed and rang me at all hours just to talk. Luckily he didn't know where I lived and his phone number was blockable.

From talking to friends I've heard a LOT of stories of female teachers having Japanese men follow them back to their apartments. Being groped on trains is also very common. I remember one time at NOVA and the topic came up in the staff room with around 12 teachers present. 10 of them had been sexually harassed on Japanese trains.

Don't get me started on police carding and bicycle stopping.

After all this though I still find myself thinking about how safe Japan is.

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Labels: japan, Racism, Teaching English in Japan

Saturday, 24 February 2007

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

Note: I actually posted this on one of my other sites but thought it was relevant enough to post here.

I gave this series a go because CLAMP designed the characters and was illustrating the DVD covers, etc but I just can't watch any more. I got up to episode 6 and just had to turn it off. It's so blatantly racist and nationalistic it's offensive.

The portrayal of the British characters is over stereotypical in some respects (such as clothes and architecture. ) yet so completely off in other areas such as their blatant disregard for civilians during times of war and militaristic nature that it becomes almost a joke.

It's as if the tv station is trying to breed racism and reinforce an image of non-Japanese people that I thought was on the way out. In the first episode for crying out loud, we have a scene of a nice, gentle Japanese elderly couple who get their brains splattered all over room simply because the British army decided to kill all civilians in the area.

This show is just offensive. If the "bad guys" were, say aliens I really wouldn't have a problem but some things should be off limits, especially in children's programming and writing a story where the "bad guys" are another nation is taking things too far.

Something else I find shocking is that it seems to encourage terrorism. Not just in the general sense though, in the sense that it's every Japanese teenager's right to stand up and fight the establishment. If that means killing people, all the better.

The leader of the terrorist cell in the show is a high school girl and the main character, Lelouch actually assassinates the overly French political leader in charge of Japan within the first few episodes.

There's enough nationalistic bull in Japan as it is without an Animé series reinforcing such deluded ideals.

I must say I'm so disappointed in CLAMP for being involved in a project like this Given their history of creating stories involving mixed racial couples (a Japanese Sakura and a Chinese Syaoran for example) and Korean myth (Legend of Chun Hyang) this comes as a complete surprise. I'm hoping that they didn't realise the story content of Code Geass before signing on.

The animation and music are top notch, but simply due to it's thematic nature I can't believe so many non-Japanese anime and manga fans are following this series and even creating fan sites and listings about it.

I for one am tuning out and writing a letter of complaint HERE.

Edit: This is a copy of the email that I just sent.

"I am writing to express my complete disgust concerning the new anime series, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion.

As an Australian, I find the series to be completely offensive and racist and something that shouldn't be on air due to the amount of influence it will have on children in Japan and other individuals.

The fact that Europeans are portrayed as villains is shocking and their portrayal inaccurate ("Yes my Lord") but the amount of racism from the main characters who are supposed to be heroes and role models for children leaves me speechless.

I also find it incredibly irresponsible, especially in a country such as Japan who has suffered at the hands of terrorists to show a series were the main characters ARE TERRORISTS who kill and assassinate people and are seen in a good light.

Until shows like this are removed from Japanese television the image of Japan being a racist one will not change in the eyes of non-Japanese both in and outside of Japan. "

I'm interested in people's opinions on this series. Feel free (as always) to comment on this post.

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Labels: Cartoons, japan, Racism

Saturday, 3 February 2007

"We are as Australian as them,"

Just read this great article over at the BBC website about a group of Australians who have become volunteer lifesavers in Sydney.

After the f%$king ridiculous and retarded race riots in Cronulla last year I became partially ashamed of Australia. I always knew there was racism there but had no idea it was this bad or that Sydney had that many tools.

It's great to see that the riots have had a positive effect and that the Muslim community have been inspired to prove that they're as Australian as we all are.

Going off on a bit of a tangent now, I've always loved how, for the most part, in Australia we call everyone "Australian". Not "Chinese Australian" or "Korean Australian". Everyone who has citizenship is inclusively called "Australian" as it should be.

I've never really got why in America everyone sees the need to specify their cultural background such as "Irish American", etc. I truly think a lot of the racism in American could be turned around if everyone was called simply "American". By calling someone "African American" it's saying they're not a real American. Noone is 100% American or 100% Australian. Everyone comes from somewhere. Hell, I've got Irish heritage but you don't see me introducing myself as "Irish Australian". I was born in Australia therefore I should be treated as an Australian.

Unless someone has dual nationality I see no reason to over complicate things. I've been told by some Americans from African heritage that they like to be called "African American" as it lets them show pride for their ancestors but I really think by doing so they're preventing others from seeing them on the same level as "regular Americans" or "real Americans".

No obviously there is racism in Australia, I'm not denying that but we do seem to be more inclusive of people from other cultures being "one of us".

When I walk around China Town in Sydney I never think "Look at all these Chinese Australian people". I'm thinking "Look at all these Australians". It's a subtle difference and an important one.

What do you think?

Labels: Australia, News, North America, Racism

Wednesday, 31 January 2007

Well...crap.

Well it's happened. Japan's started to feel like "home".

A year or so ago I had this vague future goal in my head where I knew I would be going back to Australia and doing whatever I can do after moving to Japan straight out of Uni, living there for several years and then going back with zero useful work experience at all. But now I'm really starting to envision a future that includes.... Japan.

God-damn it! I've got so many fucking issues with this country (racism, hygiene, manners, disorganised businesses and government organisations, sexism, blatant stupidity and Japanese TV. Just to name a few.) but I'm actually liking it here.

Sydney would be so much easier in almost every way but Sydney wouldn't have.... uhh... well... I don't know. It's wierd when you choose to do something that even after logically deciding that you shouldn't do it, you do it anyway.

I guess Japan is like toothpaste. It's bad for you, will give you cancer and most likely kill you but you've been using it for a while and decide to stick with it anyway.

P.S. Seriously, all toothpaste and shampoos with an ingredient called "Sodium Laurel Sulphate" in it causes cancer and the companies are aware of this but choose to keep it in as it causes those bubbles that make it feel so nice. There are safe alternatives though. It pays to check the ingredients.

P.P.S. I wrote "unorganised" when writing this post but my spell check says that word doesn't exist and to write "disorganised" instead. I guess you learn something new every day.

Labels: japan, Japanese Social Issues, Racism

Wednesday, 24 January 2007

Kramer Loses It

I remember this being mentioned in the news a few weeks ago but I never actually saw the clip. Was surfing around tonight and came across it and was completely shocked and offended but what I saw.

If you get easily offended by the "N Word", prepare yourself. What you'll see is Michael Richards (Kramer from Seinfeld) doing a stand-up comedy act and losing it at some hecklers. You can see his apology here.