author

 
Menu
Search
 
November 21, 2024
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
Debito Arudou

Meta

Twitter

@arudoudebito

Debito Arudou
Debito is the Just Be Cause columnist for the Community Page and has been contributing to The Japan Times since 2002. Author of eight books, including "Handbook for Newcomers, Migrants and Immigrants" (2nd Ed.), "Japanese Only" and the novel "In Appropriate," his most recent work is "Embedded Racism: Japan's Visible Minorities and Racial Discrimination" (Lexington Books). He has been a naturalized Japanese citizen since 2000, and his daily blog and archive is at www.debito.org.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
May 3, 2011
Better to be branded a 'flyjin' than a man of the 'sheeple'
The past two months have been uncomfortable for Japan, and for the country's foreign residents. Non-Japanese (NJ) have been bashed in the media, unreservedly and undeservedly, as deserters in the face of disaster.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Apr 5, 2011
Letting radiation leak, but never information
March 2011 has shaken Japan to the core. The earthquake, tsunami and nuclear incident in Fukushima have given the world cause to pause and reflect on the fragility and hubris of human existence. My condolences to the victims, and their families and friends.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Mar 1, 2011
Charisma Men, unite against the identity enforcers
English teachers in Japan get a bum rap. Not always taken seriously as professionals, and often denied advancement opportunities in the workplace, they are seen as people over here on a lark. They get accused of taking advantage of Japanese society to earn easy money, canoodle with the locals, then go...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Feb 1, 2011
Naturalized Japanese: foreigners no more
In Dec. 28's Japan Times, Charles Lewis wrote a respectful Zeit Gist column asking three fellow wise men (sumo wrestler Konishiki, musicologist Peter Barakan and Diet member Marutei Tsurunen) about their successful lives as "foreigners" in Japan. Despite their combined century of experience here, the...
COMMUNITY
Jan 4, 2011
Arudou's Alien Almanac: 2000-2010
No. 5: The Otaru onsen case ('99-2005)
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jan 4, 2011
Arudou's Alien Almanac: 2010
No. 5: Renho joins Kan's Cabinet Japanese politicians with international roots are few but not unprecedented. But Taiwanese- Japanese Diet member Renho's ascension to the Cabinet as minister for administrative reforms has been historic. Requiring the bureaucrats to justify their budgets (famously asking...
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Dec 7, 2010
MOFA gets E for effort in 'with or without U' farce
My Japanese passport expired last month, meaning I've been a citizen here for a full decade now. Hooray.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Nov 2, 2010
'Homogeneous,' 'unique' myths stunt discourse
Last month I attended an international lecture by one of Japanology's senior scholars. I'll call him Dr. Frink. Decorated by the Japanese government for his contributions to the field, he talked about Japan as a "unique" state that never really changes, even as it slips to third place behind China's...
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Oct 5, 2010
Census blind to Japan's true diversity
It's that time of the decade again. By now, all households in Japan should have received and submitted Japan's National Census (kokusei chosa), a survey taken every five years expressly to assist in policymaking, drawing up electoral districts and other matters of taxation and representation. This of...
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Sep 7, 2010
Don't blame JET for Japan's poor English
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, touted as the world's largest cultural exchange scheme, has brought thousands of non-Japanese into the country to teach at local boards of education. These days, with many government programs being told to justify their existence, a debate is raging over whether...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Aug 3, 2010
The victim complex and Kim's killer con
It's fascinating whenever someone cons people out of pots of money — doubly so when someone cons a whole government. Take, for example, Japan's biggest news story two weeks ago: Kim Hyon Hui's four-day visit to Japan.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jul 6, 2010
Japan's hostile hosteling industry
As you may know, Japan has no national civil or criminal legislation outlawing and punishing racial discrimination, meaning businesses with "Japanese only" signs aren't doing anything illegal.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jun 1, 2010
Futenma is undermining Japanese democracy
Times are tough for the Hatoyama Cabinet. It's had to backtrack on several campaign promises. Its approval ratings have plummeted to around 20 percent. And that old bone of contention — what to do about American military bases on Japanese soil — has resurfaced again.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
May 4, 2010
Last gasps of Japan's dying demagogues
Tally ho! The hunt is on for "fake Japanese" in Japanese politics.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Apr 6, 2010
Japan, U.N. share blind spot on 'migrants'
On March 23, I gave a speech to Jorge Bustamante, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, for NGO FRANCA regarding racial discrimination in Japan. Text follows:
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Mar 2, 2010
Sumo body deserves mawashi wedgie for racist wrestler ruling
I've noticed how highly Japan regards sports. We love investing taxes in games and facilities, hosting international events and Olympics. Sports are even part of a government ministry, the one in charge of Japan's science, education and culture.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Feb 2, 2010
Non-Japanese suffrage and the racist element
On Jan. 17, Takeo Hiranuma made this statement about fellow Diet member Renho:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jan 5, 2010
Human rights in Japan: a top 10 for '09
They say that human rights advances come in threes: two steps forward and one back.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Dec 1, 2009
A level playing field for immigrants
For the first time in Japan's postwar history, we have a viable opposition party in power — one that might stick around long enough to make some new policies stick. In my last column for 2009, let me suggest how the Democratic Party of Japan could make life easier for Japan's residents, regardless...
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Nov 3, 2009
Demography vs. demagoguery: when politics, science collide
Last June, I attended a symposium sponsored by the German Institute of Japanese Studies. Themed "Imploding Populations: Global and Local Challenges of Demographic Change," I took in presentations about health care, international and domestic migration, and life in a geriatric society.
Ishiba delays meeting with Trump, citing legal restrictions
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves upon arrival for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in Callao, Peru, on Friday.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Rising sex tourism exposes loopholes in Japan's anti-prostitution law
While financial misfortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have driven some women to work the streets, others simply want more money to spend — or want to pay off their debts — at host clubs.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

mission sustainability vol.12 : Kose Corp.Kose takes pride in creating beauty in the world
mission sustainability vol.12 : Kose Corp.Kose takes pride in creating beauty in the world

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER