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2020 was a watershed year for Japan's foreign residents

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Dec 31, 2020

2020 was a watershed year for Japan's foreign residents

by Debito Arudou

Increased discussion on the status of biracial Japanese, media misinterpretations of foreign communities and a bungled border policy made up our 2020.

Remain calm when stopped by the police in Japan

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Jan 20, 2020

Remain calm when stopped by the police in Japan

by Debito Arudou

Non-Japanese residents face a pretty high chance of being randomly stopped by the police. Make sure you know your rights ahead of time.

'Low IQ' kids, parental rights and problematic terminology dogged Japan's international community in 2019

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Jan 6, 2020

'Low IQ' kids, parental rights and problematic terminology dogged Japan's international community in 2019

by Debito Arudou

Of the issues non-Japanese had to deal with in the past year (and even the past decade), some were major news stories and some fell quietly into the cracks.

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    Norihisa Tamura, Japan's health minister, speaks during an event in Tokyo on Dec. 24.
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    Episode 77: When will Japan get a vaccine for COVID-19?

    LAST UPDATED: Jan 13, 2021

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'Love it or leave it' is not a real choice

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Jul 24, 2019

'Love it or leave it' is not a real choice

by Debito Arudou

When U.S. President Donald Trump told four congresswomen of color they could "go back" where they came from if they weren't happy, some of us in Japan recognized the line as being one used here for far too long.

Know your rights when checking in at an Airbnb

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Apr 17, 2019

Know your rights when checking in at an Airbnb

by Debito Arudou

Last year, the government passed a law covering minpaku, which is when people rent out space on their properties to travelers (a la Airbnb). The law is part of an effort to regulate accommodations amid a tourism boom ahead of the 2020 Olympics. One issue ...

From new visas to a tourism backlash, the Top 10 issues that affected us in 2018 may forecast our future treatment

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Jan 27, 2019

From new visas to a tourism backlash, the Top 10 issues that affected us in 2018 may forecast our future treatment

by Debito Arudou

Every January, Just Be Cause takes a look at how things went for the non-Japanese residents of Japan (NJ) in the previous year. While not everything made this year's list — there were the false claims of "foreigner fraud" of the national health insurance system, ...

Warning to Naomi Osaka: Playing for Japan can seriously shorten your career

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Sep 19, 2018

Warning to Naomi Osaka: Playing for Japan can seriously shorten your career

by Debito Arudou

Naomi Osaka's decision to represent the country she left at the age of 3 may be good for her bottom line but not necessarily her longevity.

What about we stop it with the 'whataboutism'?

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Jul 15, 2018

What about we stop it with the 'whataboutism'?

by Debito Arudou

These are troubling times for human rights activists. For 27 years I’ve been writing about civil, political and human rights for non-Japanese (NJ) and other minorities in Japan. And I’ve never been more confused. Not least because the United States, the putative paragon of human ...

White supremacists and Japan: A love story

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Mar 7, 2018

White supremacists and Japan: A love story

by Debito Arudou

Far-right fanboys see in Japan an ethnostate that gets a free pass on the world stage, but it's a reputation that Japan needs to shake for its own good.

In 2017, Japan woke up to the issue of discrimination

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Jan 3, 2018

In 2017, Japan woke up to the issue of discrimination

by Debito Arudou

The year saw a landmark human rights survey and action on hate speech and pensions — but conditions remain dire for foreign 'trainees' and other workers alike.

'Attach the evidence and wait for your day in court,' says Turkish plaintiff after Osaka victory

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Oct 11, 2017

'Attach the evidence and wait for your day in court,' says Turkish plaintiff after Osaka victory

by Debito Arudou

Ibrahim Yener discusses the lessons learned from his successful discrimination case against a used car dealership.

In wake of Charlottesville, U.S. should follow Japan and outlaw hate speech

Issues | JUST BE CAUSE Aug 23, 2017

In wake of Charlottesville, U.S. should follow Japan and outlaw hate speech

by Debito Arudou

Carnage in Virginia shows why America needs to limit expression that necessarily leads to violence.

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