What do Japanese and foreigners think of Debito Arudou?

Question

I want to know what the Japanese community or the foreigners LIVING in Japan think of this guy. Do you believe him to be a good representation of your rights as foreigners in Japan? Is he right that it is extremely racist in Japan?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Personally, I think he is an idiot. He manages to get citizenship for Japan, a very rare thing indeed and then goes about pissing off the Japanese people and government. Thanks for making life harder for the rest of us.

I've been living in Japan for 3 years, in a rural area of Fukui Prefecture and I think that every 'racist' Japanese person must have relocated to live in David's area of Hokkaido.

I don't consider strange looks, or question like 'Can you use chopsticks?' as racism. I don't even mind them stopping me to ask me for my foreigner's card. No one has ever called me bad names, or degraded me for being a foreigner. I personally have found the Japanese to be kind and incredibly willing to go out of their way to help me, particularly if I am failing to understand something.

Source(s):

3 years living in Japan, with a 2 month old daughter born here.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

I agree. Why doesn't he just go back to the USA

Answer 2

On one hand he is instrumental in raising a lot of issues that Japan and Japanese should face in this shrinking global world.

On the other hand, he just seems like a one-trick pony who is always harping endlessly about what is wrong about Japan to the point that I believe he turns away many people - Japanese and foriegner - and thus ultimately he shoots his cause in the foot.

And I wouldn't say extremely racist - that denotes a sense of violence and hatred which really isn't applicable to Japan as a whole. It's more like institutionalize xenophobia on a case by case situation such as one real estate agency will refuse to lease to foriegners but another one will.

Answer 3

Maybe he lives in a more rural side not used to foreigners and therefore more racist. Japan has it's xenophobic side for sure because it's only 1-2% foreign, the rest is native Japanese. One thing many experience is Japanese are nice to foreign tourists but once you try to live there, you see a whole another face. Trying to find a place to rent can be most difficult but these days more and more rental agencies are opening up to foreigners. I think overall this question might be better answered on Yahoo Japan however.

Source(s):

used to live there but never had the full foreign experience as I was half (lots of bullying towards halfs though so we're not completely immune).. and let's face it, Debito is married to a Japanese lady with citizenship so he has it much better than a lot of other foreigners there not in his position

Answer 4

He's only trying to get some media attention in order to sell his books and make money.
I don't like him, I think that those who don't like Japan shouldn't live in Japan.


Btw Debito means 'debt' in italian.

Source(s):

half japanese

Answer 5

Who???

Answer 6

He's a Debito fundamentalist and alchemist who changes misunderstandings caused by cultural differences between Japanese and non-Japanese into racism, unhappiness and his gold.

Source(s):

Debito suppresses the opinions of dissenting foreigners:
http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=827

Debito suppresses the opinions of dissenting foreigners II:
http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=829

Answer 7

Well, for a nation with such a low immigration rate, I guess they are doing so so, good to the tourists but somewhat different to you if you live in japan. And if you're Korean or Jamaican, you know how the folks from the deep south felt like in the 60's. It's all about demographics not like Japaneses are born racist.

Source(s):

Lived in japan 32 months.

Answer 8

After Mr. Arudou’s suit most of similar signs had been disappeared at onsen. And not a few Japanese began to think about racism. (Though some Japanese are thinking it is proper to distinguish foreigners from the Japanese still).
I think it is the achievement of Mr. Arudou.
But recently I hesitate to estimate him because he is too close to particular organization.

Source(s):

a native Japanese

Answer 9

I don't follow his activism. It is totally public nuisance like kind of Peace boat people's fake and bullshit.　

Answer 10

People do intend to hate foreigners in japan. I have no idea why beacause I go to an international school in japan and when ever we get onto the train (btw im japanese) people get off or go to the next carriage beacause of foreign students.

They scream at our school all the time. we just get used to it though. They are not racist. They have strict manners in japan and everybody follows the rules but some foriegn people dont know the rules and the manners arnt that japanesy strict and polite as them. So they do hate foriegners but young people like them its just thous scary 30~ up women and men.

What i would like to say to thoughs japanese are that british, american, french all thoughs worlds accept them when they come to our land so why cant they?

I am japanese and im totally against their opinion.
I mean Its probably different when it comes to country sides... like hokkaido. But Im talking about Tokyo where most of the population is.

Source(s):

Japanese go to international school
lived only in japan