An English Only sign was deemed not discriminatory in Philadelphia. Are foreigners in Japan discriminated against when they are expected to speak Japanese?
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That's interesting because the U.S doesn't actually have an official language, although with 82% of the population speaking English at home, English is considered its national language.
However, the sign on that cheese steak shop actually reads "This is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING PLEASE SPEAK ENGLISH". Is it really necessary to say "This is America"? If I saw the equivalent in Japan, I'd think they were pointing out the obvious, really. At least here it would have relevance to the official language.
Nick - are you saying that if a law was passed you would be cool with the sign, or that it insinuates something inaccurately when the majority of the country does speak English?
Hmmm. I have no problems with being asked to speak in Japanese if the company wishes. I prefer it for communication's sake! My problem is that it may just be an easy way to ward off foreign people without too much confrontation. I walked into a place in Osaka last weekend and the store owner held up a sign that said in English "We only welcome customers who can speak Japanese." I replied in Japanese that I do speak Japanese, at which point she put the sign down and began to explain that they'd had trouble with some foreign people before, so they don't welcome foreign people (even if they do speak Japanese). She said it in keigo, but still. I was shocked, and as I called out that it wasn't right and is discrimination she walked back to the employees only area and shut the door. I left, pretty frustrated. On the other hand, I walk into places all the time in rural Japan where there are no signs because, well, there are no foreigners. They have no issues with me. They seem to think it's cool that I come as a normal customer. So, I think it's necessary to deal with each shop on a case by case basis. America's too darn sensitive about stuff like that - hyper political correctness. Japan? Depends.
That sucks balls, Deas. I would probably be too shocked to do anything though.
Also - it is discriminatory - just not at an unacceptable level that would put the shop in conflict with a local fairness law.
I put it at the same level as shops who ask people to wear certain clothes or refrain from certain activities. No biggie.
I actually think it may be in response to frustrations that the owner has had with rude foreigners in the past or maybe a reflection of his opinion that illegal immigrants should go home. There is an assumption on his part that if you can't speak English that you are an illegal immigrant which is definitely a poor assumption in America and very discriminatory. However, he claims that he doesn't turn anyone away for not speaking English and tries to help them.
I think it would be more blatant if his sign said "No shoes, No Shirt, No English - No Service"
Deas - I believe that what the shop owner did to you is definitely wrong and very discriminatory. She basically turned away your business because of the color of your skin not on your ability to speak the language or not. She would not like it if she was lumped into a sentence that started with "All Japanese..." but was more than willing to do the same to you.
Deas, the sign is fine with or without a law. I just think it's a bit arrogant to write "This is a America". Isn't it obvious? Don't we get sick of hearing "This is Japan"?
This is Japan? Really? The way the politicians act, this is really just an extension of the United States. The 55th state, if you will :P
That said, I think that stores could have a better worded sign that let potential customers know that only one language is accepted in the building. If I'm in a store that has a sign saying "We only speak Japanese" written in 15 different languages, then I'm cool with speaking Japanese or just pointing at what I want. If a sign says "You must speak Japanese", then I'll be a little frustrated with the insinuation that I'd try to force English or French onto an unprepared staff member, but unless the employees were being unreasonably discriminatory, I wouldn't have much of an issue with it.
It's all in the delivery, I think.
You nailed it. ;-)
I agree with you matigo. When in Rome do as the Romans....and don't be upset if they expect you to do so as long as they are not rude about it.
As I said in the comments on the post, rudeness transcends the language barrier.
Alex at Victory Manual wrote a post about a similar thing last December, after Japan Probe covered a different sign story.
http://victorymanual.com/2007/12/18/no-english-try-japanese/
Us poor white folk! Geez in every walk of life you are going to meet rude people. My attitude is real simple (To be honest, has changed quite a bit in the last year!) if shops like the obove mentioned in Japan do this kind of stuff, just leave and go somewhere else.
People who read these comments might just get the feeling that all Japanese discriminate. This in general is not the case and feel that we should make more of an effort to write about the positives of living in Japan.
Some white folk who come to Japan might experience some sort of discrimination for the first time in their lives and geez shock horror, all of a sudden discrimination does exist and God dam we must do something about it!
I say get over it and remember there are many people in this world that struggle to eat every day!
Keith
God we can write such mundane ###t sometimes!!
A good article and an interesting discussion. One can never know what someones intention is when they post a sign like this. Maybe they really don't want foreigners in their establishment or maybe they have had a bad experience with foreigners who expect them to be able to speak another language and want to avoid the problem surfacing again.
Keith - Your point is well taken and I agree with you. I have been frustrated at times in Japan but always assume that rather than being discriminated against I am causing a lot of frustration by not being able to express myself well enough in Japanese.
Shane, I totally understand your feelings! I too have had frustrated feelings over the years and thankfully my Japanese has improved to the point where there are a lot less frustrations and more of an appreciation of Japanese life.
Keith
I live in Japan and the Japanese feel no desire what so ever to go out of their way to help out those who cannot speak Japanese. Although, most Japanese will at least try to help you if you get lost or just cannot understand something, but they help you because they want to not because they feel they have to.
Freedomw - not sure I get your point? I have been helped out a lot by Japanese people when I am having trouble and have even had some go out of their way for me. This is not to say that I have sometimes been frustrated and wished for some help but this is not something that I expect either in Japan or anywhere else.
In once instance I was at a train station staring at a map trying to figure out which exit to use (and having not much luck) when a local person came up to me and asked in broken English if I needed help. I explained where I was going and he went so far as to walk me to the exit which required him to get a refund of his train ticket and then re-enter the station. I was very appreciative and will never forget his kind deed.
I think that you state the obvious when you say that he helped me because he wanted to not because he was forced to. No one forces anyone to help anyone else at any time and it's not a requirement nor should it be expected to be one.
I have had people try harder than necessary to help me and they seemed genuinely frustrated when the language barrier prevented us from understanding each other.
The bottom line is that I disagree with your statement the "the Japanese feel no desire to go out of their way to help out those who cannot speak Japanese". That's a generalization that does not apply to everyone. Most of us don't like it when all gaijin are lumped together as being one way or another so let's not do that to the Japanese people.
I am speaking from my own personal experience. I do understand that not all Japanese behave the same way. I may have not properly expressed my opinion. The article is talking about if foreigners in Japan are discriminated against when they are expected to speak Japanese. I feel that it is not discrimination at all. The Japanese have a right to expect people coming into their country to speak Japanese. While it is very nice of them to help people who are having trouble it is not required of them to do so and gaijin should not expect to get any help.
Liked what you said there ShaneS!! I would go as far to say that the Japanese are amongst the most helpful people I have ever met and I have been to quite a few countries!
Saying that, dealing with the local Town Hall or immigration is daunting to say the least and banks really suck! However, I would say this would be much the same in any country.
Japan is not perfect in the way they treat gaijin but I have not had too many bad experiences and can honestly say that I have been given opportunities in this country that I would not been given in my own.
Keith