A Justice Ministry report has found that around one in three foreigners in Japan experience racism and discrimination.
The Japan Times reports that 29.8% foreign residents surveyed have experienced racial or discriminatory remarks in the past five years.
Conducted by mail between 14 November 2016 and 5 December 2016, the survey canvassed 18,500 foreign residents aged 18 or over in 37 cities and wards. 16 prefectures were covered including Ota in Gunma Prefecture, Tokyo’s Minato Ward and Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The survey that polled foreign residents showed that 53.3% said verbal abuse came from strangers. 38% said abuse came from coworkers, bosses, colleagues, subordinates or business partners. 19.3% claimed neighbourhood residents were guilty of discriminatory remarks.
“Discriminatory speech and action against foreign people should never be tolerated,” Justice Minister Katsutoshi Kaneda told a news conference.
Mr Kaneda added that the ministry is working to increase awareness of consultation services for foreign residents as well as improving human rights education for Japanese people.
The poll also shoed that 39.2% were uncomfortable witnessing hate-speech demonstrations against foreign nationals. 28.4% wondered why these demonstrations were staged, whilst 15.9% view the Japanese negatively.
39.3% were barred from housing, 25% were denied jobs and 19.6% were paid less than Japanese for the same jobs.
