debito.org
Arudou Debito's Home Page: Issues of Life and Human Rights in Japan



Burma/Myanmar junta?s connection to Japanese Imperial Army (May 14)
Articles from the Japan Times and JPRI on the Burmese (Myanmar) junta's historical connection to the Japanese Imperial Army, and how the Japanese government even today has surprisingly close ties to the maniacs who rule Burma--to the point of muting criticism when a Japanese journalist gets cut down by the military, and instead offering criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi's election victory!


Anonymous on job-market barriers to NJ graduates of J universities: The ?IQ Test? (May 14)
An anonymous poster with a degree from a world-class Japanese university writes in about barriers to getting a job at Japanese companies--an IQ test that in the poster's view doesn't measure non-native candidates fairly or accurately. I too had to deal with one of those back in 1989, but managed to talk my way into the job anyway (thanks to the "kokusaika" mantra of the Bubble Years). Other readers with experiences with these types of corporate entry-level tests are welcome to share them. For in the author's view (and mine), these sorts of barriers only hurt Japan when educated candidates want to stay and contribute.


Japan Today: Gov?t looks to immigrants as population shrinks (May 12)
According to the AFP and Japan Today: "Japan?s ruling party is considering plans to encourage foreign workers to stay in the country long-term, a daily reported Monday after the birth rate fell for the 27th successive year. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has proposed setting up an ?immigration agency? to help foreign workers?including providing language lessons, the Nikkei economic daily said without naming sources. The party also intends to reform current ?training? programs for foreign workers, which have been criticized for giving employers an excuse for paying unfairly low wages, the paper said."


Washington Post on the Yakuza and the Japanese Police (May 12)
Washington Post: "Hi Blog. This is a tangent to the Debito.org role of bringing up issues of NJ in Japan, but it relates as we have been talking about the NPA in recent months. One of my friends, a person who studies wrongful arrests in Japan, says, "The Japanese Police are some of the biggest criminals in Japan." According the the article below, the NPA's involvement in hindering international investigations of Japanese organized crime may be evidence of that. Courtesy of The Club. Arudou Debito in Sapporo ===================================== Washington Post: "Unlike their Japanese counterparts, U.S. law enforcement officers are sharing tips with Japan. Officials from both countries confirm that, in November 2003, the Tokyo police used information from ICE and the Nevada Gaming Control Board to seize $2 million dollars in cash from a safe-deposit box in Japan, which was leased to Kajiyama by a firm affiliated with a major Las Vegas casino. According to ICE Special Agent Mi...


DEBITO.ORG NEWSLETTER MAY 11, 2008?SPECIAL ON CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN JAPAN (May 11)
JUDICIAL TREATMENT OF NJ VICTIMS OF CRIME 1) Filipina allegedly killed by J man, let out of jail despite suspicion of killing another Filipina in past 2) Japan Times et al on homicide of Scott Tucker: "likely to draw leniency" 3) Tokyo Police apparently drop case of Peter Barakan's assault 4) Yomiuri and Japan Times on Matthew Lacey Case: Fukuoka Police dismiss NJ death by blow to the head as "dehydration" JUDICIAL TREATMENT OF NJ ACCUSED OF CRIME 5) "Hostage Justice": Swiss woman acquitted of a crime, but detained for eight months anyway during prosecution's appeal 6) Two articles from The Economist on bent Japanese criminal justice system, death penalty 7) Rough Guide on what to do if and when arrested in Japan 8) Yuyu Idubor's Statement to High Court April 23, 2008, letters from prison parts five and six SYSTEMATIC POLICE TREATMENT OF NJ EVEN WITHOUT CRIME 9) Japan Today: Male Shinjuku cops rough up Singaporean women during "passport check" (with ...


Japan Times Feb 16 Symposium, my question from the floor makes the paper (May 10)
I have offered my opinion on how the Japan Times could improve its readership in the past on this blog (the JT is uniquely poised to offer something more independently, as a newspaper not controlled as a vanity project by the other Japanese newspapers, such as the doctrinaire Yomiuri, or a union-busting, closed-circuit Asahi. I?m hoping that it finally sinks in that the JT can most easily turn on a dime, and offer information not only for English-language readers, but also the immigrants who want to make a life in Japan and need essential information even when there's no emergency like the (cited) Great Hanshin Earthquake.


Japan Times JUST BE CAUSE column 3: ?Activism vs Academia? (May 8)
JUST BE CAUSE Japan Times column 3: "So naturally, some academics have been rather skeptical when I claim racial discrimination here is growing in magnitude and scope. One even asserted at this forum that my online "naming and shaming" of discriminators ( www.debito.org/roguesgallery.html ) is counterproductive ? that too much "attacking Japan" alienates potential allies. Again, I understand why never the twain. The academic observer, particularly in the social sciences, is bound by a "prime directive" ? not to interfere with their object of study when collecting data; plus there is an incumbent resistance to making value judgments (think of "cultural imperialism" etc.; to an anthropologist, I'm probably the Antichrist). In sum, academics observe societal or global "standards." Activists, however, try to create or adjust them."


Debito.org blog down for several days for unknown reasons (May 7)
Blog Biz: Blog was down for a few days for unknown reasons, hopefully now fixed properly...


UN News: first group of 16 nations reviewed by HRC (May 5)
UN News: The top United Nations human rights official warned that some States still do not recognize the existence of racism as a phenomenon. ?National laws and measures to ensure its elimination in most countries are either inadequate or ineffective,? said High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour. ?As a result, vulnerable groups continue to suffer aggression while abusers enjoy impunity.? Like in Japan...


Golden Week Cycletrek 2008 is finished, 621 kms between Miyazaki and Kurashiki (May 4)
My Miyazaki to Kurashiki Cycletrek GW 2008 is finished, 621 kms in six days. Off the road safe and sunburnt, ready for my next JUST BE CAUSE column next Tuesday May 6.