Comparing Japan and the world => tolerance & prejudices

[Maciamo]

Let us have a look again at the stats from Nationmaster. This time I'd like to see where Japan stands in terms of tolerance and prejudices.

The following stats show the percentage of people who do not want to live next to a particular kind of people. The higher the %age and the higher the prejudice, I presume.

Japan actually tops the list of developed countries for several categories of undesirable neighbours.

As many as 82% wouldn't want to live next to Political extremists. The 2nd highest is Germany with 71% (understandably due to the Nazi past), and the lowest score is for Denmark with only 10% of the people who would object.

One of the biggest gap between Japan and Western countries can be seen in the tolerance toward homosexuals. 69% of Japanese are uncomfortable about having gay neighbours, followed by Austria with 43% (that's a 26% gap !). Even the US with all the recent debate about gay marriage only comes 4th with only 34% (so not all people who voted "Bush" were anti-gay ). The Dutch and Scandinavians are the most tolerant (11 to 18%).

Japanese are also the most numerous (62%) in those who fear living next to emotionally unstable people (that is why so many of them look constantly worried, as it's hard to find a block of house without a hysteric girl or a crabby grandmother ). Americans come next (47%), but I understand that much more esily, because of the high rate of gun-ownership. Swiss and Danish people care the least (11%).

77% of the Japanese feel uncomfortable living next to someone who has AIDS, the 2nd highest score after Switzerland (88%). Denmark is still the most tolerant with only 9% of the people caring about it.

Japan has the highest intolerance level when it comes to drug addicts, with 91% fearing to live next to some of them. The USA comes 2nd with 80%. Switzerland (39%) and France (44%) are the most tolerant. Surprisingly, the Dutch are among the most intolerant (73%) as well as the Scandinavians.

That was for Japan as the most prejudiced country. When it comes to heavy drinking, American, Australian, Austrian and Dutch people are all equally the most intolerant (61-62%), followed very closely by Japan (58%). The Irish are the most open (eheh) with only 34% objecting to heavy drinking neigbhours (probably because the rest are heavy drinkers ).

Americans fear most to have neighbours with a criminal record (54%), then the Irish (52%), then the Japanese (50%). Swiss (13%) and French (20%) people care the least. Isn't it strange that more Japanese fear living next to an homosexual or somebody who has AIDS than a criminal ?

The highest tolerance level for all countries were for living next to someone of a difference race. Belgians and Fins are the most racist here (17%), while Japan comes only 4th with just 11% (but why do most landowners make so much fuss about renting their accommodation to a foreigner, even to Japan-born Koreans ?). I guess the people who surveyed the Japanese must have been non-Japanese, and many people didn't answer frankly on this one.

[RockLee]

the Dutch are among the most intolerant (73%) as well as the Scandinavians.

hahaha...when u ask someone about Holland they automatically say ohh WEED??? :P

The Irish are the most open (eheh) with only 34% objecting to heavy drinking neigbhours (probably because the rest are heavy drinkers ).

hehe..figures...the irish !!! lol

Isn't it strange that more Japanese fear living next to an homosexual or somebody who has AIDS than a criminal ?

yeh that's weird allright

The highest tolerance level for all countries were for living next to someone of a difference race. Belgians and Fins are the most racist here (17%), while Japan comes only 4th with just 11% (but why do most landowners make so much fuss about renting their accommodation to a foreigner, even to Japan-born Koreans ?). I guess the people who surveyed the Japanese must have been non-Japanese, and many people didn't answer frankly on this one.

Well If you live in belgium you would understand why so many are rascists...in some areas there isn't almost a single belgian...and the immigrants there act like ******* criminals XD, that Japan comes out fourth is very surprising...I guess indeed they didn't want to answer on that hehe...

[DoctorP]

One of the biggest gap between Japan and Western countries can be seen in the tolerance toward homosexuals. 69% of Japanese are uncomfortable about having gay neighbours, followed by Austria with 43% (that's a 26% gap !). Even the US with all the recent debate about gay marriage only comes 4th with only 34% (so not all people who voted "Bush" were anti-gay ). The Dutch and Scandinavians are the most tolerant (11 to 18%).

I could be wrong, but it looks like the figures for the US came from a study of only roughly 8000 people...hardly an in depth study!

[Meiki]

About homosexuality, most of the younger generations don't mind homosexuality at all and aren't really sexually shy. They love to see their bishounen-stars getting it on with eachother. And the millions of fanfics can prove it. It probably depends on which place you are at in Japan.
The younger generations are more open and tolerant then their elders. That's what everything is about.

[nurizeko]

a normal friday night out for some of my mates is to tongue each other fairly passionatly infront of girls to get their attention..

suffice to say homosexuality, and what is considored gay is now considored pretty harmless and normal for the most part.

but, interesting to note my mates dont considor themselves gay and still make gay jabs.

emotionally unstable is a harder one, since that ranges from just a bit needy or fairly rude, to downright out their head.

if you have aids i feel for ya, but i aint moving out, so tough =P.

i could live next to a criminal but ide be more aware of his/her activities.

man i live in britain, ive been around people of different origins since i can remember, i would be hard pressed to tell a foreigner from a brit purely based on colour.

[PopCulturePooka]

I feel uncomfortable living next to drug addicts, alcoholics and emotionally unstable people, but then I've lived to 2 out of 3 of those groups (alcoholics and emotionally unstables) at various points and it can be quite a scray, nasty experience to do so.

[MeAndroo]

Go live in a college dorm. I lived on the same floor as political extremists, homosexuals, heavy drinkers and drug users, emotional headcases and people with criminal records. Talk about broadening your horizons.

But I'm sure it's not the norm. It's so cal after all. As far as Japan is concerned, the only one that surprised me was the race one. This is a country that still has problems letting Japan born Koreans vote, and makes white people famous if they can just speak the language. For stuff like political extremism or criminals, I guess it all goes back to social harmony (wa) and its role in traditional Japanese society. I was also surprised by the lack of AIDS awareness for the most part. It seemed like people just didn't talk about it when I was there.

[pipokun]

The highest tolerance level for all countries were for living next to someone of a difference race. Belgians and Fins are the most racist here (17%), while Japan comes only 4th with just 11% (but why do most landowners make so much fuss about renting their accommodation to a foreigner, even to Japan-born Koreans ?). I guess the people who surveyed the Japanese must have been non-Japanese, and many people didn't answer frankly on this one.

Not all Japanese are landlords.

[Maciamo]

Not all Japanese are landlords.

The survey is about "neighbours", and except a few homeless, every Japanese lives in a house/flat. Anyway, it's about one's feelings if one were in that situation, not real experience.

[pipokun]

The survey is about "neighbours", and except a few homeless, every Japanese lives in a house/flat. Anyway, it's about one's feelings if one were in that situation, not real experience.

Yeah, I know. What I wanted to say is that it may be different result if the landlords had been asked. As I am not rich, I cannot share their feelings.


To MeAndroo,
Concerning the AIDS awaireness, you are right. It is sad that Japanese are really lack of it. And the recent survey shows gradual increase of the patients in Japan, though the number and rate of the patients is still smaller and lower than any other countries.
About the ethnic Korean voting right in Japan, I am against it as far as they retain their South/North Korean citizenships.
If I remember correctly, the South pushing hard to get the right, but the North does not.

[Maciamo]

About homosexuality, most of the younger generations don't mind homosexuality at all and aren't really sexually shy. They love to see their bishounen-stars getting it on with eachother. And the millions of fanfics can prove it. It probably depends on which place you are at in Japan.
The younger generations are more open and tolerant then their elders. That's what everything is about.

I agree that the younger Japanese are usually more open-minded than their elders (also less critical). But hentai manga isn't really the way to judge people's acceptance of homosexuality in real life ! Like in most Western countries, lesbians are more easily accepted than male gays in Japan, especially if they are bisexual (some men really fantasize women like that). But it's still a big no-no to admit yo are gay in Japan.

If you check "同姓愛" (homosexuality) on Amazon Japan, there is only one book !! Likewise, if you type "ホモセクシュアル" (homosexual), there are only 3 books among the millions of Japanese publications available on Amazon. The keyword "ゲイ" (gay) gives 171 results.

In comparison, checking Amazon US, there are 1444 books for the keyword "homosexuality", 917 for "homosexual" and 10,097 for "gay" !

Even Amazon France (with a market half the size of Japan's) has 1147 books in French about "homosexualite", and 1540 books in French with the keyword "gay", a word used less often in French than in Japanese (you know, French people don't like using English words, but the Japanese just love it ).

Not that I care, but this gives us a good idea of how taboo homosexuality still is in Japanese society outside pornography.

Searching Google, I have found the following results for the above keywords :

- 同姓愛 => 661
- ホモセクシュアル => 9,000

- homosexual => 3,790,000
- homosexuality => 3,690,000
- gay => 52,300,000

- homosexualite (with accent on the "e") => 433,000

Again, even anonymously on the web, the Japanese very rarely discuss or write about homosexuality.

[Ma Cherie]

By checking out Nationmaster I found something to be quite interesting and strange. Attitude of Women-should have equal rights, while Canada came in at 70%, the US at 62%, Switzerland 39%, Japan came in at 21%. However, this is what I found strange. The attitude that women are better off than their grandmothers Japan came in at 96%. Unless I'm the only one who finds this odd, Japan also ranked 82% in the area that women are happier now. A huge gap considering that United Kingdom ranked 42%. Canada 33%, Germany 29%, and the US 28%. (Yes, I skipped some countries ). Is this odd or what?

[Maciamo]

By checking out Nationmaster I found something to be quite interesting and strange. Attitude of Women-should have equal rights, while Canada came in at 70%, the US at 62%, Switzerland 39%, Japan came in at 21%. However, this is what I found strange. The attitude that women are better off than their grandmothers Japan came in at 96%. Unless I'm the only one who finds this odd, Japan also ranked 82% in the area that women are happier now. A huge gap considering that United Kingdom ranked 42%. Canada 33%, Germany 29%, and the US 28%.

I also noticed it before. I suppose this is because it is true that women (and men !) are better off now than their grandmothers (or grandfathers). This is because society has evolved, and in Japan's case, the US "imposed" democracy and relatively equal rights for men and women (e.g. for education, voting rights, etc.). So forcedly Japanese women are better off and happier now, although it doesn't mean that most people think they should have equal rights for everything (e.g. promotion at work). I am surprised at the number of young Japanese women who still think that men have more "rights" or deserve more respect than women.

[Aria28]

I am surprised at the number of young Japanese women who still think that men have more "rights" or deserve more respect than women.

I think this is due to the fact that the evolution of women rights was somewhat forced upon Japan in the first decades after the war, and was too fast and unnatural. Therefore I would suppose that there's a gap between laws and mentalities, since the latter are much slower to change than laws -read: takes one or more generations. Hence the education of most women who are today in their 30s or more certainly still carried on the belief that men have more rights. Hell, i wonder if that's not still the case for many young girls in today. Anyone knows about this?

[Maciamo]

Hence the education of most women who are today in their 30s or more certainly still carried on the belief that men have more rights. Hell, i wonder if that's not still the case for many young girls in today. Anyone knows about this?

What do you mean by young girls ? I can tell you it's true for those in their 20's, and I suspect also teenagers. Under that there is no point questioning as they probably don't understand what rights are, and they haven't got enough maturity to judge anyway.

[Mrjones]

Belgians and Fins are the most racist here (17%). There is something what we should really work out.

[MoBay]

The Belgians being the most racist are exactly where I think they should be. Their colonial history in Africa is one of psychopathic brutality towards the Africans. I am just not surprised by these findings.

[macadamia_cocoa]

I guess landowners don't want to rent to foreigners because they assume foreigners are more messy than Japanese people, more likely to cause a disturbance, and just don't understand enough about Japanese culture to be responsible.

[Mikawa Ossan]

Face it, foreigners present a risk. For a number of reasons, a landlord can not take it for granted that a foreigner will stay in Japan for the duration of the contract. And worse than that, some people seem to think that they are under no obligation to follow up on their end of their contract when in Japan.

When I did a stunt at eikaiwa, it was not unheard of for teachers to just up and leave without any warning. I know of people who leave Japan without paying their cell phone and other bills from my college days.

Anyone who has had business dealings with such people are understandable wary of us foreigners. I know I don't blame them.

[Glenski]

For tolerance and prejudices, let's see how many countries still post signs like "No foreigners allowed". Japan has them in places, despite signing the anti-discrimination treaty 12 years ago. NO laws have been enacted to enforce that signing.

[caster51]

Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　it is distinguish though it is not discrimination.

[KirinMan]

Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　it is distinguish though it is not discrimination.

How is it not discrimination?

[caster51]

the most case is at Hostess bar that is witten like that.

only sitting in the bar is ￥10.000 charge and they can not speak English at all.

i think it is kind of them.

good japanese speaker of the chinese and the Korean are not included.

If I were a master of hostess bar and i can not speak english at all,
I could not take care of them there and I could not say "please pay money" with out conversation service

[KirinMan]

the most case is at Hostess bar that is witten like that.
only sitting in the bar is ￥10.000 charge and they can not speak English at all.
i think it is kind of them.
good japanese speaker of the chinese and the Korean are not included.
If I were a master of hostess bar and i can not speak english at all,
I could not take care of them there and I could not say "please pay money" with out conversation service

Mmm then what do you call it when a "gaijin" that speaks Japanese is refused service.

To assume that "all foreigners" can not speak Japanese is not only discriminatory but also racist and to collectively refuse them all service is the same as well.

[caster51]

Mmm then what do you call it when a "gaijin" that speaks Japanese is refused service.

It is Ok to enter , however I would keep sign like that.
if they keep to complain about that , they are not a customer