According to HuffPost Japan (November 14, 2024), a series of actions by police officers support and encourage racial discrimination, and the abnormally oppressive treatment of mothers and children constitutes racial profiling.
Examples of racial profiling in Japan
Racial profiling refers to the unfair policing or discriminatory treatment of specific groups based on race or nationality. Racial profiling, especially against foreigners, has been pointed out in Japan. For example, when police question “suspicious persons”, they sometimes focus on foreigners or people with a certain appearance. As a result, foreign nationals are frequently questioned about their duties and, in some cases, are subject to unfair investigations.
Problems have also been pointed out in the way they are treated at immigration bureaus. At airports and other immigration control locations, foreign travelers tend to undergo more thorough checks than Japanese people, and in some cases may be treated as suspicious. Furthermore, foreign and half-Japanese children living in Japan sometimes face discrimination at school and in the local community, leading to them feeling like they are not accepted as “Japanese.”
In fact, in 2019, there was an incident in which a Korean man, along with other Korean travelers, sued Japanese police at Kansai International Airport, alleging that they were subjected to unfair job questioning. This incident attracted a lot of attention both in Japan and abroad, highlighting the reality of prejudice and discrimination against foreigners by the Japanese police. Furthermore, there are cases in Tokyo where men of Nigerian descent are frequently questioned about their work, and this kind of treatment of foreigners has become commonplace.
Efforts needed in the future
First of all, legal measures are needed. Currently, there is no law in Japan that explicitly prohibits racial profiling. Compared to other countries, Japan’s legal system against racial discrimination is inadequate, and as a result, it is a problem that foreigners are unable to take appropriate remedies when they are subjected to discriminatory treatment. Therefore, it is important for the Japanese government to enact clear laws prohibiting racial profiling and strictly regulating discriminatory treatment based on race or nationality.
Next, we need education and awareness. Prejudice and stereotypes against foreigners remain deeply rooted in Japanese society. In order to solve this problem, we need to strengthen education about racial issues and diversity in elementary schools, high schools, and even universities. Additionally, police and immigration officials need training to ensure that they do not treat foreigners unfairly. Particularly in the tourism industry, where the number of foreigners is increasing, establishing guidelines to understand and respond appropriately to foreigners can change the mindset of society as a whole.
Furthermore, it is necessary to promote interaction among the community. In aiming for multicultural coexistence, efforts are required to remove the walls between foreigners and Japanese people. For example, by holding community exchange events and providing a place for people from different nationalities to gather, you will be able to understand each other’s cultures and become more familiar with each other. Additionally, providing Japanese language education and daily life support to foreign communities will help them integrate into the local community.
Finally, in order to ensure transparency and fairness in society, we should increase transparency by recording and disclosing the actual status of police questioning and immigration control. This makes it possible to monitor whether foreigners are being treated unfairly, and provides a basis for taking legal action. We can build a more just society by strengthening systems to monitor the actions of police and immigration authorities, and establishing systems to take strict action when discriminatory treatment is discovered.
Conclusion
Racial profiling in Japan is an issue that promotes prejudice and discriminatory treatment of foreigners and undermines equality and fairness in society. In order for Japan to realize a truly multicultural society, it is essential to develop laws, educate and raise awareness, promote interaction among communities, and improve transparency. Through these efforts, Japanese society can aim for a more diverse and inclusive future.