Japan Podshow Special: Arudou Debito interview




Japan Podshow - The Podcast all about Japan show

Summary: (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/arudou_debito_by_wwwalfiegoodrichcom.jpg) Arudou Debito by Alfie Goodrich. For more of Alfie's stunning photography from Japan visit www.alfiegoodrich.com In June 2009, writer, lecturer and human rights campaigner Aurdou Debito made a trip down to Tokyo to attend a conference. Whilst in town, he was kind enough to provide Japan Podshow with an interview. About Arudou Debito Debito first came to prominence in early 2000s when, upon taking a trip to an onsen in Otaru, Hokkaido, he and his family and friends were turned away because they 'weren't Japanese' - despite their being naturalised Japanese citizens. After lengthy negotiations, the onsen still refused to change its 'no gaijin' policy: this led to Debito and two others to take the case to court. For more information on the Otaru Onsen Case please visit Debito's site (http://www.debito.org/otarulawsuit.html). Since the Otaru onsen case Debito has continued to campaign against discrimination - Japan is still the only developed country without any form of law banning racial discrimination. He has a regular columns in the Japan Times (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/JTsearch5.cgi?term1=DEBITO%20ARUDOU) and maintains a website (http://www.debito.org) aimed at helping others who face discrimination whilst charting the progress of the anti-discrimination movement within Japan. In this interview Debito talks about: * The first few years of his life in Japan * The Otaru Onsen Case * The new Gaijin cards and associated human rights issues, and what you can do to stop their introduction * Foreigners who defend discrimination against other foreigners claiming that 'We are guests in Japan' * Has the situation improved for foreigners in Japan in recent years? * His public image, and new beard, Arthur. Debito has published a book on the Otaru Onsen Case - available here (http://www.debito.org/?page_id=2) He is also co-author of the Handbook for Newcomers, Migrants and Immigrants to Japan (http://www.debito.org/publications.html) The interview with Debito is available in a variety of formats. AUDIO The full 40-minute interview is available as an MP3: download it here [37mb, 40 mins (http://tr.im/on43)] VIDEO Watch the video in its entirety here Japan Podshow Interview: Arudou Debito (http://vimeo.com/5140292) from japanpodshow (http://vimeo.com/japanpodshow) on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com). Alternatively, you can watch the video in parts embedded below, or download individual sections as mp4 video files. Part 1: Meet Debito [Download: 20.7mb (http://tr.im/oqPt)] Part 2: The Otaru Onsen Case [Download 20.6mb (http://tr.im/oqPw)] Part 3: The New Gaijin Cards: Tracking Foreigners [Download 33.8mb (http://tr.im/oqPA)] Part 4: "Foreigners in Japan are guests - we have no right to protest" - Debito responds [Download 13.2mb (http://tr.im/oqPB)] Part 5: How has the situation for non-Japanese in Japan changed in recent years? [Download 21.9mb (http://tr.im/oqPC)] Part 6: Debito's public image, and his new beard, Arthur. [Download 24.1mb (http://tr.im/oqPD)]