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Gaijin Hanzai Magazine and Hate Speech in Japan: The Newfound Power of Japan's International Residents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2025

Arudou Debito
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A recent event making headlines worldwide was the publication of GAIJIN HANZAI URA FAIRU (The Underground Files of Gaijin Crime). This magazine, which went on sale at major Japanese bookstores and convenience stores nationwide, depicts foreigners as “dangerous” and “evil”. Despite Japan's lack of a legal framework, or a civil society capable of curbing hate speech, activists managed to have the magazine removed from stores and put out of circulation. This report shows how non-Japanese residents in Japan (a disparate group with few things in common–not even a language) successfully pushed for their rights in a case ignored by the Japanese media. Utilizing the power of the Internet to organize a boycott of magazine outlets, “Newcomer” residents and immigrants demonstrated their strength as a consumer bloc for what is probably the first time in Japan's history. This is the report of a participant observer.

Type
Research Article
Information
Asia-Pacific Journal , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , March 2007 , e18
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2007

References

Endnotes

[1] Gaining currency in Japan's human-rights circles are the terms orudocamaa and nyuukamaa. For the purposes of this report, “Newcomers” refer to those who have moved to Japan, the immigrant residents. “Oldcomers” refer to “foreigners” who have been born and raised in Japan but, even after up to five generations, do not have Japanese citizenship: the Zainichi ethnic generational foreigners (Koreans, Chinese, etc.).

[2] Full discussion and archive on the Gaiji Hanzai Case at the Debito.org blog, see here.

[3] Recent UN Human Rights Council discussions wrestling with issues of “hate speech”: A/HRC/2/6 dated 20 September 2006, downloadable from here.

[4] Response to the United Nations' response to Japan's First and Second periodical report to the ICERD Committee, October 2001, available here.

[5] For an example of how Japan's libel laws work (or rather, do not), refer to the Arudou vs. Nishimura 2-Channel BBS lawsuit.

[6] More context and comparison of foreign crime with Japanese crime (2004), with breakdown by nationality, see here.

[7] Foreign crime in fact fell in 2006, according to the NPA. See The Japan Times/Kyodo News February 9, 2007.

[8] cf. Footnote 5

[9] See Weekly Diamond, June 5, 2004.

[10] “Family slaying accomplice's death penalty upheld”. The Japan Times March 9, 2007,

[11] See the pages left out here.

[12] “Newscaster regrets anti-foreigner quip”, IHT/Asahi Dec. 21, 2006.

[13] The author appeared in Saka's stead. Transcript of the event here.

[14] Arudou, Debito, JAPANESE ONLY, The Otaru Hot Springs Case and Racial Discrimination in Japan. Akashi Shoten Inc. 2006, pages 261-265.

[15] “In our country, one of the most serious topics concerning public order is dealing with foreign crime… In May 1999, to plan the promotion of policies which will tackle crimes connected to foreigners… the National Police Agency has established the kokusai taisaku iinkai. which will undertake suitable policies and laws against foreign crime for provincial police agencies, and strengthen their investigative organs.” NPA White Paper 2002: “The State of Crimes by Foreigners Coming to Japan”, Chapter 2, from Japanese Only page 206-207.

[16] Quote the Embassy of Japan in Washington DC.

[17] There are many websites on this, but a few examples: www.debito.org/opportunism.html, www.debito.org/foreigncrimeputsch.html, and “Time to Come Clean on Foreign Crime Wave”, The Japan Times October 7, 2005.

[18] Thomas Ellis & HAMAI Koichi, “Crime and Punishment in Japan: From Re-integrative Shaming to Popular Punitivism.” on Japan Focus website.

[19] MABUCHI Ryougo of Nara University, as reported in the IHT/Asahi Shinbun December 14-15, 2002.

[20] “Upping the fear factor–There is a disturbing gap between actual crime in Japan and public worry over it.” The Japan Times February 20, 2007.

[21] Examples of this worldwide are plentiful enough to not need further substantiation, but a good example of this phenomenon in Japan was the “anti-hooligan” policy pushes during the World Cup 2002. See more here.

[22] “Asian Week Suspends Writer Of Racist Column.” NBC TV San Francisco, February 28, 2007.

[23] Joshi Gakusei Raraku Manual. Hikou Mondai Kenkyuukai, December 1995, particularly pages 72-75. ISBN 4887183453. Available at Amazon Japan.

[24] Manga Kenkanryuu. August 2005 (1) and sequel February 2007. Respective ISBNs: 488380478X and 4883805166. Manga Chuugoku Nyuumon: Yakkai na Rinjin no Kenkyuu: AKIYAMA George and OH Fumio. August 2005. ISBN 487031682X. Both available at Amazon Japan.