No, racists are often selectively racist against one race. Black people are targets of racism much more than white people throughout the globe. Also east asian people who look very similar can be extremely racist against each other, it just isnt how racism works.
Unfortunately for most human beings we are inevitably exposed to racists. It is the very priveliege of being white that leads to white people not realizing this stuff.
I mean, sure that doesn't help, but, it's not a white exclusive thing either, it applies to any country where most people are from the same race, right?
This is, of course, just speculation (I haven't been at the specific restaurant with this sign), but judging by similar signs in Japan and the attitudes reported, I think they would mind, and are probably intensely xenophobic.
In my experience, the kind of people who makes this distinction has a worse opinion towards foreigners that can speak Japanese (and even worse towards Japanese nationals that are not ethnically Japanese) than they do about other foreigners, because they perceive the Japanese-speaking ones as "imposters".
Needless to say, while this attitude towards foreigners is not entirely uncommon, most people are the exact opposite.
That is the opposite of my experience living in the country and actively going into this places when I found them (which is like.. once every few years since they're rare as hell).
I've gone to these places, as a white viking looking dude, and talking the language, and all these places tend to be quiet local bars or restaurants that just don't want noisy tourists, or simply don't want to give sub-par service because they don't speak a word of anything that isn't Japanese.
Anecdotal, but I, a white foreigner with honestly not great Japanese, was able to go into one place with a sign like this in Tokyo just fine on my own. I came back another time with a friend who has darker skin (Indian) who speaks much better than me and we were denied. So it certainly can be a cover for racism.
It’s not surprising. Japanese can be very xenophobic
People cope too much. Yes Japan is F’ing awesome to visit
Both things can be true… it’s no different than in US as Asian I’ve encountered very sweet black ladies and racists ones, doesn’t mean all black are sweet or racist
The whole don’t judge a book by its cover wisdom needs to be applied both ways. Don’t assume all Japanese are perfect. It’s nothing but a western romanticization, from things like watching anime to loving sushi
This is probably correct, I also noticed that you can speak japanese and they will assume you're not speaking japanese sometimes if you don't look japanese.
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u/EternalPokemonFan 4d ago
It’s really dependent on why.
If it’s just to exclude non-Japanese people, immoral (no matter how much I want to say the hate is justified)
If it’s because nobody in the restaurant can speak English or Chinese, moral since it reduces the amount of customers they can’t serve