That is too narrow a definition of racism. Merriam Webster defines it as a belief that race is determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of one race over another. Racism is also defined as actions that reflect or foster that belief. It can also be systemic oppression of people based on race.
Based on that, you could maybe argue that language is cultural and not racial, therefore this is cultural discrimination more than racial discrimination, but in a place with an incredibly low ethnic and language diversity for the size of its population thatâs just a distinction without a difference.
What this sign indicates is that they only want Japanese reading people, and in Japan thatâs going to be almost exclusively native Japanese people, so itâs not a stretch to say that they do not want non-Japanese reading and therefore non-Japanese people. A policy like that is reflective of a belief that non-Japanese people do not belong in that business, and that is racist.
chuckleslord@lemmy.world â¨2⊠â¨weeks⊠ago
Bud, I love Japan. You know theyâre the only axis power that still openly celebrates their WWII generals, yeah? Itâs racism, Japan is a racist country. Like, definitionally.
This is like going to Jim Crow America, seeing a âWhites Onlyâ water fountain sign and arguing that we need more context to know if itâs racist. You donât, it is.
Uruanna@lemmy.world â¨2⊠â¨weeks⊠ago
Okay so this one is ultra cultural. They still openly âcelebrateâ generals who tried to overthrow the imperial family then cursed the capital after their death to be hit by a plague, natural disasters, and famine, over a thousand years ago. With people from the imperial family dying from it. Thereâs several people like that who literally have an active cult today, to alleviate their anger. Itâs not about being happy with what they did, itâs about appeasing everyone who wielded power and caused fear even after their death, because they have a culture of vengeful ghosts and Chinese Buddhism gave them the idea that people with power in the âreal worldâ court still maintained the same power in the court of the underworld and could cause natural disasters and plagues. That said, I donât know how many of those cults are still observed by the Prime Minister.