A number of lawsuits challenging racial discrimination have been raised in various places in Japan over the recent years. The background and significance of such discrimination lawsuits were studied at the JCLU's regular seminar held on March 15, 2003.
The first speaker, Mr. Debito Arudou, a formerly U.S. Citizen who has acquired Japanese nationality, reported his own experience as the plaintiff of a racial discrimination lawsuit. Mr. Arudou was denied entry into a public hot spring bath facility in Otaru City, Hokkaido. He commenced a lawsuit in February 2001 against the facility and Otaru City. The Sapporo District Court found the facility liable but denied the city's liability in its November 2002 decision. Mr. Arudou appealed the denial of the city's responsibility. The JCLU is officially supporting this appeal case which is currently pending in Sapporo High Court. Mr. Arudou pointed out that Otaru City was fully aware of the discriminatory practices of the public bath facilities but failed to take any effective actions such as enacting an ordinance prohibiting racial discrimination.
The second speaker was Mr. Hiroshi Tanaka, Professor at Ryukoku University and JCLU Representative Director who is an expert on foreigners' rights. Mr. Tanaka expressed his hope that policies adopted by progressive municipalities will influence other municipalities, and will result in changing policies at the national level.
At the meeting, the JCLU's Foreigners Rights Committee announced its proposed outline for a Law on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (See the next page). The Committee has solicited public comments and is currently working on revising the proposal based on various opinions which it received.