It's Nice To Know That White People in Hokkaido Port Towns Aren't The Most Discriminated Against In Japan.

Thanks to the amiable ways of your average Russian Sailor, many a JET stationed in an international Hokkaido port city can find life to be a bit challenging at times. That is, if you find regularly being refused entry into local business establishments on account of the color of your skin because you might be another trouble-making Russian, well, challenging. (Don't worry, fellow white people. Someday we will rise up together and have a country of our own to discriminate in. Until then, be strong.)

But, don't fret. There is yet a more discriminated group within Japan - the Eta, or Burakumin, as they are often referred. These were the people in Japan who historically were delegated to do the fun stuff, like dig graves, slaughter animals, make tasty leather products, and even work in some forms of entertainment. I'm guessing assistant English instruction being one.

Although, such official status was technically abolished long ago, bad reputations are hard to shake. Hence the stigma still exists: Burakumin = Bad. Nobody wants their precious little daughter marrying a decedent of a Burakumin. Who knows, maybe she'll become a grave digger or something. How embarrassing would that be at parties when the guests ask what kind of work the daughter does?

But this is where it gets especially heart warming for me. It is not unknown in Japan for families to hire private detectives to look into the background of potential suitors for traces of Burakumin heritage.

Now, what if we had something similar in America for, let's say, descendents of former Walmart employees? It is arguably one the more undesirable jobs in the US. And, we all know from the news that discrimination is still going strong against these downtrodden people. I mean, really, would you want your precious little daughter marrying Bill in hardware? Didn't think so.