Event

Civil Rights in Japan

Friday, March 3rd, 2006, 6:15 PM - 8:45 PM

Speaker: Arudou Debito

Arudou Debito (formerly David Aldwinkle) is an American-born, naturalized Japanese citizen who is probably best known for his social activism regarding the rights of foreign residents in Japan. Mr. Arudou's firsthand encounter of discrimination is documented in his book, Japanese Only--The Otaru Onsen Refusals and Racial Discrimination in Japan. As a frequent columnist for The Japan Times, Arudou has brought the issue of foreigner rights into the media limelight. Considered by some (or many) to be nothing more than a disgruntled protestor, he maintains his position that Japan still does not do its best regarding the rights of foreigners. His criticism extends to businesses, police, and government agencies at both the local and national levels. His most recent cause involves the case of Steve McGowan, an American who claims to have been thrown out of an Osaka eyeglass shop due to the color of his skin. As a university instructor in Hokkaido, Arudou has numerous commercial and academic publications dealing with education, as well as social issues. Whether or not you agree with his views, we invite you all to this event, which is sure to bring up some interesting and debatable points. (The speaker's website is www.debito.org.)

This meeting will be held in the 6th floor meeting room of the Lifelong Learning Center, most easily accessed from the east elevator of the Dai-2 building.

Organization: Osaka Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (Osaka JALT)

Cost: JALT Members: 500 yen
Non-members: 1500 yen

Venue: Osaka City Municipal Lifelong Learning Center's 6th floor meeting room of Umeda's Dai-2 Building. Tel: 06-6345-5000. www.manabi.city.osaka.jp

Location: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Contact Osaka JALT

Bob Sanderson