There will of course be the argument that language skills are needed to speak through the ‘magic mirror’ this place so proudly possesses. Hence the nationality requirement. But Japanese ability is in no way just restricted to those born here, and anyway, this isn’t the only establishment to enforce such restrictions. Not even in this area in fact, let alone the whole of Japan. And yet what really struck me was the darkly comic irony of the internationally sounding American Crystal being anything but.
Martin says
A lot of the interesting places are Japanese only but from your photo I’d guess at this place it’s because the girls only understand Japanese. 😉
Lee says
Yes, but what about the non-Japanese who speak Japanese…?
Hans ter Horst says
Or the people with the Japanese nationality who don’t look Japanese?
Lee says
Well, yeah. ID or passport checks perhaps before sampling the delights of what lies (possibly in more ways than one) behind the magic mirror.
Martin says
Okay it’s probably racism. ;-(
Lee says
Yeah, pretty much…
An Expat says
You did notice you’ve also provided in the reflection, a reasonable facsimile of yourself 😉
Lee says
I did. Could have avoided it, but it seemed to work well with the sign and the no non-Japanese sign.
Ina says
Somehow, your reflection adds to that dark irony tenfold…Thank you for these everyday glimpses. Fantastic job, as always!
Lee says
Thank you!
Yeah, I though the reflection worked well too. Adds a further twist to it.
willy says
I got kicked out of a bar in Tokyo once.. because the Philippine wait staff spoke English.. and the boss didn’t understand. Well Paranoia is alive and kicking everywhere(me out in that instance).
Lee says
That’s funny. Foreign staff in, foreigner customers out…
Theresa Amlong says
maybe they mean only japanese people are behind the glass. lol.
Lee says
Haha, that’s a very different take on it!
john says
Admission on hair colour probably wouldn’t work too well going by the image!
Lee says
In Harajuku they’d perhaps do ok, but not in Shinjuku!
Cynthia Vasconcellos says
called “American”…
Lee says
Yes…
Jeffrey says
First thing I noticed. Irony has never been big in Japan.
Lee says
That’s very very true.
J-L B says
Rather than racism, could ” Only Japanese people” be instead xenophobia? (fear or hatred of foreigners). I experienced it twice in my life in North-America. In both cases a Caucasian manager told a crew of workers that they were hopeless because they didn’t understand the “white man ways”..
All eyes turned to me, as I was the only Caucasian in the crew.
In both cases these managers–different towns, 20 years apart–shouted, pointing at me “He is not a XXXX white man, he is a XXX European!”
So I told the managers ” you are a Caucasian..where do you think your ancestors came from, if not Europe?”
The great thing is that, in both cases, my co-workers, after the manager was gone, hugged me and apologized for thinking I got my job unfairly.
Lee says
Good question. One I don’t know the answer to I’m afraid. It’s a very fine line though, isn’t it?
Andrew says
This is simply a great shot. Reflections is great. Is it dangerous for you to be in that area? Is it Yakuza run?
Lee says
Thanks. I was pleased to be able to get the reflections.
Not sure if it’s actually Yakuza run, but I’m sure there’ll be Yakuza connections in some form or other. But nah, not dangerous. Unless you go actively looking for trouble it’s totally fine.