JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

Sometimes we can just be busy trying to live our lives, when out of nowhere a larger issue than one’s self comes to light. Last night was such an occassion. While helping out at my husband’s establishment (as I do every weekend), with no provocation a customer, and somewhat of an acquaintance of my husband’s, just popped me on the top of my face. Although this may be an action that is somewhat tolerated by some local females, I responded and quickly let it be known I will not accept physical aggression towards me. Having lived on Okinawa for most of the past almost thirty-four years, it is not the first time I have encountered physical aggression from the local population. It is however the first time any of the aggressors have hit me in the face. Verbal aggression, grabbing, and popping on the arm are not an uncommon occurrance here. However, there comes a point to where enough is enough. Although other people were present at the time, it isn’t uncommon for none of them to react to this behavior when it comes from a local. Because of the unusal circumstances surrounding the history of and relations towards Okinawa, the islanders are viewed as a minority in the Japanese civil and human rights rings. Most organizations are formed in an effort to gain the Okinawans rights. And much of this is due to anti-miltary, peace, or cultural pride movements. However, I am not associated with the miltary. I am an American (in which the locals take extreme pleasure in constantly reminding me) citizen who’s been married to an Okinawan for over thirty-two years. Which brings us to the second main difference between me and the majority of foreigners on island, I also happen to be a female. And to complete the trifecta of main diffences, I am also causasian instead of Asian. Talking about being a minority.

After experiencing last night’s physical agression, I decided to look further into info on the local civil rights organizations. To my surprise, I really didn’t find much info about the situation of being a minority amongst a group viewed by most human rights organizations as being the persecuted minority. However, I was able to find several informative links to civil rights in general and of foreigners in mainland Japan. Here is a list of some of those links:

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

Multiple Discrimination Against Minority Women in Japan

Human Rights Network

Japan Civil Liberties Union (JCLU)

Proposal on a Human Rights Law System in Japan (pdf)

United for a Multicultural Japan

Human Rights International