What are the most and least racist countries in the world?

[Ford]

Even then, though, you would be wrong.

So Israel was not founded as a nation preferential to any religious or ethnic group?

 

[Nexus]

I'm not aware of a word like racist but applicable to religion but that's the word you're looking for.

Jewishness is not simply a religious category. That's why there are Jewish atheists.

 

[Turambar]

With the world headed to peak oil and population overshoot, I think Japan is in better shape because it is not taking a lot of immigrants in. Of course New Zealand is even better with low population. But you work with what you have.

Japan is not in peak shape. It is committing demographic suicide. "Not taking immigrants in" is a social policy that is destroying them, economically and socially. On their own heads be it.

Well, of course this is a very subjective matter. Also many people are basically making assumptions based on anecdotes and third party accounts, which could also be called "racist".

Anyway, I will join this nonsensical opinion contest because:
A. Someone has to stand up for Japan.
B. I have a very different take on this issue, read further down

I am married to a Japanese, and have been to the country numerous times. Also, I am of mixed ethnic background being half Northern European and half Hispanic. I have lived in numerous countries including the USA, four Latin American nations and Germany. My job takes me traveling to many countries too, so I guess I have the qualifications necessary to issue an opinion.

Japan is, in my personal experience, one of the countries where I feel myself more comfortable as a foreigner. I have never during my numerous visits felt discriminated or segregated in any way, and when I talk to other Westerners that live there or visit often, most tell me same. However, please note that I stress "Westerners" because some of my acquaintances of Asian origin (Taiwanese and Chinese mostly) do tell me that they sometimes feel discriminated against in Japan, but not all the time.
In fact, many of them had their worst discrimination experiences in Western Europe, not Japan. A Chinese friend of mine has vowed never to visit France again after she was refused service at a locale. Still, she likes to go shopping to Tokyo and has no problems.

Additionally also on behalf of Japan: I do not agree that they are committing "demographic suicide" as someone said. They simply opted as a democracy not to engage in the global trend of open borders currently sweeping most of Western Europe. I respect that, it is their decision and polls reflect that. I know many countries in Western Europe where a majority of the population would like more immigration control, yet the political and economic elites decide constantly against the voters' wishes because of the need for perennial cheap labor. Sure you can disguise it as humanitarian aid if you want, but to me it is just the need for someone to sweep the streets and clean the toilets. (Most of the US + Canada are different, it is in their culture to absorb cultures and integrate them into their fabric. )

If you want to talk about humanitarian aid, I suggest you check the amount of aid Japan gives to developing nations without expecting anything in return, including being the only rich nation that really delivered all that it promised in terms of aid after the Southeast Asian Tsunami of 2004.

The mere fact that when Asian nations have populations that grow are called "a threat to the environment" and when they have populations declining the term is "places in demographic suicide" reflects that we in the West still view Asia with suspicion and racist sentiments. I am sure those very people would call a Western country with a growing population "a healthy economy" and one with declining one an "environmentally responsible country".

Now, after my defence of Japan, here is my opinion:
Judging only based on my personal experience, I would call some of Latin America's countries particularly racist, especially those whose economic elites are dominated by people of European descent. I have encountered more discrimination in some of those countries than in Germany and its neighbours. I do sales and technical support for those countries, and there is visible disenchantment when I visit and they meet me personally. Some of the bosses (rich-ass inbred pricks that came out of Europe's ass) even tell me that they are disillusioned of the fact that I am not "a 100% German technician" (Since my name is very gemanic in my Emails I guess they have wet dreams of a tall blonde guy coming to visit their sweatshops) Also, Spain and Italy seem to have cultures that still have many hard to eradicate racist traits.

Peace.

 

[J842P]

Japan is not in peak shape. It is committing demographic suicide. "Not taking immigrants in" is a social policy that is destroying them, economically and socially. On their own heads be it.

Well, of course this is a very subjective matter. Also many people are basically making assumptions based on anecdotes and third party accounts, which could also be called "racist".

Anyway, I will join this nonsensical opinion contest because:
A. Someone has to stand up for Japan.
B. I have a very different take on this issue, read further down

I am married to a Japanese, and have been to the country numerous times. Also, I am of mixed ethnic background being half Northern European and half Hispanic. I have lived in numerous countries including the USA, four Latin American nations and Germany. My job takes me traveling to many countries too, so I guess I have the qualifications necessary to issue an opinion.

Japan is, in my personal experience, one of the countries where I feel myself more comfortable as a foreigner. I have never during my numerous visits felt discriminated or segregated in any way, and when I talk to other Westerners that live there or visit often, most tell me same. However, please note that I stress "Westerners" because some of my acquaintances of Asian origin (Taiwanese and Chinese mostly) do tell me that they sometimes feel discriminated against in Japan, but not all the time.
In fact, many of them had their worst discrimination experiences in Western Europe, not Japan. A Chinese friend of mine has vowed never to visit France again after she was refused service at a locale. Still, she likes to go shopping to Tokyo and has no problems.

Additionally also on behalf of Japan: I do not agree that they are committing "demographic suicide" as someone said. They simply opted as a democracy not to engage in the global trend of open borders currently sweeping most of Western Europe. I respect that, it is their decision and polls reflect that. I know many countries in Western Europe where a majority of the population would like more immigration control, yet the political and economic elites decide constantly against the voters' wishes because of the need for perennial cheap labor. Sure you can disguise it as humanitarian aid if you want, but to me it is just the need for someone to sweep the streets and clean the toilets. (Most of the US + Canada are different, it is in their culture to absorb cultures and integrate them into their fabric. )

If you want to talk about humanitarian aid, I suggest you check the amount of aid Japan gives to developing nations without expecting anything in return, including being the only rich nation that really delivered all that it promised in terms of aid after the Southeast Asian Tsunami of 2004.

The mere fact that when Asian nations have populations that grow are called "a threat to the environment" and when they have populations declining the term is "places in demographic suicide" reflects that we in the West still view Asia with suspicion and racist sentiments. I am sure those very people would call a Western country with a growing population "a healthy economy" and one with declining one an "environmentally responsible country".

Now, after my defence of Japan, here is my opinion:
Judging only based on my personal experience, I would call some of Latin America's countries particularly racist, especially those whose economic elites are dominated by people of European descent. I have encountered more discrimination in some of those countries than in Germany and its neighbours. I do sales and technical support for those countries, and there is visible disenchantment when I visit and they meet me personally. Some of the bosses (rich-ass inbred pricks that came out of Europe's ass) even tell me that they are disillusioned of the fact that I am not "a 100% German technician" (Since my name is very gemanic in my Emails I guess they have wet dreams of a tall blonde guy coming to visit their sweatshops) Also, Spain and Italy seem to have cultures that still have many hard to eradicate racist traits.

Peace.

Ask a Japanese or Korean person if their parents would be cool with them marrying a black person. I know a lot of Koreans, in particular, and every single one of them would tell you that their parents would not be cool with that at all. Maybe a white person, since after all they live in the USA, but definitely not a black or Hispanic.

The racism isn't the same. It's very old school. It doesn't involve outright hostility.

Germans get a bad rep but honestly the worst racists I've ever met are, as you say, the inbred Criollos of Latin America. Of course, many of them are of Spanish, Italian, or German descent.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

I'm not aware of a word like racist but applicable to religion but that's the word you're looking for.

Jewishness is not simply a religious category. That's why there are Jewish atheists.

Bullshit. Jews are superintelligent humaniods that cause Blacks to marry whites producing slaves for the super-Jew race... or so the bizzare ramblings of white supremacists I have me have said

 

[Turambar]

Ask a Japanese or Korean person if their parents would be cool with them marrying a black person. I know a lot of Koreans, in particular, and every single one of them would tell you that their parents would not be cool with that at all. Maybe a white person, since after all they live in the USA, but definitely not a black or Hispanic.

The racism isn't the same. It's very old school. It doesn't involve outright hostility.

Germans get a bad rep but honestly the worst racists I've ever met are, as you say, the inbred Criollos of Latin America. Of course, many of them are of Spanish, Italian, or German descent.

Well, this is different. Traditional parents in those cultures tend to view marriage as a union of two families (and even expect a socio-economic gain from it), not just a union of two individuals like in the West. Plus if kids in any culture always did what their parents think is best we would still be in the middle ages. The question is not whether the parents will accept you, but rather would she/he date a foreigner and I think most Japanese nowadays would do it.

But then again, I said that this exchange of ideas is merely anecdotal and here is my experience with Asian in-Laws: My late Japanese father-in-law was a super cool dude. He even let me sleep in her daughters' room when I visited the first time (when we still were just a couple dating). My brother-in-law also accepted me since day one. We even go together to Japanese traditional bathhouses where I am sometimes the only foreigner: Again, no problems. Do I get funny looks from some older dudes? Of course, but as you said they are not hostile. I think they are merely curious. I can totally understand it: I would probably stare wide eyed if I ever see an Australian aborigine walking down the street simply because I have never seen someone from that ethnic background (except on TV), and not because I think that the guy is somehow "inferior" to me.

 

[J842P]

Ask a Japanese or Korean person if their parents would be cool with them marrying a black person. I know a lot of Koreans, in particular, and every single one of them would tell you that their parents would not be cool with that at all. Maybe a white person, since after all they live in the USA, but definitely not a black or Hispanic.

The racism isn't the same. It's very old school. It doesn't involve outright hostility.

Germans get a bad rep but honestly the worst racists I've ever met are, as you say, the inbred Criollos of Latin America. Of course, many of them are of Spanish, Italian, or German descent.

Well, this is different. Traditional parents in those cultures tend to view marriage as a union of two families (and even expect a socio-economic gain from it), not just a union of two individuals like in the West. Plus if kids in any culture always did what their parents think is best we would still be in the middle ages. The question is not whether the parents will accept you, but rather would she/he date a foreigner and I think most Japanese nowadays would do it.

But then again, I said that this exchange of ideas is merely anecdotal and here is my experience with Asian in-Laws: My late Japanese father-in-law was a super cool dude. He even let me sleep in her daughters' room when I visited the first time (when we still were just a couple dating). My brother-in-law also accepted me since day one. We even go together to Japanese traditional bathhouses where I am sometimes the only foreigner: Again, no problems. Do I get funny looks from some older dudes? Of course, but as you said they are not hostile. I think they are merely curious. I can totally understand it: I would probably stare wide eyed if I ever see an Australian aborigine walking down the street simply because I have never seen someone from that ethnic background (except on TV), and not because I think that the guy is somehow "inferior" to me.

I would certainly concede that it is harsh to judge the entire culture based on the older generations. And of course, this is all anecdotal.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I realize that this will be "controversial" with some folks, but we have to put Israel in the running for the most racist category.

After all, the nation was created for the sole purpose of giving Jewish folks their own country. Not saying the inhabitants themselves are racist, but the country was founded explicitly for Jews.

Continuing to misuse the word doesn't make it true. I'm not aware of a word like racist but applicable to religion but that's the word you're looking for.

Even then, though, you would be wrong. Israel's religious biases come nowhere near those of any Islamist nation.

Even then, though, you would be wrong.

So Israel was not founded as a nation preferential to any religious or ethnic group?

You quoted half a paragraph and ignored what I said in the other half.

 

[Metaphor]

Additionally also on behalf of Japan: I do not agree that they are committing "demographic suicide" as someone said. They simply opted as a democracy not to engage in the global trend of open borders currently sweeping most of Western Europe. I respect that, it is their decision and polls reflect that.

The closed borders is necessary, but not sufficient, to justify my demographic suicide comment.

It's not just that Japan has closed borders. It's that it has combined it with a non-existent fertility rate and the oldest median age in the world.

 

[Turambar]

Additionally also on behalf of Japan: I do not agree that they are committing "demographic suicide" as someone said. They simply opted as a democracy not to engage in the global trend of open borders currently sweeping most of Western Europe. I respect that, it is their decision and polls reflect that.

The closed borders is necessary, but not sufficient, to justify my demographic suicide comment.

It's not just that Japan has closed borders. It's that it has combined it with a non-existent fertility rate and the oldest median age in the world.

Last I checked it is not so far from some Western European countries, around 1.4 child per couple. The high media age is correct, but I can tell you from first hand experience that the average 45 year old Japanese is probably healthier than the average 35 year old European or American: Their diet is healthier, they get more exercise on average and they live longer. I have seen 70 year old taxi drivers at Japanese airports that put me to shame when loading my luggage into the vehicle, and I am 36 years old!

A declining population can also be good for the environment, especially in cramped countries like the Japanese islands. The population explosion of the last 60 years is not natural, it was merely a consequence of better medical care for mothers/babies and increased food supply. Japan is one of the first countries that hopefully is going to auto-correct that mistake and go back to a more sustainable population for the size of its territory. The problem with elderly people in Western countries is that we have improved medical care but not an improved diet: Many Europeans over 80 are kept alive thanks to advanced medical science but are in very bad shape, sometimes at an increased cost for the healthcare system. Japanese in their 80s are often still fully functional individuals, I have seen it.

But in any case, what does any of this have to do with calling the Japanese racist?

 

[Metaphor]

But in any case, what does any of this have to do with calling the Japanese racist?

Because I assume that at least some of the motivation behind closed borders is ethnic purity.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

The closed borders is necessary, but not sufficient, to justify my demographic suicide comment.

It's not just that Japan has closed borders. It's that it has combined it with a non-existent fertility rate and the oldest median age in the world.

Last I checked it is not so far from some Western European countries, around 1.4 child per couple. The high media age is correct, but I can tell you from first hand experience that the average 45 year old Japanese is probably healthier than the average 35 year old European or American: Their diet is healthier, they get more exercise on average and they live longer. I have seen 70 year old taxi drivers at Japanese airports that put me to shame when loading my luggage into the vehicle, and I am 36 years old!

Beware that the Japanese life expectancy data is suspect. It seems a lot of the really old people can't be found--pension fraud.

 

[Turambar]

But in any case, what does any of this have to do with calling the Japanese racist?

Because I assume that at least some of the motivation behind closed borders is ethnic purity.

Yes, some of the old farts in right wing parties still have this dream of "racial purity". They are a minority, but unfortunately they are very vocal and the media loves to gross out such stories.

I would not call the Japanese immigration policy "closed doors", actually there are a few programs aimed at bringing in young immigrants from nations such as the Philippines and Brasil, but certainly the numbers are small compared to what Western European nations receive in net immigration. The problem is that Japanese culture is not flexible enough at adapting foreign elements, at least not fast enough in modern terms. It also has to compete with countries that have cultures much more flexible and attractive for potential immigrants.

Example: Let's say a young Philippine national with nursing credentials wants to find a better job outside his/her home country. He/she could choose Japan, Australia or Canada.

In Japan this person would first need to learn a foreign language, a foreign (and extremely complex) writing system, societal norms regarding how to greet and communicate effectively with people, depending on their position, age, sex, etc.

In Australia or Canada he/she just needs English. He/she could start working even without mastering the English language to perfection, he/she can learn on the job. Societal norms are different than the Philippines, but not as complex as in Japan and there are many ways to learn them (Funny side note: I have met Chinese that used the 90s sitcom "Friends" as a way to learn Western attitudes)

English is a very easy language to learn for most foreigners. And if you know a European language with Germanic/Latin roots the rest are also relatively easy.

My personal example: English and Spanish helped me learn German relatively quickly. After 10 years of marriage to a Japanese national, my Japanese language is still at the level of a 5 year old. Not to mention that I did not have to learn a complex social structure to navigate German culture (Although I did commit a few faux pas when I talked to newly introduced people at the beginning)

Another problem is that Japan does not have the urban space available for ethnic neighbourhoods to form. Sure there are areas where many Brazilians live together in Japan, but they cannot be compared to the vast ethnic quarters found in American cities. I love going to Little Havana in Miami and I really do feel like I am in the Caribbean island rather than in Florida. I can totally imagine how a freshly arrived Cuban immigrant would have little problem using such a place as a base to become "americanised". There are not such parallels in Japan.

I think there lies the main barrier for foreigners to move to Japan, and not in racism. In fact, in the highly unlikely scenario that suddenly all Japanese of child bearing age decide to marry a foreigner there is no law and no policial group strong enough in that country that would stop them from doing so. However, Japanese culture would probably permeate the children of such marriages more than the culture of the foreign parent. I know this form my own marriage: My children are mixed yet they act very Japanese.

Most Japanese are not racist: The problem is their culture is too complex to learn for an outsider.
Is that a disadvantage in todays ultra competitve world where countries and corporations need to attract talent from the four corners of the earth? Definitely! But please, do not blame racism because it is not so.

 

[Axulus]

Perhaps a better question to ask: in which countries do ethnic and/or racial minorities thrive the most and have the least amount of tension with the majority? What conditions, attitudes and policies lead to their thriving and lack of tension with the majority? This gets to the heart of the matter as racism is a more nebulous term as other posters have noted.

 

[TV and credit cards]

A word on Japan: I've had a few lengthy stays in Japan, usually six weeks. Based on my observations, the Japanese people are not racist, not in the least that I have experienced. They do have a particular sense of nationalism that I think may stem from living on an island. I know that sounds odd but I've noticed this in the Philippines too. A kind of 'nowhere to run' type of nationalism. I may be wrong but I wonder if island nations experience a different type of nationalism than connected nations. I've never been to Israel but I wonder if I would get the same impression of it. Of course, substituting water for an ocean of Arabs. It is not a disdain of those who are different but a strong sense of duty to country and pride in their culture. I've always felt very welcomed by Japanese wherever I've gone in the country. It is also the one country that will not accommodate English speaking people. Almost everywhere I've traveled, signage will have English subtitles. Not so in Japan. Luckily, I found reading Japanese signage easy to learn.
I lived in Hawaii for about eighteen months. Hawaiians don't seem to be very fond of white people. I've lived in the Philippines for two and a half years. By and large, they do not seem to have any prejudice against white people (Americans), and the more rural you go, the friendlier they seem to be, save for Mindanao. They don't fancy non-Muslims.

 

[TV and credit cards]

Perhaps a better question to ask: in which countries do ethnic and/or racial minorities thrive the most and have the least amount of tension with the majority? What conditions, attitudes and policies lead to their thriving and lack of tension with the majority? This gets to the heart of the matter as racism is a more nebulous term as other posters have noted.

Good question. By and large, I'd say a desire to learn about other people, their culture. That this knowledge of others makes you a better person and makes for a better society. This desire is the bedrock on which conditions, attitudes, and policies are formed. I don't know that this can necessarily be defined by an open or closed country. Perhaps by an open or closed mind.

 

[Turambar]

Perhaps a better question to ask: in which countries do ethnic and/or racial minorities thrive the most and have the least amount of tension with the majority? What conditions, attitudes and policies lead to their thriving and lack of tension with the majority? This gets to the heart of the matter as racism is a more nebulous term as other posters have noted.

I think that the US, Canada and Australia are amongst the countries that give most minorities a better, fairer opportunity to thrive. Also, in particular American pop culture seems to adopt elements from foreign culture relatively fast and painless, until they become "as American as apple pie".

Western Europe is learning fast to do so, but the change will not be easy. The historical baggage that European nations carry is enormous, and some people within the native populations feel threatened at the sight of so many new faces in the crowds. Add to that the current economic crisis, the human tendency to always find scapegoats, the almost instinctive xenophobia that our ape ancestors inherited us and you get the picture.

 

[ronburgundy]

Who do you want as a neighbor?
Certainly not you people.

interesting.

I'd prefer to see results of hiring tests, or possibly "would you want your daughter/son to marry..." as the question.

Those are far less valid indicators of racial tolerance. You probably prefer them because you (correctly) assume that employees and son in laws have a much larger and more direct impact upon the respondent and his loved ones than does a neighbor. However, this is precisely what makes them less valid. Their is an objective and strong relationship between race and other factors that are directly relevant to employment and the welfare of one's children, such as SES, income, education level and quality, etc.. These objective relationships are recognized by all reasonable people of every race, regardless of their racial tolerance.
Since the questions are not about actual real and specific persons, but rather abstract and thus typical or average members of abstract categories, those real statistical difference rationally apply to any hypothetically sampled members of those categories. In short, if you don't want your daughter to suffer economic and social hardship, then you would prefer them to marry hypothetically typical members of groups with higher avg education, income, etc.. OTOH, that says nothing about how you'd feel about them marrying any specific actual person from other racial groups, given that those other factors would be more directly known and thus group level statistical typicality would be irrelevant. In addition, culture is how people related to each other and common culture provides avenues via which families maintain connections. Racail groups can differ drastically in culture, and thus marriage outside of race can mean outside of culture and thus almost inherently interfere with the typical and routine ways of maintaining familial connections. A parent may have no problem with an in-laws race or even with their culture, but they fear any obstacle to their connection with their own child. That is not at all the same thing as racial intolerance, yet your proposed measures would be heavily impacted by these other factors, and thus a less valid measure of the target construct.

Feelings about "a neighbor" are much more revealing about racial tolerance, because their direct impact upon the person is much less (not zero, but far less than employees and in-laws). Neighbors can usually be ignored. Outside of more extreme cases, who they are doesn't need to matter at all because it does not inherently entail an important relationship. Thus, if you don't want an X type person as one among many neighbors, then it implies a real dislike and distrust of that group to the point where you don't even like the idea of one near you, even if it has no real world impact on you.

I'm not sure this question measures much more than the degree of political correctness. But it's interesting.

But "political correctness" is closely tied to and reflects racial attitudes. IF most people in a culture strongly dislike group X, then there will be minimal politically correct pressure to say you have no problem with them as a neighbor. That pressure only comes when one is surrounded by persons who feel that tolerance is so important that even the appearance of intolerance should be socially punished and thus putting pressure for politically correct responses. Also, even if the person has some pc pressure around them, their willingness to give into it will correspond to the strength of their own attitudes.

As I brought up in the thread about the BJS stats on race and cop shootings, the self report flaws here are more impactful upon the absolute overall level of intolerance across all countries than upon the relative differences between them. All people in all countries might be somewhat under stating their comfort with an other race neighbor, but the relative differences in comfort will still come out. It is somewhat like using a faulty ruler where each 1-inch marking is really 1.5 inches. Everyone's measured height will be shorter in inches than their true height, but differences in measured height still correspond to real relative differences in height.

 

[ronburgundy]

France is no surprise, but they are haters in general and pretty much have disdain for all non-French. That said, you tend to see that intolerance more in Paris than in outlying rural areas of France. The few French people I know have echoed this observation about Parisians give the French a bad name. Its interestingly the inverse of the US where the most Urban areas are generally more tolerant. The odd thing is that Parisians are very liberal and left in most ways, but it almost becomes a kind of far left nationalistic fascism. A glaring example being their support for burka bans. They are extremely secular and have a disdain for religion for all the good liberal reasons, but they go so far as to support jailing women for their choice of religious headgear, which is something few secularists in the US would support since the core principle behind secularism is to protect individual liberties that religions almost inherently seek to coercively restrict.

 

[Metaphor]

Because I assume that at least some of the motivation behind closed borders is ethnic purity.

Yes, some of the old farts in right wing parties still have this dream of "racial purity". They are a minority, but unfortunately they are very vocal and the media loves to gross out such stories.

I would not call the Japanese immigration policy "closed doors", actually there are a few programs aimed at bringing in young immigrants from nations such as the Philippines and Brasil, but certainly the numbers are small compared to what Western European nations receive in net immigration. The problem is that Japanese culture is not flexible enough at adapting foreign elements, at least not fast enough in modern terms. It also has to compete with countries that have cultures much more flexible and attractive for potential immigrants.

Example: Let's say a young Philippine national with nursing credentials wants to find a better job outside his/her home country. He/she could choose Japan, Australia or Canada.

In Japan this person would first need to learn a foreign language, a foreign (and extremely complex) writing system, societal norms regarding how to greet and communicate effectively with people, depending on their position, age, sex, etc.

In Australia or Canada he/she just needs English. He/she could start working even without mastering the English language to perfection, he/she can learn on the job. Societal norms are different than the Philippines, but not as complex as in Japan and there are many ways to learn them (Funny side note: I have met Chinese that used the 90s sitcom "Friends" as a way to learn Western attitudes)

English is a very easy language to learn for most foreigners. And if you know a European language with Germanic/Latin roots the rest are also relatively easy.

My personal example: English and Spanish helped me learn German relatively quickly. After 10 years of marriage to a Japanese national, my Japanese language is still at the level of a 5 year old. Not to mention that I did not have to learn a complex social structure to navigate German culture (Although I did commit a few faux pas when I talked to newly introduced people at the beginning)

Another problem is that Japan does not have the urban space available for ethnic neighbourhoods to form. Sure there are areas where many Brazilians live together in Japan, but they cannot be compared to the vast ethnic quarters found in American cities. I love going to Little Havana in Miami and I really do feel like I am in the Caribbean island rather than in Florida. I can totally imagine how a freshly arrived Cuban immigrant would have little problem using such a place as a base to become "americanised". There are not such parallels in Japan.

I think there lies the main barrier for foreigners to move to Japan, and not in racism. In fact, in the highly unlikely scenario that suddenly all Japanese of child bearing age decide to marry a foreigner there is no law and no policial group strong enough in that country that would stop them from doing so. However, Japanese culture would probably permeate the children of such marriages more than the culture of the foreign parent. I know this form my own marriage: My children are mixed yet they act very Japanese.

Most Japanese are not racist: The problem is their culture is too complex to learn for an outsider.
Is that a disadvantage in todays ultra competitve world where countries and corporations need to attract talent from the four corners of the earth? Definitely! But please, do not blame racism because it is not so.

Thank you for this considered response. I've learnt a lot. I agree re: the language barrier.

But the language/cultural barrier only addresses the 'demand' side of immigration -- Japan does have more restrictive policies/legislation to do with immigration than most other countries.