This is from eswn, but I couldn’t find a specific link to his post, so let me just reproduce his comments:
In the city of Jilin (China), a western-food restaurant has a Chinese-language sign outside the door: “Japanese must apologize before entering.” The restaurant said that if Japanese customers want to dine here, they must properly apologize for the fact that Japan invaded China, or else the restaurant will not offer any services.
It reminds me of attendees at Bush stump speeches being forced to sign pledges of loyalty before being granted admittance. Only this is a bit uglier, as it is completely race-specific. A great way to mend hard feelings between the current generations of China and Japan. And a glowing example of China’s ongoing obsession.
1
By James
I was in Xi’an a few weeks ago, where normally the tourist trade is very Japanese-orientated. *No* Japanese there, in the middle of summer. Talking to Japanese friends, people are cancelling planned holidays, avoiding China for conferences – the works.
July 9, 2005 @ 9:09 pm | Comment
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By richard
Could anyone possibly blame them?
July 9, 2005 @ 9:22 pm | Comment
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By Martyn
James, the points you mention are not the only changes we are seeing from Japan. I just wrote about another new development on Horse’s Mouth a few days ago.
“On Friday, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in it’s 2005 White Paper on International Trade and Economy called on Japanese businesses to “Establish a regionwide network in East Asia to maximize their business efficiency, turning not only to China but also to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations as their production bases.” The paper also proposes “Japanese firms establish close ties with India to include the rising economy in the proposed East Asia-wide network”
“It is entirely feasible that this trend away from China will slowly curtail China’s recent absorption of the lion’s share of global F.D.I. to developing countries. India, alongside other up-and-coming Asian neighbours like Vietnam, will likely account for an increasing share of the huge percentage of global F.D.I. currently flowing into China.”
“What impact would a fall in F.D.I. have on China’s economy? As foreign investment accounts for over 40 percent of China’s GDP, the I.M.F. calculates that a decline in the investment growth rate of a mere 5.5% would lead to a 4 percent point fall in China’s GDP and a 10 percent fall in imports. This, undoubtedly, would have a huge effect in China.”
July 9, 2005 @ 10:16 pm | Comment
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By richard
I sure hope the CCP decision-makers read your post, Martyn. Thumbing their noses at the Japanese is not the smartest strategy to keep the economic miracle going.
July 9, 2005 @ 10:26 pm | Comment
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By Martyn
Why, do you think might link to it on their site as well?
July 9, 2005 @ 10:30 pm | Comment
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By Martyn
Mind you, I’ve never been to Japan but I’ve heard there are “No Foreigners” signs there, though technically illegal but they have more to do with cultural differences/fear of embarrassment than racial or historical reasons/hatred but, as I say, I’ve never been.
I have seen similar signs in bars and restaurants catering to Japanese customers in Thailand. I’ve heard that these signs have to do with a fear of intoxicated westerners taking over and driving away Japanese clientele and the fact that the Thais working there
speak Japanese not English.
July 9, 2005 @ 10:34 pm | Comment
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By Martyn
Mind you, this is only a METI white paper and, although they’ve been very influential in the past, there’s still no guarantee that anything will happen.
Certainly, few Japanese companies would decide to turn their back on China simply because their METI asks them to but China must learn that it can’t have things both ways. “Economically hot, politically cold” doesn’t mean anti-Japan riots in multiple Chinese cities for a start.
However, cracks are starting to appear in the Chinese economy already. I’m not talking about the opinions of some wacko imminent-collapse theorist but real problems like rising labour costs, electricity shortages, piracy problems, compliance issues etc.
In the meantime, the rest of Asia isn’t remaining static, Vietnam are on course for WTO membership in December this year and India are, despite their numerous setbacks, slowly but surely plodding ahead with economic development and liberalization.
Put it this way, China’s present economy is living on borrowed time as it cannot continue in its present shape indefinitely. There have to be some fundamental adjustments before the country can boast to having a world-class economy.
That’s also assuming that rule of law can be implemented, the banks are brought up to scratch etc the authoritarian political system has enough flexibility to contain all the stresses and strains of economic development at the current rate.
So far, so good, but there’s still a hell of a lot that must be done yet and most of it is not easy.
July 9, 2005 @ 10:43 pm | Comment
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By Martyn
By the way, by far the best site for news and info re China-Japan relations is, in my opinion, angrychineseblogger.
July 9, 2005 @ 11:01 pm | Comment
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By Gordon
Martyn,
There are indeed signs in Japan that state “no foreigners”.
A lot of bath houses and hotels refuse to service foreigners because of the lack of respect they have shown towards the facilities in the past.
Can’t really blame them.
July 10, 2005 @ 4:40 am | Comment
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By Martyn
Really? Is that the reason? I never knew. Lack of respect for the facilities?
I sort of assumed it might be something to do with the massive cultural differences and perhaps Japanese customers not being comfortable around loud and unpredictable foreigners! You never know what the hell they’re gonna do next.
I’ve heard in Thailand that a lot of Japanese customers really don’t like to eat/drink alongside westerners. One reason I heard was that westerners always get drunk and start fighting.
I don’t know where these rumours start!
July 10, 2005 @ 4:53 am | Comment
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By Gordon
I’ve been in a few drunken brawls before…In fact, I’ve been barred from an establishment for splitting a guys head open with the same iron bar he clubbed me over the side of the head with.
I don’t know where the rumors start either.
July 10, 2005 @ 5:05 am | Comment
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By American man
I read somewhere that in Thailand many places segregate the Chinese diners from all other nationalities.Too many complaints of Chinese er…..manners.My friend works at a deluxxxe hotel in Seattle.He says that they try and refuse groups from the mainland because they cause so much damage.Cig burns,spit on floor,other customers complaining etc, etc……Sure takes the heat off us ugly Americans!
July 10, 2005 @ 5:13 am | Comment
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By Martyn
That just beats me by a fraction as I was arrested again about 3 weeks ago after some guy thought he could kick one of my dogs.
I definitely don’t know where these rumours either.
July 10, 2005 @ 5:16 am | Comment
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By Martyn
I’ve heard those stories as well, mainly about the complaints from other customers. Particularly in the restaurants as some Food and Beverage guy once told me.
July 10, 2005 @ 5:18 am | Comment
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By American man
I was arrested for soliciting a transgender psb officer.Wow,What a surprise.
July 10, 2005 @ 5:18 am | Comment
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By Martyn
Well, one has to do something with one’s Tuesday evenings doesn’t one?
July 10, 2005 @ 5:20 am | Comment
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By American man
Actually it was a sunday.After Church I got the horns on……………
July 10, 2005 @ 5:30 am | Comment
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By Bezz
Shit what is the problem here? Just apologise and go in.
July 10, 2005 @ 8:43 pm | Comment
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By kevin
i wonder if they make local officials apologize for using embezzled money to dine there?
July 10, 2005 @ 9:46 pm | Comment
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By Martyn
Haha. Good one.
July 10, 2005 @ 10:09 pm | Comment
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By ACB
I’m half minded to see if the restaurant owners actually understand enough Japanese to understand an appology.
Very few Japanese speak that much Chinese, even if they are resident in China because it is so much easier to speak English.
English is such an easy language to appologies in, especially when your Japanese, because you can appologies without ever addmitting responibility if you know your words (you can’t really do this in either Chinese or Japanese). I bet I could give a great appology to this restaurant using English that so beflumuxed the language that it would be even more meaningless than President Bush’s spy plane appology.
July 12, 2005 @ 9:11 am | Comment