A couple of months ago I posted a blog entry advertising that an Okinawan photo club I belong to was having a mini exhibit at a local restaurant called Sushi Zen (see original post here). The pictures were up all January and when the month finished the owner was more than happy to have the exhibit continue on into February.
Yesterday, I saw a comment on Facebook saying that Sushi Zen didn’t allow Japanese customers. I thought that something must have got lost in translation, but unfortunately, the comments made on Facebook were true. A regular customer of the restaurant told me that the Japanese owner had worked in America and on his return to Okinawa he set up a restaurant making American style sushi that would be popular with Americans on the island. Japanese customers however demanded Japanese style sushi, and made negative comments about the American customers when talking in Japanese.
It appears that to create a comfortable atmosphere for his American clients, the owner decided to make the restaurant a private club. Entry to the restaurant is free for Americans, Japanese have to pay 100,000 yen to join. A Japanese woman is allowed into the restaurant without paying the membership fee if she is escorted by an American. All Japanese men have to pay the membership fee. I went over to the restaurant today to check, and saw these signs on the door.
So first an apology.
I’d like to apologize to any of my Japanese friends or readers who may have gone to the restaurant and seen this sign and or been turned away. If I had known about the policy of Sushi Zen I would not have displayed my photographs there. Today, as soon as I saw the signs, I removed my pictures from the restaurant.
I briefly talked with the owner to again confirm the details and it was clear that he didn’t want Japanese customers and that this was his restaurant so it was his rules. He kept referring to the signs on the door.
I had expected this situation would make me feel angry, but instead I feel disappointment and sadness. Would his American customers feel so comfortable if they could read the signs telling Japanese they are not welcome. How would an American servicewoman feel if she was married to, or dating, a Japanese national and found that they were not allowed to eat there.
Some might use the argument that there are places in Japan that don’t allow foreigners. I agree this does happen. While living in Otaru (Hokkaido) I was told I couldn’t enter a ramen shop because “Russia-jin dame!!” (No Russians) or use one of the local onsen/sento because it would make Japanese people uncomfortable (we wouldn’t wash properly and might drink vodka in the bath). Just because there are other examples of exclusion on the basis of gender, skin color, religion or nationality does not make it any less wrong.
I hope that things will change for the better.
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 
This is a difficult problem. It appears to be within the freedom allowed to the owner of the sushi restaurant. As it was revealed in the case of Asashoryu in sumo, it causes frictions between those who want to maintain traditions and foreigners if they do not respect the traditions.
Japan is one of the most happy place for Japanese people where they do not have to be conscious about their race. When I retired, I severed all ties to the American company I worked for and decided I will live among the Japanese peoople for the rest of my life.
Well, that’s quite the reversal, isn’t it? It’s all the more interesting that the owner is Japanese, not American. When I first read “Japanese not allowed”, I thought, perhaps, the owner was Uchinanchu, who had something against the Japanese. Certainly, there are those of Okinawan descent here in Hawaii who have no fondness for the Japanese.
But, while I totally cannot agree with or condone this kind of policy, and certainly (as a white American) would not eat there, there is perhaps something to be said for the inappropriateness of the Japanese customers’ complaints. If you don’t like it, don’t eat there. Sure, tell the owner that you don’t like that it’s not more traditional, but I wonder if these customers went beyond that, to genuinely criticize the shop as un-Japanese or something like that, a most grievous and serious accusation.
The best answer, really, would be to just suggest to those customers that if they don’t like it, they can leave, and to continue to be perfectly welcoming to those Japanese who do enjoy the style of sushi served there. I’m sad to hear that the owner of this shop would have taken the action he did.
As you say, one kind of discrimination does not excuse another. If he had customers that were rude to other guests he should throw them out. By tarring all Japanese by the same brush he’s doing the exact same thing those customers did.
A good overall tip is not to go to any establishment that advertises that they welcome US military in the door. It’s a pretty reliable sign that the place is not going to be very welcoming unless you actually are American. It’s worse for any female Japanese companion, as they’re seen as the kind of woman that hangs out with foreign soldiers; my wife does not appreciate it.
“Japanese customers however demanded Japanese style sushi, and made negative comments about the American customers when talking in Japanese.” This was probably the best explanation of why Yuki-san instated this membership. I’m in agreement that two wrongs don’t make a right. And I’m in agreement that it’s disappointing and a bizarre way to go about fixing a problem. However, we don’t know what the situation was previously. It was probably a constant battle with the locals, and at some point he wanted to make a comfortable atmosphere for his clientele. (remember that the sea wall area is not only populated by Americans and Okinawans, but many mainlanders come here on dive vacations and stay in hotels and hostels in the Sunabe area) The Japanese culture is so different; I mean I agree, if someone in America had a sign up at an establishment saying that Americans had to pay a $1000 fee to go to an American restaurant and only allowed Japanese to enter for free, there would be a discrimination lawsuit! (And a general buzz that the owner is insane.)
I try in my life to put things in perspective and see it from the other side. If Joe Schmo opened an apple pie diner in some Japanese area of town in the US, and Americans were coming into the diner and complaining constantly about the pies not being authentic, and why don’t you have rhubarb or blueberry or peach? and why are all these Japanese people here? I don’t understand what they’re saying and they’re RUDE to me…and I want to enjoy my pie, and why are you making these pies that Japanese people like? and YOU SHOULD CATER TO AMERICANS in a pie diner, you’re AMERICAN! Seems silly – but I’m pretty certain that’s what Yuki-san was dealing with. His solution? Not necessarily the right one, I agree. But just thought I might have some insight. I’m bummed I didn’t see your photos, Chris!
Whats wrong with that? A little reverse racism for a change in a country that prides itself on its DNA.
I’m not interested so much in what Japanese think about this restaurant, but more so in what Canadians would think after being turned away because they are not American enough. lol
Instead of this fee, he could change the rules and apply a 100% surcharge to customers who bitch about the sushi, and a 200% surcharge for making fun of other customers.
Have everyone sign a contract before ordering, if they use the paper-slip ordering system anyway, it should be very easy to include a contract on the bottom and a space for a signature or hanko.
The result, punish the jerks and make money at the same time.
Well done Chris your blog made it on to f**k gaijin
A place in Japan that excludes the Japanese male-I wonder if the owner is not making some sort of social statement?
Also, being fairly passionate about food myself, I think that I would take offense at having my food critiqued on the basis that I was not making it according to preconceived tastes.
In the US, the California roll is fairly ubiquitous in sushi land but not be found here, (in Japan) to my regret.However,I don`t lecture the owners of shops that I peruse with negative comments that their sushi is not international or different.
Reading the list of rules that the owner writes, it seems that the owner feels it necessary to remind his Japanese clientele not to remark on the other guests.
Again,this type of behaviour is fairly normal here where commenting on the foreigners` ability with chopsticks,language,eye color,skin tone,breast size,height ad naseum is the norm, but would not so be in the states where it could be considered offensive.
I have seen similar signs in Japan,even here in my second home of Kobe,arguably one of the most international Japanese cities which exclude the foreigner .I have also seen these exclusionary signs in the UK , Singapore and Thailand aimed at the foreign customer and will no doubt continue to see them the more I travel to countries with a large Japanese population.
Most Japanese would explain these signs as an attempt to avoid misunderstandings or bad feelings based on cultural differences.
I see the same sort of logic here, except that it is being directed to exclude the ignorant Japanese customer instead of the more usual foreign one.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20100406zg.html just read that and it will put it all into concept, I wouldve done the same thing
The real story is that the food is just average, nothing to write home about, and the atmosphere seems rushed and not very “zen” at all as the name implies.
John, can you not read the Japanese signs? The Zen in the restaurant’s name is written with the kanji for “good,” not the religion you’re thinking of.