Beijing marathon reverses decision to bar Japanese runners

Safety concerns it may be, if so a wise move. I still think it is a little wrong that they just get kicked out of this competition... after seeing all the things China has pulled out of...it makes me wonder if this is another hate action.

You know what would be funny? If Tokyo gets the olympic games and China pulls out! Hahaha.

Looking at Koreans and Chinese people, I understand that there's no such thing as separation of sports from politics in real terms.

We got that banner-waving Korean footballer in the Olympic football game, and now this.

Japanese companies such as Canon had sponsored the annual event until last year but they are not sponsoring it this year.

so, this is the real cause.

Looking at Koreans and Chinese people, I understand that there's no such thing as separation of sports from politics in real terms.

We got that banner-waving Korean footballer in the Olympic football game, and now this.

Erm, did you not read this:

Japanese and Chinese athletes have since pulled out of several sporting events in both countries due to safety concerns.

Here in Tokushima, we're having a festival of international dance in a few weeks. The local paper says the Chinese dance group won't be coming. The article said specifically that their cancellation was because of the islands' dispute.

It would certainly be interesting if Japan gets the Olympics, but I have a feeling China will use ALL its muscle to prevent that now.

Japan is open for Chinese, China is not open to Japanese. Is this news?

I wonder what would happen if the shoe was on the other foot and Chinese runners were banned. How would China react to that?

Uh dudes... athletes have pulled out in both countries.

Besides the blame should go to Ishihara.

Japanese did work it's way up w/ out other countries except the US you can do that again without China . There 's a lot of countries out there who loves Japan than China .. Just mind our business don't mind those Biz mind who put all their resources in China & see what's happening , Jobs are gone in their own country .. They should put a limit on Capitalism & think about people who lose their jobs , education cuz lack of money to finance education = higher level of illiteracy , undergraduates & etc .. As simple as that ..

news in China is being circulated that Chinese Nationals in Japan are being threatened and are subjected to physical abuses. The fear is real. I have Chinese friends whose family members has been asking then to return because their lives are in great danger while they go on with their daily routine in Tokyo. Even the Chinese employees of Family Mart and Lawson are still working in any hour shifts.The Chinese propaganda is painting a picture that Japan has subjected a lot of Chinese to abuses thats why few weeks a go a lot of Chinese media came to video the events but went home without any incident.

China just had a transition of a new govt and need to keep the people focused on something else while they do some shinenigans. And Chinese in general are being taken as a fool by their own govt. Korea after their Japanese bashing seems to be very quiet these days though...but wait until they get embroiled in some kind of scandal and they will be out in the srtreets again like bunch of spoiled brats.

You know what would be funny? If Tokyo gets the olympic games and China pulls out! Hahaha.

I don't think Tokyo could survive the economic crash of the Olympic games. I'd rather China do it again and waste the tremendous resources such a thing takes (even if it would be more beneficial to them than to Tokyo).

It all goes back to fact that its a Communist Dictatorship and as such its aid/abettors should be shoveled into history's wastebin. I have a notion that a China with a new revolution: real elections, and an end to the CCP, will be one of Japans best neighbors and reliable partners. We must push for this change to liberate the millions in China who are not in the tiny minority of CCP members. Runners from Japan, from the US, from all over the world will be able to run in a China that is beyond its era of dictatorships. This day needs to come soon.

So what China is saying is that: A) Our citizens lack such control as to be prone to random acts of violence against Japanese because of their race and/or our event security is so incompetent that it cannot prevent said acts.

OR

B) We are taking the "Taking our ball and going home" cry-baby thing to new levels.

But also possibly

C) Both A and B. (I Vote C)

"The fear is real. I have Chinese friends whose family members has been asking then to return because their lives are in great danger while they go on with their daily routine in Tokyo."

Sorry miki, an isolated incident possibly, but really doubt this.

Japan needs China a LOT more than China needs Japan. China knows this. Japan is doing all it can to pretend it doesn't. Whoever's right or wrong, that's the way it is.

Might makes right.

And by the way, the fact that China can't ensure the safety of marathon runners in a country that wants to be equal to the world's biggest industrial countries is beyond belief.

After the Chinese government stirs the people up into a nationalist frenzy against Japan, basically to distract them from the current political scandals and pending leadership hand over and these things are to be expected.

The thing is, it is not just Japanese businesses (http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/toyota-to-invest-1-3-bil-in-indonesia-over-5-years) that have seen the danger of dealing with the Chinese leadership and their "today your a friend, tomorrow you're not" attitude. Combine this with the rising cost of labour we see other companies and businesses are also now more reluctant than ever to set up in China.

But the continued small mindedness of the Chinese government and officials is just embarrassing and really does say something about the mind set of country.

I think with the amount of smog and pollution in Beijing, it's probably a good thing.

@Hiroicci, yes you are correct that Korea and china do not seperate politics from sport. Hence I think Japan cannot rely on those respective countries governments to responsibly uphold the common level of safety to japanese Travellers and athletes. So it is better they stay away and keep safe rather than risking incidences or endangering themselves for the time being. It is a pity that nations with such a long history are seemingly acting the least nobly respectful or compassionately towards others but there we have it.

Japanese athletes in China; Safety concerns, a reality Chinese athletes in Japan; Safety concerns, pure propaganda from the Chinese government that's all.

Overall; China is just continuing to be childish.

Discrimination in international sports is unacceptable. If China can't guarantee the safety of runners of any nationality, then it is not qualified to host the event. Likewise I note that Black members of British football squads playing in eastern European countries recently have been subject to verbal abuse by fans over the past month. Those countries should be summarily dropped from hosting future games.

Acting childish doesn't even begin to explain the Chinese mentality. Maybe its time the International community starts boycotting sporting events hosted by China.

@mikihouse - while I agree with you that the Chinese state is manipulating this dispute to cover up on the regime's corruption, it's by no means one-sided. Ishihara pulled out the foreigner threat card whenever the spotlight has been on his corrupt "shenanigans" as governor of Tokyo, and legitimises the ultranationalists ...uh ... how did someone put it.... "being out on the streets like spoiled brats". Just that here in Japan, the press underreports it. Which for some people equates to "it doesn't happen."

but there are cases of attacks on businesses and threats which do get reported. For example (www.japantoday.com/category/kuchikomi/view/nasty-nationalists-converge-on-shin-okubos-koreatown)

"...on Aug 25, a large demonstration of rightists—who are upset over South Korea’s territorial claims to Takeshima island (referred to as Dokdo in Korean)—marched through the neighborhood. The demonstration, whose organizers had tabbed “The Citizens’ Great March to Subjugate South Korea,” consisted of an estimated 500 demonstrators, many of who waved the militaristic “kyokujitsuki” (rising-sun flag), and who chanted such slogans as “Kankokujin wa kaere” (South Koreans go home) and “Chosenjin wa dete yuke!” (Koreans get out). Some rightists also provoked clashes in the Chinese enclave adjacent to the north exit of JR Ikebukuro station, resulting in police being summoned. … When such run-ins occur, however, Shukan Kinyobi notes that it has been rare for Japan’s mainstream media to devote much coverage. And even those who are confronted by the rightists tend to refrain from seeking sympathy from society, perhaps out of fears that any negative publicity will drive away their customers. ...“It’s very aggravating,” a worker of a street stall selling confections is quoted as saying. “Some young visitors from South Korea got harangued by the protesters. Since that day, the number our customers has tapered off"... When the Shin-Okubo Merchants’ Association was approached by Shukan Kinyobi for a comment, it declined on the grounds that “We haven’t grasped the details.” The Shinjuku branch of the Zainichi Korean Association replied, “There’s nothing to discuss.” The Chinese in Ikebukuro were also reluctant to speak to reporters." This old debate about the "fear" of threats or assaults comes from the Japanese language. We've had the same thing with the radiation for the past nearly two years as well. Seems if the press ( in Japanese) couches the whole debate in terms of fear enough times, a lot of people come to believe what they want to believe, that the whole issue is black and white, that "they" are attacking "us", but "we" never attack "them". Luckily I'm not either "them" or "us", and that distance helps for a more distanced view, away from the emoting of either side. Unfortunately this kind of ultra-nationalism is on the increase in many places around the world. If you want to see the way it could go anywhere, just check out some of the activities of Golden Dawn in Greece. That could happen in China, it could happen in Japan, it could happen in your country, if people allow extremist views and organisations to become part of the mainstream debate.

Personally I think it's probably wise for the Japanese athletes not to take a risk by taking part. I don't think it's discrimination, I think the organisers are covering their butts and don't want to be responsible for any incidents. While your chances of getting mobbed are probably bigger in China at the moment, if you're Chinese and unlucky to get cornered by the Zaitokukai, you would be a fool not to be afraid. Just check a few videos on YouTube if you think the fear is just a figment of people's imaginations. Despite what their name says, for the Zaitokukai, all foreigners are fair game. That's how ultra-nationalists work.

I think indeed if this becomes an issue that isn't resolved fast, the Chinese events will lose fame and become boycotted by other countries too. It is also necessary to say that the marathon is an exception. Japanese could participate in ice-skating events in China, but a marathon track is very difficult to protect and I guess for some Chinese idiots everything that has a Japanese flag is a target now.

Thomas Anderson:

" Uh dudes... athletes have pulled out in both countries. "

Yes, but in case of Chinese athletes that their own decision, and completely unjustified. Here, you are talking about the Chinese government banning the Japanese, which is entirely different story.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121111_08.html

Beijing marathon allows Japanese runners

Japanese corporate sponsors are also absent from this year's race. Company representatives say they were advised not to become sponsors because their signboards could be destroyed.

Just some updated info.

I am so ashamed by mainland chinese. Proud of big nation yet people has small heart and compassion.

Weak to authority and stgonger and intimidate and bully weaker. This is for other nation and people.

We call peole with such act as "racist" Yes mainland chinese does things world call "RACIST"

I am so glad America is the super power. I will never want Chinat to rule the world.

I feel sick UN still give such racist nation the permanent voting power.

I am sure China is coming econmic super power yet I give no respoce to such nation and people.

They simply dont deserve it.

**"The fear is real. I have Chinese friends whose family members has been asking then to return because their lives are in great danger while they go on with their daily routine in Tokyo."

Sorry miki, an isolated incident possibly, but really doubt this.**

Why? Isn't this the same attitude that the Japanese and some foreigners on JT have about China? I've got Chinese students whose families are worried about them and numerous unis are cancelling study abroad trips to China due to safety fears. Works both ways.

Both countries need to grow up and stop acting like children!

There should be another reason since Japanese runners still can participate in the event using other kind of uniform.

mikihouse:

" The fear is real. I have Chinese friends whose family members has been asking then to return because their lives are in great danger while they go on with their daily routine in Tokyo "

That is their friends and family speaking in China. Do your friends here report any personal bad experiences? Of course not.

Remember when a couple of weeks back xJT reported about the Chinese journalists who were on a mission in Japan, trying to report on incidents of harrassment against Chinese people here? They had been assuming that the Japanese public behaves as barbarian as the Chinese does. Needless to say, they did not find any stories and had to return empty-handed.

I think with the amount of smog and pollution in Beijing, it's probably a good thing.

was thinking the same thing, olympics are over, the strict Olympic time air quality measures are over, Chinese are back to being like the Pollutians in Wump world (classic Bill Peet book)

Will, there are many folks making anti-Chinese comments in front if Chinese folks without knowing their Chinese. I've had more than a few students make derogatory comments in front of Chinese students. Just because the Chinese here aren't making a fuss - or the media isn't running the stories - doesn't mean people here aren't dealing with issues.

tmarie@I feel most sorry for the Chinese who have invested time, effort and money in coming to this country, mastering the Japanese language or finding jobs. Through no wrongdoing on their own, when the hysteria mounts, you can count on their fellow countrymen treating them as traitors to the Chinese cause. And I can assure you the treatment will be worse than anything doled out to them by people in Japan.

China continues to behave like a child.

"Safety"?! What - in their hotels, where their nationalities are on record, or on the course, where - and I dare you to do this - they could not be distinguished from Chinese unless they were wearing the Rising Sun. As a marathon runner myself, let me tell you, one sweaty, suffering person is indistinguishable from the other.

To extend this logic, China should simply ban all tourism from Japan, completely. It could simply state that it is unable to guarantee the safety of Japanese because its own citizens are unable to control their actions.

Virt, how so? They can go home, get a job and move up the ranks. That's more what they can do here.

I'm inclined to agree with above posters that Japanese should not go to the Beijing marathon. There is no doubt that there will be violence against the Japanese runners. Especially if they win, as they have in past years, there will be another wave of anti-Japan riots. We should stay home. This marathon doesn't have high status anyway.

The world's media needs to focus on this one-sided fear and hate agenda going on in China, Worldwide media should have been looking for anti-Chinese violence in Japan abd reporting the lack of it. Not the Chinese media since that will never reach the Chinese people.

Marathaon? China just cut the distance of the marathon for 3.kms and made it easy for Chinese people to win. Made in China.No welcome to Japanese and other western countries.

Good that Japanese runners can now enter this event, although how enjoyable it will feel is open to question. As a former runner, if I wasn't really welcome I wouldn't enter. Just me.

I feel most sorry for the Chinese who have invested time, effort and money in coming to this country, mastering the Japanese language or finding jobs. Through no wrongdoing on their own, when the hysteria mounts, you can count on their fellow countrymen treating them as traitors to the Chinese cause. And I can assure you the treatment will be worse than anything doled out to them by people in Japan.

At least the Chinese who come to this country dont have to worry about their businesses going up in flames due to protests. Or having their cars burned because their Chinese, or losing out of work because their lives are threatened.

Chinese folks have some screwed up ideals if things like a marathon are going to stop the country from allowing Japanse to participate.

Nah Yubaru, they just have to worry about their companies shifting work abroad and closing like so many J companies are doing these days.

The marathon is Nov. 25th and they are still accepting applications via web? How every different from the Tokyo Marathon!!