Authors: Jessica Alder, Sofie R. Waltl, Konatsu Nishigai, Helen X. H. Bao
Year: 2026
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Abstract
This paper studies perceived ethnic discrimination in Tokyo’s rental housing market using a survey-based experiment. Native Japanese and foreign-born respondents evaluate whether applicants with ethnically identifiable names are likely to receive a viewing invitation for the same rental property. Both groups expect non-Japanese applicants to face significantly lower viewing chances than an otherwise identical Japanese applicant, although native Japanese respondents perceive substantially larger penalties. Perceived disadvantage varies across ethnic groups and is smallest for culturally proximate Western-Japanese applicants. Among foreign-born respondents, prior experiences of everyday discrimination are associated with more pessimistic expectations regarding rental access. Respondents also assess their own prospects more favourably than those of their broader nationality group, consistent with the personal-group discrimination discrepancy (PGDD).