Suruga Bank divided us.

We are a nation of a majority and minorities. We are shaped by every culture, not a single ethnicity. And because Japan have tasted the bitter swill of militarism and fascism, and emerged from that dark chapter, we can not help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; and that VAIBS must play its role in ushering in a new era of equality. To Suruga Bank, we seek responsibility, based on justice and equality. To the illegal bank, who seeks to segregate, or discriminate against, know that our people will judge you on what you can integrate, not what you divide. To the discriminatory bank, who seeks to advance its aims by misusing personal information and denying minorities, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken–you cannot outlast us.

Shameful Suruga Bank

Suruga Bank’s decision to set up a blatantly racist requirement for a bank account is absolutely unacceptable, especially given the historic racist stereotypes of minorities as being synonymous with suspects and criminals. Lower court judge Shogo Okazaki (岡崎昌吾) wrongfully wrote about banking crimes by minorities and immigrants.

Join us in demanding that Suruga Bank and all those involved in the decision to make a discriminatory policy apologize unequivocally. Suruga Bank needs to know that there is no room for this kind of insensitivity and divisiveness — it distracts us from the real work that we need to do to foster an era of change, collaboration, and acceptance of all people.

Suruga Bank’s divisive policy

Suruga Bank case represents the tragedy of what happens when a bank does not know how to administer the law. Here the consequence was devastating – not only did a bank take away these minority’s constitutional rights in a humiliating way, but the bank robbed them of the access to a bank account. After the lawsuit, the illegal bank was forced to repeal the divisive policy. We are confident this egregious kind of division does not happen again.

Suruga Bank denied a minority

We filed a lawsuit in a Japanese court in 2007 to restore the access to a bank account of minorities in Japan who were illegally denied a bank account. The lawsuit was filed in a lower court in Tokyo, Japan by a minority who attempted to open a bank account in Suruga bank, but was improperly processed and rejected due to nationality. Because Japan’s law bans misuse of personal data including nationality and minorities are guaranteed equal ID for a bank account, Suruga Bank illegally took away the access rights to a bank account.

We call on Suruga Bank to release illegal policy

In the “alien card lawsuit,” VAIBS (Victims Against Illegal Bank SURUGA) requested the release of the secret policy that led to the illegal process in Suruga Bank. Based on the arbitrary policy, Suruga Bank misused sensitive information of minorities. Releasing the secret policy proves that Suruga Bank is an illegal bank. So the illegal bank refused to disclose it.

2-year legal battle with Suruga Bank

In the lawsuit, Suruga Bank refused to disclose an allegedly illegal policy. Suruga Bank’s policy on personal ID targeted minorities. The arbitrary policy said, Suruga Bank denies a bank account if the bank cannot obtain “an alien card” from minorities, a driver’s licence unacceptable in case of minorities. We claimed the minority-only policy is illegal, and the illegal bank renounced the discriminatory policy. Suruga Bank covered it up.

Cover-up and Conspiracy

Victims Against Illegal Bank Suruga (VAIBS) filed a lawsuit in Tokyo District Court challenging Suruga Bank’s discriminatory policy. Suruga Bank divided equal rights to a bank account by forcing minorities-only ID confirmation. This policy threatens access to a bank and leaves minorities with few protections, especially personal information unnecessary for a bank account. According to the legal papers, the arbitrary policy significantly undermines the ability of millions of minorities to access a bank account. It expressly permits Suruga Bank to refuse to provide banking services, even a savings account. At the same time, it misuses sensitive information of minorities. In the lawsuit, Suruga Bank refused to disclose the disputed policy to cover up its illegal act.

Lies and Denials

We filed a lawsuit challenging the latest attempt by Suruga Bank to eradicate equal opportunity. The lawsuit, filed in Tokyo District Court, charges that minority-only ID requirement by Suruga Bank should not be done because it violates Personal Information Protection Act Article 16 to ban misuse of sensitive information. Suruga Bank claimed it did not use sensitive information, but the illegal bank refused to disclose the disputed policy in the lawsuit.

Suruga Bank is not above the law.

Suruga Bank contended in the lawsuit that a bank can deny an account by its arbitrary policy. But the illegal bank gathered and used personal information. Personal Information Protection Act says that a bank is not allowed to use sensitive information. Suruga Bank knowingly and purposely used sensitive information. Following the lawsuit Suruga Bank was forced to repeal the arbitrary policy. In the lawsuit, Suruga Bank refused to disclose its arbitrary policy.

Suruga Bank’s illegal act

Court documents show Suruga Bank secretly collected and misused sensitive information of minorities. Suruga Bank’s illegal act was based on its arbitrary policy. We demanded Suruga Bank to disclose the illegal policy. But Suruga Bank refused to disclose it because of cover-up.