Confusion about the dislike of 'gaijin' in Japan

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

I've read a lot about how much the Japanese do not like gaijin/foreigners. However, if this is true, how come a lot of people in anime and manga are caucasian [or at least caucasian looking]? This makes absolutely no sense to me... sorry if this sounds foolish but...

 

[nice gaijin]

What makes you think that anime characters are caucasian?

 

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

What makes you think that anime characters are caucasian?

A lot have combinations like blue eyes and blonde hair.

 

[doinkies]

That's just a part of the style, it doesn't mean that the characters are Caucasian (unless the story takes place in America or Europe...).

You should read this article about anime and manga character designs and why many Westerners who aren't familiar with anime and manga tend to see them as looking "white".

 

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

That's just a part of the style, it doesn't mean that the characters are Caucasian (unless the story takes place in America or Europe...).
You should read this article about anime and manga character designs and why many Westerners who aren't familiar with anime and manga tend to see them as looking "white".

I didn't necessarily mean they actually were caucasian, but they look it.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I've read a lot about how much the Japanese do not like gaijin/foreigners. However, if this is true, how come a lot of people in anime and manga are caucasian [or at least caucasian looking]? This makes absolutely no sense to me... sorry if this sounds foolish but...

I do not think that this is true. I don't think that Japanese people particularly feel any animosity towards foreigners at all. It's just that most foreigners do not speak Japanese, and a lot of Japanese people do not want to have to interact with people in a different language.

 

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

I do not think that this is true. I don't think that Japanese people particularly feel any animosity towards foreigners at all. It's just that most foreigners do not speak Japanese, and a lot of Japanese people do not want to have to interact with people in a different language.

Ooooh, thank you, someone understands what I am asking XDD I'm sorry I don't word things so greatly.

 

[yukio_michael]

I think everyone understood what you were asking, it's actually a pretty common mis-conception about Japanese anime.

As far as I know, original anime was influenced by the work of Disney, and other outside animation in Europe etcetera, so just as Japanese anime has had a large influence on certain aspects of western animation, it originally was inspired by it as well.

It all depends on the type of anime and manga you are reading, and while there can be depicitions of foreigners in both, this isn't the general practice, and characters are largely seen to be Japanese.

I think what Mikawa Ossan says about the language barrier being a big factor is something of particular importance, however Japan is also neither Europe or the United States, that is Japan is the country it is largely based upon its ideas of immigration and unity of culture, but that's just the way it goes...

I think the language barrier creates a sort of lack of knowledge or cultural exchange that might better erode the ideas that some Japanese have of Westerners. In saying this however, it's important to note that there are just as many stereotypes that Westerners have of Japan.

 

[Jpstw]

I get your point, I'm watching animes right now which deal with a setting as such, but of course it takes place in France and the other was Germany i think, around there.

But yeah i see what your catching on to, i haven't seen a Black looking anime character in awhile.☝

 

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

I get your point, I'm watching animes right now which deal with a setting as such, but of course it takes place in France and the other was Germany i think, around there.
But yeah i see what your catching on to, i haven't seen a Black looking anime character in awhile.☝

That's exactly what I mean.

 

[yukio_michael]

That's exactly what I mean.

Do you just want your own ideas reinforced by other people who share the same idea, even if they aren't correct?

 

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

Do you just want your own ideas reinforced by other people who share the same idea, even if they aren't correct?

No, I'm just glad someone else is looking at it the same way as me. I don't really understand it. You don't have to be mean about it.

 

[yukio_michael]

No, I'm just glad someone else is looking at it the same way as me. I don't really understand it. You don't have to be mean about it.

I'm not trying to be mean. Sometimes when our logic or reasoning is challenged it seems mean-spirited... I'm simply saying that our own doubts are sometimes re-inforced by others who have the same doubts, even though those ideas aren't necissarily correct ones.

 

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

I'm not trying to be mean. Sometimes when our logic or reasoning is challenged it seems mean-spirited... I'm simply saying that our own doubts are sometimes re-inforced by others who have the same doubts, even though those ideas aren't necissarily correct ones.

I don't understand it though, I mean, if they really disliked gaijin as much as everyone seems to say they do, they wouldn't even want to adopt a hair color like blonde because it's 'foreign' >0< So I am wondering if they really hate outsiders as much as everyone says?

 

[MajideSaiaku]

Like every country, Japan is a nation of many opinions and creeds.

Some folk dislike foreigners for whatever real or emagined reasons, others like them so much they seek them out in night-life and attempt to gain sexual favour with them.

Most Japanese people are probably in the middle.


It is interesting though that for many Visitors to Japan, the acts of one or two, or a relatively few (hehe, I made a rythm) seem to make them feel this is indicative of the whole, a country of millions.

Anime characters look western because it is the anime heritage of its for-bearers, which was based off of foreigners.


Though the look has still carried forward, it goes without saying that a character in an anime, unless specifically identified as otherwise, is considered Japanese, which is ussually aided by Japanese names, or full understanding of Japanese social norms and cultural quirks.

I've also noticed that over the years since I have been aware of anime, more and more characters have been dark haired and dark eyed, and/or drawn to look noticably more asian.

 

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

Like every country, Japan is a nation of many opinions and creeds.

Some folk dislike foreigners for whatever real or emagined reasons, others like them so much they seek them out in night-life and attempt to gain sexual favour with them.

Most Japanese people are probably in the middle.


It is interesting though that for many Visitors to Japan, the acts of one or two, or a relatively few (hehe, I made a rythm) seem to make them feel this is indicative of the whole, a country of millions.

Anime characters look western because it is the anime heritage of its for-bearers, which was based off of foreigners.


Though the look has still carried forward, it goes without saying that a character in an anime, unless specifically identified as otherwise, is considered Japanese, which is ussually aided by Japanese names, or full understanding of Japanese social norms and cultural quirks.

I've also noticed that over the years since I have been aware of anime, more and more characters have been dark haired and dark eyed, and/or drawn to look noticably more asian.

Aaa! Thank you so much!!!!!!

 

[yukio_michael]

I don't understand it though, I mean, if they really disliked gaijin as much as everyone seems to say they do, they wouldn't even want to adopt a hair color like blonde because it's 'foreign' >0< So I am wondering if they really hate outsiders as much as everyone says?

I'm not going to say that Japanese dislike foreigners, so much as Japanese dislike change, maybe, and that's perhaps an exageration, and I'm late for work so I wont elaborate until later.

What I will say however is that, when Japanese adopt Western styles, Jeans, hair-colour, fashion, what-haveyou, its not simply because they wish to emulate the West... Japan is an isolated nation, full of people whose goals and desires do not mirror those of peoples outside of it... They may take cues from Western culture, but this doesn't necissarily mean that they are trying to "be" Western.

I simply think, as stated, there is a lack of cultural exchange that keeps both parties (Western & Japanese) in the dark when it comes to understanding one another...

Some folk dislike foreigners for whatever real or emagined reasons, others like them so much they seek them out in night-life and attempt to gain sexual favour with them.

Most Japanese people are probably in the middle.

It's funny, I don't know whom said it, I think Nietzsche, but it's that people, in moments of intense self-scrutiny rarely regard themselves as absolutely mundane and normal... We imagine ourselves as either devils, the hated gaijin, or angels, the hot-gaijin who all the Japanese ladies love.

No one seems to think in rational terms about their relationship to the Japanese, we paint ourselves as either the hated, or adored.

 

[ArmandV]

I really think it's a misconception that Japanese in general dislike foreigners. As someone mentioned earlier, opinions vary. All my experiences in Japan with the people there have been positive.

Sometimes I've felt like a celebrity at some places in Tokyo when a small group gathered around me for chit-chat so they can try out their English.

 

[pipokun]

Manga is manga after all.
I don't like manga or anime, but I cannot say I hate them or people who like them, either.

You definitely need a fund for your further research or just to buy manga.
Just write a haiku poem in Japanese or in English.
http://www.itoen.co.jp/new-haiku/en/rules_regulations/index.html
The 18th Oi Ocha New Haiku Contest

 

[dark_secrester]

His major question did not seem to be about anime, but on the way Japanese react to foreigners.

In short, English (And other countries) go to Japan, don't respect Japanese culture, act like hooligans, poke holes in resteraunt walls etc. This post has been done on many many occasions.

Of course, its not all foreigners, it's just the few that muck everything up for the rest of us.

 

[yukio_michael]

His major question did not seem to be about anime, but on the way Japanese react to foreigners.

In short, English (And other countries) go to Japan, don't respect Japanese culture, act like hooligans, poke holes in resteraunt walls etc. This post has been done on many many occasions.

Of course, its not all foreigners, it's just the few that muck everything up for the rest of us.

A few things...

From BBC News... (link: here)

Britons are the rudest, meanest and worst-behaved holidaymakers in the world, according to a new survey.

The research, by online travel service Expedia, also found that British tourists make the least effort to speak the local language.

Germans were the most popular holiday makers, followed by Americans - who also give the biggest tips.

British tourists are joined at the bottom of the league by those from Israel and Ireland.

So, who is ruining what now, for whom? I don't have any knowlege or reference material that would indicate that that British people, or anyone else are running around the streets of Japan like alcohol soaked tourists in Thailand... but since you seem to think this is true, I'm sure you do?

Oh, last, I would change your gigantic sig, before someone else does, text no greater than four lines I belive is the rule.

 

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

His major question did not seem to be about anime, but on the way Japanese react to foreigners.
In short, English (And other countries) go to Japan, don't respect Japanese culture, act like hooligans, poke holes in resteraunt walls etc. This post has been done on many many occasions.
Of course, its not all foreigners, it's just the few that muck everything up for the rest of us.

Yes, that was more of the way I was looking. It sucks that some people have to blow it for others, as far as tourism goes. I would never think of doing things like that, or even going over there without being somewhat fluent in the language for that matter. ^_^ BTW I'm a girl.

 

[yukio_michael]

Yes, that was more of the way I was looking. It sucks that some people have to blow it for others, as far as tourism goes.

It's a shame you seem to be agreeing most with the people feeding you misinformation, rather than other people who might actually be experienced in the topic you're interested in.

I think you're going to be walking away from this discussion less informed than when you started it. Just a warning that you should take all these points of view into consideration, even if you disregard mine there are other people in this thread whose own experience should be valued, even if it doesn't quite fit your world view.

 

[Yoko_Kisaragi]

It's a shame you seem to be agreeing most with the people feeding you misinformation, rather than other people who might actually be experienced in the topic you're interested in.
I think you're going to be walking away from this discussion less informed than when you started it. Just a warning that you should take all these points of view into consideration, even if you disregard mine there are other people in this thread whose own experience should be valued, even if it doesn't quite fit your world view.

I think you're looking at it the wrong way. I am just seeing that what they are saying is a possibility. There's not really a 'right or wrong' answer as far as I can tell (well I guess there kind of is, but you know what I mean), I just want to know some of the reasons.

 

[.::b|ue Ash::.]

I have to say, that it's a lot harder to describe this type of situation until you are actually there to experience it for yourself.

There are all kinds of people in Japan, so your questioned statement surely can not cover the opinion of all Japanese.

The majority of Japanese people you meet on a day to day basis are indeed very nice, and as helpful as they can be.
But there are also people who will choose to ignore you at all cost (I've had Japanese move away from me on the train, and I've had some sit next to me even if they didn't have to.)

Some Japanese and Asians in general like the look and general life of non-asians. For the same reason we might like the asian look and want to go to an asian restaurant instead of TGIF once in a while.
But that has no effect on if they like us as a person or race per say.

Each Japanese person will give you a different explanation...

For instance, I have read in several guide books about "Japanese Only" places. Which I found a bit... odd...
I asked one of my native Japanese friends about such a thing, and the way he explained it was that perhaps they did not want non-Japanese in their establishment because they did not speak any English and were therefore concerned that they would not be able to provide the same good level of service that they could offer a Japanese person. (Keep in mind service in Japan is very important.)
However, on my last trip this idiot friend of mine came along and she saw what looked to be a dance club, she peaked her head inside the front door way, the first man said "Japanese Only..." then another guy came running out and screamed at her "No no! Japanese Only!" and closed the door on her.
When I told my Japanese friend about this he was quiet baffled.

On my first trip with just myself and my s/o, everyone was VERY nice. However on my last trip with about 6 other people I heard a lot of people saying "gaijin this, and gaijin that". In which case I just gave them a glare over my shoulder and they shut up (they were not expecting me to understand their language.)
I will admit, in a large group we WERE loud, we stuck out, and were probably obtrusive.
I'm sure it's people like my friend who grabbed random Japanese from stores and dragged them out into the street to ask them questions, screaming at them in English... which cause some Japanese to not like Gaijin.

The way some of my friends explained it to me (from various parts of the country) is that most Japanese will view a single visitor as "ok", they will view a couple as "cute/romantic" and are happy that said people have taken an interest in their country.
It is the large groups that they dis-like.
From speaking with other Gaijin the Japanese seem to judge visitors based largely on appearance and their knowledge of all things Japan.

If you want to go to Japan just to visit and do site seeing, then do not concern yourself with the people.
If you truly want to live there some day then you will need to commit yourself to some serious studies and except the fact that NO you are not Japanese, never will be, and just like any where else, there will be people who don't like you.