Are Japanese xenophobic?

[Muz1234]

Are Japanese xenophobic?

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I heard there are a few who dislike the Yakuza , but that's all.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Wonder if there is anywhere in the world where someone doesn't hate someone or something ?

 

[mdchachi]

No, they are xylographic

 

[thomas]

Some of them are xylophile. I'm, too.

 

[Tokyo Guy]

Too general of a question.

 

[bentenmusume]

Some are, to various degrees.

Many aren't.

Are Malaysians xenophobic?

 

[Buntaro]

The YouTuber named Paolo makes a very good point in the video linked to below. The idea of teamwork is very strong in Japan, and one way this manifests is how Japanese people are very courteous and try not to inconvenience other people. At 2:53 in the video Paolo tells us how Japanese do not stand in the way on a sidewalk and try to move to the side so they don't block the sidewalk. When foreigners do this, Japanese people see this as very rude. Look at 3:24 and you will see how Japanese people stand to the side to keep the sidewalk clear for people walking by.

It is these kinds of things that cause many Japanese people to 'have a problem with foreigners'.

 

[Paint_Black]

boi boi, to be honest, i think the rest world is much more japanophobic.

you know, it's not so bad, but sometimes i think, that we got a lot of stereotypes about "how japaneese have to act/look/think" etc., ignoring 2 things: our "deep dark" fantasies are just fantasies; and even 2 japaneese are different)

ignoring "depths" of another culture (or some parts of it) will make us lose a lot of beautiful and interesting things to know)

 

[Petaris]

The YouTuber named Paolo makes a very good point in the video linked to below. The idea of teamwork is very strong in Japan, and one way this manifests is how Japanese people are very courteous and try not to inconvenience other people. At 2:53 in the video Paolo tells us how Japanese do not stand in the way on a sidewalk and try to move to the side so they don't block the sidewalk. When foreigners do this, Japanese people see this as very rude. Look at 3:24 and you will see how Japanese people stand to the side to keep the sidewalk clear for people walking by.

It is these kinds of things that cause many Japanese people to 'have a problem with foreigners'.

I have seen plenty of Japanese blocking sidewalks and entrances as well. Its not that people are doing it on purpose, just some people don't pay attention to what is going on around them.

 

[thomas]

Paolo is great at relating Japanese habits and customs to a foreign audience. However, he also stated that many Japanese are guilty of these pesky transgressions themselves.

A few thoughts:

• I agree with Buntaro that people generally try not to stand in the way of others. If they pay attention, that is. I often find situational awareness severely lacking, especially in the urban context, aggravated by noise-cancelling headphones and keitai zombyism.
• (Non-)compliance with traffic regulations, especially by pedestrians and cyclists.
• Squatting? I thought this was a Japanese pastime.
• Have you ever ridden on a train with scores of high-school pupils on board? I wish they taught train manners at school.
• Foreigners talking too loud? Sometimes they might, but I guess the irritation stems from non-Japanese talking in foreign tongues most Japanese don't understand. There certainly are lots of Japanese "loud speakers" around, too.

This is not meant to be a tit-for-tat. There are plenty of things Western societies could learn from Japan regarding cleanliness, courtesy, shared responsibility for their environment, etc. However, I think it's hypocritical to criticise foreigners for "rude behaviour" that's prevalent among the Japanese, too.

 

[Petaris]

keitai zombyism.

hahahaha I love that term! It perfectly describes those people.

 

[Muz1234]

Keitai zombyism is very much common these days...