Kyoto Returnee,
How was your everydaylife in Japan? Have you experienced discrimination / racism on you?
In my opinion, Japan is not so bad place rather comfortable to live for foreigners.
However you think Discrimination or Racism exits in Japan. (If you don't think so, you give your thread another title.)
First, I want to hear from you your opinion about Discrimination / Racism in Japan.
I think nice gaijin also found something, so he advised you. He is right.
Gaijin advise me? (Please elaborate)
Hi Hana-chan:
My everyday life in Japan was fun, exciting and busy. A REAL culture shock in the beginning!
I have a lot of non Japanese friends who left as they could not handle many aspects of daily life, and other's who cracked it with a smile.
I often think for non Japanese, Japan is a difficutly country to live in and their are many issues to overcome.
I believe that if you can overcome these within two years in Japan, you are fine. I am definitely the later and can see the funny side of things.
Discrimination does exist as I have seen and experienced first hand, both on a personal level and also from the outside looking in.
Please note, I am not comparing other countries but simply focussing on Japan here as this is where my wife, I and son plan to settle well into the future.
I could write a book on discrimination, although I won't LOL..
I have said in previous threads, myself and American colleague once completed a Japanese to English translation booklet on the subject of discrmination for a local government, so it is definitely no secret that discrimination exists.
Let's not forget, Japan was a closed country for a long time, and it has it's own culture which is a great thing as many countries around the world have lost or are lossing their's, namely, Thailand comes to mind.. Lived, worked and travelled extensively throughout, 28 times, loads of preofessional friends over their..
I think I m correct here in saying that Japan has it's own source/ways/styles of discrimination for it's own people, which I can presume was fine back then as it was simply the Japanese way, similar to white South African's during apartheid.. I could never understand how they hated blacks so much, although I guess if you gow up and your Mummy and Daddy teach you to eat insects, it will be "normal" for you.. Hope you understand where I am coming from here..
The discrimination in Japan concerning my personal self, never really worried me to the extent where I would go home at night and cry on my pillow..
I could/can definitely see the funny and serious sides from all angles so It's fine for me. It does however affect a lot of people including Japanese.
Having said all the above, the only real concerns I now have is returning with our little darling, who is mixed Japanese/Australian and he will NEED to grow up In Japan, although definitely with the full support of his Daddy
What will the future hold for him in Japan?
It really is the unknown and is a daily topic of discussion on my part to my wife, although I definitely seem a lot more concerned than she does..
I was reading a thread about a foreign guy in Japan being discriminated against in Japan by a group of Japanese leaving him out of the group.
Another thread about a non Japanese office worker being left out, etc.
The fact is, Japanese do discriminate..
Sabetsu
It tends to be Taboo in Japan, I know, but I can tell you, I once brought up the subject in a seniro class of 12 students, 60's and over and it was the best thing I ever did, including English communication. We stayed on topic for weeks.
I went against the advice of the Japanese office staff on the above.
I would love to hear some un-bias views from Japanese people themselves on the issue within the thread..
I hope this answers your queries..