Diversity Acceptance or Rejection

ZeroS · 6 Feb 2007

I'm aware that there are many similar threads to this one but I can't seem to find the answers that I'm looking for.

From what I've read so far it would seem that native Japanese have a slightly negative approach to foreigners and half bred Japanese.

Take the following parables:

- A Muslim/Jewish/Christian cleric bracing the streets of Japan full clad in religious wear. A lengthy beard, long robed clothes, hats, etc. Whatever is specific to each religion

- A gothic punk walking the streets of Japan

- A member of some enviromental group. You know, the hippy types

Suppose that none of the above have any acquaintance about or experienece with Japanese people, culture and way of life.

How would a native Japanese look at and treat them?

Then suppose that the above are familiar with Jap customs, language and way of life. What would be scenario here?

What I'm trying to fish out is that:
Firstly, do Jap people discriminate at all? and, if so,
Secondly, what grounds do they discriminate against? Race, religion, customs, ways of life, or what else?

I know that we should all be ourselves and yada yada but I just want to familiarise myself with Japan as I intend visiting in August.
I'm intending to start learning the langauge and culture, so hopefully, by August I'll have known enough to communicate and interact in Nihongo.

BTW I'm also a huge fan of anime. Do things like these have an effect on the minds of Japanese people?
Arigatou!

ArmandV · 6 Feb 2007

ZeroS said:
How would a native Jap look at and treat them?

If you use this terminology over there most likely you'll get very dirty looks.

ZeroS · 6 Feb 2007

Yeah Yeah, I'll edit my post. I was just a bit lazy....

Karamuucho · 6 Feb 2007

Some people discriminate and have prejudices, I beleive it would be fair to say most people (globally) have prejudices big or small, someway or another, and some of those people will discriminate against others for the sakes of those reasons. However, I think it has nothing to do with the Japanese themselves, but just people in general. The Japanese are human aswell.

However, in my experience the equality laws in Japan are not as strong as England (the only other place I know well enough to comment on). In some cases - say, employment - A young, attractive Japanese woman is more likely to get a job than an old, ugly man. Even if they're both as equally capable of doing a job, this is especially true if the job were in the public eye, say, news reading. There are ofcourse laws against this, but from what I've seen and heard, the laws aren't firm enough to really be of any help.

maushan3 · 6 Feb 2007

Karamuucho said:
However, in my experience the equality laws in Japan are not as strong as England (the only other place I know well enough to comment on). In some cases - say, employment - A young, attractive Japanese woman is more likely to get a job than an old, ugly man. Even if they're both as equally capable of doing a job, this is especially true if the job were in the public eye, say, news reading. There are ofcourse laws against this, but from what I've seen and heard, the laws aren't firm enough to really be of any help.

This I was taught from my parents. Presentation does count. People in the business are interested in a good image for their company and, well, an attractive woman definitely sells more than an old man. People like to be around people who are clean, who look good. I know this might sound shallow, but looks to some extent count.

Mauricio

ZeroS · 6 Feb 2007

Well I'm aware that many of the world's populace hold prejudice for others in some way or another. That's why I want to find out what do Japanese discriminate against?

I mean, in certain areas it would be fine to see people of different colours walking around but let a some religious dude put his foot there and he's the target of many crooked looks. Other places don't mind religion while they would shun race. Getting the point?

tigi · 6 Feb 2007

what i wanna know is how japanese look at spanish ppl.
Im curious about that, cause if im going there i wanna know what they think about me when i say "im spanish".
Will they think i know how to dance sevillanas??? xDDDDDD

Taiko666 · 7 Feb 2007

Karamuucho said:
calendar_alarm.zip.

Are there really laws against this? I understood that most forms of discrimination are entirely legal here in Japan.
Recently I noticed a recruitment notice in my local kisaten (coffee shop.)

"Part time work!
Japanese woman, 18-40 years old
Enquire to etc etc"

This simple notice would contravene race, sex and age discrimination laws in the UK. But here it's entirely legal, and not even seen as a problem by most people.

ZeroS · 10 Feb 2007

So are there any answers for my questions above???

Dr. J. M. · 10 Feb 2007

It's kinda hard to answer this kind of question, concerning the fact that you're talking about a population of 120 million, don't you agree?

caliope · 10 Feb 2007

The people you mention might get dirty looks in any country. For example, how would a punk rocker from another country, or a Muslim priest, etc. look in the mid-west or some yuppie community in the U.S.? Even if they spoke English, they might get asked to leave. How would a white guy look going into an all black community? We know it's human nature to discriminate. Why should the Japanese be any different?

Davey · 10 Feb 2007

Thank you for that Caliope. You have discrimination in every place, so it is logical that even Japanese discriminate so now and then.

Elizabeth van Kampen · 10 Feb 2007

Hi Dutch!!

You are absolutely right, all people, all nations discriminate sometimes.
It is very ugly and most of us know that, but maybe it is in us all to feel
safer near our own folks. Yet I have learned that one can make true friends all over this world. You'll be surprised how many nice people (whatever their skin, religion, country) there are living in our world.

By the way, I read your "My Blog"! Really great, very nice to read and I like your pretty Japanese wife.

ZeroS · 10 Feb 2007

Hmph... I see.

Everyone will discriminate but trying to determine on what grounds is not something easily attainable. But I suppose you just gotta behave well and discover for yourself.

Thanks people!!!

KirinMan · 10 Feb 2007

First off to the OP I want to ask what difference does it make, whether you are a fan of anime or not?
Really now most Japanese people that I know, outside of the occasional "otaku" really don't care about what you do.
What difference does it make in realtionship to the questions that you are asking?
To me anyway if you had not included that line about being a fan of "anime" I think I would have been more serious in my reply to you.
Japanese people discriminate against "gaijin", I think just about everyone here will testify to that. However the "level" of discrimination is different depending upon where one lives, oh and also how a person relates to their community around them.
Oh and as another poster wrote, you, whether you realize it or not, are discrimatory towards Japanese people by using the term "Jap", lazy or not, it is inexcusable.
Next time take the time to "think" about what you are writing, if you expect or want people to answer you honestly.

ZeroS · 10 Feb 2007

Whoa! Easy! I don't think you should go aggro over something like that. But if it really is offensive to you or anyone, I sincerely apologise as I hadn't the slightest idea Japanese people would take offense to the term. Sumimasen.

To me anyway if you had not included that line about being a fan of "anime" I think I would have been more serious in my reply to you.

Now this I take offense to. Is it that someone who watches anime is someone who has superficial interests, the likes of which are looked down upon by pompous, conceited people.

I like anime specifically because it is crammed with symbology. I'm not a kid. Extracting the symbology and insinuations and relating them to history and certain events and watching how intricately it's woven into Japanese culture is absolutely amazing. Something I scarcely find in western media.

If you don't want to reply seriously, why reply at all?
You could've told me nicely that the word 'Jap' is offensive much like the second poster did and I would've edited my post as I've done already a long time ago if you hadn't noticed yet.

I might travel to Japan and I only wish to research the place. If you find it difficult to reply in a conducive manner, please don't reply.
Rather it is I who should implore you to think before posting.

Dr. J. M. · 11 Feb 2007

Well, as I said before it's pretty hard to determine how a population that large discriminates against certain groups or individuals. For example in the place where I live I encountered lots of different people with lots of different opinions about any given group. The spectrum ranges from ultra-left to extremely-right, from liberal to conservative , from radical to pacifist, from people who discriminate openly to those who discriminate indirectly... punkers, goths, creationists, fundamentalists, atheists, communists, fascist, democrats... you name it!

Therefore I wonder what kind of answer you were expecting in the first place...

ZeroS · 11 Feb 2007

ZeroS said:
Hmph... I see.

Everyone will discriminate but trying to determine on what grounds is not something easily attainable. But I suppose you just gotta behave well and discover for yourself.

Thanks people!!!

@Dr JM - Thanks, but I think I've learnt something from the posters above.

My goal was to know on what grounds do Japanese people discriminate against.

But as I have quoted myself above it's not so simple.

Thanks anyway.

.::b|ue Ash::. · 13 Feb 2007

ZeroS: Certain individual Japanese can and will discriminate on anything. They like other cultures/races discriminate towards each other as well.

Of course it is firstly based on looks, not always just what race you are but also how you are dressed.
While in Tokyo (Tokyo does not act the same as everywhere else.) if did not look my best people were less apt to really want to have anything to do with me, or even be near me.
However in Hakone tired... no shower, athletic clothing, lugging my bags around for 2 miles complete, strangers would say "Konnichiwa" to me with smiles in passing.

As far as interests go, I am not like most Japanese people, really I'm not like most americans.
But to most Japanese who have seen that I can demonstrate and understand at least some of their social customs they have shown appreciation for me, and for my actions.

In short, yes, you will be discriminated against at some point, perhaps more then once even. But.. have you also never come across a person in your own country who dis-likes you?

Oddly enough... on New Years there was some religious group out in full force near one of the major shrines, with young foreign children holding up signs written in Japanese.
I noticed that all the Japanese completely ignored them, didn't even look at them. But my friends and I decided to ask what it was for and quickly turned away as soon as the word "jesus" was uttered.

Religion to many people, mostly the younger generations is really more of a cool thing to do. They choose what parts they like and inactively participate when they feel like it.

ZeroS · 13 Feb 2007

Some interesting info there. Thanks. It's definitely an empirical trip!

Diversity Acceptance or Rejection

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