Gaijin Greets

[WHEATTHlNS]

and when they saw me, they were like: HEEEY HOW ARE YOU.. bla bla bla.... it was excually quite anoying.... hahaha

Why? They just want to interact with someone they "relate" to. Put yourself in their shoes - wouldnt you want to say hello, or acknowledge someone similar to you if you were in a foreign environment and hadnt yet recovered from culture shock? I dont quite understand this seemingly forced hautiness.

When I was in Japan, I saw people who were lost all the time (or appeared lost to me) - I went up to most of them and asked them "Hey do you need help?" - In fact I made a friend there by doing just that. . .she was lost, standing outside the entrance to Sensoji temple, and just off-hand I noticed she had the same map-book I did, and I mentioned this to her. She then asked if I could help her - and I did.

Of course you dont HAVE to say hello to someone - but just because youre in a foreign land, doesnt mean you have to adopt the social norms of the people when dealing with folks who ARENT of the same culture set.

Are there any "black" gaijin in Japan........ from what I have gathered most of them are white. How are the black people treated in Japan ???

The only thing I noticed was kids arent too shy about waving at you and screaming "Konnichiwa!" - at the top of their lungs.

 

[Davey]

well at the moment i was with my wife, and i didnt felt like talking to people, just because they were gaijins to. sorry if my words came over wrong! sure be fine guys, but at the moment i felt like; why are you talking to me?

when i see a gaijin looking confused or something like that, i wont have any problem helping him out!!!!!!

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

At the risk of sounding racist....

This is something that I have had a hard time grappeling with. I have changed in my reaction towards other foreigners quite a bit over the years. I will be honest here, even though I know it might sound racist.

My standard response now at meeting a white person on the street or in a store in Japan is a nod. If they say hello, I will, too. If they talk to me as if I am somehow a friend (even though we are in fact complete strangers), I will talk to them back. I will not initiate conversation, however.

For some reason, I am much more friendly to South Asians. I don't know why. I won't initiate conversation if I randomly meet one, but I will smile when I nod or say hi. And I will show more interest in them if they start conversation.

If I randomly meet a Brazilian, it's the same.

I am also much more friendly to blacks in Japan than whites.

It never much comes up as an issue with Chinese, Koreans, etc.

I will give directions to anyone who ask.

If I meet someone through a friend, they get the same treatment I would give a new acquaintance in America. But this is very rare for me.

Sound bad? Maybe it is, but I've noticed that for some reason I can relate to white foreigners the least of all. Forget the fact that I'm white and grew up in a mostly white town! I can understand why they may want to say hi or talk, but...

One thing that I love about living in a foreign country is that it really makes you think about identity issues. I think at the heart of this thread topic is a matter of identity.

 

[violetcrumble]

The area I live in has many many non-Asian looking people, so there is now way I can acknowledge everyone. But if I make eye contact with tourists I will smile, or ask if they need directions (my area has a lot of hotels that are popular with backpackers).

But usually I avoid making eye contact with non-japanese people because I am worried I will get stuck listening to them complain about Japan!!!

 

[cursore]

I had a sort of dilemma like this...

If you are European you can spot an Italian miles away! In my first year of staying in Scotlnd I asked myself should I gret them or not?

At the end I decided for the not, I don't look Italian at all they will not notice me... and I usualy don't like the average Italian turist....

 

[ragedaddy]

I learned over the years that it was the "gaijin" who had lived in Japan for any length of time that were most prone to do this. I think it was because they looked at other foreigners as "competition" or something like "Hey, what are you doing here? This is my territory." I noticed this mostly in bars where a few gaijin were known to frequent. They especially despised you if you spoke more Japanese than them. You could see it in their eyes and their reactions and the way they totally ignored you. I found it quite hilarious and kind of immature. "Up yours too" I would think to myself.

I totally agree there are many foreigners who have the "This is my Japan" complex. Many will refuse to make eye contact, ignore you if you say "Hey," and get annoyed if you trouble them by asking a question. I will make eye contact with other Foreigners and give them a nod in acknowledgment. Some will give a nod back while others pretend that I don't even exist. I don't say hi to every stranger I come into contact with, but if someone were to say "Hi," to me, then I'd greet them as well. I don't have any problems with helping out people that are in trouble, and it's not a big deal to me if a foreigner greets me.

 

[Ikyoto]

Since I am Asian-American, I can pass as a Japanese person. I never say hi to gaijin, in fact, I despise them. Yes, I know that sounds horribly hypocritical. But I do start conversations with Japanese people who are trying to learn English.

How can you despise someone you don't know? Based just on their race??

Hate is a great way to foster more hate. I don't hate anyone except for bigots.

 

[Harvey]

I've been in Japan for 4 yrs now.

It's the same way black people generally greet each other in smaller towns in the US. But in Japan, non-asian foreigners can greet each other in the same light. It's really the same feeling. Like, "yo, I see you! You're a foreigner too! Good luck!".

You should feel the way blacks greet each other in Japanese towns. It's like, whoa! Is he African or is he African American or Canadian or something?! What is he doing way out here! Gotta talk to the man. And if it's a girl, excitement triples cause there are like 7 black women in Japan and they're all my friends. (joke)

Of course, in Tokyo all this goes out the window, there are foreigners everywhere. Even I don't greet anyone.

 

[yukio_michael]

Since I am Asian-American, I can pass as a Japanese person. I never say hi to gaijin, in fact, I despise them.

It's not just racist, it's idiotic... You do understand the fact that even though you are "Asian-American" that this means F%%%-All to the Japanese--- The Japanese don't even consider the sons and daughters of mixed couples born in Japan as Japanese---- You may be able to sneak by on your looks, but if the truth be known, you're one of those dreaded gaijin yourself, and they could care less about the ethnicity you so lord yourself with. Pathetic.

On less consternated news--- I don't know, in MY neighborhood, I would talk to ANY gaijin--- I live in a small town and I'm the only one that I know of.... If you go to Akihabara, Ueno, etc etc, even Chiba, you see gaijin everywhere...

On the train once on the way to Ueno, a gaijin and his friend spotted a button I had on for a band, I heard him mention the band to his friend, but I didn't say anything... In Akihabara I saw someone wearing a shirt for a fairly rare Chicago label--- I didn't say anything in either ocasion--- I'm nice, I just don't need to "know" everyone... I'm more than happy to talk to anyone who talks to me though.

 

[Brooker]

I remember that feeling. It seems so silly to acknowledge someone just because they're not Japanese. I wouldn't do that to every white guy I saw at home, but it's hard to avoid doing it when you're in Japan. I found myself avoiding other gaijin so that I wouldn't keep having those awkward conversations on the train.

 

[トラちゃん1]

I usually have a quick chat with Gaijin here, I sometimes try and start conversations with Japanese people on trains. Although I have come to learn that some don't appreciate that. Do I feel stupid when someone ' shoots me down '? No.


In answer to the question, Yes I think Gaijin should greet each other. There is no harm done.

 

[xerxes99]

I remember that feeling. It seems so silly to acknowledge someone just because they're not Japanese. I wouldn't do that to every white guy I saw at home, but it's hard to avoid doing it when you're in Japan. I found myself avoiding other gaijin so that I wouldn't keep having those awkward conversations on the train.

I understand what you're saying, but when you're one of only a few foreigners someplace I think it's different. In my town I'll see another Gaijin maybe once every other week. when I doIi have to admit it's kind of exciting. Hey there's someone like me! Sometimes I'll say hello, sometimes just nod. It may be silly, but that's fine.

 

[yidaki]

There's no "should".
Remember that gaijins are from different countries.
Different countries means different cultures.
In cultures with few people, people say hello to everyone walking down the street.
People brought up in big cities barely say hello to people they know.
Some gaijin say hello, others don't.
That means that it's probably only an obligation to say hello to gaijins if they expect it, and the only way of knowing if they expect it is if they say it themselves.

 

[SortOf]

I probably wouldn't be seen in a positive light in Japan. Japanese people are hyper sensitive to what other people think about them, and I honestly don't care at all. If I feel like doing something, im going to do it (unless its ILLEGAL to do so) because I honestly dont care, they can think im a primative monkey, or an idiot foreigner and its not going to phase me in the least.

If I see one and want to talk to them, im not going to have any little voice telling me to not do so, and ill eat a cheeseburger standing on the sidewalk while doing so.

 

[jieshi]

I think it is better to greet Gaijin, especially if they greet you. We would be walking down the street past another Gaijin, smile and say hi and they would keep walking like you were a ghost. What sort of reputation do you think they picked up? rude individual!!

 

[MajideSaiaku]

I voted to say hello, no real harm, meet new people, make friends, its no different then being at your home country and starting to talk to a stranger in a queue or something.

 

[Kinsao]

I'd probably say hi or exchange some words if standing in line or next to someone, but I wouldn't stop someone while walking specifically to greet them.

I think that because it's easier to tell if some one is 'gaijin' or not - as they look different from Japanese people - maybe that is why gaijin are sometimes like to greet each other? I mean, if I'm in some country where I'm not speaking my native tongue (e.g. I was in Germany a few days ago), it's kinda natural to exchange words with another native English speaker if you're standing near to them. But in somewhere like Germany, it's hard to tell by appearance if they are English or not! So probably that 'greeting' ('are you from England, how long you been here, etc, etc) doesn't get to happen very often. But in Japan, perhaps it is more marked appearence simply enables this thing to happen, which is natural, to greet your countryman, because you both have the same native tongue, so conversation is easier.

But if you lived in Japan for so long you are bilingual, there would be no more ease of conversation with a 'gaijin' than Japanese, so I imagine people would not at all find the need to do this.

For example, if I was in Japan I wouldn't find it natural to me to attempt to 'greet' with an Italian or Spanish person, because I don't speak their language.

 

[Sparky]

Depends on place and time

I can't be expect to greet everyone I pass by. I've been living here many years and the aw of seeing the od gaijin has worn off. I'm just doing my own thing, I'm not looking out for foreigners. So If you smile I may smile back, and vice versa, I'm only human. Well not with this smiley haha

So if I failed to greet you then....

HI!

 

[CBT1979]

I would like to know what Gaijin means/stands for.
Is it the same like Gwai-Lo (Ghost Man) in Chinese?
If yes, it could be considered as an impolite determination of group of white/western people.
But maybe Gaijin means only stranger.

 

[cutiepie]

I would like to know what Gaijin means/stands for.
Is it the same like Gwai-Lo (Ghost Man) in Chinese?
If yes, it could be considered as an impolite determination of group of white/western people.
But maybe Gaijin means only stranger.

Yes, that's what it means.

 

[cutiepie]

I think it is funny how anyone came up with this thread. But, I am an Asian living in the US and I do not ever go up to another Asian to start a conversation, or a nod or a hello. Not that I am rude or anything, but to me you're a stranger no matter what color your skin is. It would be especially weird to me or to that other person for me to do so.

 

[alkora]

I think it is funny how anyone came up with this thread. But, I am an Asian living in the US and I do not ever go up to another Asian to start a conversation, or a nod or a hello. Not that I am rude or anything, but to me you're a stranger no matter what color your skin is. It would be especially weird to me or to that other person for me to do so.

Cutepie-

I have to agree with you on the fact that i don't go up to other foreigners to start a conversation in Japan, but if they decide to start talking with me, thats a different story. I'm not going to be rude, but I'm not going to attach myself to other foreigners.

This of course doesn't apply when I'm plastered and waiting for the first train at 4:15 in the morning in Shinjuku.... the rules are off then

 

[cutiepie]

Cutepie-
I have to agree with you on the fact that i don't go up to other foreigners to start a conversation in Japan, but if they decide to start talking with me, thats a different story. I'm not going to be rude, but I'm not going to attach myself to other foreigners.

Well, of course, if someone comes up to me to strike a conversation, I would not ignore them. If the only reason they strike up a conversation is because we are of the same race, I think that is a little weird. I think color is only skin deep. We are all the same deep inside.

This of course doesn't apply when I'm plastered and waiting for the first train at 4:15 in the morning in Shinjuku.... the rules are off then

Haahaha....I wouldn't know what that would be like

 

[SaRabbit]

What a fascinating thread... I was starting to panic a little about the 'dilemma' until I read harvey say

'Of course, in Tokyo all this goes out the window, there are foreigners everywhere. Even I don't greet anyone.'.
​

I will be in Tokyo, unfortunately most likely with with a neon arrow saying 'tourist' hovering over my head at all times!

Still, this is highly interesting. A little contrarily but related.... I have read articles from journalists who were tourists in Tokyo who experienced that English speaking Japanese went miles out of their way to offer direction and advice. They often chose to escort the lost person to their destination rather than give directions. It must be nice not to be treated as just another idiot tourist.

Mikawa Ossan, I am intrigued, as someone of mixed race, would you have problems deciding how to react to me? Or would it depend on what mixture? ;-)

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Mikawa Ossan, I am intrigued, as someone of mixed race, would you have problems deciding how to react to me? Or would it depend on what mixture? ;-)

Good question! I suppose it would depend on the way you behaved when we met. I can assure you that I wouldn't be any more likely to say hello to you than to the Japanese person walking in front of or behind you, though.

The thing is, although I am a foreigner and I am fully cognizant of the fact, I don't think of myself as one, and therefore I have no compulsion to be extra friendly to other foreigners. I still feel sorry if this makes me sound like a bad person in any way, but it's how it is.