Is "Gaijin" a Racist Slur?

Void · 16 Nov 2006

i have two questions %)

1) with changing generations does Japanese language tend to "lose" some of
its honorific formalities in daily (common) communications?

2) why people tend to see negative side in usage of word "gaijin"? Yes, Japan is homogeneous and to name someone as "foreigner" means to separate "them" from "us" At the same time when it seems offensive to one side for another party it is one of the ways to save cultural and national identity. I think same trait helped jews to preserve their nation and culture even at those times when they were scattered all around the world. And they still tend to call "others" as "gentile". Whether it`s important or not to maintain such identity is a story for another thread. But every nation in one way or another uses division "us-them" as one of the tools to maintain its integrity

gaijinalways · 16 Nov 2006

Mikawa posted

The point is, getting upset over the use of the term "gaijin" (which I know you seem not to be, Firefly), solves nothing, and the best approach is rational conversation. Much like you suggest, in fact. But in addition I think it is imperative to remember that your efforts will cause little to no change in Japanese attitudes and behavior in general, so don't be surprised when you never see any change.

True, but this is why it's surprising that the earlier TV programs had little affect. If anything the current programs such as 'Koko ga hen da yo, nihonjin' hosted by Takeshi Kitano are just plain insulting.

Wow, this underlined statement is 'terribly' encouraging. The Japanese really care that little for outside opinion was basically what I felt to be true. Of course every nation likes to defend its customs, it just seems that the Japanese are a bit more extreme about it, even when it is obviously (to most non-Japanese) not making many fans of the Japanese treatment of non-Japanese, never mind the illegal aspects of it when it is extended to restriction of service at some establishments.

caster51 · 16 Nov 2006

The Japanese really care that little for outside opinion was basically what I felt to be true

you should discuss these things in Japanese board.
it is a kind of masturbation...
no japanese knows what gaijin is thinking about that

taehyun · 16 Nov 2006

Right, but on a Japanese board, esp. that on Yahoo.co.jp the most answers I get are like "fool", "die!", or "go to North Korea!"(I'm not Korean, though...), from people, who change their ID several times a day...

caster51 · 16 Nov 2006

Right, but on a Japanese board, esp. that on Yahoo.co.jp the most answers I get are like "fool", "die!", or "go to North Korea!"(I'm not Korean, though...), from people,

sorry about that.

Mikawa Ossan · 16 Nov 2006

gaijinalways said:
Mikawa posted
True, but this is why it's surprising that the earlier TV programs had little affect. If anything the current programs such as 'Koko ga hen da yo, nihonjin' hosted by Takeshi Kitano are just plain insulting.

I think part of the problem is that said TV shows were for entertainment purposes, and so people don't really watch these shows with the intent to really find out what foreigners think and try to understand them. At least I never did when I watched 'Koko ga hen da yo'. Is it still on the air? I thought it was cancelled a few years ago.

Wow, this underlined statement is 'terribly' encouraging. The Japanese really care that little for outside opinion was basically what I felt to be true. Of course every nation likes to defend its customs, it just seems that the Japanese are a bit more extreme about it, even when it is obviously (to most non-Japanese) not making many fans of the Japanese treatment of non-Japanese, never mind the illegal aspects of it when it is extended to restriction of service at some establishments.

It's not my intention to be encouraging. But you know what? I don't really think that places like the U.S. are any different. Certainly the impression I got from Sri Lanka and Korea were no different on this aspect, either.

As far as the restriction of service at some establishments, I personally never found that to be a problem or something to be offended by. Most of the places that I'm aware of are really a waste of money, anyway.

caster51 said:
you should discuss these things in Japanese board.
it is a kind of masturbation...
no japanese knows what gaijin is thinking about that

Sorry to write two posts in a row, but I agree with this statement. Of course you will have to have a formidable command of the Japanese language for anyone to take you seriously, though.

caster51 · 16 Nov 2006

okinawan call a Japanese mainlander a Naicher(窶愿?窶冢窶堙固ｽﾃ陳）.
a Naicher who is living in Okinawa is called a shima-naicher
some Naicher feel them racists like same pattern of here.
I think They do not have the so much prejudice to the Naicher.
It is as same as "Gaijin word"
I think The problem is that there are a lot of people who think in self-centredness.

The self-centered person doesn't understand the difference between the
distinction and discrimination. ??

twinklestar · 17 Nov 2006

taehyun said:
Right, but on a Japanese board, esp. that on Yahoo.co.jp the most answers I get are like "fool", "die!", or "go to North Korea!"(I'm not Korean, though...), from people who change their ID several times.

My college pal is doing graduate studies in Japan,he considers this word none issue for him.

I moderate one Asian-forum,only retards believe any ban can deter interested ( whatever reasons ) parties to the forum.I know a few fellow moderators there took up assumed ID so they can post without restrictions imposed on them.

gaijinalways · 18 Nov 2006

The self-centered person doesn't understand the difference between the
distinction and discrimination.

And which are you trying to use?

Mikawa,

Maybe I was watching a rerun, it seemed like it was far less than 2 years ago when I saw it. I'm not sure if everyone watches it for entertainment. Watching 5th grades telling foreigners that if they don't like being discriminated aganist they should go home doesn't entertain me too much.☝

caster51 · 19 Nov 2006

Watching 5th grades telling foreigners that if they don't like being discriminated aganist they should go home doesn't entertain me too much.

there are many such things even the japanese though it is not good.

and onething, the chinese and korean are seldom called a gaijin.

Is the person who is called a Gaijin disregarding them?

twinklestar · 20 Nov 2006

caster51 said:
and onething,the chinese and korean are seldom called a gaijin.

Absolutely correct,neither would Chinese and Koreans called Japanese foreigner(s).

The word gaijin mainly implies Westerners or Europeans to be precise in social settings.

Mikawa Ossan · 20 Nov 2006

gaijinalways said:
And which are you trying to use?
Mikawa,
Maybe I was watching a rerun, it seemed like it was far less than 2 years ago when I saw it. I'm not sure if everyone watches it for entertainment. Watching 5th grades telling foreigners that if they don't like being discriminated aganist they should go home doesn't entertain me too much.☝

You could be right. I haven't watched TV with any regularity since Japan and Korea co-hosted the World Cup, so it could very well still be on the air, and I just don't know about it.

I can sympathize with you about that show. It's no fun being told to "go home". Still, I think that Japanese people generally watch that show with a "light feeling", and they don't think deeply about what is said. That's how I watched it, and my friends around me were the same. Sometimes later we talked about some of the issues raised on that show, so that was good. However, I highly doubt that most Japanese have a gaijin friend willing to talk about that rationally within reaching distance, so it goes in one ear and out the other. But, I don't know. I must have a high tolerance threshold for these things. My opinion on these matters is spread out over this board, but basically, I don't try to change people here. I say, let them change themselves.

Sukotto · 20 Nov 2006

i do not know.
is it?

i never minded being called a 'gaijin' the short time i was in Japan.

i don't like the term "illegal alien" here in the states.
"no one is 'illegal' and no one is an 'alien' "

caster51 · 20 Nov 2006

Maybe I was watching a rerun, it seemed like it was far less than 2 years ago when I saw it. I'm not sure if everyone watches it for entertainment. Watching 5th grades telling foreigners that if they don't like being discriminated aganist they should go home doesn't entertain me too much.

so, you can understand Japanese language well?

MoBay · 2 Dec 2006

Gaijin is in reference to all people whom they the Japanese perceive as not being from their culture. I believe it would be a reasonable assumption to make when you meet a white or black person in Japan. The word Gaijin simple means foreigners and that is basically what you are. How could it possible be racist when no specific group is being targeted, it is being collectively applied and that is essentially why is acceptable

firefly · 3 Dec 2006

Hi Mobay,

Good point, but have a look at the bigger picture. Japan is an island country. They are not targeting any specific group, they're targeting everything that isn't Japan! The word Gaijin by its nature and kanji definition means "outside person".

As such, its commonly used by the ignorant to persecute and ridicule people. Its a very negative thing, but as Japan becomes more international, I hope they revise the word and its use.

All other countries actively discourage and look down upon words that negatively identify minorities, and I hope Japan follows suit. I will concede that since gaijin does not actively target a particular group it is less offensive, but it doesn't make you feel better when a sneering ignorant Japanese person refers to you with the term.

MoBay said:
Gaijin is in reference to all people whom they the Japanese perceive as not being from their culture. I believe it would be a reasonable assumption to make when you meet a white or black person in Japan. The word Gaijin simple means foreigners and that is basically what you are. How could it possible be racist when no specific group is being targeted, it is being collectively applied and that is essentially why is acceptable

gaijinalways · 3 Dec 2006

Caster,

Some things are easy to understand. Surprisingly, some posters think that this is normal behaviour for 5th graders, but I disagree. I think people often learn things by example, and in this case obviously this is what these kids learned at home or in school or both.

bexchurnside · 7 Dec 2006

Flanker said:
I have a simple question for the JREF Community: do you consider the word "Gaijin" a racist slur? In my opinion, it in and of itself isn't a racist slur, but many people have co-opted into a word that has racit connotations (I.E. being shouted at a white person, who may or may not have permanent residency or citizenship). I also think it is kind of a rude word, and I don't use it much.

I can accept that I am a Gaijin. But my Japanese-Canadian fiance, he should not be considered. For those born in Japan, and have repatriated, they definately should not be considered a foreigner, unless have acquired a dual nationality, which would qualify them to be a gaijin simultaneously.
How about the word Okusan. the kanji for okusan窶ｰﾅ凪?堋ｳ窶堙ｱﾂ、meaning person of the far back (as in far back of the house) give rise to the connotation, be docile, be a housewife. "Be in the kitchen being pregnant". Any comments on Okusan?
I want to know how many Japanese feel that if a woman goes out to work, it makes him feel insecure because it non-verbally tells him that he is not man enough to properly take care of the family in terms of brining home the bacon so that she has to subsidize out of his incompetence?
Personally, I don't mind a man taking care of me, as I too feel that as beautiful as I am, it is a man's privilege to have me at his side, and that it is his duty to pay for everything first. Working for me, should be only to pursue a higher purpose, or only if I want to pursue a career, but only out of desire to work, and not out of economic necessity. For myself, I think that a beautiful lady has the luxury to decide if she wants to work or not.

I feel I have a bit of Japaneseness to me in this sense. I see it not as chauvinism, but rather as kindness and respect he has for the lady.

Mikawa Ossan · 7 Dec 2006

bexchurnside said:
I can accept that I am a Gaijin. But my Japanese-Canadian fiance, he should not be considered. For those born in Japan, and have repatriated, they definately should not be considered a foreigner, unless have acquired a dual nationality, which would qualify them to be a gaijin simultaneously.

Is your fiance a Canadian citizen? Does he act and think like a Canadian rather than a Japanese?

These I think are the main factors when dealing with adults. Children are a different story.

If your fiance is a Canadian citizen, then he is a nikkei. Nikkei have a special status somewhere between Japanese and gaijin. I don't know any Nikkei, however, so I can't comment much on their condition in Japan.

bexchurnside · 8 Dec 2006

Mikawa Ossan said:
Is your fiance a Canadian citizen? Does he act and think like a Canadian rather than a Japanese?
These I think are the main factors when dealing with adults. Children are a different story.
If your fiance is a Canadian citizen, then he is a nikkei. Nikkei have a special status somewhere between Japanese and gaijin. I don't know any Nikkei, however, so I can't comment much on their condition in Japan.

But he also has a Japanese passport.

Mikawa Ossan said:
Is your fiance a Canadian citizen? Does he act and think like a Canadian rather than a Japanese?
These I think are the main factors when dealing with adults. Children are a different story.
If your fiance is a Canadian citizen, then he is a nikkei. Nikkei have a special status somewhere between Japanese and gaijin. I don't know any Nikkei, however, so I can't comment much on their condition in Japan.

But he also has a Japanese passport, so he isn't just nikkei, he is nihonjin, I think. Or would that be true only if he is an Issei? Any native Japanese know the answer to this question?

godppgo · 8 Dec 2006

bexchurnside said:
But he also has a Japanese passport.
But he also has a Japanese passport, so he isn't just nikkei, he is nihonjin, I think. Or would that be true only if he is an Issei? Any native Japanese know the answer to this question?

So he has dual citizenship? I didn't know Japanese goverment recognizes dual citizenship...

twinklestar · 8 Dec 2006

LOL This poster is someone parades as English lady presently living in Canada who's love-struck with a Canadian-born Nikkeijin,wrote some contradictions I've read so far LOL.

gaijinalways · 8 Dec 2006

So he has dual citizenship? I didn't know Japanese goverment recognizes dual citizenship...[/QUOTE]

They don't, but that doesn't stop Japanese people from getting a passport or two.

DoctorP · 8 Dec 2006

There is currently no way for the Japanese government to know whether you possess a passport issued by another country or not. As long as each time you travel you use the same passport to enter the country as you did to leave the country, there will be no problem. Now if you leave Japan under a US passport and try to reenter under a Japanese passport, you might get caught!

w1ngzer0 · 21 Dec 2006

I had to think about that for a minute. The answer is no. It is not color or race specific.

Is "Gaijin" a Racist Slur?

Is the word "Gaijin" a racist slur?

Yes, it is a racist slur and should never be used.

Yes, in practice, it is a racist slur.

No, but it have Racist connotations.

No, it is not a racist slur.

No, it is perfectly fine to refer to those who don't have Japanese Citizenship.

No, it is perfectly fine to refer to those who are not of Ethnic Japanese Descent.

I don't have an opinion.

born in the USSR

puzzled gaijin

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