Is "Gaijin" a Racist Slur?

[KirinMan]

I don't think it's racist in and of itself, but the fact that someone says it instead of "that man/woman/person" is somewhat racist. It has a little racial connotation seeing that you're saying it instead of something more neutral.

Ok here then is an example for you....

How would let's take for example, two Japanese people, in a coffee shop, talking with one another and they are discussing two people in sitting far across the room from them, one a "gaijin" the other Japanese.

They are both men, women, people, how would you differentiate between the two? There is nothing racist at all.

The word "gaijin" has only become to have "racist" connotations because of some, in my opinion, overly sensitive, "gaijin" not liking the idea that there is a word in Japanese to describe us vs them. An insider vs outsider.

There really isnt a whole world of difference between the words "gaijin" or "gaikokujin", they both connotate a person from "outside" Japan.

Seems to me that some "gaijin" want Japan to change their language to be more inclusive of "others" from somewhere else.

 

[tada]

My example really only assumed there was one person to refer to. Willingly choosing to call them a gaijin is somewhat discriminatory.

 

[Otenba]

Oh come on... Left as seen from whos perspective? Far left, 2nd from the left? Let's all go cry a river about being called gaijin when it's the most effective way to pinpoint us in a group of Japanese. In my class, when an outsider enters looking for me in the midst of 70 people, I'm "the somewhat big girl", well, boo freaken hoo, no other distinctive things to pinpoint me by. It becomes hurtful when used to hurt, same with "gaijin".

And be honest, would you not, in a group of caucasians, say "that Asian dude over there" if that's the most distinctive thing about him? Nothing wrong with that.

 

[KirinMan]

ﾂ債ｶ窶堙個人ﾂ？ﾂ 窶ｰE窶堙個人ﾂ？

My example really only assumed one person, like in the post a few posts above mine. When picking someone out of multiple people, it's not nearly as racist.

I know what you are trying to say but there is an assumption or an expectation that you are making that people in daily conversation are going to astute or pc to differentiate in the manner that you are using here.

Basically how it comes across to me is that what is being expected it seems that people need to be retaught how to speak Japanese when refering to "gaijin". I'm sorry but I dont think it is going to happen and I dont think it is a reasonable expectation either.

I have been living here well over 20 years, and to be honest I have heard the term "gaijin" used in reference to me probably more than the majority of people posting on this forum.

I have heard it used with "racial" or "racist" connotations maybe a few times if memory serves me right, and to tell you the truth even then it didnt bother me one little bit, because I took into consideration the ignorance of the people using it.

The word itself is not blatantly or obviously racist as other words in other languages, when in fact the word itself is relatively new to the vocabulary of Japanese. If memory serves me right the original word for outsiders to Japan was barbarian. I can deal with foreigner, because that is what I am here.

 

[tada]

I guess it's ultimately up to a person's perception whether it's racist or not, or the degree they'll get offended.

It's probably much like referring to an overweight person "fat". Some might get horribly offended, some might be indifferent, some might laugh at themselves a bit, and some are even proud...

 

[becki_kanou]

The only time it ever bothers me is when I hear Japanese people use it to refer to white/black/whatever people when they're visiting (or talking about visiting) another country.
Because in that it case, it's just insular and downright innacurate.

 

[KirinMan]

The only time it ever bothers me is when I hear Japanese people use it to refer to white/black/whatever people when they're visiting (or talking about visiting) another country.
Because in that it case, it's just insular and downright innacurate.

I know where you are coming from as well, but one thing that has to be taken into consideration is the Japanese language itself.

People are translating Japanese into English or whatever other language it may be, however for the purpose of discussion here let's use English ok?

In Japanese to a Japanese person someone who is not Japanese is a "gaijin" no matter what country they are in. They are not innacurate in their description from a Japanese language point of view. In fact they are quite on the mark. It's us as in Japanese and "gaijin". It isnt racist, it's just the language.

Another thing to consider is that when they go abroad they are calling the people "gaijin" in Japanese, notice here that they are not calling them foreigners using English, even though that is the translation, they are speaking in Japanese and in Japanese they are accurate.

Where they are I think insular is that they fail to see themselves as being viewed as "gaijin" when they are in another country. Now if they call themselves foreigners when they are abroad where would they be wrong?

To many Japanese that I have known that went abroad they saw the people in the countries they visited as "gaijin" yet they also viewed themselves as foreigners as well.

However to them the two words didnt carry the same meaning. I hope what I just wrote here makes sense. The sun is baking my brain today!

 

[becki_kanou]

KirinMan
I absolutely understand what you mean. And note I didn't say it was racist, just insular. I love Japan and it's my home, but many people still have this 内／外 mindset, which while understandable is certainly not laudable.

 

[KirinMan]

KirinMan
I absolutely understand what you mean. And note I didn't say it was racist, just insular. I love Japan and it's my home, but many people still have this 窶愿?ﾂ／ﾅ?O mindset, which while understandable is certainly not laudable.

Lol! I noticed that you didnt use racist as well, and I for one appreciate that too!

I agree it isnt laudable, and it is going to take a fuller integration of us foreigners into the society here before any recognizeable changes occur.

 

[becki_kanou]

Lol! I noticed that you didnt use racist as well, and I for one appreciate that too!
I agree it isnt laudable, and it is going to take a fuller integration of us foreigners into the society here before any recognizeable changes occur.

Indeed! That's what I'm trying to do (and I imagine many others here are as well) little by little. Getting upset about every imagined slight and taking offense at things that are said out of naiﾂ¨vete´ rather than malice doesn't help anyone.

 

[Pachipro]

Is "Gaijin" a racist slur?: Only if you believe it is and accept it as one.

 

[Chidoriashi]

KirinMan> you are right that when Japanese are talking in Japanese that calling foreigners gaijin is correct. However, it is still awkward to refer to the people around you as "foreigners" when you are in their country. I cannot recall ever calling a Japanese person a foreigner since i have been here. I call them Japanese. I call other foreigners "foreinger", or i refer to them by the country they are from. So if a Japanese is in say America (I am American), and they are calling all the Americans around them "gaijin" instead of "amerikajin", it does come off a bit insular and awkward in my opinion.
I know they are not doing it to be haughty or disrespectful though.

and just looking over the rest of your post it looks like you wrote the same thing.. haha

 

[bakaKanadajin]

Chidoriashi makes a good point. Using the term to refer to everyone non-Japanese at all times would be as silly as us Westerners referring to the Japanese (while in Japan) as immigrants. So if a Japanese person was to refer to an American as a gaijin while in America, that'd indeed be pretty insular and bordering on ignorant.

While in Japan however I don't feel that being referred to as a gaijin is racist, unless the situation has those kinds of overtones. It's important to make the distinction. Often times the Japanese have nothing better to say, being somewhat at a loss since they may not know our names. It's not uncommon to hear something akward but well-meaning like 'gaijinsan', which to me shows a decent attempt at respect. The term 'gaikokujin' seems to have slightly less of an edge, and where you need to refer to yourself as a foreigner I find this is more accepted than refering to yourself as a gaijin, which may make them feel uncomfortable, like you're pre-emptively throwing a word they may have had no intention of using back at them, or something to that effect.

 

[orochi]

Foreigner is relative.
Gai(koku )jin isn't.

Why are English rules being applied to Japanese words?

 

[KirinMan]

Foreigner is relative.
Gai(koku)jin isn't.

Why are English rules being applied to Japanese words?

What or how is foreigner relative to?

 

[orochi]

Relative to where you are when you say it.

 

[Arthur68]

I'm just starting to learn Japanese and the culture, so I don't know the ways of how Japanese people address others including foreigners.

But if you think about it, at least here in the United States, Americans do not address or greet a foreigner as "Foreigner" or say something like "Hello, foreigner" We address everybody by their name or by "Sir" or "Ma'am" if we don't know their name.

So I don't know if it is in the Japanese culture to politely address a foreigner by calling him/her a foreigner or "gaijin", but it would not make sense here in the U.S.

But if I was in Japan and I overhead someone say that I was a gaijin, but not like it was rudely said to my face, I don't know if I would be offended because if gaijin technically means foreigner in Japanese and technically I would be a foreigner.

So here in the U.S., if I went up to some immigrant or foreign tourist and said to their face, "Hello...FOREIGNER" that probably would be rude and suggest that I don't like him because he is a foreigner. But if I just basically said, "That guy over there is a foreigner" then that wouldn't be rude.

 

[hsakakibara1]

Is gaijin a racist word?

No more so than nigger is for negro, chink is for Chinese, jap is for Japanese, keto is for white (many white men are hairy so what is racist about it?)
After all, all these wrods are just easier ways of saying the obvious. So gaijin is just short for gaikokujin.
But lets face it, it is all racism no matter how you look at it so lets stop using these words. I correct my J friends when they use the "g" word and so should you. After all, if we can get rid of the word "turko" for sex houses because a Turkish scholar was offended, we can get rid of "gaijin" cos we are all offended.

 

[Ashikaga]

....we can get rid of "gaijin" cos we are all offended.

Well, looking at the poll result (and reading many of the posts), I don't think all are offended. I refrain from using the word because I know some are.

 

[bakaKanadajin]

I stated in an earlier post (and perhaps somewhere in the archives, even earlier posts)that I thought gaijin was just a shortened form of gaikokujin, but strangely enough, after reading this thread and a few posts in particular about how gaijin had much deeper and culturally centered meanings, and then hearing it used in context (I'd been listening for it following this topic and also tried to think back to previous instances) I did notice that it sometimes carries a noticably different connotation than gaikokujin. I would have to agree that, while by and large it may be used in spirit as a shortened form, or at least, with no more harm intended, than 'gaikokujin', it does (quite quickly and fludily) shift meanings from foreigner to 'outsider' sometimes. The nuance is slight, but I sense a definite differentiation with how it is used.

In short, (and this is just my opinion) there are some things which the Japanese consider beyond the immediate reach of (but attainable for) foreigners; things such as perhaps linguistic abilities or the ability to assimilate along cultural lines such as cuisine, acclimatization to Japanese style apartments, lifestyle, etc., But for much deeper and sacred cultural dealings, there is a sense that some things will just never be understood or fully appreciated by foreigners. I can't pinpoint them, as these kinds of things are always apt to be a little more subjectively treated, but I'd imagine they may include things like tatemae, using keigo properly, various ceremonies and forms of unspoken but culturally rooted conduct, etc. When it comes time for these topics vs. the more mundane and every-day, I feel gaijin is invoked moreso than 'gaikokujin', laying down the groundwork for a slightly different separation from native Japanese. Something more concrete and final, hence a little more unattainable.

Breaking through these barriers would not be impossible, but I think it'd be more of a one-on-one, case-by-case situation rather than general accetpance. That is to say, proving your un-gaikokujin-ness is easier than proving your un-gaijin-ness.

 

[Dogen Z]

A lot of foreigners are still so WAY BEHIND THE CURVE.

I don't understand why these people don't want to be gaijin--be happy with what you are, you can't (and really don't want to) be nihonjin--it's too much pressure and requires too much self-restraint. It's kind of like what one black person told me in the States--unless you are born black, you have no idea what it means to be black in the U.S.

But getting away from race, even Japanese who have lived abroad for awhile and no longer act Japanese are called gaijin. Nikkeijin, too. So, please give that R-word a rest. You don't know what you are talking about.

 

[Taiko666]

I'm just starting to learn Japanese and the culture, so I don't know the ways of how Japanese people address others including foreigners.
But if you think about it, at least here in the United States, Americans do not address or greet a foreigner as "Foreigner" or say something like "Hello, foreigner" We address everybody by their name or by "Sir" or "Ma'am" if we don't know their name.
So I don't know if it is in the Japanese culture to politely address a foreigner by calling him/her a foreigner or "gaijin", but it would not make sense here in the U.S.
But if I was in Japan and I overhead someone say that I was a gaijin, but not like it was rudely said to my face, I don't know if I would be offended because if gaijin technically means foreigner in Japanese and technically I would be a foreigner.
So here in the U.S., if I went up to some immigrant or foreign tourist and said to their face, "Hello...FOREIGNER" that probably would be rude and suggest that I don't like him because he is a foreigner. .

Some good points, and quite close to my reasons for not liking the word 'gaijin' - or at least its massive over-usage.

However:

But if I just basically said, "That guy over there is a foreigner" then that wouldn't be rude.

I'd hazard a guess that you wouldn't describe him as a foreigner at all- you'd state his nationality (eg French, British etc.) Due the over-use of the throwaway, lazy, catch-all word 'gaijin', that sort of courtesy isn't often afforded in Japan.

 

[gaijinalways]

As someone who uses it in his handle, it's lost a lot of its sting for me. I had someone use it the other day in the cemetary when I went to visit my wife's family graves. Some guy was trying to get around me when we were returning the water bucket (used for offering water to the dead)ﾂ）to an area near the gate.ﾂ I was very tempted to say, "Nihonjin da!" in response, but figured the guy wouldn't get it.

But yeah, when Japanese use it ouside of Japan, it is more than a little strange.

One other thing, which hasn't been clearly explained as far as I know or have read, why is it Japanese only coinsider 'gaijin' to be non-Japanese if the translation that is closest to gaijin is foreigner? Technically, any time a person is outside the country that they are a citizen in, they are a foreigner.

 

[orochi]

why is it Japanese only coinsider 'gaijin' to be non-Japanese if the translation that is closest to gaijin is foreigner

Because foreigner is not a direct (or literal) translation of gaijin.
Just because foreigner means what it does in English has no weight on what gaijin means in Japanese.

 

[caster51]

The Japanese must call gaijin a foreigner in English:?

any time a person is outside the country that they are a citizen in, they are a foreigner.

if he is unknown, he would be Gaijin