Japanese vs. Gaijin

[Duo 9]

I made this thread to have everyone put in something they experienced in Japan as foreigners. I want to hear both good and bad. Just trying to make a point as to exactly how good and how bad foreigners can be treated in Japan. So, naturally, I want to hear both the good and the bad. I realize there are people who have entirely different experiences, but the experiences of gaijin in japan can go both ways, so post your stories and read the others, then make a decision as to whether Japan is one-sided pro-gaijin or not!

 

[Duo 9]

I gotta post a few stories, of course, that I heard from other people. No names included, if this is your story and want to add to it, go ahead.

First: The policeman in the train station.
A canadian man and a Korean man were taking a trip to elseware in Japan, and upon asking for directions (which train to take, etc.) from a cop, the Korean man was asked to show identification. He did so, and there was nothing wrong with the identification and passport, but the cop decided to phone it in anyway. They waited 30 minutes before he was satisfied with the I.D. No racism or anything intended just doing his job, of course.

Second: Housing
I have heard from multiple people now that getting housing when one is white is nearly impossible in bigger cities. Why? You decide that for yourself.

Third: The infamous baker
White man walks into a bakery and wants a slice of something thinking it's chocolate. Not the case, he later found bean paste, but what happened inside is an excellent example of how somepeople are. The baker thought it could be cute to point out this innocent white man, assuming he didn't know Japanese (we whities could never understand the Japanese language. Too advanced.), and proceeded to comment on how big his nose was, also pointing out how his nose was a caucasian nose. Gee, i feel so accepted.

Fourth: I.D. checking
Okay, you're wondering why I posted this last, but that's because it is an excellent and accurate example. Why? Well, because everyone has a different opinion. 50/50 some have never had a problem, others get checked everywhere. Not ALL of Japan is racist, but not All of Japan is pro-gaijin either. They just seem to be brought up with a certain attitude to different people, even their own kind. Everyone has heard of a half Japanese person going through hell because they are only half Japanese.

I'm not being anti-Japanese here. I love Japan. But they most likely don't love me, especially after I so bluntly and openly pointed out exactly how unaccepting they can be. Just because someone else has had a horrible stay, doesn't mean you will have a horrible stay. But, just because your other friend has had a wonderful stay doesn't mean you won't have a bad stay.

 

[Goldiegirl]

I was treated so kindly and with such care it was amazing. I was in Japan under special circumstances so I know that my experience was out of the ordinary. However, I did have one not so great time on the train at night...we were going back to our hotel after spending some time at a party and this guy get rubbing up against me! The train wasn't so crowded that he had to, when I made a point to look at him he shut his eyes and was acting like he was drunk. I started to get really angry and was about to elbow him hard and everyone I was with got all nervous and upset, and they just kept making excuses for the guy!!!! I couldn't believe it.

 

[nice gaijin]

Duo 9, how come you talk about how you want to hear about the good and the bad, then proceed to list only the bad things you've heard?

You say you know people have had completely different experiences, then want to make a decision as to whether Japan is one-sided in favor or against foreigners?

Even your thread title shows how you feel on the subject, it looks like you are the one who is already prejudiced here.

 

[craftsman]

...then make a decision as to whether Japan is one-sided pro-gaijin or not!

I'm not being anti-Japanese here. I love Japan. But they most likely don't love me, especially after I so bluntly and openly pointed out exactly how unaccepting they can be.

What you've asked for is for individual experiences of foreigners in Japan which is fine, but I'd like to make it clear to you , because I don't think anyone has yet, that Japanese people are as diverse as any other country in the world.

Japanese people are people, and although they may look the same, dress the same and appear to behave in a similar way, they are not the same. So if a foreign person is treated good or bad by a Japanese person, it means as much about Japan as it does about America when a foreign person gets treated good or bad by an American.

You can't make accurate judgements about the people in a country from a few stories. So any talk of 'they' when referring to how Japanese people might feel about you is, in my book, a fundamental misunderstanding of Japan, as it would be of any country.

People are people wherever you go. Some will love you, some will hate you, some will ignore you, some will think you're the most interesting thing on the planet, some will be prejudiced against you, some will fight prejudice with you. So while it is very interesting to read stories about how foreigners are treated in Japan, you've got to remember that Japan is a diverse place and there are all sorts of people there.

 

[Davey]

Some Japanese like foreigners some don't like foreigners.

There are already heaps of threads about this subject, search arround.

 

[Mike Cash]

Duo 9, how come you talk about how you want to hear about the good and the bad, then proceed to list only the bad things you've heard?
You say you know people have had completely different experiences, then want to make a decision as to whether Japan is one-sided in favor or against foreigners?
Even your thread title shows how you feel on the subject, it looks like you are the one who is already prejudiced here.

This thread is his attempt to wipe the egg off his face:
Is it posible for a foregin to live normaly in Japan?

 

[taehyun]

vs?

I'm little bit worried about the usage of "vs" here, it means confrontation...
And Dutch Baka is right, all cases from 1to4 are already discussed in many threads.
I think Macciamo has written a lot about the ID check.

 

[Mrjones]

The nice and good japan: the people who take you to shrines and mountine areas, are intrested talking to you. They are usually very polite, when sober, happy and loud when drunk. Usually much more friendlier than people i know from west. Or just leave you alone with your businesses..I dont mind those

The others: People who just do everything possible to avoid responsibility. The people who open up their window from their car and strart throwin trashes on street, and look you into eyes. People who think rainbows are made in Japan.
Lets add people who constantly, start saying word dame when i am around. Isnt these people supposed to be harmonyous.

 

[Chris K]

I got treated very well in Japan on my visit. Had to spend ages in immigration but that had something to do with my UK passport not being issued in the UK i think. Got 'stopped and searched' on the first day but the police where polite and friendly and was a pain free experience. Other than that i found the japanese helpful and tolerant of my lack of japanese.
Best experience was a young lad who had lived in the UK and hence knew very good english noticed i was lost and offered help. I explained i was trying to find a club, but he didint know it. Eventually i joined him in another club he was going to, met all his friends and had an excellent time.
I was there alone, knew no-one in japan and there i was on my second day in a large group enjoying myself. Gotta say that really meant a lot to me.

 

[Karamuucho]

Duo9>
Care to post some of your good stories?

Goldiegirl>
This happens to a lot of Japanese women, more so than than foreign women (I'm 99.9% certain of this, due to stereotypes of foreign women, stuff like violence and other things I fail to understand). Ofcourse this is unacceptable behaviour, I'm sure everyone on earth knows this, but I expect the fact that friends were making excuses would have something to do with people not wanting to "make a scene" (although I've seen posters around advising women to start a commotion to raise attention, and to shame the perv).


Honest opinion, there are threads like this one around, perhaps not so varied in topic but all of the topics are covered, why not post in those?

 

[Habu31]

Good & Bad in Japan:
(The Bad) A few of my american friends went inside a bar to meet up with some of our other Japanese and American friends. They were only going to be a minute, so I waited outside on the sidewalk with my girlfriend(at the time...). We were gathering up people because we were on our way to a holiday party elsewhere. I saw 3 japanese policeman were walking on the otherside of the street. Suddenly they crossed the street and were heading in my direction. I didn't pay much attention to them because I assumed they were just doing their routine walk-around through the bar district.

They walked directly to me and the lead guy told me in english "hey, hey, hey! Show me your ID!". My girlfriend asked him why he wanted o see my ID. I gave the guy my ID and he looked at it for a few seconds then handed it back. My friends just came out of the bar and witnessed all this. I proceeded to walk away and the officer pushed me. As I turned around his jr. policeman grabbed me and shoved me in their patrol car. I was like "you gotta be kidding me!" One of my friends had a video camera and starting to tape what was going on. One of the patolman shoved him and threated to hit him with his cane. My japanese friends were arguing with the police and threatened to press charges/ file a complaint.

They took me to the station, which was across the street in the car with the lights on and everything! It was so funny. I was never hand-cuff nor searched. So I was confused to what the problem was. They escorted me inside to a room where I was to see the interpreter. I speak a decent amount of japanese but I didn't have an option not to see one.

The interpreter came in a began explaining why I was taken to the police station. He said that the policeman told me to move off of the side walk and I wouldn't go, then he had to restrain me and take my ID away from me. WHAT!!! You gotta be kidding me!(Not what I said at the time). I proceeded to tell the interpreter that he told me no such thing and that there would have been an all-out brawl if anyone tried to reach in my pocket and take my wallet to get my ID. The interpreter said the policeman told me in japanese and is not required to speak english to me. I was like "hahaha!!!" and began speaking japanese to the interpreter! I told him I heard no such thing and I would have gladly move off of the sidewalk if he asked me. Then I told him in english that he made a B-line toward me, through traffic, on the otherside of the street and told me in 'clear-as-day' english to give him my ID.

The police guy that pushed me and harassed me was out in the hallway smiling as he passed the room I was in. I told him that they all are full of crap and I was going to leave. My phone was ringing off-the-hook the whole time with my friends asking if I was OK. I told them I will meet them back at the spot I was at in a minute.

I aked them if i was being charged with something and he said no. Immediately after he answered I said, "Then bye." And I walked out. They didn't stop me from leaving either.

Nobody filed any complaints or any thing. Its just made for a funny story at the holiday party I attended thereafter.

(The Good) There is too much to tell. I love japan. I guess the police are jerks no matter where you are! Peace!

 

[Glenn]

That wasn't in Tokyo by any chance, was it?

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

?
I do not understand what of an action of a police officer was bad.:?

 

[Mrjones]

?
I do not understand what of an action of a police officer was bad.:?

I dont think anyone wants to go police office with sirens on...if there has been no crime.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

By Japanese law, a resident foreigner must always carry an alien registration certificate.

In addition, when it was demanded by a police officer, there is a duty to show it.
If I violated it, penal servitude punishment for less than 1 year, or it is a fine of less than 200000 yen.
☝

 

[Habu31]

No, it was in Okinawa . I know the law and requirements. Seems like everything is penal servitude punishment up to a 1 year or a 200000 yen fine.
(Hiroyuki-san)
You don't understand what was bad? I commited no crime, the officer lied, made a unneccessary scene, and assaulted me and others after he viewed my ID and I proceeded to walk away. Sounds bad to me.....

They knew they were wrong and the head officer minipulated the situation. That's why they allowed me to leave station with no charge. Only being there no more than 5-10 minutes.

 

[Mrjones]

By a Japanese law,
A residence foreigner must always carry an alien registration certificate.
In addition,
When it was demanded from a police officer, there is duty to show it.

This is nothing new, many countries have similar kind of foreign politics considering alien registeration card. Problem comes when someone has no problem with gaijin card, and still is taken to station. This kind of action is often illigal. We all know Japan has no law against racism, so there is not much you can expect.

 

[caster51]

all we know There is no profit at all even if it resists the police for trivial things.
A further trouble is born.
why do not they understand?

 

[Glenn]

No, it was in Okinawa.

Then I think this is the first time I've heard of a story about more than questionable police behavior outside of Tokyo. Of course, this is only the third or so such story I've heard, so it's not that much, but I just wanted to check the pattern.

 

[pipokun]

Post the tape in the youtube.

 

[Mike Cash]

I would also like to see the tape. For some reason, I doubt that I ever will.

 

[Habu31]

Post the tape in the youtube.

I wish I had the tape

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Why not ask your friend for a copy?

 

[pipokun]

20 years old =>legal age you can drink
Coming of age day =>many people get excited to see friends
Loud kids =>everywhere
Riot police dispatched
Media agitates 'this is the end of the world', though the cases was just 11 at least this year.
They are all stupid after all.

Your story is similar to the above, isn't it?