Japanese vs. Gaijin

[TuskCracker]

TITLE: Japanese Vs. Gaijin

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....

.


Your title does n-o-t match the subject ! I suggest a better title
- -> Gaijin Bad Experiences, In Japan
- -> Gaijin Bad/Good Experiences, In Japan

 

[Mike Cash]

Why not ask your friend for a copy?

Because it would provide a clear and unbiased record of what did or did not take place?

 

[Duo 9]

I had a teacher in Japanese language and culture, and before she went back, she told me about her stay in Japan. The only bad experience she had was being made fun of by the Chinese Students and one instance on a train. You see, she was born in Peru. She had Japanese blood, and looked very Japanese except for her curly hair. She told me how she had to straighten it to be accepted, but when her Japanese language was tested, it didn't matter. Once, on a train, she asked a man if he could help her read the newspaper. Instead, he took it from her and told her she will never be able to read Japanese and shouldn't try.

On a lighter note, the Japanese who knew her were very nice, especially in teaching her about the culture. She married a Japanese man and kept her hair straight, everything was perfect. Apparently, she was very happy in Japan. Now she lives in Hong Kong.

Living in a foreign country can alienate anyone. But how do you explain Japan's infamous treatment of foreigners? Why, when I tell people I wish to visit Japan, they tell me I will come running back with my tail between my legs? And why the hell does that mean that they are the idiots and you all know everything?!?

Americans are fat and lazy. Everyone has heard that one. And it is true, for the most part. A majority. I would love to go into the truths of the more blunt stereotypes but that would get me blocked.lol Not all Japnese are racist. There are many who are, BECAUSE THEY WERE BROUGHT UP THAT WAY. They are not bad people; if they were you'd think I would like them less. I don't. They can have a problem, though; though I don't expect to be accepted as Japanese, at least a little faith in my abilities would be nice. But no, I'm American, I will never understand their culture.

Sry about the name of the thread, but to be honest I was just in a hurry. No hard feelings any native japanese here, I'll change it if I can.

 

[Duo 9]

This was posted by Stop-The-Chat in the why_chinese_hate_japn_youths thread

Actually also, somebody up there talked about racism... Japan have a special word GAIJIN )) I was on a japanese forum for a game called "Front Mission 5", and i was there talking with a friendly japanese and the others asked me to leave because a wasn't a japanese... really kind ))

He has a point that helps my point. The best word we got is foregner and we don't even use that. plus, i guess the Japanese prefer to talk in Japanese, a westerner wouldn't really understand...

 

[xFumiko]

Hhaa, there haven't really been any positive experiences yet. So..now I'm kind of scared of going to Japan. :O kajdaksdas...

 

[caster51]

Hhaa, there haven't really been any positive experiences yet. So..now I'm kind of scared of going to Japan. :O kajdaksdas...

It is their purposes. That is, fuel hatred.

 

[Taiko666]

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.
If I violated it,
Penal servitude punishment for less than 1 year,
Or it is a fine of less than 200000 yen.
☝

According to the story, the ID was shown to the officer and there was no problem with it. We all know the above law. It's the main reason that Japan sometimes feels like a police state.

I don't know if you approve of this law, Nagashima-san, but to those who do, could I ask how would you feel if you had to carry an ID card at all times or face a year in jail? Especially when most of the people around you are completely exempt from such a strict law? What if you lose your card on the street? How can you report the loss to a police officer without automatically finding yourself in jail? OK, pragmatically the liklihood is there wouldn't be a problem, but according to the letter of the law you're liable to a spell in the clink. When I had my wallet, which contained my alien (shazbut, nanu-nanu) card stolen recently in Osaka, I felt unable to report it until I'd returned to Toyko to retrieve my passport. This was because I feared spending the next few days in a police cell. This heavy-handed, stress-inducing treatment of foreigners is one of the things that really does make Japan unique in the world. Oh, and of course the criminal who stole my wallet now knows my address, job title, company name & address, birthplace, passport number etc.
As for dealings/experiences with the police- I've found Japanese police helpful and polite, and I've never heard of any of my friends suffering an experience like that in the story. However, the actual laws relating to foreigners are incredibly strict, intimidating and open to abuse by BadCop-san. That's why I didn't report the loss of my card until I had my passport in my hand. It was too much of a risk to take.

 

[craftsman]

Hhaa, there haven't really been any positive experiences yet. So..now I'm kind of scared of going to Japan. :O kajdaksdas...

I got stopped by the police last year for speeding. Had no licence, ID etc with me and persuaded them to let me go home and return to their speed check point half an hour later with the licence. They were exceedingly polite the whole time. Perhaps its a countryside thing.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I have only postive experience with the police in this country, as I have explained elsewhere.

I have been stopped for speeding once, and the police were nothing but polite and courteous. Much better than the police that stopped me once in America for speeding.

I was asked for my ID once, and the police officer was very nice, and even started in small chat for a short time.

I was asked politely by the police to please not sit down in the station at Shinjuku. No problem at all.

I have asked the police for directions, and they told me right away.

I know several police officers, and not a one of them has anything against foreigners, not even the one whose job is taking care of illegals.

I like the police in Japan much better than I do the ones in my native country.

I don't know if these count as postive experiences, but they are definately not negative ones.

 

[Beer Baron]

This was posted by Stop-The-Chat in the why_chinese_hate_japn_youths thread
Actually also, somebody up there talked about racism... Japan have a special word GAIJIN )) I was on a japanese forum for a game called "Front Mission 5", and i was there talking with a friendly japanese and the others asked me to leave because a wasn't a japanese... really kind ))
He has a point that helps my point. The best word we got is foregner and we don't even use that. plus, i guess the Japanese prefer to talk in Japanese, a westerner wouldn't really understand...

Dunno about special word? It's just a word. Actually Gaikokujin (pls excuse if poor romaji). Often people use it in a derogatory way, but it's not a derogatory word. It just means outsider (or could be translated as foreigner too). We have those same words in english and they are used the same way (sometimes in a descriptive way, sometimes in an insulting way).
Now, as for good or bad experiences as a gaijin in Japan? well. The only real bad experiences have involved other foreigners (sad to say mostly people from northern America, but some from Oceania too). I have so many good experiences it's hard to list them all.
I have met lots of nice girls in my trips in Japan and some short term relationships, and some have endured longer.
I have met lots of Japanese male friends too.
1 story.
I went to a drift event at Fuji speedway with another foreign friend. we met a Japanese guy who was there by himself. So we talked a bit (they both drive the same model car, and his dad owns a GTR skyline like me). then he offered to take me out in his car. had great fun, so I tried to buy him lunch. he insisted though and ended up paying for me, and my friend. he broke his car late in the afternoon and a tow truck was 3 hours away. not wanting to leave him alone we took him out for some beers and food at a local restaurant. I invited him to come to my place in azabu (roppongi) for dinner later that week. he rang the day before and said could I meet him near his place in yokohama instead. sure enough when I rocked up with my friend yumiko he was there with his 2 kids, wife and father, and proceeded to buy me a meal at an amazing yakiniku place. then asked if I would like to drive his fathers GTR at fuji speedway next time I was in town. such a lovely, friendly guy. I have plenty more stories like this. the trouble is typing them out!

edit: I wanted to add a few more thoughts.

You will find most countries that have a strong national culture will be a bit wary or seem closed off to outsiders, that's just the way it is. It's not unique to Japan. I live in Australia and in this country we have only a very small indigenous population. The vast majority of people here immigrated here over the last 200 years. so there really aren't any "Australian" people. so you would think we would be a very tolerant and accepting bunch, and for the most part you'd be right, but there are still elements here that are not friendly, are very close minded, and yes racist. Japan I have found to be quite accepting, but I think there is a difference. they are very accepting of you as a foreigner, but you can never be accepted as a nihon-jin. where as in Australia you can come from anywhere, any colour skin and over time you WILL be accepted as an Australian (if you want to be).

 

[taehyun]

Dunno about special word? It's just a word. Actually Gaikokujin (pls excuse if poor romaji). Often people use it in a derogatory way, but it's not a derogatory word. It just means outsider (or could be translated as foreigner too). We have those same words in english and they are used the same way (sometimes in a descriptive way, sometimes in an insulting way).

Didin't want to mention this but... I think "alien" is even worce than "gaijin".Only most native speakers are used to this word and don't pay much attention. When somebody calls me "an alien" I feel as if I have come from another galaxy and another time...

 

[Beer Baron]

Didin't want to mention this but... I think "alien" is even worce than "gaijin".Only most native speakers are used to this word and don't pay much attention. When somebody calls me "an alien" I feel as if I have come from another galaxy and another time...

lol, yeah Alien Registration card for example doesn't really have a friendly ring to it does it? I actually don't mind being called gaikokujin (in full) if someone is trying to explain who I am on the phone etc (after all I am an outsider). sometimes people do use gaijin to be offensive or dismissive though. so of course I prefer ausotoraria-jin if someone has to explain 'what' I am.

 

[KirinMan]

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!

Excuse me if I am a bit late in asking this here......

First off where exactly in Okinawa did this happen to you?

I would love, (not holding my breath here) to see the video of what exactly happened without the embellishments. The cops are not going to just take you to the station as you are accusing them of doing without a valid reason. And another thing if, which I am having a real hard time believing you here for any number of reasons, they did actually take you there, there are most ceratinly not going to let you just walk out the door as if nothin happened with in the space of 15 minutes.

I also highly doubt that you would have caused an "all out brawl" if the cop would have reached into your pocket for your ID. Which btw they would not do, in any case, if you had denied them your identification they would have taken you in to the station and detained you for further questioning, as is their right.

Oh btw I have quite a number of friends and moai connections within the Japanese police and detectives here in Okinawa so I am going to check your "story" out as soon as you return here and say where exactly here in Okinawa this occured.

After (if) you furnish this information and I check it outto see if it happens to be true, I will come back here and verify it to everyone that "yes" this actually happened and what Habu-san said was true. Otherwise.....mmmmm, I think you know the answer to that one.

If you don't feel comfortable about writing where this event took place PM me with the location and I'll take it from there.

Because to tell you the truth here, if you haven't figured it out already, it is a pretty tall tale that you are asking everyone to believe.

 

[KirinMan]

I have only postive experience with the police in this country, as I have explained elsewhere.
I have been stopped for speeding once, and the police were nothing but polite and courteous. Much better than the police that stopped me once in America for speeding.
I was asked for my ID once, and the police officer was very nice, and even started in small chat for a short time.
I was asked politely by the police to please not sit down in the station at Shinjuku. No problem at all.
I have asked the police for directions, and they told me right away.
I know several police officers, and not a one of them has anything against foreigners, not even the one whose job is taking care of illegals.
I like the police in Japan much better than I do the ones in my native country.
I don't know if these count as postive experiences, but they are definately not negative ones.

My experiences with the police here in Japan are similar as well, they have been polite and gracious as well.

I have even had the experience of calling the police department to find the location of a funeral in a part of one city that I was not totally familiar with.

I gave the desk officer the address and he actually called me back with directions and offered his personal assistance to find the location of the funeral if I got to the area and wasnt sure how to get there.

He went so far as to give me his cell phone number and offered to drive over and show me the location.

I have nothing but respect for a guy that would do that, particularly when on that day in question it was really nasty, raining cats and dogs and colder than hell. I even went so far afterwards to call the station chief and thank him for his officer's assistance.

 

[Beer Baron]

yes in my experience just like most police in most countries japanese police will treat you politely and respectfully if you do the same for them. if you want to act tough, and be a smart arse then need to expect their attitude towards you is going to change for the worse. I know lots of gaijin living in japan and none that have been picked on unfairly. I do know a few that have landed on the wrong side of the law after committing crimes (like street racing etc) and I think mostly they were treated just as any nihon-jin.

 

[Mrjones]

Indeed.. I have nothing but good experience about Japanese police force...
Though I sometimes have been disapointed I cant use my video camera, all the places i want. Ingeneral its better to just avoid the trouble. So I stop when guard tells me to.

 

[pipokun]

Feel free to shoot them, for they, public servants, cannot claim their right of portrait if they are on duty.

 

[kuroi_kat]

My whole experience in Japan was wonderful. I had no real problems with racism. the worst thing that happened to me was sometimes the seat next to me on the train would be the last one taken but then i look very American. (I had blonde hair when I went) Everyone stared too, but it wasnt a malicious stare...it was more like open curiosity. The few times I had issues with directions the people asked were as nice as can be. Maybe I just got lucky, but I think the way they treat you has a lot to do with the way you carry yourself and act. I even met my fiance on that trip (full blooded japanese born and raised in tokyo) and he tells me all the time that his friends wish they could have an American girlfriend. I think that the younger generations aren;t quite as prejudiced as the older ones are

 

[taehyun]

question for the admins

Oh btw I have quite a number of friends and moai connections within the Japanese police and detectives here in Okinawa so I am going to check your "story" out as soon as you return here and say where exactly here in Okinawa this occured.

Can we hope for a frank discussion when there's a nationalistic cop here?

I'm outta here...

Hey, cop, then why don't you do your job and find out my stalker,or the freak who ,dressed like a doctor, visited Nagoya uni dorm and assaulted the foreign students,or the guy who attacked and ...grabbed... my friend on the street?These cases were reported, the case with the dorm is famous among all foreign students in Aichi pref.

 

[caster51]

Hey, cop, then why don't you do your job

ask aichi police☝

ﾆ湛ﾆ暖ﾂーﾆ谷ﾂー窶堙娯?堙ｦ窶堋､窶堙可，窶堋ｱ窶堋ｱ窶啀∼窶啣窶愿ｺﾅｽﾃ披?堙??敕ｶﾂ行窶堋ｳ窶堙ｪ窶堙??堋｢窶堙ｩ窶堙??ｹﾂｯ窶堋ｦ窶堋ｽ窶罵ﾅｽq窶堙??板ｯﾅ?wﾂ青ｶ窶堋ｪ窶佛?窶冖窶堙俄?藩??堋ｽﾂ。窶板ｯﾅ?wﾂ青ｶ窶堙戸彙窶堙??堙坂?堋｢窶堙や?堙?窶慊ｯ窶堋ｶﾅｽﾃ披?堋ｪﾅ津｣窶堙ｰ窶堙や?堋ｯ窶堙??堋｢窶堙ｩ窶堙??堙娯?堋ｱ窶堙?。窶｢a窶ｰ@窶堙｢窶ｹﾃ｢ﾂ行窶堙滅?ﾃｱ窶堙≫?堙??堙?窶堋｢窶堙や?堙固?ﾃ披?堙俄?堋ｩ窶堙懌?堋ｽ窶慊ｯ窶堋ｶﾅｽﾃ披?堋ｪﾅ津｣窶堙ｫ窶堙俄?堋｢窶堙ｩ窶堙??ｹC窶督｡ﾋ?ｫ窶堋ｪ窶堙≫?堙??堋｢窶堋ｽﾂ。窶板ｯﾅ?wﾂ青ｶ窶堙最陳ｴ窶｢t窶堋ｫ窶堙可湘ｦ窶堙≫?堙??堋｢窶堙?，ﾆ弛ﾆ鍛ﾆ誰ﾆ蓄ﾆ停?ｰﾂー窶堙??敕ｶﾂ行窶堋ｷ窶堙ｩﾅｽﾃ披?堙姑段ﾆ停?愴弛ﾂー窶堙ｰﾅ陳ｩ窶堙??堋｢窶堋ｽ窶堋ｽ窶堙淞，ﾅ遅ﾅｽ@窶堙俄?凖岩?｢ﾃｱ窶堋ｵ窶榔ﾂ祥??堙ｰﾋ?銀?版?窶堋ｵ窶堋ｽ窶堙??堋ｱ窶堙ｫﾂ，ﾅ停?ｹ窶ｰﾃ岩?廬窶堙俄?堙最ｽﾃ披?堙最遅ﾅｽ@窶堙固ｽﾃ披?堋ｾ窶堙≫?堋ｽ窶堋ｱ窶堙??堋ｪ窶敖ｻ窶督ｾ窶堋ｵ窶堋ｽﾂ。窶堙絶?堙≫?堋ｽ窶堋ｭ窶堙ｨ窶敕?人窶堙俄?氾??堋ｭﾅｽ窶披?堋ｽ窶板ｯﾅ?wﾂ青ｶ窶堋ｪ窶ｹ^窶堙ｭ窶堙ｪ窶堙??堋｢窶堋ｽ窶堙ｧ窶堋ｵ窶堋｢ﾂ。ﾅ遅ﾅｽ@窶堋ｩ窶堙ｧ窶堙坂?凖岩?禿ｳﾆ但ﾆ停?ｹﾆ弛ﾆ辰ﾆ暖窶堙ｰ窶版?窶堙懌?堙ｪ窶堙ｩ窶堋ｱ窶堙??堙?窶堋?窶堙ｨﾂ，窶堋｢窶堙や?堙?窶堙坂?禿ｰ窶堙俄?板ｧ窶堙≫?堙??堋｢窶堙ｩ窶堙坂?堋ｸ窶堙娯?板ｯﾅ?wﾂ青ｶ窶堋ｪ窶?ﾂ債ｸ窶堙娯?覇窶ｹ^ﾅｽﾃ停?堙俄?堙遺?堙≫?堙??堋｢窶堙ｩ窶堙??堙坂??窶佛凪?堙?窶堋ｵ窶堙遺?堋ｩ窶堙≫?堋ｽﾂ。窶板ｯﾅ?wﾂ青ｶ窶堙娯?ｹﾂｰ窶｢|窶堙ｰﾅｽv窶堋､窶堙?湘寂?堋ｦ窶堙遺?堋｢ﾂ湘寂?堋｢ﾋ彙窶堋ｾ窶堙≫?堋ｽ

it is sad though they do good job
http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache...0%E5%AF%AE%E3%80%80%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%B

 

[KirinMan]

Can we hope for a frank discussion when there's a nationalistic cop here?
I'm outta here...
Hey, cop, then why don't you do your job and find out my stalker,or the freak who ,dressed like a doctor, visited Nagoya uni dorm and assaulted the foreign students,or the guy who attacked and ...grabbed... my friend on the street?These cases were reported, the case with the dorm is famous among all foreign students in Aichi pref.

Firstly in a calm reply to this obvious attempt at baiting me...I will only make the following comments to this childishness. If you would have taken the time you would see that the member that made the post that has drawn your ire in this reply has been online a number of times after making his comments about what allegedly happened to him and has not responded to the post in question. Which btw makes me believe that the entire episode was probably being exaggerated, if it happened at all.

Next if you actually read my reply you would see that I wrote that I have friends in the police department, I am not a cop as you so sacastically implied.

Lastly, if you would read the post a bit more thoroughly I live in Okinawa and know nothing about the situation in Aichi, to imply anything otherwise is foolish at best.

You want a "frank" discussion, great, but when people make posts here that are incredulous at best I see nothing wrong with requesting the poster to try to provide some evidence of the allegations that they are making. I have been living here in Japan for quite a number of years now and have heard some pretty tall tales/allegations people have made about their treatment at the hands of the police, some true, many not.

I find it difficult to believe the circumstances around the post you are refering to, and I most definetly don't take allegations like that at face value. Plus if I can find out the "facts" to verify either way the allegations I will.

Like I stated in the post in question, if they turn out to be true then I will glady come back here and tell the "world" that this actually happened and here is one city in Okinawa where it might be in everyone's (gaijin's that is) best interests to watch out for the police and their heavy handed tactics.
But I won't be holding my breath either.

 

[pipokun]

ask aichi police☝
it is sad though they do good job

A brief translation of caster's quotation is the stalker was just a cop who was investigating a case, though I don't know taehyun was the guy in the site.
I think it was wrong to investigate someone who was/is? very cooperative with police, and I also hope the case solved there.

 

[Pope]

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.

I would love to see what would happen to that Japanese guy if he tried that coming over to Canada. You should tell them that there are many nice gaijins over there. Even with tolerant Canadian laws, I wonder if he would get away with such things in Canada as he did in Japan. Who would back him up doing that let say on the Skytrain?

 

[Pope]

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.

What needs to happen is, the Bush Administration needs to force Japan to have laws against racism in Japan. I wonder what would happen if I started to call the Japanese Japs in Canada or the US, and treat them exactly the way they would treat us over there? Any suggestions? I am not a believer of colonialism or Imperialism, but Universal Declaration of Human Rights and BC Human Rights Codes are important to bring to the world. Ensuring equality of people is a noble enforcement to have as an international law. After all, Japan did choose to join the UN, and as such should be having laws against racism.

Will anyone be willing to write a letters of petition to the UN regarding this manner? I will be more than happy to sign.