Why all the Gaijin hate?

[Geezer]

I've been reading a fair few English Japan-related forums recently, as i've just been accepted by GEOS for a teaching position (I should arrive in Japan in April) and i've been shocked to see all the negativity surrounding foreigners, and more specifically, the TYPES of foreigners people say exist in Japan. It's honestly really got me worried, on two levels:

1) that if I want some foreign English-speaking company while over there, all there is is a bunch of shallow, womanizing, stereotypical fratboy douches who have no respect for the culture and only came to bang as many women as they can, and

2) that Japanese perceive gaijin as just that; pretty much 'barbarians' and secretly resent them under the guise of awe...

I've been interested in Japanese culture since I was a kid, and it seems like what I was thinking is finally my dream coming true could actually turn out to be a disaster...I consider myself a good person who enjoys the company of other good people, and am honestly worried about this.

Please tell me that not all the hate is justified...

 

[RockLee]

it's not all true....lot of stuff is just stereotyping...just like all japanese ppl hate foreigners...all a bunch of crap !! but like in EVERY country there are ppl who are like the things u summed up...not only Japan ;-) U have the opportunity to go to japan to teach...what I can tell u of my experience in japan is that it's a wonderful country and I hope someday I'm able to work there myself! So have a great time and make it an experience you won't ever forget !!!

 

[mad pierrot]

Meh...

We're not all that bad!

No, seriously, Rocklee is right. It's mostly a few giving the rest a bad name. As for Japanese people, they're no different from anyone else in that same sense. I've made the best friends of my life here.

Please tell me that not all the hate is justified...

It's not.



(Alot of the teachers are just wusses. Ever see BIG DAIKON? man...... )

 

[Maciamo]

There is some truth in what you say, but as long as you don't live and go out every night at Roppongi or Shibuya, you probably won't meet all that gaijin scum you mentioned, as that is where the worst of them hang out (which doesn't mean all foreigners who hang out there are scum of course, but there negative impact on the rest of us is disproportionately high toward the Japanese).

And for the Japanese all hating foreigners, that is not true. So idolize foreigners, others are born racists, and others don't really care or have unstable opinions.
When you come to Japan, just try to feel out what kind of Japanese you are dealing with.
- If they say you are so handsome and they have always longed to visit your country and want to offer you a drink, then they are in the "idolize" group (about 10%, mostly among 15 to 35 year-old females).
- If they ask you all the typical dumb questions like "can you use chopsticks ? (although you shouldn't be able as you are just a foreigner)" or the like, then you should be careful. (about 60% of the people).
- If they start making gestures when you talk to them in fluent Japanese, then consider they are in the "incurably prejudiced" group (about 30%, mostly people above 50 years old and among lower classes).
- If they start yelling insults at you in the street and make big gesture for no apparent reason, they are in the racist-nationalist group (a tiny minority, don't worry).

 

[GaijinPunch]

Those few have the right idea about a decent portion of foreigners though. How many times have you gotten on a train and can hear some *****'s conversation at the end of the cart? How often do you see those guys play there "I'm a gaijin" card. Wankers... yeah, it's not everyone, but just like those few Japanese ruin it for the rest, the foreigners have a smalll group that ruins it for us.

 

[den4]

Why worry what some freakin' gaijin scum are like? If you're not like that, then show them you are not...be polite, where it is deserved, and just be yourself....now if you are some freakin' gaijin scumbag, then, you may have cause to worry
Like the others have mentioned already, people are people....Japanese people don't have a monopoly on discrimination or racism...they may be hard to understand at first, since the language and some hidden meanings or nuances can make for some misunderstandings, but most people aren't going to consider the average gaijin (or gaikokujin if you prefer) as round eyed heathenous barbarians....unless you give a good example of this...by being a heathenous, uncouth, cur that deserves to be treated with extreme prejudice....so go forth with your new job and be good

 

[Maciamo]

Why worry what some freakin' gaijin scum are like? If you're not like that, then show them you are not...be polite, where it is deserved, and just be yourself....

That's ok with people you know, but that doesn't prevent the police from checking my bicycle's registration almost every time I run into them and they have nothing better to do. Very harassing. Now every time I see a policeman, I wonder whether I'll be stopped or not. Not that I fear any problem, but it is embarassing and all the Japanese watching around may be wondering if all gaijin are indeed thiefs or criminals - when in fact I am probably more morally irreproachable than the average Japanese, as I don't lie all the time as they do, I don't have light sexual morals, and I wouldn't even dare "borrowing" an umbrella as so many of them find normal.

It is difficult to bear this negative "gaijin image" that most Japanese have in their mind for a well-behaved and image-conscious foreigner in Japan. Sometimes I wonder if they are not trying to scare all the "good foreigners" away, so that the only gaijin left will be the scum that steal bikes, hang out in Roppongi to shag a different J-girl every night, don't pay taxes and don't give a damn about Japanese culture.
--- end of rant ---

 

[byp]

well, geezer, I have been teaching in Jp, in and out several times and to a very particular part of the population, if I might say so. Not the most funny ones, believe me.
They might have, at first, some kind of "non-consideration" for you.
But the only word is : RESPECTandrespect.
If you respect JP men and woman, way of life and are genuinely interested in their culture and traditions, they will respect you.
JP men & women are no different from South American, Inuits or Fijiians. All they ask is what YOU would ask when they come to your own country.
Enjoy your stay, I'm sure you will love it, as I do everytime I go there.

 

[Maciamo]

They might have, at first, some kind of "non-consideration" for you.
But the only word is : RESPECTandrespect.
If you respect JP men and woman, way of life and are genuinely interested in their culture and traditions, they will respect you.
JP men & women are no different from South American, Inuits or Fijiians. All they ask is what YOU would ask when they come to your own country.
Enjoy your stay, I'm sure you will love it, as I do everytime I go there.

If you have been living in Japan for years and did you best the most respectful, learned more about Japanese history and culture than most Japanese know, learned to speak fluent Japanese, but people you don't know still don't respect you because they judge you from your appearance before having had the chance to start a conversation, and start making gestures at you when you enter a shop as if you were a monkey, and you get checked by the police in broad daylight in a busy street just because you do not look Japanese, how could you have any respect for these people (I mean those who behave like that, not all the Japanese, but maybe 1/3 of them, including the police) ?

 

[Ewok85]

Btw, what happened to that other thread? Get a little too extreme for general viewing?

 

[Cryptnotic]

Please tell me that not all the hate is justified...

Don't worry, you'll bang some Japanese girl and then you'll fit in with the stereotype just fine.

 

[RockLee]

Offtopic: If u look at Geezer's avatar with slipknot - spit it out on it's so freaking weird !!!!!! ☝