Why are foreigners in Japan so racist?

[NoelCatney]

Just as the title says: Why are foreigners in Japan so racist? We all know of the threads in the past where many residents are complaining about Japan's tolerance of foreign people, yet I have not seen a single thread that mentions the tolerance of foreigners on others.
I am still quite bothered by this and I know it is old:

htttp://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/08/13/kan-shuns-yasukuni-far-right-europeans-wont/

I have a theory that people in western countries loathe their supposed "overly-PC-government" as they claim in Europe and America, so they move to Japan where they can be free to preach there usual "aryan master race" stuff without persecution.

You might say, "oh but those guys are an exception". However further analysis have proven that many Japan related forums i.e. J-today and gaijinpot are flooded with ultranationalist westerners who are residing in Japan and can't go on a day without complaining.

One reason I am trying to discuss this here on Jref is that the views are the most fair and balanced, so I am hoping for a better perspective. Tolerant and moderate foreigners are a very hard to find in Japan related forums. If the average western foreigner in Japan is like that of a gaijinpot and j-today redneck then I would be more concerned about these guys than those yakuza like dudes in black vans. As from my observations, the foreign ultra nationalist tends to be more violent.

Also I remember once when a british expat to japan wants the "no gaijin" signs to be replaced with "no blacks" instead because they think they are different and better than other gaijins they mentioned and at the same time labeling the japanese as racists.


What is it about Japan that attracts ultranationalists and rednecks to japan in such earth shaking, gargantuan and overwhelming numbers? Why are people going to japan always seem to have a baggage about their countries of origin? Why can't japan attract people that aren't fringe party members? Its like if its not an otaku its a ultranationalist. Where is the gaijin in between?

My biggest question is how come Japan can't attract some more normal, reasonable, and tolerable people instead?

Like the JET programme for example, it seems like its getting quite a bit of negativity lately, yet those in the program do not want to leave Japan even though they are unhappy because they think their country of origin has been taken over by "insert ethnicity here" and are being "oppressed" by what they claim is an "overly-PC communist reigme" aka U.S. and West Europe.

Of all the countries westerners can pick as their main training ground for ultranationalism, why pick Japan as the number one choice?

I mean if I were to visit Japan one day, it would probably kinda ruin the mood if foreigners are preaching racial intolerance on regular basis becomes a normal occurrence in japan everywhere. Like the Uyoku Dantai (sp?) aren't already an annoyance already even to the japanese.

And as to why Xenophobia is still strong in Japan, well if foreigners keep preaching things like "grr! grr! those (insert ethnicity here) have taken over my country, my job and government,grr! grr!, don't let them take yours, etc etc etc. to the Japanese then of course it will take a while. Japan attracts alot of xenophobic foreigners who are envious of Japan's homogeneity and unity that they yearn still wish they had in the 1950's in their countries of origin.

It seems like most foreigners in Japan seem to be super-proud and support and preach the fringe parties in the west. I was hoping to hear some criticism but got none.
Why is Japan unattractive to those who are there to just learn, get experience or just have fun??

 

[FrustratedDave]

I wouldn't say that statement across the board, but you are right, there are some pretty intolerable people living here. Just look at some of the threads here on JREF.

I am too tired of getting into another argument, unless someone makes it worth my while, but I agree there is a pretty good balance of people here. Of corse you have your extremes, but what web site doesn't?

 

[Putrefaction]

This one is a break from the usual "omg y r japaneez so racist man" topics.

 

[Half-n-Half]

I've only been here a couple months so I haven't really met any "ultranationalist" foreigners yet, nor do I really have a strong basis on which to form an opinion. Therefor, my answer is simply "I don't know." I have no idea if what you claim is true or not, so I'll refrain from commenting on that, but I would like to make one remark.

You might say, "oh but those guys are an exception". However further analysis have proven that many Japan related forums i.e. J-today and gaijinpot are flooded with ultranationalist westerners who are residing in Japan and can't go on a day without complaining.

Perhaps it is something about those forums that attracts those types of people. Even though they are flooded with those types of people, does that mean Japan too is flooded with those people or that those forums have become a sort of sanctuary for those people to freely express their opinions? It's possible the forums give a jaded view of the actual number of ultranationalist foreigners vs. "normal" foreigners.

In fact, I think you kind of touch on this when you say:

One reason I am trying to discuss this here on Jref is that the views are the most fair and balanced, so I am hoping for a better perspective.

If ultranationalist foreigners truly were so abundant here in Japan wouldn't you expect that a majority of the foreigners in every forum, including JREF, would be ultranationalist?

It seems like most foreigners in Japan seem to be super-proud and support and preach the fringe parties in the west. I was hoping to hear some criticism but got none.
Why is Japan unattractive to those who are there to just learn, get experience or just have fun??

This conflicts with my experiences so far, but again I've only been here for a couple months so you can safely assume I have a very naive opinion. Most if not all of the foreigners I have met here have been very open-minded, but the foreigners I have met have been only limited to other college students so I have no idea about people in JET or the majority of foreigners who come here.

 

[Chidoriashi]

I think you have the wrong idea. To be sure there are people like that in Japan, but they are certainly not as prevalent as you believe them to be (Meaning the extremists you mention. Of course there are tons of people who whine and b*tch about things and they really do not know what they are talking about, but I do not think that is the same as what you are describing).

In any case you should not be so quick to generalize, especially if you have never even been to Japan yourself and are using sites where it is pretty obvious a bunch of m*rons come to play grab as* in the weeds as references.

Anyhow this is something that is actually kind of new and deserves a discussion but you should make no mistake that things are not as bad as you believe them to be here with the foreigners.

 

[NoelCatney]

Hmmm interesting, but maybe its the political state of Europe that is troubling, where the far-right is getting more attention.

The only reason the head-honcho of Japan's far-right want were inviting western nationalists was because he saw the recent success and probably wants to learn from these "masters". But because Japan is still so different compared to the west I doubt Japan's rightists will get past their current "stalemate", since most of its "members" are so laid back and all.

Also because many Japanese haven't seen many foreigners, they tend to think the first one they see as a legitimate "representative" of their countries, due to being naive and all.

Japan is constantly being made a model example by foreign right wingers claiming that its proof that "homogeneity = success".

Ultranationalism is slowly becoming the norm in Europe though. Maybe in 10 years or so groups like BNP, Vlaams Belang and Front Nationale, maybe strong enough to replace the existing mainstream conservative and liberal parties. With such power it will be hard to imagine that they won't exert their influence and try to change other countries who are especially their allies. They might end up changing Japan in ways that even regular J-folk may not want.

On the other hand, the right-wingers of Japan does owe its existence to foreigners who pardoned them during the cold war. The uyoku dantai was allowed to thrive during the post war period because the western allies where trying to resist Soviet influence in every way possible. Some of their funds do come from the west.

While I am not trying to label everyone as having an agenda to revolutionize Japan, certain things like how foreigners where formerly the post-war uyoku's puppet masters are overlooked.

Also some foreigners may have a tendancies to mouth off about people of so and so ethnicity, and the stories may end up scaring the locals into putting up these "no gaijin" signs because they are afraid the the (insert ethnic group) in their said stories may show up and believe they will cause trouble.

While not every foreigner is like this. The foreigners that encourage intolerance and xenophobia up to and including funding uyoku groups do become part of the problem.

 

[Chidoriashi]

Hmmm interesting, but maybe its the political state of Europe that is troubling, where the far-right is getting more attention.

The only reason the head-honcho of Japan's far-right want were inviting western nationalists was because he saw the recent success and probably wants to learn from these "masters". But because Japan is still so different compared to the west I doubt Japan's rightists will get past their current "stalemate", since most of its "members" are so laid back and all.

Also because many Japanese haven't seen many foreigners, they tend to think the first one they see as a legitimate "representative" of their countries, due to being naive and all.

Japan is constantly being made a model example by foreign right wingers claiming that its proof that "homogeneity = success".

Ultranationalism is slowly becoming the norm in Europe though. Maybe in 10 years or so groups like BNP, Vlaams Belang and Front Nationale, maybe strong enough to replace the existing mainstream conservative and liberal parties. With such power it will be hard to imagine that they won't exert their influence and try to change other countries who are especially their allies. They might end up changing Japan in ways that even regular J-folk may not want.

On the other hand, the right-wingers of Japan does owe its existence to foreigners who pardoned them during the cold war. The uyoku dantai was allowed to thrive during the post war period because the western allies where trying to resist Soviet influence in every way possible. Some of their funds do come from the west.

While I am not trying to label everyone as having an agenda to revolutionize Japan, certain things like how foreigners where formerly the post-war uyoku's puppet masters are overlooked.

Also some foreigners may have a tendancies to mouth off about people of so and so ethnicity, and the stories may end up scaring the locals into putting up these "no gaijin" signs because they are afraid the the (insert ethnic group) in their said stories may show up and believe they will cause trouble.

While not every foreigner is like this. The foreigners that encourage intolerance and xenophobia up to and including funding uyoku groups do become part of the problem.

Ok. It kind of seemed like it before, but now it certainly just seems you are spewing off discourse. 3 people replied to you and you come back with this. Unless you prove yourself capable of having a real discussion with someone I am done here.

 

[Navy Guy]

Noel are you just an angry person who thinks the world is out to get them? Sure seems like it...
While Japan does have it's racism so does every other country in the world, try being white and having to go to Jabooty Africa for work.

Does racism suck? Yes it does.

Is it more prevelant in Japan? No, I don't think so.

Most of your "No Gaijin" signs are there not because they don't want your patronage it's because most gaijin don't speak Japanese well enough and the owners don't want the hassel of dealing with trying to figure out what you want.

I personally have never had a problem in Japan, I have and will live there again soon. If you don't like the signs you walk next door and patronize that establishment instead, obviously the first one wasn't worthy of your Yen.

 

[JimmySeal]

No real disagreements with the points you're making, Navy Guy, but...

try being white and having to go to Jabooty Africa for work.

I think you mean "Djibouti"
Jabooty sounds like the name of a night club or something.

 

[Navy Guy]

.... no I meant the club . . . :?


ok ok you got me. I spelled it like it sounds.

 

[FrustratedDave]

.... no I meant the club . . . :?
ok ok you got me. I spelled it like it sounds.

I am more concerned with your war face...

 

[noyhauser]

After recent visit to japan I realized just how jilted the conversation on these issues can be. The vast majority of Japanese are not ultra nationalists, have fairly positive to indifferent views of non-Japanese. Younger generations by comparison are far more internationally minded, likely having english education at school, if not having the opportunity to travel to foreign countries.

As with others, maybe you should actually visit Japan and walk around.... then maybe your assertions might have some weight.

 

[Chidoriashi]

After recent visit to japan I realized just how jilted the conversation on these issues can be. The vast majority of Japanese are not ultra nationalists, have fairly positive to indifferent views of non-Japanese. Younger generations by comparison are far more internationally minded, likely having english education at school, if not having the opportunity to travel to foreign countries.

As with others, maybe you should actually visit Japan and walk around.... then maybe your assertions might have some weight.

I do not think this person is ever coming back. It smelled a little of troll before, but the generic response after the first post kind of proved it (for me anyway).

 

[Navy Guy]

I am more concerned with your war face...

Oh him?? Don't worry about him, he's just fine if...