2009-12-25, 16:50 | Link #1301 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Age: 35
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Based on this quote from the governor of Tokyo I imagine black people are treated differently depending on what country they come from.
"[Roppongi] is now virtually a foreign neighborhood. Africans — I don't mean African-Americans — who don't speak English are there doing who knows what. This is leading to new forms of crime [such as car theft]. We should be letting in people who are intelligent." |
2009-12-25, 17:32 | Link #1302 | ||
Honyaku no Hime
Fansubber
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the eastern capital of the islands of the rising suns...
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Learnt fairly fast that if you're not blonde haired and blue eyed, you're kinda glanced over for most part for English convo jobs, or stuck into limited set stereotypes in the entertainment industry which the Japanese feel comfy with. Quote:
Those born in America are doing their thing in the entertainment industry as bigger stars, beyond the variety shows on TV. Those directly from African countries are making a name for themselves too, esp in Roppongi. Minus the Western mentality, they actually can be a pain in the ass. Somewhat alike the Chinese who establish businesses everywhere, they're mainly into opening more and more hostess bars or clubs and will try to solicit many foreign guys to come in or Asian/ Russian/Eastern European girls to work there. As I found out recently, for girls to make some quick ass money without having sex, the hostess bars is the place to go. However, one thing these men (or other middle eastern men too) typically have over white foreigners who go to typically teach English, is that they will learn the language and tend to pick up fairly fast, meaning they sneak their way into the society by being able to communicate and understand. But Roppongi is a place where after 4 years of visiting this country in and out, I only went there first time last year and have been there about 5 times only. Doubt I'm missing much at all, if there are articles about, do check out the term "Roppongi Bubble", it'll probably be fascinating in itself But being white does put you at the top of the gaijin social status. Blacks perhaps have higher levels than Asians, methinks Asians get a tougher time or a totally different experience, hearing some of the things from my flatmate recently. (Taiwanese girl) I just break stereotypes (by not being American for one) and confuse/confuzzle them, it's great.
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2009-12-25, 17:50 | Link #1303 |
耳をすませば
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Toronto, Canada
Age: 34
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I would love to hear more about being gaijin of different backgrounds in Japan. In fact I'm addicted to a few gaijin blogs for that same reason. One thing I've deduced, and this is just from reading blogs, is that Japan, for all its issues, is probably friendlier for gaijin than other countries in the region. Again, just going by what I read...
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2009-12-25, 18:36 | Link #1304 |
PolyPerson!
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Northern VA
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Hmm... if Japanese are prejudice against blacks that might explain why my mother in law hated my hubby's now ex wife SO much. As in refused to speak to him after he married her, etc. His ex-wife was black.
I don't know if she took to me so well because I was white (like her hubby) or because I'm me. First time she met me, she implied to her son he should date me (despite me being engaged to someone at the time and him JUST having gotten legally separated lol). He said she hated his ex because she was black and I never grasped it, I mean she was Japanese married to a white man, so one should think (logically) there'd be no race issues. But reading the above, I guess I was wrong
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2009-12-25, 20:55 | Link #1306 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Land of the rising sun
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Although the bureaucratic red tapes is a bitXh, labor union is non-existent making it much easier. |
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2009-12-25, 21:09 | Link #1307 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: China
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Japan is still very male-dominated, and the top of the "food chain" is still the traditional Japanese male. That has started to change in some areas, but it's too early to say if it'll continue or go back yet. Women will likely still be in secondary roles for years, though; I know many young educated women personally who see being a housewife as more important than a career woman. The job is just to meet guys and/or get spending cash. Black guys vs white guys... In Roppongi, the touts are a mix of both, and they can be good people - so long as you remember that their job is to get customers and don't hassle them while they are busy. They know a lot of good spots, but take their advice carefully. Younger women tend to like foreigners than Japanese guys also; they usually say that they are treated better, but no idea if that's true. Older folks can act like they're more xenophobic - maybe due to their WWII experiences? - but again, it depends. I know older people who are just plain grumpy to everyone.
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2009-12-25, 21:36 | Link #1308 | |
On a sabbatical
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wellington, NZ
Age: 43
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Blame the ultranationists/protectors of the Emperor for that. They also tend to beat up Koreans/Chinese in the name of the Emperor...
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2009-12-26, 03:03 | Link #1309 | |||||
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Among Asian countries, aside from Singapore, it's a bit ironic that the poorer countries -- compared to Japan, China, S. Korea -- have better English speakers, particularly without much rigorous training. e.g. India, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia Quote:
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2009-12-26, 21:03 | Link #1312 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Anyway Japan at least is better in terms of xenophobia than a lot of other countries. I browse some Chinese internet forums sometimes and damn I feel ashamed at some of the stuff people post... An example would be black entertainers. Japan has a couple that are fairly well established. There was this half black girl in Shanghai who was in this tv talent show and she got ripped so hard on some forums. Makes me sad at how intolerant some people are. |
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2009-12-26, 21:35 | Link #1313 | ||
勇者
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tesla Leicht Institute
Age: 34
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Anyhow what is with everyone keep saying gaijin? I thought that was type of offensive term to foreigners?
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2009-12-26, 23:50 | Link #1314 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
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It is saying a lot that in this day and age in Japan you got people like Jero, Crystal Kay etc getting accepted by the mainstream media and in China you got the Lou Jing situation where she regrets ever showing her face on TV. Of course there were racist posting online in Japan but it did not amount to what was posted on the couple main Chinese forums.
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2009-12-27, 00:45 | Link #1315 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Meh.... a few foreigners rant about it, but most I think don't care or wear it as a badge of sorts. The irritation arises more if the "foreigner" has been a resident for years, become a citizen, etc. But hell.... I'm still considered an "outsider" in Oregon by the native locals even though I've been here since '92.
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2009-12-27, 03:43 | Link #1317 | |
I desire Tomorrow!
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: As far away from reality as possible
Age: 41
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2009-12-27, 09:48 | Link #1318 | |
Honyaku no Hime
Fansubber
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the eastern capital of the islands of the rising suns...
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They'll accept you but never accept you, which I knew that fine print before I hopped on a plane here, so am happy to forever remain an oddball, no skin off my back. I just need to continue improving my literacy in all kinds of ways as fast as possible to freak them out a little more. And for me personally, 'gaijin' is just easier to spell and shorter than 'foreigner', hence I use the term xD Lazy Mystie, is lazy.
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2009-12-29, 02:15 | Link #1319 |
Honyaku no Hime
Fansubber
Join Date: May 2008
Location: In the eastern capital of the islands of the rising suns...
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Little BBC video segment on the 'history girls' craze in Japan.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8433280.stm
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2009-12-29, 11:43 | Link #1320 | |
AS Oji-kun
Join Date: Nov 2006
Age: 74
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She probably won't be visiting one of these cafes anytime soon either.
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Tags |
culture, discussion, japan, japanese culture |
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