Racism in Japan

[Lanky Sempai]

My wife was just spat on while walking across the road from our local gym.
I wasnt there, mores the pity, though having a 6'4" male with her probably would've curtailed said event.
Now, not only am I filled with the most overwhelming rage and urge to kill, but I have lost a certain ampount of respect for this country and culture.
Wake the fuck up Japan, pull your heads out of your arses.
And yes, before the tirades of "one person doesn't make a counrty" and all the rest of the rhetoric come raining down on this thread, I dont think all Japanese people are fundamentally rascist, BUT, there is an overwhelming sense of being UNwelcome here. I am past rage now, and Im just sad. Its quite pathetic when you think about it, how scared do you need to be to pull bullshit like that?

[boldbhoy]

Sorry to hear of this, shocking to say the least!

[Satori]

This is freaky - I was just about to create a thread asking if it's true that although the Japanese are great towards tourists, they treat the foreigners living there like dirt. Sorry to hear mate.

[nzproud]

Lanky Sempai, i'm sorry to hear that.. You know there are always people like that in New Zealand too.. Pm'd ya.

[vapor]

I am sorry to hear this. It certainly isn't the Japan that I know and love- although I had a handful of experiences that make you shake your head.

vapor

[Billy no mates]

It seems to be a Universal failing,our penchant for being unpleasent to each other over vague notions of blood and belonging are ironically something most cultures seem to have a share off,doesnt make it any less sad though .

[Kris]

Was this a one time thing or did you suffer more of the same kind? Maybe it was an accident?

I have been living in Japan for 2 years now and have got nothing but respect. Just came back from a BBQ party at the dojo...

[Satori]

Accidentally spitting on someone? Can you come up with a semi-realistic scenario of how that might happen?

Kris what nationality are you? Do you stand out as a foreigner?

[Lanky Sempai]

It was no accident.
We have experienced racism here a few times, not the least was being refused membership from a video store because we are gaijin.
There are some f**king stupid people here.
That said, NZProud makes and excellent and equally true point, there are f**king stupid people everywhere. What we need is some kind of "dumb vaccine", oh wait!! we have one, education.

[Kyokugen]

sad to hear that,,but we all know that, there is always people like that around the world,anyway they just small community so maybe you can fix your point of view because i believe not all japanese having bad attitude like that

[vapor]

Having or not having a gaijin registration card makes a huge difference in how stores treat you....doesn't seem right, but enough people have soured things for those of us who are responsible.

vapor

[Satori]

What the devil is a gaijin registration card?

[vapor]

Originally Posted by Satori

What the devil is a gaijin registration card?

The actual wording on the card is "Alien Registration Card"

Basically it is your official id....after you register yourself at the city or ward office that you live in.

Basically, police or other officials can ask to see it at any time, and not having it on you can land you in some hot water.

(Police in my neighborhood waved me over last year, acting like cops do every once in a while...because they were in the middle of this big sting to deport foreiners who had overstayed their visa....when they asked, in perfect Japanese I replied if showing my Japanese drivers license would help them to confirm my identity beyond just showing them my id card...they never bothered me once from that point on!)

vapor

[smoothsake]

Lanky senpai,

That is most unfortunate to hear of. Seeing that you are in Tokyo I find this even harder to fathom. Big city people are familiar with the frequency of gaijins walking amongst them. If you aren't Asian, try walking around the countryside and take notice of all the looks you will get. It will surely feel awkward. But to be spat on... that is unforgivable.

The Japanese people, historically, as you probably well know, have a very open mind to all things west, but have a very closed mind to their neighboring Asian countries. That usually is communicated through hard looks or unwillingness to help, not usually in violence or words or spit. There are however, as you pointed out, dumb people everywhere. In Japan, there are plenty -- fascists, yakuza, bosuzoku, furita, enjyo kosai, etc.

There are goods and bads with every country. I personally love Japan and for a long time thought the country was far superior to the my native US, but in fact there was something positive and equally negative about each country. Like yin and yang. So be the bigger man, and don't resort to kill. Just train harder. Osu!

[Shokei Marcsui]

We cannot let one person represent the feelings for the rest of a culture. Could you conclude that America has extreme hatred towards other cultures that are not Anglo based on the Ku Klux Klan?

I cannot say what I would have done being in your situation.. I commend you and your wife for being the "bigger man".

[boldbhoy]

It reminds me of a very distasteful incident in my own country.
A few years ago, I was in my then girlfriends hometown in Ayrshire walking to the fish and chip shop having just been to Glasgow to watch a soccer match (Celtic)
I had always heard how hostile that area was to Celtic/Catholics/Irish,
but had until then never experienced too much bother.
A middle aged couple were shouting obscenities about fenians and Catholics
etc. I never knew until after it that it was all directed at us for wearing green! I had been a few yards away from my girlfriend at the time.
Worse, Jacqueline never told me until I got home that she had been spat on too, mostly by this respectable looking woman!!!
Well, I was absolutely raging. I didn't have the patience and tolerance I have now.
My family came here 160 years ago, I might be fully accepted soon by all.
Well perhaps not......
I have changed through my training. I only feel sadness and pity for them.
Imagine having to go through life burdened by hatred and resentment in your heart??!!!?? Wow!
ps, we all look the same too! They have to ask questions ie which school did we attend or judge us (sometimes wrongly) by our names, if it sounds Irish or whatever.
Not to worry, I know loads of great people here and abroad, I would
definitely recommend travel for bigots. Osu!

[Kamikaze]

Sad to hear bro. But as people have said there are assholes in any country

[Kris]

Originally Posted by Satori

Accidentally spitting
Kris what nationality are you? Do you stand out as a foreigner?

Swedish, Yes I have blue eyes and a typical Scandinavian look sort of.

[Aunty Ichigeki]

Ew that makes me FURIOUS! I wonder why Musashi didn't unleash some savage Rotorua violence on them? Boldbhoy is right though, you can only feel pity for people who are so angry... imagine what all that rage and idiocy does to their lives & relationships.

[Kris]

Originally Posted by Satori

What the devil is a gaijin registration card?

A lot of things in Japan requires proper ID, such as getting a membership at Tsutaya (video rental shop) or getting a mobile phone.

Gaijin card or drivers licence works best, foreign passports not so good.