[MMM]

Although I think we have too many threads like this, I will put my two yen in.

There is always two sides two every story.

As for the college marathon rules banning foreigners. You should know these are VERY competetive races with longtime rivalries. The reason the rules were changed was NOT to keep foreigner out, but a couple schools, in particular, started giving FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIPS to Kenyans simply so the group of them could run the race every year. It wasn't change out of racism, but in the spirit of sportsmanship. Most of the colleges wouldn't consider stooping to that level to win the race, but it just started turning into a blowout the last few years (if my memory is correct) and was basically ruining the race. It wasn't the Kenyan runners fault, but the underhanded play by the school officials.

What is often seen as racist by non-Japanese is usually what I see as Japanese low-self esteem.

In my experience, in general Japanese hate themselves a lot more than they hate foriegners.