Yikes, the more I learn, the more I realize the two-week-tourist's mantra of "Oh, the Japanese are
so polite and welcoming!" is unfortunately not so simple.
This cultural dynamic is kinda scary...I'm planning on spending at least a year in Japan studying, and after that I might teach there for a while. I do want to assimilate as much as I can...I hope all I hear are mainly extreme cases, and that my stay is pleasant and I'm able to make friends.^^;
I think this "xenophobia" stems from Japan being so isolated for so long, and made up of only one kind of people, so anyone different stuck out like a sore thumb. Unlike Western countries which are more used to "melting-pot" cultures, I think a lot of times Japanese just don't know how to react to foreigners.
