[Nokutetsu]

I went on an exchange trip to Tokyo for 2 weeks last year.

The family I stayed with were telling me- yes, there is racisim. Not towards westerners so much- but to mostly Americans in general, and with good reason.

Americans (not all! But a lot) go to Japan thinking everything is Anime. They talk, act, and speak based on what they've seen in anime and it really offends them. Also, having not read up on the culture, they speak in ways that are acceptable in America, but not in Japan.

I was really pleased- the family were lovely. I was suprised at how much praise I got. All because I learned the customs and culture before going. They really appreciated it and said if I was even on holiday I was welcome to stay anytime.

Think about it. If a Japanese person went to America acting all 'badass' swearing the whole time, praising the KKK, thinking it's cool to call everyone fat and give guns to little children- you'd be apalled. I know that's a bit of an exageration, but it's the same princable. Don't trust the media without doing thoughrough research yourself.