Picked on for liking japan?

[Sahaqiel]

I'm pretty respectful when it comes to talking about Japan. I don't glorify it, I just state what I know about it, and what I feel about it in a calm manner. I would like to live and work there for awhile just because it's a different place that coincides with my interests, and I would like to see what such a different culture is like... and it has an anime channel I don't have to pay extra for. I don't mention anime unless it's mentioned, or if I have something relevant to say about it, and I do not insert random popular Japanese words in a high pitched voice with a bad accent, such as "kawaii" or "ne?". (My pronunciation is pretty good, if I do say so myself.)

People more take interest in Japanese than ridicule me for it, as well. When I'm practicing kanji in class, they're like, "You know Japanese!? :O" in an impressed sort of way. Or they say, "You're learning to write Chinese!? :O" in an impressed sort of way, which I excuse them for since kanji are Chinese in origin.

So no, I don't get made fun of. It's more my friends that have grounds to be made fun of, but I don't care. Though I do wish they'd be a bit more respectful to Japan's culture sometimes.

I'm half Filipino, and I used to get picked on just for being Asian.
Even though they would pull at their eyes and push out their front teeth and go, "Ching chong, etc." until I cried, in like, grade school, high school has wisened up but has not learned.

Do you guys know how many times people have asked, "What? You're Filipino? I thought you were Asian." or said, "He's not Asian, he's Filipino!"
The Philippines are directly south of Japan, and directly east of China, and were settled by the Vietnamese. C'mon, man.
I know we got owned by Spain for awhile, then America, but it's noteworthy that we were raped, quite literally, by Japan.
Which isn't cool, but come on. It's such an Asian nation.

I've got the straight(a little wavy when it's hot), apparently five-times-thicker-than-western extremely dark hair goin' on, the yellow skin (though I have a brown tan on visible parts of my body), flat face, and shapely brown eyes. My only western feature, I would say, is my nose. Unless dimples are a western feature. I dunno. I don't have a squint when I'm not laughing, but how many Asian people do you know with a definitive "-_-" squint? I've seen it once in my life, on two Chinese individuals, at an airport in Manila, Philippines. Considering my flights stopped in Taiwan and Japan, my point is a bit more sturdy. It was quite a shock. They still saw everything. Which I respect the squint for, now that I've seen firsthand how awesome it is.

But now that my face is concealed with said straight dark hair, I get mistaken for a variety of things, which is fine with me.

IN ORDER FROM MOST FREQUENT TO LESS FREQUENT:
Native American
Korean
Mexican
Vietnamese

When I had a shorter haircut, it was almost exclusively Chinese/Japanese/Korean.
'Cause you know, those are the only Asian nations.
Only one person I've known actually guessed my heritage right, which was a teacher in like, the seventh grade.

Man, I haven't gotten into the habit of posting huge posts in awhile.
Hope you all appreciate the work I put into them. :(
Sahaqiel

[AkamatsuA]

I don't get picked on but if I mention Japan I get a lot of stares or grimaces. And of course the odd person who has to put in their piece of how much they don't like Asians in general. Of course the ones who always do, have never met one. Sad fact.

[Sahaqiel]

You should introduce them to me.
I don't think I'm that bad of a conversation.
Sahaqiel

[DJmiku]

Ugh, I get picked on so much for what I like. My friends aren't really supportive either...so I'm looking for new ones. heheh I just need friends who are just as obsessed with Japan/Tokyo as I am. It's annoying being picked on for what you like, but it's not going to change me. I will always love it.
One day I will make an American Jrock Band!

[TitansWrath]

I usually get a few comments from people I know when I started learning Japanese. "Why? You looking for a gf?" So I usually keep it down low, but at same time I'm practically trying to get my ex-gf to expand her interest in japanese stuff since she likes a few animes.

[LordKiwii]

I was never picked on school for liking it but when I'm reading a manga or what ever at school I always get weird looks and some rude comments sometimes. But most people don't care as long as you don't bother them with it. It's to bad that my friends don't like it though... they think I'm weird xD But I'm used to that.

[meggintosh]

I've never really been "picked-on." Usually when people makes jokes about asains, or japanese in specific, I kinda laugh along too. Even if I'm the "japanese-wanna be, backwards book reading n00b" they're making fun of

I find it easier to not bring up anything about Japan, even though it is a big interest in my life, just like other people with football, jazz or painting. Not everyone's going to be accepting or interested in what I do, so it's okay. Plus, book socks are great for reading manga in a politically incorrect and culturely ignorant class.

I understand that it isn't the same as it is here, so of course you're bound to be made fun of in some way. However, I do enjoy the jokes because I realize that i'm different, and maybe I deserve it for being so obsessed at times xD

Though it would be nice to be more accepted by my friends at times...
They tend to groan everytime I say the words japan, asia, or anime.

[Tsuwabuki]

I think I was more often made fun of for watching Star Trek than I was for liking anything about Japan. Perhaps a few.

I have reconnected with some of the people who teased me in high school (oh dear God, it's almost time for my ten year reunion), and honestly they recognise that I'm successful and happy, that I speak a second language, that my financial situation is good... All in all, anyone who made fun of me as a teenager is unlikely to think my interest in Japan was a silly thing now, considering how much Japan has done for me. One of those same people is married to a Marine and lives in Okinawa, and we talk all the time.

Never hold a grudge. You never know when the jackasses will grow up, and when they do, you may get an apology and a contact, if not a friend.

[manganimefan227]

Ah, proof that teens actually have good hope of getting through life!

[metalmark666]

I always get a lot of respect when talking about Japan because I like the country and have been there. You’ll find that people are more understanding the older you get. When you get to my age, people stop being idiots and prejudice about it and start listening. If people start acting lame because you like Japan, it is because they are jealous that they don't have a decent interest in something like that and that they do not know enough about Japan themselves.

I work in a school now and always do my best in talking to children about foreign places and opening them up to other cultures.