Wow, what a story. Did you make an report to the police department about the mugging? What part of Tokyo did it occur in? Such a thing is so uncommon that if it were to happen, it would certainly made the news, though I've certainly not heard or read anything about any western tourists being mugged recently.

Yes, racism exists in Japan, but as MMM states, it is generally directed to people of other Asian ethnic groups, and not westerners. The only thing which I have experience which remotely relates to racism is being treated with a little less politeness by certain shopkeepers than a Japanese would receive. On the other hand, these shopkeepers were still more polite than the majority of those I dealt with in America on a daily basis.

Of all the cities I have visited in the world (which is quite a few), Tokyo is by far the safest and most polite. Being an American from Detroit, you should visit Paris next, and then tell us how it compares to Tokyo. I would be surprised if you make it back alive.

i hope you're wrong mate.going to japan is a life long dream of mine.:confused:

This isn't that surprising to me, honestly. My Aunt lived in Japan for 3 years and she wanted to stay over there, but moved back to the U.S. cause she couldn't stand all the racism. It's sad, really. I'll probably visit one day because I still want to, but it's not right for any country to treat anyone like that.

I will say this much, sure has a calm attitude for someone who seems to be a troll.

However, I don't mean to sound racist, or discriminate, prejudice, etc. but, where you come from also plays a very key role in how people treat you as well as what you wear and how you look.

Especially when it comes to what you wear. There are countries where, if you rightly give away the fact you're American, they will look down upon you as most countries see american as arrogant pricks that believe to be the center of the world. If you were wearing an american flag anywhere on your body, that could be one of the problems, dead giveaway.

Your accent plays another key role. Believe it or not, Americans have a very distinct accent that is easily recognizable, and it greatly differs from Canadians, though we're neighbors.

There are many other factors too, hygeine, eating habits, and what you say. You have to make sure your eating properly and within their cultural ways. One mistake and you can be considered disrespectful, however, I doubt they will be that mean.

How you speak too, the phrase you use could be insulting. When trying to say "It's nice to meet you", one could end up saying "Hello Monkey butt", but be completely unaware of it. No one wants to be called a Monkey Butt.

One last note, by calling a specific country Racist, you are being Racist. Every country is going to have racism in it, there's nothing that can be done about it. Everywhere you go you're going to get dirty looks and people are going to be rude. If you can't accept that and deal with it, then you might as well stay in your room and never leave your house again, since the very same stuff that happened to you in japan could happen to you on your own street.

Simply put: Suck it up, live life positively. Negativity is influential and runs on Karma. Murphy's Law: What can happen WILL happen. Get on with life and quit complaining my friend.

Sure it was stereotyping and not racism? I was just thinking about my Japanese teacher. She seems far from ever being racist to me, but, she has made a statement that could be seen as rude. She stereotyped instead, asking if my family had fried chicken for get togethers because I'm black. She just figured that's what blacks ate. I did correct her, though. Wasn't mad, more so amused.

IMO, there are different types of aways of being mistreated...the ignorance route or either the way where you're trying to act superior to someone else. Seems the "ignorance" route is the culprit. In other words, prejudice without literally meaning to be.

Idk about you guys, but I smell a Troll. :P Why would someone even bother doing this?

That was perfectly put, If i put forth the effort to feed this Troll, it would have come very close to this statement. :D

I guess to those not native to Canada or the US. I can tell the difference between a Canadian accent and some American ones.

Seriously, you can't blame someone on how they are bias against something that scarred them emotionally. It takes time for those problems to go away. Hypothetically going by if his story is true, I'd myself hold some grudges to trips to Japan. Obviously he/she has lost a lot of their self-esteem after quite some tragedy, to what was expected to be better.
Though I admit this is the first time I've heard anyone become this unlucky. So that's the point, he/she was just extremely unlucky.
Only way for them to change their mind is have enough courage one day to return, and not visit the same areas, and if so, hopefully have better company.
Generally, there are good and bad sides to everything, I wouldn't say Japan is nearly perfect nor any other country for that matter.
It is possible for any of those things to happen to anyone on any given time for the day. Anyone believing Japan is near perfect is quite bias already. Bad things do exist.

I think this is an outdated...not more than an outdated way of thinking. I don't know if it was ever true. I have been here and there in my days, and what I have discovered is that 1) most Americans are not "ugly American tourists" and 2) most people laugh at the fact that many Americans worry desperately about being seen as "ugly Americans" and act quite the opposite.

Just as we are able to separate our politics from our individual citizens, so can other people in the world. Bush's unpopularity in the US was no secret around the world.

I don't know people who wear American flags around, but people who wear American flags chances are ARE arrogant pricks.

Do you really think most of the world can hear the difference between an American and Canadian accent? I can't hear any difference (except for French-Canadians) unless you say "out".

Countries don't treat people a certain way, individuals do.

I am not the one who closed the thread, but I don't disagree with the decision.