"Do You Like Japan? Japan Doesn't Like You!"

[ivi0nk3y]

Japan does have that "gai-jin" culture. I dunno how extreme it is nowadays but from what i've come across, they're not hostile towards foreigners, quite the opposite.

[chachava]

Originally Posted by CPU

My buds went to Japan last year and had a great time. They had one (and only one) incident where they were eating and two old ladies sat and complained about gaijin the entire time they were eating, little realising that they understood every word

I love saying something to people like that in Japanese... the look on their faces as they realise I have understood all their bullshit is priceless because you can clearly see panic starting to see in as they start to think "did I make the nasty gaijin angry?"

The best time is on the trains as they realise they have nowhere to run if I do start shouting at them haha (although I don't, I just smile and go back to whatever I was doing)

[MMM]

This is very UNcommon to see in Japan.

There was a famous lawsuit in Hokkaido about a public bath that started banning foreigners because the local Russians kept coming to the bath drunk and drinking vodka, when it was against the rules.

The ONLY places I have seen this are at cabarets, strip joints and pink salons. The reason usually is that the Japanese customer doesn't want the girls at the club to be tempted or fraternizing with foreigners. It's not racism as much as inferiority complex.

Also those kinds of places are stupidly expensive, and you don't know the price until you leave. Japanese people usually won't make a scene when they get the bill, but foreigners have been known to when they are presented with a, for example, 500 dollar bill, per person, after an hour of drinking.

[mangetsu]

Originally Posted by obscureLOVE

auuuchy that one hurts ano...not sure what to say

talk about hurting what a messy icon. it's cool though.

[gigi]

Japan is probably one of the most homogeneous counties in the world. Reality is, they want to keep it that way, so many are xenophobic about foreigners. I can't say I blame them.

[Bakudan]

I can field this one perfectly. The reason for these signs is not because Japan is racist against people from outside the country. Japan is a society that is dominated by ritual. For instance, Onsen or hotsprings have a certain order in which to get into them, in order to keep them sanitary. Americans are used to getting into the tub and THEN washing themselves. This would cause the water to become soapy and merky over time. Japanese custom is to wash and rinse BEFORE soaking. You will notice that most of the signs say that it is OK to have people from other countries into the establishment as long as they are with Japanese natives. The reasoning behind this, is that Japanese people will be able to inform peoples of non Japanese speaking origin, on how to properly enjoy the place, without messing anything up. Not everyone in Japan speaks foreign languages. This makes it difficult for a shop owner to tell a foreign visitor that they are not following the guidelines of the establishment. As such, people of any origin, should follow the rules of their respective visiting place. Even though they may not know any better, due to inability to read Japanese, it is still not acceptable to break the rules that are set forth by the establishment owner. Hope this sheds some light on the subject.

[morichan]

Unfortunatly, some of it is true. Black people are not allowed certain jobs. Higher up people (japanese) are not allowed to be maids, jobs like that are reserved for Black people, the chinese and east indian. (some examples)

[Annariette]

It's crazy some of the stuff you guys have been saying about Japan on foreigners. But it makes me respect the Japanese that much more!

When I was just starting to learn things about the Japanese culture I always thought it was more of the elder people who didn't like foreigners because we would come to their country and be rude and impolite and set bad examples for the younger kids there.

I've never been to Japan, so I can't really say whats true or not. But it would seem logical and completely okay if foreigners weren't allowed somewhere (especially Americans) because we're loud and rude. I hate that our country has made such a bad impression of ourselves to other countries.

(Why is it though, that Japanese still want to come to America even though they know we're loud and rude and an overall disgusting culture? Or is this just me being misinformed?)

[Hatredcopter]

Younger generations in Japan are usually more open and more willing to socialize with foreigners than the older generations. I lived in Japan for a year (going back again after I graduate), and I never had any big issues with the locals -- made many friends among them, in fact.

Originally Posted by Annariette

(Why is it though, that Japanese still want to come to America even though they know we're loud and rude and an overall disgusting culture? Or is this just me being misinformed?)

For every one thing that's wrong with American culture, there's something wrong with Japanese culture. There are many differences, and Japanese are generally more polite indeed, but you must live in both Japan and America before you can draw any in depth comparison between the two cultures. Things aren't always as they seem. Japanese want to come here for the same reason Americans want to go to Japan; the culture is 'exotic' to them, and totally different.

I see a lot of this on Japan forum. People from America (or from Australia, NZ, UK, Europe, or anywhere) all resent their culture and have a tendency to believe Japanese culture is superior in various ways. The truth is, many young Japanese feel the very same way about their own culture at times - that it is riddled with problems and nuisances.

[rubomiru]

I lived in Japan for 2 years and never had any problem. Actually opposite, everywhere I went they loved me and even Japanese couldnt go I could enter wonderfull places. I love them. Luche