Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Big_Bird]

[Gopher]

I believe you; every country has them. But do you really believe he is that representative?

[igotthisguitar]

[Big_Bird]

[Gopher]

I think you are too easily essentializing Japan (and Sweden, your foil), Big_Bird.

[nicholas_chiasson]

I like ultra-nationalists off any kind, provided they aren't racist idiots. Sadly, alot of them are.

[Big_Bird]

[yawarakaijin]

As someone who has lived in Japan on three different occassions I would have to say your generalization of Japan is off.

My first time here was in 1997-1998.

Back then children would stand in amazement of you, not knowing whether to say hello or flee in terror. Depending on the size of the city you were in, you were lucky if they just giggled and ran away.

How shall I put this...establishments that catered to very "japanese clientele" were for the most parts off limits to foreigners. One very often got the impression of US v.s THEM in those days.

My second time was 2000-2001.

Can't really say that things had changed so much.


Third time, 2005-present.

Things are surprisingly refreshing. Landlords no longer shut their doors at the sight of a gaijin approaching. It's still a little bit of a chore but if you have even basic Japanese with a call of introduction from a Japanese friend it's never been a problem for me.

It really feels that the japanese have lost that "oh wow, look it's a foreigner, lets automatically be friends with him." Some people lament this, I however find it refreshing to be treated as just another stranger.

Not that I frequent the places, but "shops" that a gaijin would have never been let in before are now openly searching out your "business". It's probably one of the biggest changes I've noticed actually.

I see Japan as just starting to emerge from the physical and pyschological drubbing it took from the war. They are starting to see themselves as being on equal footing with westerners for the first time in a while. The younger generation no longer sees themselves as having to atone for their grandfather's discretions. Instead, they often point to Japan's immaculate record following the days of WW2.

It would, in fact, be an interesting sociological study to note how a country with nearly 500 years of militaristic tendencies has so quickly and completely abandoned such beliefs. I've met actual members of the JSDF and had long discussions with them. A few of them openly told me that if Japan were ever attacked by China they would likely run away to America! Not the entire army, but them personally. LOL.

I have lived here for going on 5 years now and I have never actually met any of these so called rabid nationalists. Sure they exist but they are not even close to the majority. Ishihara is an anomoly. In 5 years here the worst I have ever experienced was not being allowed into a club, ONCE.

Hardly a nation of racist nationalists.

I realize my examples aren't really academic in nature but I hope you understand what I was trying to express.

[Big_Bird]

In my visits to Japan, I've only encountered kindness and civility. But outside of Japan, I've met at least 3 Japanese who were clearly bigotted and extremely nationalistic, one of whom I've described. I would not base my notion of a nation just on a few anecdotal examples, any more than I'd base my notions of the British on a few encounters with skinheads from the BNP. And I don't believe all Japanese think like this - of course not. However, my Japanese friend in China was not surprised at the other travellers outbursts, and said he'd heard that kind of thing a lot. From the outside, and from what others on the inside have reported, and looking at the way Japanese are currently voting, it does look like a less than pretty streak of nationalism has been raising its head, lately.

[Khenan]