Japanese Racism

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Any foreigner who has stayed in Japan for any length of time will at some point encounter Japanese racism. 99% of the time it isn't overt. As a general rule, Japanese people tend to avoid confrontation so their brand of racism is more subtle. It comes in different forms - staring, inappropriate touching, cutting in front of you in line, refusing to sit next to you on the train, the free use of the term 'gaijin' (foreigner) etc.

I've noticed pretty much all of the above (with the exception of inappropriate touching) but such is life when you move to a uni-racial country. Being a foreigner (particularly a white, light haired, green/blue eyed, well endowed foreigner) you stick out like a sore thumb. The way I see it, there are really two ways to approach the situation.

1.) Get angry. You can get angry, froth at the mouth, hate Japan and decide the Japanese are nothing but racists. You can let it ruin your trip and you'll wind up giving yourself a complex while focusing on how absolutely frustrating their lack of cultural understanding is.

2.) Deal with it. Realize that not everyone in Japan is like this and a lot of the staring and touching is a result of honest curiosity. Most Japanese people never leave Japan. For some, you could be the first foreigner they see. Can't really blame them for staring in that context.

You can also look at the positives. If people don't want to sit next to you on the train or subway because you're a foreigner, that's cool. It just means that while everyone else is squished together and over-heated you're cool as a cucumber with space to spare.

In the end it really comes down to attitude. You can let it bother you or you can move on. I think a large part of why it hasn't bothered me so far is that I don't let it. But then, I'll only be here for two years. It's understandable how those who have been here longer and have made a life here can get so frustrated by this.

Well, that was my little schpeel for the day. Had a marvellous lesson earlier today and am looking forward to spending the rest of the night writing.

Talk to you soon,

XO

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Comments

[Kaori]

Hello Jeniffer I understand that people stare you and you feel uncomfortable. But people don't stare you with hate. That's because you are outstanding. People didn't refuse to sit next to you beceuse they didn't like you. I think they didn't have confidence to communicate with you with English. I don't like inappropriate touching neither. You can say "さわらないでください。" Kaosri

[Langus]

The staring isn't really all that bad. It happens more often when I'm in the deep countryside but it's never really bothered me the way it bothers some other people. I don't mind if people are curious and besides, people stare back home too hahaha! Thanks for the words of encouragement :)