Are Japanese people really that racist?

UCLAri
Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:18:37 +0000

UCLA – the situation you use here is quite different (glaring due to suspicion of ill-intent as opposed to just natural curiosity).



k&s,

I’d be inclined to agree with you if it weren’t for the ubiquitousness of mistreatment of foreigners in Japan. If it weren’t all too common to see manga going out of their way to talk about how foreigners bring wild germs, crime, and degradation of the Japanese lifestyle. If the “curiosity” weren’t steeped in stereotypes of foreigners as abject criminals and a danger to self and country.

The depictions of foreigners in Japan are very very often bigoted rather than simply naive. Just look at the works of Debito and the rest of the naturalized community. Just look at the very common articles on foreigner transgressions in conservative papers like the Yomiuri. Just look at official statements made by police about how foreigners are the source of crime in cities.

Just ask the Japanese themselves. They’ll even tell you that it’s “sabetsu” (discrimination.)

I hate to appeal to authority and experience, but I can’t help but do so… This is NOT a case of curiosity. Anyone who reads this news on a regular basis-- and I don’t blame you or anyone else for not doing so-- knows how less-than-innocent this all is.



In Asia – women want to look like the Asian female celebs (who generally have natural double eyelids) – while in the US (and other places) Asian-American women often undergo the surgery b/c they mistakenly think it makes them look more “white” (due to the limited and often stereotypical portrayal of Asians).



Do you have evidence for this?



Even if it was popular before western influence, there is no doubt that Asians admire the caucasian double-eyelid. It makes your eyes appear bigger, and that’s what they really want. Now, they associate big eyes=caucasian=pretty, regardless of what it was before.



Evidence? I’ve seen arguments go both ways.