Comments on: “Gaijin”

By: Cali Pellegrini

Cali Pellegrini — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 00:01:00 +0000

I’d love to read a native Japanese-looking Japanese person share his or her views on this topic.

By: Topika

Topika — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 12:15:00 +0000

I used to get stared at every morning on my commute to work. Many Japan apologist will say, its nothing more than a curosity, but that annoying generalization quickly wears off. There was a guy who rode my train that was bald, with salaryman shirt and sported a miniskirt, hose with pumps for his lower attire. Umm, well, I guess its a sort of cosplay. But dude never got stared at, and I who sat next to him would be the object of 7 pairs of eyes. I would talk to myself or point at dude then at the staring hitobito and shrug “why”?
I think its a way to vent or express your frustrations, just like dude who was a public crossdresser. What a weird place.

By: ruby

ruby — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 04:08:00 +0000

it doesn’t really bother me, except for one time i went out in Sapporo and heard 「外人だらけ！」 i mean really, だらけ？いっぱいいる would’ve sufficed

By: Yun Kang

Yun Kang — Sun, 04 Aug 2013 19:16:00 +0000

“For instance, when Japanese people go abroad, they continue to use gaijin to refer to the native population. “There are so many gaijin in America!” ”

Eh? Never in my life have I encountered Japanese people that have said this, or even thought this way to be honest. Where are you getting your info, because that’s simply not true. If you ask a Japanese in France for example if they consider themselves a gaijin, they will say yes, and probably tell you that “gaikokujin” is a more polite term.

By: Midnight Tea

Midnight Tea — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 05:20:00 +0000

I’m generally of the mind that acceptance isn’t given. It isn’t either, it just emerges. And to some degree, no, no outsider can ever fully integrate into Japanese culture. From what I can tell, Japanese culture is very much about shared the experiences from growing up together within it. If you can accept that, though… and show modesty, dignity and maybe even warmth towards people who otherwise marginalize you, then maybe you can help prove that there doesn’t need to be a distinction.

By: Jun

Jun — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 07:44:00 +0000

Gaijin is a Japanese word, so let the Japanese decide whether it’s a derogatory word. People around the world are still using the word ‘Jap’ but the Japanese don’t really care because they don’t give a damn about English. Same for Chinks and other slangs. If you can eliminate the use of these words in your own country then you can tell the Japanese to do the same.