Comments on: Loco in Yokohama: What It’s Like To Be A “Half” Kid In Japanese School http://www.tofugu.com/2013/11/05/loco-in-yokohama-what-its-like-to-be-a-half-kid-in-japanese-school/ A Japanese Language & Culture Blog Sun, 13 Apr 2014 09:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.2 By: Saitamagirl http://www.tofugu.com/2013/11/05/loco-in-yokohama-what-its-like-to-be-a-half-kid-in-japanese-school/comment-page-1/#comment-299536 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 15:13:00 +0000 http://www.tofugu.com/?p=36068#comment-299536 I don’t think it’s always meant to be an insult. When I went to university in Japan, I was approached by students who asked me if I was half out of the blue. I didn’t find their question to be rude or judging– just curious, and I happily answered their question. I don’t blame anyone who takes offense to it, I’m just saying that I don’t think it’s always meant to mean you’re subhuman.

]]> By: chikaraginger http://www.tofugu.com/2013/11/05/loco-in-yokohama-what-its-like-to-be-a-half-kid-in-japanese-school/comment-page-1/#comment-289780 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 21:04:00 +0000 http://www.tofugu.com/?p=36068#comment-289780 Kids in America who are “different” have a hard time as well. In Japan, however, it’s just easier to pick ‘em out of a crowd. Here’s a great little video about beating bullies (in Japanese): http://download.jw.org/files/content_video/85/502013189_J_cnt_1_r480P.mp4

]]> By: Cam Abi http://www.tofugu.com/2013/11/05/loco-in-yokohama-what-its-like-to-be-a-half-kid-in-japanese-school/comment-page-1/#comment-262268 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 23:21:00 +0000 http://www.tofugu.com/?p=36068#comment-262268 This would have nothing to do about Japan though, therefore, not valuable in this website.

]]> By: JLR http://www.tofugu.com/2013/11/05/loco-in-yokohama-what-its-like-to-be-a-half-kid-in-japanese-school/comment-page-1/#comment-261733 Mon, 18 Nov 2013 12:51:00 +0000 http://www.tofugu.com/?p=36068#comment-261733 Yet oddly enough here in Thailand “hafus” are seen as attractive and are fairly popular. The Thai people who have darker skin are not as popular.

]]> By: Yumitolesson http://www.tofugu.com/2013/11/05/loco-in-yokohama-what-its-like-to-be-a-half-kid-in-japanese-school/comment-page-1/#comment-260391 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 18:08:00 +0000 http://www.tofugu.com/?p=36068#comment-260391 This is very interesting..the author did not mention but there are many ha-fu kids mixed with other Asian nationals..and they tend to hide their identities and often struggle to fit in to the mainstream Japanese society..

]]> By: Teal http://www.tofugu.com/2013/11/05/loco-in-yokohama-what-its-like-to-be-a-half-kid-in-japanese-school/comment-page-1/#comment-260196 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 02:41:00 +0000 http://www.tofugu.com/?p=36068#comment-260196 When I was on study abroad in Japan, I met a Russian (looking) guy and being the Russian-American jerk that I am, immediately started speaking animatedly in English. He was fully Japanese, taking English at the college. Never have I felt so idiotic. He probably gets that reaction from Japanese people all the time, and I wish I’d been different. On the other hand, I have a kid in one of my classes who looks quite European and is beginning to show signs of… not fitting in with Japanese life. At all. He is constantly in trouble for very “American” type stuff and is in turns rowdy and screaming, or withdrawn and upset (after he’s been scolded the 3rd time that day for being rowdy). He doesn’t speak any English and I dearly wish I could communicate to him how, if he just learns English (or the language of wherever his parents are from- since most countries would give him a passport if he has proof his parents are from there) and stops sleeping in class, he will have a place where he fits in perfectly and won’t have any of these problems. But at the same time, I don’t want to draw attention / be insensitive by basically saying “You REALLY need to learn English because you are a gaijin and I see that it’s not working out for you to live here.”

Such a difficult situation.

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