Tofugu - Latest Comments in The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Michael — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 01:30:33 -0000

I think experiencing Japan for a short time is an entirely different experience than living here for an extended period. Especially if you only visit the cities, the countryside is a whole different world.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Sato Tatsuhiro — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:03:34 -0000

First time I writing in regard to this issue. I am saddened to learn as a gay man that the largest population of gay bars on this planet 300 alone in "Ni Chou" (Shinjuku ni Choume) in Tokyo discriminate against fellows members of our LGBT communty based upon "non Japanese". I do hope that upon my karmic return back to the land of my own ancestry that I shan't ever be denied entry to a gay bar or any other venue I would probably wind up emotionally wounded!

I am hakujin, predominately Caucasian as I have 87.5% European, Swiss, German, British, and Scandinavian as well. I also have that 12.5% Nihonjin as well. Thus from all accounts of the definition that I know of nikkei, I am such. I am planning to come back to my true homeland in one to two years time. I will (politely) try and stand up to any sort of racialism and challenge these few (thank goodness to what I understand to be very few) who would deny me entry being told that I am not Japanese enough to enter, that okay should I get a katana or a Nihontou (Samurai sword for those of you who not know) and slice myself in "seppuku" style one eighth of my body and throw the eighth in the club as being Japenese?
Would their challenge be that I don't have Japanese nationality, or is it purely racial, I simply do not know. I might be a "two deminsional gaijin" on paper, but my ancestry, kokoro (Heart) to tamashi (soul) says different. I am karmically, inter-incarnationally, and ancestrially Japanese despite being mostly hakujin and non-Japanese insofar as NATIONALITY in this life so far! Otherwise I am as Japanese as one can possibly get!

I would be mortally emotionally wounded and in great pain if I were ever told that I could not enter a gay bar, onsen, otsen, restaurant, rent apaarto, or whatever that I was not "Japanese" enough to enter or take part!! It is already bad enough to be legally considered to be a "foreigner" or "gaikokujin" (外国人) in my own true homeland! I might even, if really bad enough, to driven to Aokigahara Forest (Jukai) near Fujisan and wind up doing Ji-satsu (suicide)! Truely I would. I am patriotic and would defend to the hilt if necessary for this country, as I even have cried in tears of my homesickness to return. to ever be told that I am an outsider would be absolutely tear my Heart and Soul apart thus being mortal to me!

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Peter Payne — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:53:14 -0000

When I went there, I met so many Okinawans happy to see me, because I speak fluent Japanese. The master of the restaurant would come out and shake my hang. It was very strange.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Peter Payne — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:52:27 -0000

I've never seen these signs and I've been here 21 years. Yes, once a video store told me they didn't want to rent to me because another foreigner had stolen a bunch of videos the week before, but I calmly discussed things over with them and they were cool with it.

Remember that Americans/other foreigners sometimes *want* to be victims. If you're not a victim you're nothing.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

snoho — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 02:19:46 -0000

I feel a little silly replying to such an old post, but for the record I have seen more than one of these signs in bars and clubs in Nagoya. They do not mean that language is the problem. They mean they don't want foreign customers. I was really shocked when I saw this, so I spoke to one of the bouncers about the sign (in Japanese) and it was made clear to me that foreign customers regardless of language ability were unwanted.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Electricrailwaygod — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:26:05 -0000

Somebody, PLEASE someone, I have this burning question that I can't seem to get anyone to answer! HAKUJIN (白人) and HAFU (ハーフ) vs Gaikokujin (外国人). I have met a Hakujins from Japan in New York once who indeed carried a Japanese passport (I almost got into a love relationship with him some time ago -- until some other "gaijin" (American) stoled him away from me)!

Really, how are hakujins, people born and raised in Japan, with full Japanese nationality who are basically caucasian treated uopn a daily basis? And the same for "hafu" which is of course, from the English word "half"! ...Or for that matter a "hapa" a Hawaiian word now in a non-perjoritive sense means someone like me, who has Asian ancestry as well as non-Asian ancestry. I am a Yonsei, but racially I am 95% hakujin! (If one looks really close at me perhaps the %5 Japanese (especially of my eyes) can be seen. So just where would WE (people like me) stand in Japan? As Gaijin, or indeed as "hakujin", or even "hafu"?

I am going over there either towards the end of this year (2012) or during the summer months of 2013 when Fujisan is open for hiking to the summit. Hopefully I won't be called a "gaijin" but if I do, I am afraid that I might take it as an offence. I am a Hakujin hapa, thus European born in Switzerland, as well as from other European descent AND Japanese as well!

非常に親切にありがとう！

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Dolphinwing — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:27:41 -0000

I've never been to Japan before (planning to go this summer!) but there are many Japanese people who come to my town since there is an english school nearby. Several times I have tried to make friends with some of the Japanese people, I've only made one friend who still keeps in touch, everyone else just laughs at me like they're somewhat impressed with my Japanese or they seem mildly afraid

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Samuel welsh — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:48:23 -0000

still those shop keepers let japan down,they should learn english and remove those signs.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Thirdeye — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:54:25 -0000

Michelle Malkin is known to be a right wing loony and she was widely denounced for her defense of internment.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Hekie — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:17:00 -0000

You clearly don't understand anything about japanese brazilians ,so please don't say stupid things..

* First : The brazilian government never paid anything to bring japanese workers.
* Second:It was emperor's desire(or the government's desire)to send people overseas because of overpopulation and high levels of unemployment the country faced mainly because of the (1905)Nippo-russian war.
*My grandfather (who was japanese) was a very proud person and he was very loyal to Japan. He would NEVER accept to be treated like a slave and had a very prosperous life in Brazil.
*The japanese are the second most prosperous ethnic group in Brazil(1,600,000),just behind the jews(96,000.)
*Many of the "dekasegi" go to Japan because the salaries are higher and the country is safe.
*The western jew media is manipulated by the jew masters,and i think you should get facts straight.
(Ps:I'm Sansei)

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Jake Murphy — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:37:11 -0000

So, question, what are Japanese people's view on Irish people? Please tell me they don't adore us like the Americans....
Although we are quite cuddly....

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

TwoBlue — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:03:23 -0000

Perhaps the biggest tip is one of body language and mutual understanding. Being open and friendly will net similar responses. Acting with superiority and dominance (the so-called "gaijin smash") will net distrust and cold feelings.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Designer handbags — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:02:59 -0000

Thanks for the article! :D

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

leiyayon — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:47:25 -0000

Beautiful Imagery there~

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

leiyayon — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:41:41 -0000

Sorry for the random comment but I have lived in both Hawai'i and Jaoan for a considerable amount of time and there is definatly (in my cases) a much higher amount of tension between the Hawaiian natives and teh mainlanders and caucasians in general compared to Japan.

I lived in Hawai'i at a young age for quite some time and was put in a private school in the fear that I would be rejected or even abused by the other children If I had been put into a public school. Now this isn't a statement on the Hawaiians at all and Im certainly not acusing anyone of anything yet I had gotten my fair share of dirty looks and rude comments from the residents despite being a resident myself for a number of years. Now I lived on the Big Island and it drastically differs from its sister islands yet mostly because of the tourism. I basically had a long-standing joke with natives and Japanese-Philapino-Ect ect. alike that they want you to "spend your money and go", yet all in good humor.

Now when I got older I had already been exposed to Japanese culture, seeing as many people of Japanese decent resided in the big island of Hawai'i and Ive had many friends, both american and japanese born, and I was finally ready to embark on my new japanese life. I had taken my time to learn the language as throughly as I could (though I admit, despite still having a very much up and running contact with my friend in Tokyo my japanese has gotten rusty, occupied with various other languages I had been learning) and took a plane to live in Japan with my close close friend.

It really was shocking for me, not at all used to the huge citys so Tokyo came as a surprise. Their reactiosn even more so. Imediatly bombarrded with cameras and phones alike I got swarmed itn the streets for my unique hair (blonde) and eye (green) color and as soon as I escaped the crowded streets I rushed to the nearest pay-phone with a call to my friend in a very crude shout of: "Tasukete!"
He had told me to next time...wear a hat. The culture was extremly different but thanks to livign in Hawai'i and having friends of Japanese decent, I had fit in quite nicely. There was, admitadly some animostity and when I was left alone for a few times I had gotten harrased by people but for them ost part everyone was extremely well-mannered!
School, is a different story however and the students are not nearly as tolerent as their older counterparts and bulling did occur yet I was fortunantly a strong-willed child and found my place in the social standing and before I knew it, my excitinf Japanese Adventure had been over.

And not once had I seen a sign that had "No Gaijin" printed boldly across it.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Dhiaa — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:08:40 -0000

Such a powerful topic and I never really knew this had existed... I myself am Iraqi (Arab) born in the United Kingdom and have lived here for just over 19 years. I have had people think I am Italian or Mediterranean simply because I do not reflect the typical features of a Middle Eastern person. I do plan on going to Tokyo Japan for a holiday sometime soon perhaps with my mother as she takes great interest in far eastern cultures. I am sure that I will attract the typical gaijin attitude from some simply because I am not Japanese but I am not infact a westerner as they may perceive at first and I doubt they will notice that. Would I still be considered a typical westerner by the Japanese like some who have mentioned past experiences or not?

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Dan-kun — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:19:04 -0000

"This is the 100th year anniversary of the great migration, or as I call it, the great slave trade as the Brazilian government paid the Japanese government for those laborers, and the Japanese gov. willingly sent them."

As a fourth generation japanese-brazilian hapa, I have to say... it is absolutely true that the initial migrants were treated pretty much as slaves. But I wouldn't go so far as to call it all "The Great Slave Trade", seeing as after the initial hardships, things began to go very well for japanese-brazilians, and now most of us are part the middle and upper class, I have never seen a japanese "mendigo" (beggar) in Brazil, ever, not once. Japanese-Brazilians have done pretty well in Brazilian society. So I'm glad it happened (after all, I'd never been born if it hadn't :P), and I feel very thankful to all those immigrants who survived so much and managed to build a future here.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Franzeska — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:21:29 -0000

Yeah, definitely. A black guy I know said Japanese people asked him if he was a rapper all the time, but that's exactly the kind of dumbass thing white people in the US do too.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

L.B — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:20:46 -0000

That's what I believe. If a person is not used to even subtle forms of racism, i.e being a majority, going to a country where they are now the vast minority...

I'm black. I'm so used to racism in so many forms, (at least the asians seem to be very subtle vs the americans who just straight up tell you they hate you and attack you, ) that whatever racism is in Japan, is most likely not going to faze me at all. I probably won't even notice.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Franzeska — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:33:23 -0000

Frankly, I think about 90% of the whining you hear from English speakers about "racism" in Japan is really about the fact that a bunch of clueless WASP anime fans from the US go over there every year and discover what it's like to be a minority for the first time in their lives. Arguably, that's one of the benefits of living in a foreign country, but it can certainly be unpleasant and disconcerting, especially if you're not expecting it.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

VOIP — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:49:59 -0000

It says roughly "this store is for people who LOVE fish. Even if you're Japanese but don't love fish we will ask you to leave".

I honestly don't know what to think about this one. They're making an assumption that a foreign person does not love fish as much as a Japanese one would. It's bizarre discrimination - but it's still discrimination if actually enforced.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Jesi — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:06:10 -0000

wow, i'm glad someone brought up this topic.
for a bit, i had worried if people over there (japan), may be really mean towards foreigners.
that made me less encouraged to travel there for college.

and that is true...there will be those odd people sticking out of the group making everyone else look bad.. >_>

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Jesi — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:02:02 -0000

how was that like, living with a host family? going to school there and what not?
im just curious, because i'm doing the same thing in a while...i just need to learn more japanese. ^^''.

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

DokEnkephalin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:01:33 -0000

"maybe you’d expect tons of “no gaijin” signs chained onto restaurant doors (so that those dirty gaijin can’t rip them off and steal them)"

O hell yeah -- I want to find one of these signs and steal it!

Re: The “No Gaijin Allowed” mentality

Gabriela — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:29:10 -0000

darinteb: I'm a Brazilian-'Japanese' lawyer in BR and got really interested in all your comments, especially concerning its legal aproach. Do you mind send me any information you might have about Japanese Legal System/Human Rights Issue? And what's about the Debito issue (is it the same person who wrote at JapanTimes an article about the gaijin thing?). Thanks. gabnaga@uol.com.br