Odd to me, too, that there can still be so much separation between 'races.' It's truly astounding & such a waste of human potential. I try to remember: not everyone has had the lifetime multi-cultural immersion experience, like the last few generations of our home line (we were raised in a 'multi-ethnic' family & community in the USA). But still sad that it's ever an issue anywhere....One of the best things we can do: encourage & help young people to travel & live abroad.
at the end of the day, everyone's experiences will be different. The only thing one can do then is to collect a lot of different stories or opinions and form a conclusion from the results.
I still hate how he turned a Question into a statement.. Because i swear victor asked "What is it like being black in Japan?" Not "How much are you discriminated against in Japan?"
I think, that when you go to another country, especially, to another part of the World where the culture is completely different, it's goddamn stupid to cry or complain about any sort of discrimination. There is the law and there's the national character. Japanese people are known for their strong nationalism towards their nation (how to make it stronger) and other people who they don't really like. And you're a stranger there. They owe you nothing. And that's OK, actually.
African Americans in Japan? What about African Africans? It's funny how the term "African American" has become so ingrained, that it's being used as a pseudonym for black. Anyway, a bit off topic, I have to agree 100% with Rhyming Gaijin. Fostering stereotypes is a bit low-brow, in that it intentionally seeks out conflict where there may not be any. Why not ask him, what's it like being Rhyming Gaijin? If we focus on the negative, how can we see the positive?
@spetznas101 I would tend to agree with you there. I find it to be a bit offensive too :) It's like treating people with clinical sterility instead of just being human.
I agree with you, Victor, his research proposal will not prove accurately the most discriminated group in Japan. For instance, I am a descendant of Japanese, and if I ask a Japanese person: "Where is the restroom" in English, the nihonjin will stare at me and say: "nihongo de hanasea temmea = speak in Japanese" I have felt discriminated a lot because of my Japanese face and not speaking a "good" Japanese. But again, as he says, feeling is subjective, and perhaps is is only in my head.
This isn't a stupid question, but it is pointless one. As a black man living in Japan I've experienced less racism and discrimination than I did in Europe, America and Canada. That being said, there were times when I felt discriminated against, only to find out that it was not about skin color but being different. If that's discrimination, then most Japanese ppl get discriminated against too.How it is to be black in Japan? How about How it is to be human in 2011. Period.
If someone did a blind survey as he suggests, it is best to actually speak in Japanese. People can be more prejudiced against you if you come into their country but do not speak their language.
I think because Japan is such a media driven culture that they perceive them to be just as the media has showed them. Get it?? If all they see are movies with black people being portrayed in a negative way then guess what people Black bad guy in move = Black bad guy in real life. Don't believe me well every time I see a Japanese woman she should be cute docile speak in a soft girl voice. Right looked what happened to poor Mamisue71 just because she's not the accepted media type Japanese girl....
the perception of blacks isn't good for god sake we have our own titles for everything foreign related lol...black in japan black in korea black in~~, blacks being stressed out in interracial relationships and for every other race we refer to them as foreigners wtf...when last you see a video title white in whatever country?
i'm glad the title of this is being human in japan
As a Japanese, I guess that most Japanese aren't familiar with foreigners yet, not only black people but also white, ... others like religional looks like muslims. So when you guys coming from other nations ride on the trains and buses, they will look at you agains and again. Maybe, most of you guys having been to Japan would have the experience.
I agree with Saruource. I also dislike the word, 'gaijin'. It's a kind of nationalistic word. BTW, I wanna listen to Gimmeflakeman, your opinion about a series of the latest anti-movement, demonstration against Korean-led broad casting by FUJI TV. I wanna listen to your directly straight opinion. I wait your uploading the topic on this site.
Oh really? I'll check it out soon. I just checked out the movie that Japanese demonstrate around the FUJI TV with holding Japanese national flag for appealing to stop broadcasting about Korean TV. It looks like strange scene for me because they don't express any hatred to American dramas and news but Koreans. I think it's totally illogical claim. That must comes from only bias view to say narrow nationalism. So I wonder what you think of that.
@tattsun999 That's what we are Gaikokujin "Foreigners" in the west people say foreigner like German call people who look different because 92% of Germany is White. 98% of Japan are Japanese people so they aren't use to seeing us and there is nothing else to call us. I don't take offense unless it's in a angry tone. The Japanese don't take offense to the pharse "Jap" unless it's used in a derogatory way
@xr2kid Maybe, Japanese can't feel or make a sense how and why the word 'Jap' sounds contemptuous as English speakers feel. For some of Japanese, that word sounds still only like an abbreviation. Also others don't know the word. Including the topic Rhyming offered, Japanese average score of Test Of English as International Communication is about 530/990. It means being in a level that persons can't communicate with others smoothly in English, even though the lines are so simple.
I'm a sociology major so I know all about this shit. Probably the only thing my major is useful for =D Anyway I don't think anything quite like this has been done. And I've been through a few databases looking for sociological journal articles on Japan and China also. This could be a good idea. I'm talking publishable stuff.
The person asking for directions or help needs to be wearing a wire so the recorders can hear them from where they are (not visible). I would say that for accurate results, each person needs to ask for help from at least 100 random people. The study needs to be started at the same time in each city and at the same type of place... let's just inside a train station. I think results from just Osaka and Tokyo will yield some good data.
It will be tedious... but it has to be that way. cont.
Rhymin's method is actually similar to a study I learned about in Deviance class about shoplifting. And another concerning blacks vs. whites and likelihood of attaining a job. Methodology would have to be a bit more strict to ensure accurate results. It's really an observational study. You would need a big team in each city to conduct the study. We should look at race, but also sex. Japanese need to participate as well. Someone needs to video tape and another needs to type. continued...
Great video! Nobody has patience for 'keyboard thugs' and their disrespectful opinions; but I see you already put the trolls in check lol... I'm a black woman--- and a newbie in Japan (about 4 months now)-- and the blatant racism I experienced in my own country....I won't go there! I wouldn't call 'staring' racism but that's been the most uncomfortable thing for me so far, but this is a homogenous society and I stand out. I get it. :)
Otherwise everyone has been nice & gone out of their way to
[part 1] Best way to gauge racist attitudes I think would be to make short videos of several people of diff races (black, korean, white, hispanic, indian, chinese) of both genders who all speak very good Japanese. Have them read a script that tells a false but believable story ("I work as a clerk, I have lived in Japan for 15 years etc..).
@antonc81 [part 2] Then have a crosssection of the native Japanese population watch one vid each. selected randomly and do a survey where they respond to statements "this person is intelligent", "this person is trustworthy", "this person is clean", "this person is polite" etc.. they have to respond how strongly they agree with the statement with regards to the person on the video they just watched. That kind of study would definitely be worth doing.
@antonc81 [part 3] You would need a large sample size (in the thousands) that represented, different age groups, different socio-economic backgrounds. Once you collated the data you would be able to see what, for example, are the attitudes of the average middle-aged, upper-class Japanese man to Black women or what are the attitudes of a working-class japanese woman to Korean women etc... In constructing the methodology you would have to be careful to exclude other (non-racial) forms of bias.
I did exactly what they've said when I was living in Japan, and what I've discover, at least in Kôbe (all my friends there also did it) is that most japanese aren´t like "racist" (for lack of a better word) is just that they're too scared to talk to someone in another language; mostly because of fear of not being understood. We had big discussion about it, even with japanese people and even if we feel a little neglected some times is more like a cultural/laguage barrier
I think its worse not to answer the question acctualy. Couse then its made a problem. If the question could just be answerd it would not feel like it was a problem. See where I am going with this?
It's not so much the term "Gaijin" that bugs me. It's being treated differently because of being a gaijin. Milkjamjuice made a great video about it, called "Gaijin dakara ne". I've heard a story about someone who was eating dinner with a Japanese family. One of them used his own chopsticks to serve him some food from a nabe bowl. He was scolded for it by his mother, but he responded "Daijoubu, gaijin desu yo."
This situation is what bugs me about the situation, not the term in itself.
That is a good video, but it's funnier than it is serious. It's annoying as hell, but it isn't just about being gaijin. Many Japanese think that being born in a cold place automatically means that you are especially weak to heat. Stuff like that.
I appreciate your message in this video. Personally I think that everyone sharing their experience isn't a bad thing. It was something I wondered before I went to japan and I make my videos for the person who was me three years ago before coming to japan. It's not meant to belittle Japanese or anybody, its just to share my own expereinces
@Gimmeaflakeman I dislike this question so much because it belittles Japanese people and this may seem a little farfetched but almost to the point to that it's racist to them. People think that since japan is on an island, all they know about black ppl is what they see in movies. Just because they have a strong grip on the preservation of they're culture doesn't mean they are ignorant or not accepting to others. Japan is not an ignorant country and the Japanese are not ignorant ppl.
nice video, interesting thoughts. personal experiences are just that, personal and shouldn't be seen as the general norm. combining a large number of incidents where you get results and compare them is very statistical but still won't be 100% factual because everyone is different. Asking how everyone sees a certain people is like saying they all have the same ideas and thoughts and perceptions. Everyone is different even in Japan. But it'd be interesting and I'd like to see the results.
Thats a great Idea! in sociology it means to break a social norm, to think outside the box to experiment which is whats up. I did one in germany to guage how people reacted to a inter-racial couple and child and used the data for a college thesis. be careful though thats all I can say.
im def on board with this idea. Really sounds lengthy and such but the results in the end are what matter. gotta put in a lot of effort to get something great from it. Sounds like fun to be honest lol If this comes into fruition i would love to be in JP and apart of it when it happens...Must cross my fingers for next year lol >_< props RG really enjoyed the vid!
I really hate the whole race argument thing all over the world. I think Rhyming is right that we need to overcome this crap and grow up. I accept people for who they are and i wish everybody else would too.
havent watched the video yet so excuse me if this comment is ignorant in some way, but i don't think its possible to actually effectively gauge an entire groups view on a minority or anything like that
"what's it like to be black in japan?" probably one of the stupidest questions ever asked. No one can answer that question because it can't be answered. No one can tell you what it's like to be a race of people anywhere. People who asked this question just show how insecure they are about their race and as a person.
It may not be a good question, but it isn't a stupid question. It means that people care. And worry. And that they don't know. Showing your insecurity is one of the first things we need to do to start educating.
@Gimmeaflakeman I thinks its a stupid question b'cos if you were black in America and got it real bad (Physical violence) then you came to japan and they ignored you , you would think you were in heaven.
I would like to have heard RhymingGaijin's opinion on being black in Japan (especially as a Emcee/media user). I am actually a black researcher doing academic work on race in Japan (there are a couple of us here doing this work).I think answering the question not only helps black people, it helps everyone gain understanding of perspectives. I will always tell you what it is like being black in Japan, it is important to share with Japan and the world.
it would have been interesting to hear his opinion although as he said it would only be his. does someone know hoe japanese people typically see black people?
I think his idea is interesting but doomed to fail. It would be extremely difficult to get that many various minorities to do such a project. I can see why he wants to avoid the original question. Mamisue had a bad experience. She didn't understand the audience mix. He is a rapper. Those who enjoy rap will jump on his channel. You might consider why tracing racial origins through DNA is a sensitive issue in Japan to find why race matters. Racial superiority and purity are part of the culture.
I think perhaps Japanese media may be a good way to gauge the Japanese opinion on anything. Of course you will get differences but I think it could be used as a good measure.
What I found funny was the intro to Tokujo Kabachi. One of the lawyers/ solicitors who is 'fighting crime' is surrounded by a group of black guys and head-buts them. All I could think was..... 'Wow.... stereotyping to the max there'.
@afronathan Japanese media and japanese people are strongly influenced by American media. This is why i think their views on blacks and other minorities is so limited and messed up.
Really like this video. It's a very interesting topic. I think that honestly Americans are more worried about "the black experience" in Japan than the Japanese. When I was in Japan (my own experience as a black female) I didn't feel any "racism". Yes I got stared at A LOT, but I think that in Japan it's a very insider versus outsider type thing. I find that the Japanese people were more concerned with if someone is Japanese versus if they look different and therefore are not.
@SugarPlumDrop So I think it is more of a minority or westerner's experience in Japan rather than specifically a Black person in Japan. Also, I don't think race is as important in Japan as how one act's in public and society. The more you are different, whether it be how you look or how you act would cause them to treat you differently. Also, with gaijin in Japan we do get treated differently as most Japanese people would assume we don't speak fluent Japanese. Quite a complex concept I think
You'd need to be more systematic about it and try to design your experiment to reduce biases, but that sounds like a great idea. You'll need to consider control experiments as well... for instance, trials involving Japanese people should help discern whether it's an ethnicity thing... or trials involving foreigners speaking "perfect" Japanese could discern if it's a language issue. Great idea. Interested in the results.
The method of asking questions makes the statistician part of me cringe. First of all, it's taking as fact all of the people being asked the question are exactly alike. Which isn't the case, and runs the risk of falling into the same trap that this survey thing is trying to disprove. Some people may be too busy, or having a bad day. Who knows how many people will react in the desired way to make the data meaningful?
Still, it may work out well enough. There's just a lot of random factors here.
Funny thing. Watching a show called The Unit right now. Dennis Haysbert, played the first black US President in 24. In Mister Baseball with Tom Selleck, he said being a gaijin in Japan is like being a black man in the US.
Really interesting topic. BTW I hate the term 'gaijin'. It is racist in Japanese. Non-Japanese use reminds me of 'wiggers'. It is pathetic and a little bit seriously psychologically and sociologically fked up.I am a victim! Look at me!If you have a good explanation why it is OK please let me know.
However: the so called 'gaijin' seat on trains. Does it exist? Experiment: Same sex, route, size, ugly, hairy but different ethnicity. Carried out a hundred times in different JP cities.W d y tink?
@Sarusource lolz gaijin seats on trains i've never seen it hm.. as a half japanese i'm seen in a lot of situations as a gaijin i guess when i was younger i didn't really like it but to be honest i think it's one of those things you have to accept because we can all be prejudice to those we view as 'outsiders' this isn't something exclusive to japan it's within ever culture, every race .. and when people say it are they really thinking about the implications of it? i don't think so
@tokyodoru People should remember there are good and bad people in any country, and everyone makes a judgement when they 1st see one even if u dont mean to.
@Sarusource If u hate the term "gaijin" which i dont think is offensive as no matter how someone uses it, if u are foreign then its correct, then why do u look to find vid about gaijin? are u the kind of person that spends all their time looking for anything that can be seen as racist in order to be annoyed about it? whatever country ur in, if u look hard enough ul find something.
The word gaijin is a word. It cannot be racist. It can be offensive but not racist. I've talked to 100s of foreigners here. Most of us do not find the word offensive. I'm a gaijin. I don't feel like I'm saying anything strange when I say that.
The gajin seat? You mean the phenomenon when nobody will sit next to you because you are a gaijin? Sure that happens. But it happens less and less every year. However the intent behind that is what indicates racism. Things ain't that simple.
@Gimmeaflakeman I am not convinced by your argument for the word 'gaijin'. I still find it childish when used by none-Japanese and offensive / racist in varying degrees when Japanese use it.
Anyway, my point. RhymingGaijin wanted a testable study. If you want to get away from anecdotes you are going to have to go with something you can measure. That you say the 'gaijinseat' is in decline could be useful because then you could maybe have a follow up study to indicate a change in attitude.
@Gimmeaflakeman A Japanese student of mine, a doctor, says that no one sit next to him in the train because he is (slightly) bigger than the average Japanese. They're afraid he'll take all the space and they'll end up squished. Some passengers don't like to sit next to ppl who sleep because they're afraid said passenger will rest their heads on their shoulder. They also don't sit next to Yankees or loud ppl. See, I don't feel offended if no one sits next to me anymore. Happens to nihonjin too.
@Sarusource I understand your feeling on this it not unlike how Koreans use the word Waegookin (the korean word for foreigner). While yes I am a foreigner and that describes me it annoys me when Koreans I have known a long time still use that term to refer to me. Since I am American I prefer they say that and I have started openly correcting them when they Call me there "WaeGook friend" It is not the word thats bad its how they use it, Koreans (japanese) basically view it as Us vs Them.
I spent four days in the Kansai region last February. When I was on the train Japanese had no problems sitting next to me. I had heard of the Gaijin Barrier before and since I am big black guy expected to see that but I didn't get that at all. I expected to get many stares too but i didn't get that either. I still actually get stares all the time in Korea.
It's not "pandering" to show his life in totality. He's a human but he's also black. I also don't agree with his idea about facts v opinion. Social research is often made up of opinions, anecdotes, etc. There is no such thing as "merely opinion" in societal research --just preponderance. If politeness and hiding one's real opinion is normal in Japan, would asking questions of strangers on camera be a valid societal experiment? It's a naive idea that doesn't show the inside of heart or homes.
Victor I will tell you what it's like. I stand on the corner in the hot sun waiting for the light to change. My friends and everyone else stands in the shade. They ask why do I stand in the sun and not the shade. I say, "My African-American, Black, minority or whatever word is appropriate skin is cool not burning." They don't believe it. They touch it, then ask "Why is your skin cool in the sun and ours burn?" I reply, "it great being Black in Japan!" I can enjoy the exposure sun in Japan. Can
pt2. If you know these reasons we can better understand the Japanese mindset and know the best ways to show japanese how to better understand us. I think japanese do things in front of foreigners or to foreigners not knowing they are doings something wrong or bad. Some do know and don't care. In any case we should try to show or explain what they are doing is wrong and why. We as foreigners make mistakes and social faux pas all the time and locals are usually quick to correct our mistakes.
While ignoring race and just treating people like people sounds good but we should be realistic. If you ignore that then you probably will not socialize well with Japan. There is an issue and ignoring the issue is counter productive for everyone. In Japan looks and appearances mean everything. This dictates how they react and behave with each and with non-Japanese. There are probably historical and social reasons for this as well.
RG makes a good point. he's not caught up in this whole black experience/white experience thing that seems to be common amongst vloggers, rather he understands that a human is a human and experience is not specifically defined by race
I don't know if you could learn anything from such an experiment. Being polite and giving directions has little to do with being honest about your feelings towards different races. That test would measure politeness not racism and we already know Japan would score higher than most countries when it comes to being polite.
@MrNadaname Agree. Measures altruistic behaviour which they'd ace. Try renting an apartment and you'll start getting to the bare bones of the matter. Giving directions and letting you live in their property are 2 different matters. I've heard from various people that when they got into a hot spring, some Japanese people have pointedly gotten out. But that never happened to me; met lovely people at hot springs. Plus there are a whole lot of confounding variables that could influence the results
Having talked with some Japanese students here in the US, I was told Japan is race conscious. Even amongst themselves -dark skinned southerner vs. pale skinned northerner. And as in the US, there may be elements of a "model minority" slant to some, or an "exotic" slant to others. What I sense is that many Japanese who have not had close relationships with foreigners tend to not view racism as negative discrimination, as if racism is as natural a human trait as any other personal preference.
@BBoyBlack1337 Well if people aren't being treated equally as humans we should find out who is being mistreated and why? that way we can work towards having everyone being treated equally as humans.
I'm white Australian and have been to Japan a couple of times and have always felt welcome and helped there by Japanese people. Obviously - I am not black - but have, at many times in my life, felt like I was part of a "minority". Maybe not all the ones we normally think about (e.g. racial minority) but a minority none-the-less. And often VERY small minorities (i.e. none that get any media attention at all). RG's idea is good - but minorities will always exist. Not sure what we would learn.
Well... My Opinion: I'm a black guy and i'm subscribed to Rhyming.. I appreciate the fact that he made a video.. But i don't appreciate the fact that he dodged the question. This video made me realize that he contradicts himself in MANY ways. He says it's just an opinion be he is avoiding answering the question. He is a rapper, Most of them are arrogant, or Pseudo-arrogant. but he won't answer a simple question. All he had to do was say his experiences.. if it was personal he could have said so.
@Nooklet I am with you. Some of his videos have been helpful to me in the past and probably helped me get my teaching job in Korea. Since I minored in sociology i find his idea rather interesting but not so useful. I also feel Japanese (and koreans) need to be shown how to better deal with others. but thats not a easy task. I don't know him personally yet but this video seems totally out of character compared to his other videos.
@Nooklet If your subscribed to him then u dam well already know his experiences. he uploads his daily life and even explains his past in japan. he didn't have to explain, you can easily watch and see how he is treated. I mean he freestyles smack dab in the middle of the street.
He may have some wonderfully esoteric views on life and yada yada yada. I'm glad for him, but I was looking for some very practical information to determine whether I should spend the considerable amount of money to come to Japan for a lengthy visit. Fortunately, through youtube recommendations, I found a number of black women tourist and expat with direct, succinct and usable info. So I am going to visit and I'm excited as well.
I'm a bit disappointed too. I don't know how many people are interested in a sociological dissertation. Personally, I wouldn't have agreed to make the video in the first place if I felt uncomfortable with the concept.
A choice has been made. A video has the answer. And I respect it.
Now...allow me ~
"There's the old sayings such as "looks can be deceiving" or "don't judge a book by its cover". Oh yes, these sayings I hear a many but these sayings I see a very few." ~ an excerpt from my treatise.
Interesting suggestion, but gender and size (height and weight/shape) also have an influence and perception of foreigners varies based on location and experience. A detailed and massive survey would need to be conducted; that included info on individual`s gender, age; economic background; exposure to various kinds of foreign people, opinion on what things most influence their perception of foreign people of various races, gender, sizes, etc.
@JapanAndThings Of course the answers would vary based on experiences with things such as foreigners and age, and it would help you see the trends. To conduct such a large survey and interpret the data would be a chore, but similar (on a smaller scale) have been done before. City halls sometimes run what they refer to as 社会実験 where they do surveys based on all kinds of things. Researchers who focus on this sort of things would be the ones to ask, as well.
Maybe if you setup a stand and with a title asking if a Japanese person had a question for a minority, black, non Asian person a question and that person could answer it and record it. Maybe this could be done at a park or a place where people go to relax and not in a rush.
I would love to know what type a questions they would have. What their concerns would be and in general curiosity they would have.
Hmmm, RG has a point, Being a black in japan or even being a Gaijin in Japan is just an opinion of one individual which can differ with another based on the experience and environment. Not all humans are same, not all people are racists. Japanese are now getting used to lot of foreigners which America got used to a long back. let time socialize all the people in the world.
much respect for Rhyming. excellent sociological proposal that goes beyond just talking about experiences and opinions - although of course opinions & experiences are important to :)
its a very good idea coming from a good place - wanting to wipe out stereotypes in general - wish we could do this worldwide. anyway from a research point of view, i think you would have to use that same set of foreigners in each of the cities as a control so that the data is more reliable. also a wider set of foreigners as well so each race is represented in its diversity. anyway sounds interesting.
I think RhymingHaijin's plan is great but impractivcal a bit. Why Japanese would dare to ask 100 people, they even don't start video blogs with Victor suggesting several times. However, if the research methods get more clear, there would be practical ways to do that. I think Japanese RETURNEEs like me, would be defenitely interested to this idea!
Interesting way of answering the question, RG presents a good point but I do agree if might be a bit difficult to do. I would be so excited if it could really come through, I think it would be a cool experience for all people involved, including us viewers. Good video!
I agree with his line of thinking but just like you said the method isn't very practical. Far too many variables come into a project like this, time, people etc..
I personally believe that racism stems from the idea that there exists multiple races. Once you start labeling certain people as certain groups, you're going to get ideas that one race is "superior" to the other and this is propagated through mass media to provide habits and characteristics that apparently ascribe to certain races. I just hate labeling people based on stupid ideologies like race, skin colour, sexual orientation, etc. The only way I'll judge you is based on who you are as a human
@OfLaSoul It's stupid to say there isen't any races, would you say the same about dogs? cats? whatever animal? No you woulden't. Same gose for humans, altho, there isen't anything bad about other races in my opinion, i am glad there exists diffrent races and on top of that diffrent cultures, becuse then we got something to share with eathothers. Would be boring if we all where the same woulden't it. ;) anyway only idiotic people label others on their coulor.
@Rekkie88 If it's stupid to not believe in the idea that multiple races is a biological fact, then so be it. Biologically, a "black" guy's DNA can be more similar to that of a "white" guy than another "black" person. So what is he? Is he white or black? The bottom line is, that no matter how many races you believe there are, we're all still apart of a human race and to be racist towards someone of a different race is absurd but when you're conditioned to believe that multiple races exist, you
@Rekkie88 con't here - believe that there's certain things that set apart your race from another person's race. Same goes for animals.Different culture could exist even if multiple races never exist. Your cultural would be based on where you live - the traditions, the equality among all people, beliefs brought up to believe, etc.
@OfLaSoul I haven't tried to say otherwise that we are not all humans. If you missunderstood it to a way that i am a racist i do feel very bad for you. Just becuse i refuse to deny that there is races among any kind of animal DOSE NOT mean that i am a racist of any kind, but ofcourse people are fast to scream out "Racist!" to anyone mentioning diffrently that what you mayhap think.
@Rekkie88 I already feel bad for you to think that I would believe that anyone who believes that there are multiple races is racist. There's a difference here. Racism is discrimination of another race based on alleged differences amongst all the races which make certain races better than other people. Just because you believe in multiple races, it doesn't mean you're racist.
@OfLaSoul My aren't we hostile, let me qoute. "bottom line is, that no matter how many races you believe there are, we're all still apart of a human race and to be racist towards someone of a different race is absurd but when you're conditioned to believe that multiple races exist, you believe that there's certain things that set apart your race from another person's race" Your words not mine. You should make up your mind sometime.
I've kinda thought about the same thing Rhyming mentioned and it is a good idea, we are a world, humans, and we gotta respect each other no matter looks. That's what makes life important, to not "judge" in any way by looks.. Though being black in japan is a hot topic sort of, they gotta accept the fact that humans as we are still will be intrested in their country & culture and come visit and respect them, treat them as we would like to be treated.
It's a good idea, but I feel like you need to ask more than 100 people each to get a representative sample for each given area. Maybe 100 for each demographic— 100 elderly, 100 school age, 100 salarymen, etc. Also, you'd need a control– Just a regular (I.E stereotypical) Japanese guy in formal clothing asking for directions in English. (English because this experiment is about appearance and not language barrier.) If it's worth doing, it's worth over doing, right?
I would rather ask this question on Rhyming's video, but it doesn't seem like he's uploaded this particular video on his channel? Anyway, just curious, when is the deadline for this survey? I'm moving to Japan (again) permanently in 2 weeks time and I wanna know if I can get in on this!
Hi RG. What you say is interesting but i'm disappointed because i was really looking forward watching that video, and you didn't answer the question.
I understand what you said about everyone having his own experience and that there is no way of knowing if some of the things that happened to a person were due to his race or not. But still i really wanted to hear your experience.
Victor, maybe you should ask that question to the new guy DirtySouthJPN. Because i really wanna see a vid about it.
Maybe it's just me but I didn't quite get Rhyming's point. I have seen many of his videos and I felt he had a lot of negativity living in Japan and seemed to have hard time adjusting to Japanese culture and attitude. As a foreigner myself here, I feel many Americans behave like they are still in America and expect the Japanese to accept them because they are Americans. And I agree with you about not agreeing with his idea. It's really hard to know by just taking a survey or with any method.
I like that he chose not to speak about being black in Japan. I respect you Victor, I know you're disappointed because this isn't what you expected but this is actually better than "what it's like being black in Japan". He's very honest.
It is a sad testament to humanity that the mere question exists on how differently a person is treated based on race/appearance...it is 2011 and we have yet to truly move forward as human beings and are still locked into what amounts to tribalism.
Odd to me, too, that there can still be so much separation between 'races.' It's truly astounding & such a waste of human potential. I try to remember: not everyone has had the lifetime multi-cultural immersion experience, like the last few generations of our home line (we were raised in a 'multi-ethnic' family & community in the USA). But still sad that it's ever an issue anywhere....One of the best things we can do: encourage & help young people to travel & live abroad.
roxanneworld11 5 months ago
at the end of the day, everyone's experiences will be different. The only thing one can do then is to collect a lot of different stories or opinions and form a conclusion from the results.
ankokugaiBOSS 5 months ago
Why do you need to know that about black people in japan?
What exactly are trying to start?
you don't have to answer but why do you want to divide and set people in bad light
because pretty sure your opinion would be negative.
you pretty much know how all race view us, so why you want to put fuel in the fire?
unless you want to keep this fuel burning like many already out there are
OmariDaiki 5 months ago
@OmariDaiki
I don't think they are negative. You assume too much. BUT as I am not black I cannot answer.
Gimmeaflakeman 5 months ago
Any experiment that involves a chicken-suit is worth doing.
fomiz 5 months ago
I like to cry to that music.
It matches sad stories like someones death
kindersurprise8 5 months ago
I still hate how he turned a Question into a statement.. Because i swear victor asked "What is it like being black in Japan?" Not "How much are you discriminated against in Japan?"
Nooklet 5 months ago
whats the name of the piano song in the background?
rpersonna 5 months ago
Good title.
mr2wari 5 months ago
I like how he said it is an opinion battle, no facts. Now reading the comments below me, I laugh. (:
Bosque1994 5 months ago in playlist More videos from Gimmeaflakeman
I think, that when you go to another country, especially, to another part of the World where the culture is completely different, it's goddamn stupid to cry or complain about any sort of discrimination. There is the law and there's the national character. Japanese people are known for their strong nationalism towards their nation (how to make it stronger) and other people who they don't really like. And you're a stranger there. They owe you nothing. And that's OK, actually.
13BEAST666 6 months ago
African Americans in Japan? What about African Africans? It's funny how the term "African American" has become so ingrained, that it's being used as a pseudonym for black. Anyway, a bit off topic, I have to agree 100% with Rhyming Gaijin. Fostering stereotypes is a bit low-brow, in that it intentionally seeks out conflict where there may not be any. Why not ask him, what's it like being Rhyming Gaijin? If we focus on the negative, how can we see the positive?
nuorangejapan 6 months ago
@nuorangejapan
it always struck me weird that " African Americans" is more accepted then just saying he/she is Black.
I think its just a sneaky way to say "negro" but everybody has seemed to just accept it.
spetznas101 6 months ago
@spetznas101 I would tend to agree with you there. I find it to be a bit offensive too :) It's like treating people with clinical sterility instead of just being human.
nuorangejapan 6 months ago
I agree with you, Victor, his research proposal will not prove accurately the most discriminated group in Japan. For instance, I am a descendant of Japanese, and if I ask a Japanese person: "Where is the restroom" in English, the nihonjin will stare at me and say: "nihongo de hanasea temmea = speak in Japanese" I have felt discriminated a lot because of my Japanese face and not speaking a "good" Japanese. But again, as he says, feeling is subjective, and perhaps is is only in my head.
ryukyuwan 6 months ago
I was gonna be an alien in Japan.
tokutom 6 months ago
This isn't a stupid question, but it is pointless one. As a black man living in Japan I've experienced less racism and discrimination than I did in Europe, America and Canada. That being said, there were times when I felt discriminated against, only to find out that it was not about skin color but being different. If that's discrimination, then most Japanese ppl get discriminated against too.How it is to be black in Japan? How about How it is to be human in 2011. Period.
MrKoize 6 months ago 5
If someone did a blind survey as he suggests, it is best to actually speak in Japanese. People can be more prejudiced against you if you come into their country but do not speak their language.
CalebMush 6 months ago
I think because Japan is such a media driven culture that they perceive them to be just as the media has showed them. Get it?? If all they see are movies with black people being portrayed in a negative way then guess what people Black bad guy in move = Black bad guy in real life. Don't believe me well every time I see a Japanese woman she should be cute docile speak in a soft girl voice. Right looked what happened to poor Mamisue71 just because she's not the accepted media type Japanese girl....
hellsaint76 6 months ago
Victor, what is the general Japanese attitude towards blonde women (if there is one)?
AquaBeatle94 6 months ago
nice effect with the aperture on the camera. looks professional
PunctualProletariat 6 months ago
is it me or is he afraid to answer the question lol. Im black and i lived in japan for a month maybe i can answer the question victor.....
Cinnamonpoptarts1 6 months ago
I dig it
ItsGrrreat 6 months ago
the perception of blacks isn't good for god sake we have our own titles for everything foreign related lol...black in japan black in korea black in~~, blacks being stressed out in interracial relationships and for every other race we refer to them as foreigners wtf...when last you see a video title white in whatever country?
i'm glad the title of this is being human in japan
Fhenry 6 months ago
You always have cool/nifty things in the background. Are those bunnies and spiderman yours?
MusicNeverLeavesYou 6 months ago
As a Japanese, I guess that most Japanese aren't familiar with foreigners yet, not only black people but also white, ... others like religional looks like muslims. So when you guys coming from other nations ride on the trains and buses, they will look at you agains and again. Maybe, most of you guys having been to Japan would have the experience.
tattsun999 6 months ago
I agree with Saruource. I also dislike the word, 'gaijin'. It's a kind of nationalistic word. BTW, I wanna listen to Gimmeflakeman, your opinion about a series of the latest anti-movement, demonstration against Korean-led broad casting by FUJI TV. I wanna listen to your directly straight opinion. I wait your uploading the topic on this site.
tattsun999 6 months ago
@tattsun999
I already uploaded a video on this topic, but it doesn't really interest me to talk more about it. What can I say?
Gimmeaflakeman 6 months ago
@Gimmeaflakeman
Oh really? I'll check it out soon. I just checked out the movie that Japanese demonstrate around the FUJI TV with holding Japanese national flag for appealing to stop broadcasting about Korean TV. It looks like strange scene for me because they don't express any hatred to American dramas and news but Koreans. I think it's totally illogical claim. That must comes from only bias view to say narrow nationalism. So I wonder what you think of that.
tattsun999 6 months ago
@tattsun999 That's what we are Gaikokujin "Foreigners" in the west people say foreigner like German call people who look different because 92% of Germany is White. 98% of Japan are Japanese people so they aren't use to seeing us and there is nothing else to call us. I don't take offense unless it's in a angry tone. The Japanese don't take offense to the pharse "Jap" unless it's used in a derogatory way
xr2kid 6 months ago
@xr2kid Maybe, Japanese can't feel or make a sense how and why the word 'Jap' sounds contemptuous as English speakers feel. For some of Japanese, that word sounds still only like an abbreviation. Also others don't know the word. Including the topic Rhyming offered, Japanese average score of Test Of English as International Communication is about 530/990. It means being in a level that persons can't communicate with others smoothly in English, even though the lines are so simple.
tattsun999 6 months ago
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tattsun999 6 months ago
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tattsun999 6 months ago
I'm a sociology major so I know all about this shit. Probably the only thing my major is useful for =D Anyway I don't think anything quite like this has been done. And I've been through a few databases looking for sociological journal articles on Japan and China also. This could be a good idea. I'm talking publishable stuff.
Haxxploits 6 months ago
The person asking for directions or help needs to be wearing a wire so the recorders can hear them from where they are (not visible). I would say that for accurate results, each person needs to ask for help from at least 100 random people. The study needs to be started at the same time in each city and at the same type of place... let's just inside a train station. I think results from just Osaka and Tokyo will yield some good data.
It will be tedious... but it has to be that way. cont.
Haxxploits 6 months ago
Rhymin's method is actually similar to a study I learned about in Deviance class about shoplifting. And another concerning blacks vs. whites and likelihood of attaining a job. Methodology would have to be a bit more strict to ensure accurate results. It's really an observational study. You would need a big team in each city to conduct the study. We should look at race, but also sex. Japanese need to participate as well. Someone needs to video tape and another needs to type. continued...
Haxxploits 6 months ago
2) make me feel at home. That's not to say racism doesn't exists b/c it's everywhere. That's life. You just gotta roll with the punches as they come.
nikkinecole76 6 months ago
Great video! Nobody has patience for 'keyboard thugs' and their disrespectful opinions; but I see you already put the trolls in check lol... I'm a black woman--- and a newbie in Japan (about 4 months now)-- and the blatant racism I experienced in my own country....I won't go there! I wouldn't call 'staring' racism but that's been the most uncomfortable thing for me so far, but this is a homogenous society and I stand out. I get it. :)
Otherwise everyone has been nice & gone out of their way to
nikkinecole76 6 months ago
[part 1] Best way to gauge racist attitudes I think would be to make short videos of several people of diff races (black, korean, white, hispanic, indian, chinese) of both genders who all speak very good Japanese. Have them read a script that tells a false but believable story ("I work as a clerk, I have lived in Japan for 15 years etc..).
antonc81 6 months ago
@antonc81 [part 2] Then have a crosssection of the native Japanese population watch one vid each. selected randomly and do a survey where they respond to statements "this person is intelligent", "this person is trustworthy", "this person is clean", "this person is polite" etc.. they have to respond how strongly they agree with the statement with regards to the person on the video they just watched. That kind of study would definitely be worth doing.
antonc81 6 months ago
@antonc81 [part 3] You would need a large sample size (in the thousands) that represented, different age groups, different socio-economic backgrounds. Once you collated the data you would be able to see what, for example, are the attitudes of the average middle-aged, upper-class Japanese man to Black women or what are the attitudes of a working-class japanese woman to Korean women etc... In constructing the methodology you would have to be careful to exclude other (non-racial) forms of bias.
antonc81 6 months ago
Sensei! what about a vid on being Hispanic in Japan? that may be interesting! ;)
MANNY100123 6 months ago
I did exactly what they've said when I was living in Japan, and what I've discover, at least in Kôbe (all my friends there also did it) is that most japanese aren´t like "racist" (for lack of a better word) is just that they're too scared to talk to someone in another language; mostly because of fear of not being understood. We had big discussion about it, even with japanese people and even if we feel a little neglected some times is more like a cultural/laguage barrier
Chessi 6 months ago
I think its worse not to answer the question acctualy. Couse then its made a problem. If the question could just be answerd it would not feel like it was a problem. See where I am going with this?
akirasugoineko 6 months ago
a logical solution,i like it.
SirenoftheVoid 6 months ago
It's not so much the term "Gaijin" that bugs me. It's being treated differently because of being a gaijin. Milkjamjuice made a great video about it, called "Gaijin dakara ne". I've heard a story about someone who was eating dinner with a Japanese family. One of them used his own chopsticks to serve him some food from a nabe bowl. He was scolded for it by his mother, but he responded "Daijoubu, gaijin desu yo."
This situation is what bugs me about the situation, not the term in itself.
skulduggerous 6 months ago
@skulduggerous
That is a good video, but it's funnier than it is serious. It's annoying as hell, but it isn't just about being gaijin. Many Japanese think that being born in a cold place automatically means that you are especially weak to heat. Stuff like that.
Gimmeaflakeman 6 months ago
Thank you for the video.
Nemesis093781 6 months ago
Shoot, I will make a video on what's it like to be black in Japan. It don't scare me to answer that question and I'm white/japanese.
yuichituba 6 months ago
I appreciate your message in this video. Personally I think that everyone sharing their experience isn't a bad thing. It was something I wondered before I went to japan and I make my videos for the person who was me three years ago before coming to japan. It's not meant to belittle Japanese or anybody, its just to share my own expereinces
Eyobe1 6 months ago
his plan makes alot of sense, it sounds great
migeruZ99 6 months ago
@Gimmeaflakeman I dislike this question so much because it belittles Japanese people and this may seem a little farfetched but almost to the point to that it's racist to them. People think that since japan is on an island, all they know about black ppl is what they see in movies. Just because they have a strong grip on the preservation of they're culture doesn't mean they are ignorant or not accepting to others. Japan is not an ignorant country and the Japanese are not ignorant ppl.
D4inJPN 6 months ago
Rhymin!!! Been follow this guy for a good year now. Good stuff!!!
Anonimouse52 6 months ago
nice video, interesting thoughts. personal experiences are just that, personal and shouldn't be seen as the general norm. combining a large number of incidents where you get results and compare them is very statistical but still won't be 100% factual because everyone is different. Asking how everyone sees a certain people is like saying they all have the same ideas and thoughts and perceptions. Everyone is different even in Japan. But it'd be interesting and I'd like to see the results.
mcjangles 6 months ago
Thats a great Idea! in sociology it means to break a social norm, to think outside the box to experiment which is whats up. I did one in germany to guage how people reacted to a inter-racial couple and child and used the data for a college thesis. be careful though thats all I can say.
markdawson18 6 months ago
im def on board with this idea. Really sounds lengthy and such but the results in the end are what matter. gotta put in a lot of effort to get something great from it. Sounds like fun to be honest lol If this comes into fruition i would love to be in JP and apart of it when it happens...Must cross my fingers for next year lol >_< props RG really enjoyed the vid!
UnderGroundArsonizt 6 months ago
I really hate the whole race argument thing all over the world. I think Rhyming is right that we need to overcome this crap and grow up. I accept people for who they are and i wish everybody else would too.
TheItsumaru 6 months ago
RG can only tell you what it's like to be RG in japan. Same with me. But how we're treated dosn't define how a race is treated as a whole
D4inJPN 6 months ago
havent watched the video yet so excuse me if this comment is ignorant in some way, but i don't think its possible to actually effectively gauge an entire groups view on a minority or anything like that
drhikarisan 6 months ago
"what's it like to be black in japan?" probably one of the stupidest questions ever asked. No one can answer that question because it can't be answered. No one can tell you what it's like to be a race of people anywhere. People who asked this question just show how insecure they are about their race and as a person.
D4inJPN 6 months ago
@D4inJPN
It may not be a good question, but it isn't a stupid question. It means that people care. And worry. And that they don't know. Showing your insecurity is one of the first things we need to do to start educating.
Gimmeaflakeman 6 months ago 14
@Gimmeaflakeman I thinks its a stupid question b'cos if you were black in America and got it real bad (Physical violence) then you came to japan and they ignored you , you would think you were in heaven.
avok23 5 months ago
good idea rhyming
kONflictOD 6 months ago
I would like to have heard RhymingGaijin's opinion on being black in Japan (especially as a Emcee/media user). I am actually a black researcher doing academic work on race in Japan (there are a couple of us here doing this work).I think answering the question not only helps black people, it helps everyone gain understanding of perspectives. I will always tell you what it is like being black in Japan, it is important to share with Japan and the world.
Keytokitokitokyo 6 months ago
That experiment sounds like a lot of work just to find a bathroom.
iceblockfilmspage 6 months ago
it would have been interesting to hear his opinion although as he said it would only be his. does someone know hoe japanese people typically see black people?
Ozznize 6 months ago
I think his idea is interesting but doomed to fail. It would be extremely difficult to get that many various minorities to do such a project. I can see why he wants to avoid the original question. Mamisue had a bad experience. She didn't understand the audience mix. He is a rapper. Those who enjoy rap will jump on his channel. You might consider why tracing racial origins through DNA is a sensitive issue in Japan to find why race matters. Racial superiority and purity are part of the culture.
PhilT65 6 months ago
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PhilT65 6 months ago
I think perhaps Japanese media may be a good way to gauge the Japanese opinion on anything. Of course you will get differences but I think it could be used as a good measure.
What I found funny was the intro to Tokujo Kabachi. One of the lawyers/ solicitors who is 'fighting crime' is surrounded by a group of black guys and head-buts them. All I could think was..... 'Wow.... stereotyping to the max there'.
afronathan 6 months ago
@afronathan Japanese media and japanese people are strongly influenced by American media. This is why i think their views on blacks and other minorities is so limited and messed up.
kwad8 6 months ago
Really like this video. It's a very interesting topic. I think that honestly Americans are more worried about "the black experience" in Japan than the Japanese. When I was in Japan (my own experience as a black female) I didn't feel any "racism". Yes I got stared at A LOT, but I think that in Japan it's a very insider versus outsider type thing. I find that the Japanese people were more concerned with if someone is Japanese versus if they look different and therefore are not.
SugarPlumDrop 6 months ago
@SugarPlumDrop So I think it is more of a minority or westerner's experience in Japan rather than specifically a Black person in Japan. Also, I don't think race is as important in Japan as how one act's in public and society. The more you are different, whether it be how you look or how you act would cause them to treat you differently. Also, with gaijin in Japan we do get treated differently as most Japanese people would assume we don't speak fluent Japanese. Quite a complex concept I think
SugarPlumDrop 6 months ago
You'd need to be more systematic about it and try to design your experiment to reduce biases, but that sounds like a great idea. You'll need to consider control experiments as well... for instance, trials involving Japanese people should help discern whether it's an ethnicity thing... or trials involving foreigners speaking "perfect" Japanese could discern if it's a language issue. Great idea. Interested in the results.
FermiAnyon 6 months ago
Wonder if I could get a US Government grant to fund this kind of study. I'd love to be a part of it. Respect to all.
OtakuInAlaska 6 months ago
Respect to Victor and RG for saying what they say, and saying it blunt! I'm glad there are humans like you still out there. Respect from a cynic!
Warynn 6 months ago
Honest CERCL! :]
aLexiiaGe 6 months ago
The method of asking questions makes the statistician part of me cringe. First of all, it's taking as fact all of the people being asked the question are exactly alike. Which isn't the case, and runs the risk of falling into the same trap that this survey thing is trying to disprove. Some people may be too busy, or having a bad day. Who knows how many people will react in the desired way to make the data meaningful?
Still, it may work out well enough. There's just a lot of random factors here.
Relatharr 6 months ago
oh wow this is a great video really insightful i don't disagree that his suggestion wouldn't work.. i think it would be a meaningful thing to do
tokyodoru 6 months ago
I hate all people equally.............
AntoneX6 6 months ago
Funny thing. Watching a show called The Unit right now. Dennis Haysbert, played the first black US President in 24. In Mister Baseball with Tom Selleck, he said being a gaijin in Japan is like being a black man in the US.
ElevenColors 6 months ago
Really interesting topic. BTW I hate the term 'gaijin'. It is racist in Japanese. Non-Japanese use reminds me of 'wiggers'. It is pathetic and a little bit seriously psychologically and sociologically fked up.I am a victim! Look at me!If you have a good explanation why it is OK please let me know.
However: the so called 'gaijin' seat on trains. Does it exist? Experiment: Same sex, route, size, ugly, hairy but different ethnicity. Carried out a hundred times in different JP cities.W d y tink?
Sarusource 6 months ago
@Sarusource lolz gaijin seats on trains i've never seen it hm.. as a half japanese i'm seen in a lot of situations as a gaijin i guess when i was younger i didn't really like it but to be honest i think it's one of those things you have to accept because we can all be prejudice to those we view as 'outsiders' this isn't something exclusive to japan it's within ever culture, every race .. and when people say it are they really thinking about the implications of it? i don't think so
tokyodoru 6 months ago
@tokyodoru People should remember there are good and bad people in any country, and everyone makes a judgement when they 1st see one even if u dont mean to.
Auron710 6 months ago
@Auron710 YEP exactly!
tokyodoru 6 months ago
@Sarusource If u hate the term "gaijin" which i dont think is offensive as no matter how someone uses it, if u are foreign then its correct, then why do u look to find vid about gaijin? are u the kind of person that spends all their time looking for anything that can be seen as racist in order to be annoyed about it? whatever country ur in, if u look hard enough ul find something.
Auron710 6 months ago
@Sarusource
The word gaijin is a word. It cannot be racist. It can be offensive but not racist. I've talked to 100s of foreigners here. Most of us do not find the word offensive. I'm a gaijin. I don't feel like I'm saying anything strange when I say that.
The gajin seat? You mean the phenomenon when nobody will sit next to you because you are a gaijin? Sure that happens. But it happens less and less every year. However the intent behind that is what indicates racism. Things ain't that simple.
Gimmeaflakeman 6 months ago 7
@Gimmeaflakeman I am not convinced by your argument for the word 'gaijin'. I still find it childish when used by none-Japanese and offensive / racist in varying degrees when Japanese use it.
Anyway, my point. RhymingGaijin wanted a testable study. If you want to get away from anecdotes you are going to have to go with something you can measure. That you say the 'gaijinseat' is in decline could be useful because then you could maybe have a follow up study to indicate a change in attitude.
Sarusource 6 months ago
@Gimmeaflakeman A Japanese student of mine, a doctor, says that no one sit next to him in the train because he is (slightly) bigger than the average Japanese. They're afraid he'll take all the space and they'll end up squished. Some passengers don't like to sit next to ppl who sleep because they're afraid said passenger will rest their heads on their shoulder. They also don't sit next to Yankees or loud ppl. See, I don't feel offended if no one sits next to me anymore. Happens to nihonjin too.
MrKoize 6 months ago
@Sarusource I understand your feeling on this it not unlike how Koreans use the word Waegookin (the korean word for foreigner). While yes I am a foreigner and that describes me it annoys me when Koreans I have known a long time still use that term to refer to me. Since I am American I prefer they say that and I have started openly correcting them when they Call me there "WaeGook friend" It is not the word thats bad its how they use it, Koreans (japanese) basically view it as Us vs Them.
kwad8 6 months ago
I spent four days in the Kansai region last February. When I was on the train Japanese had no problems sitting next to me. I had heard of the Gaijin Barrier before and since I am big black guy expected to see that but I didn't get that at all. I expected to get many stares too but i didn't get that either. I still actually get stares all the time in Korea.
kwad8 6 months ago
Nice idea
Gell1welt69 6 months ago
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nocturnalmeloncolic 6 months ago
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nocturnalmeloncolic 6 months ago
RhymingGaijin reminds me of Adam Tensta.
Degenskonto 6 months ago
This guy really is the change the world needs. :)
Aphroditexx 6 months ago
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nocturnalmeloncolic 6 months ago
It's not "pandering" to show his life in totality. He's a human but he's also black. I also don't agree with his idea about facts v opinion. Social research is often made up of opinions, anecdotes, etc. There is no such thing as "merely opinion" in societal research --just preponderance. If politeness and hiding one's real opinion is normal in Japan, would asking questions of strangers on camera be a valid societal experiment? It's a naive idea that doesn't show the inside of heart or homes.
scifiwritir1 6 months ago
the guys idea makes a lot of sense actually
PiratePotatoe 6 months ago
Victor I will tell you what it's like. I stand on the corner in the hot sun waiting for the light to change. My friends and everyone else stands in the shade. They ask why do I stand in the sun and not the shade. I say, "My African-American, Black, minority or whatever word is appropriate skin is cool not burning." They don't believe it. They touch it, then ask "Why is your skin cool in the sun and ours burn?" I reply, "it great being Black in Japan!" I can enjoy the exposure sun in Japan. Can
GS350JPN 6 months ago
Sounds like a university project!! Could be an in interesting study.
Domspun 6 months ago
pt2. If you know these reasons we can better understand the Japanese mindset and know the best ways to show japanese how to better understand us. I think japanese do things in front of foreigners or to foreigners not knowing they are doings something wrong or bad. Some do know and don't care. In any case we should try to show or explain what they are doing is wrong and why. We as foreigners make mistakes and social faux pas all the time and locals are usually quick to correct our mistakes.
kwad8 6 months ago
While ignoring race and just treating people like people sounds good but we should be realistic. If you ignore that then you probably will not socialize well with Japan. There is an issue and ignoring the issue is counter productive for everyone. In Japan looks and appearances mean everything. This dictates how they react and behave with each and with non-Japanese. There are probably historical and social reasons for this as well.
kwad8 6 months ago
RG makes a good point. he's not caught up in this whole black experience/white experience thing that seems to be common amongst vloggers, rather he understands that a human is a human and experience is not specifically defined by race
jigsaw9919 6 months ago
I don't know if you could learn anything from such an experiment. Being polite and giving directions has little to do with being honest about your feelings towards different races. That test would measure politeness not racism and we already know Japan would score higher than most countries when it comes to being polite.
MrNadaname 6 months ago
@MrNadaname Agree. Measures altruistic behaviour which they'd ace. Try renting an apartment and you'll start getting to the bare bones of the matter. Giving directions and letting you live in their property are 2 different matters. I've heard from various people that when they got into a hot spring, some Japanese people have pointedly gotten out. But that never happened to me; met lovely people at hot springs. Plus there are a whole lot of confounding variables that could influence the results
westinmiyako 6 months ago
yeah that seems logical...
I like the idea that everybody is treated equally...
Praptolium 6 months ago
I can see chapin there in the background, i saw that when you made the school tour video. Never knew you made videos in the school and stuff.
CossieSnesBasement 6 months ago
Having talked with some Japanese students here in the US, I was told Japan is race conscious. Even amongst themselves -dark skinned southerner vs. pale skinned northerner. And as in the US, there may be elements of a "model minority" slant to some, or an "exotic" slant to others. What I sense is that many Japanese who have not had close relationships with foreigners tend to not view racism as negative discrimination, as if racism is as natural a human trait as any other personal preference.
bellesalvia 6 months ago
I respect Rhyming's idea and I look forward to this project of his.
BitSlash 6 months ago
What is the name of the song used?
2tonearmy1192 6 months ago
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WakuKairu 6 months ago
Why should we compare race at all? We should be treated equally as humans beings.
BBoyBlack1337 6 months ago
@BBoyBlack1337 Well if people aren't being treated equally as humans we should find out who is being mistreated and why? that way we can work towards having everyone being treated equally as humans.
kwad8 6 months ago
I'm white Australian and have been to Japan a couple of times and have always felt welcome and helped there by Japanese people. Obviously - I am not black - but have, at many times in my life, felt like I was part of a "minority". Maybe not all the ones we normally think about (e.g. racial minority) but a minority none-the-less. And often VERY small minorities (i.e. none that get any media attention at all). RG's idea is good - but minorities will always exist. Not sure what we would learn.
wickedmuso 6 months ago
Well... My Opinion: I'm a black guy and i'm subscribed to Rhyming.. I appreciate the fact that he made a video.. But i don't appreciate the fact that he dodged the question. This video made me realize that he contradicts himself in MANY ways. He says it's just an opinion be he is avoiding answering the question. He is a rapper, Most of them are arrogant, or Pseudo-arrogant. but he won't answer a simple question. All he had to do was say his experiences.. if it was personal he could have said so.
Nooklet 6 months ago 16
@Nooklet I am with you. Some of his videos have been helpful to me in the past and probably helped me get my teaching job in Korea. Since I minored in sociology i find his idea rather interesting but not so useful. I also feel Japanese (and koreans) need to be shown how to better deal with others. but thats not a easy task. I don't know him personally yet but this video seems totally out of character compared to his other videos.
kwad8 6 months ago
@kwad8 Mission accomplished as long as one person agree's :D
Nooklet 6 months ago
@Nooklet If your subscribed to him then u dam well already know his experiences. he uploads his daily life and even explains his past in japan. he didn't have to explain, you can easily watch and see how he is treated. I mean he freestyles smack dab in the middle of the street.
dragonballzgtgohan 6 months ago
@dragonballzgtgohan Well think of it like this.. You Always know your parents love you but it means so much more to hear them say it..
Nooklet 6 months ago
He may have some wonderfully esoteric views on life and yada yada yada. I'm glad for him, but I was looking for some very practical information to determine whether I should spend the considerable amount of money to come to Japan for a lengthy visit. Fortunately, through youtube recommendations, I found a number of black women tourist and expat with direct, succinct and usable info. So I am going to visit and I'm excited as well.
novad511 6 months ago
I'm a bit disappointed too. I don't know how many people are interested in a sociological dissertation. Personally, I wouldn't have agreed to make the video in the first place if I felt uncomfortable with the concept.
Tekkon123 6 months ago
A choice has been made. A video has the answer. And I respect it.
Now...allow me ~
"There's the old sayings such as "looks can be deceiving" or "don't judge a book by its cover". Oh yes, these sayings I hear a many but these sayings I see a very few." ~ an excerpt from my treatise.
cheers,
The "Wizard".
Oldenyouth 6 months ago
Ha! RhymingGaijin is to classy to wallow in the mud with the pigs. I'm going to go subscribe to that guys channel right now.
GengoNoTabi 6 months ago
Interesting suggestion, but gender and size (height and weight/shape) also have an influence and perception of foreigners varies based on location and experience. A detailed and massive survey would need to be conducted; that included info on individual`s gender, age; economic background; exposure to various kinds of foreign people, opinion on what things most influence their perception of foreign people of various races, gender, sizes, etc.
JapanAndThings 6 months ago
@JapanAndThings Of course the answers would vary based on experiences with things such as foreigners and age, and it would help you see the trends. To conduct such a large survey and interpret the data would be a chore, but similar (on a smaller scale) have been done before. City halls sometimes run what they refer to as 社会実験 where they do surveys based on all kinds of things. Researchers who focus on this sort of things would be the ones to ask, as well.
JapanAndThings 6 months ago
Maybe if you setup a stand and with a title asking if a Japanese person had a question for a minority, black, non Asian person a question and that person could answer it and record it. Maybe this could be done at a park or a place where people go to relax and not in a rush.
I would love to know what type a questions they would have. What their concerns would be and in general curiosity they would have.
MrAthanz 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I battle any sex or any race;
You beating me is like Billy Crystal playing Scarface;
I can't see it, I'm blind to the eyes;
I came up in your face, Oops-Pow Suprise! Oh!
heats1 6 months ago
Hmmm, RG has a point, Being a black in japan or even being a Gaijin in Japan is just an opinion of one individual which can differ with another based on the experience and environment. Not all humans are same, not all people are racists. Japanese are now getting used to lot of foreigners which America got used to a long back. let time socialize all the people in the world.
witty3838 6 months ago
much respect for Rhyming. excellent sociological proposal that goes beyond just talking about experiences and opinions - although of course opinions & experiences are important to :)
mimei 6 months ago
its a very good idea coming from a good place - wanting to wipe out stereotypes in general - wish we could do this worldwide. anyway from a research point of view, i think you would have to use that same set of foreigners in each of the cities as a control so that the data is more reliable. also a wider set of foreigners as well so each race is represented in its diversity. anyway sounds interesting.
neikaplay 6 months ago
I think this was an excellent response to that question.
MicknFumi 6 months ago
I think RhymingHaijin's plan is great but impractivcal a bit. Why Japanese would dare to ask 100 people, they even don't start video blogs with Victor suggesting several times. However, if the research methods get more clear, there would be practical ways to do that. I think Japanese RETURNEEs like me, would be defenitely interested to this idea!
KNagisa 6 months ago
Interesting way of answering the question, RG presents a good point but I do agree if might be a bit difficult to do. I would be so excited if it could really come through, I think it would be a cool experience for all people involved, including us viewers. Good video!
belanina2005 6 months ago
I agree with his line of thinking but just like you said the method isn't very practical. Far too many variables come into a project like this, time, people etc..
Cloud3204 6 months ago
Rhyming's idea sounds pretty cool actualy.
HyakkoShachi 6 months ago
I personally believe that racism stems from the idea that there exists multiple races. Once you start labeling certain people as certain groups, you're going to get ideas that one race is "superior" to the other and this is propagated through mass media to provide habits and characteristics that apparently ascribe to certain races. I just hate labeling people based on stupid ideologies like race, skin colour, sexual orientation, etc. The only way I'll judge you is based on who you are as a human
OfLaSoul 6 months ago
@OfLaSoul It's stupid to say there isen't any races, would you say the same about dogs? cats? whatever animal? No you woulden't. Same gose for humans, altho, there isen't anything bad about other races in my opinion, i am glad there exists diffrent races and on top of that diffrent cultures, becuse then we got something to share with eathothers. Would be boring if we all where the same woulden't it. ;) anyway only idiotic people label others on their coulor.
Rekkie88 6 months ago
@Rekkie88 If it's stupid to not believe in the idea that multiple races is a biological fact, then so be it. Biologically, a "black" guy's DNA can be more similar to that of a "white" guy than another "black" person. So what is he? Is he white or black? The bottom line is, that no matter how many races you believe there are, we're all still apart of a human race and to be racist towards someone of a different race is absurd but when you're conditioned to believe that multiple races exist, you
OfLaSoul 6 months ago
@Rekkie88 con't here - believe that there's certain things that set apart your race from another person's race. Same goes for animals.Different culture could exist even if multiple races never exist. Your cultural would be based on where you live - the traditions, the equality among all people, beliefs brought up to believe, etc.
OfLaSoul 6 months ago
@OfLaSoul I haven't tried to say otherwise that we are not all humans. If you missunderstood it to a way that i am a racist i do feel very bad for you. Just becuse i refuse to deny that there is races among any kind of animal DOSE NOT mean that i am a racist of any kind, but ofcourse people are fast to scream out "Racist!" to anyone mentioning diffrently that what you mayhap think.
Rekkie88 6 months ago
@Rekkie88 I already feel bad for you to think that I would believe that anyone who believes that there are multiple races is racist. There's a difference here. Racism is discrimination of another race based on alleged differences amongst all the races which make certain races better than other people. Just because you believe in multiple races, it doesn't mean you're racist.
OfLaSoul 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@OfLaSoul My aren't we hostile, let me qoute. "bottom line is, that no matter how many races you believe there are, we're all still apart of a human race and to be racist towards someone of a different race is absurd but when you're conditioned to believe that multiple races exist, you believe that there's certain things that set apart your race from another person's race" Your words not mine. You should make up your mind sometime.
Rekkie88 6 months ago
I've kinda thought about the same thing Rhyming mentioned and it is a good idea, we are a world, humans, and we gotta respect each other no matter looks. That's what makes life important, to not "judge" in any way by looks.. Though being black in japan is a hot topic sort of, they gotta accept the fact that humans as we are still will be intrested in their country & culture and come visit and respect them, treat them as we would like to be treated.
iCharceus 6 months ago
尊敬
artboy598 6 months ago
gaijin = foreigner people learned that from tokyo drift
R3DST4R1 6 months ago
@R3DST4R1
Actually it's been in the English dictionary for a LONG time. At least 25 years.
Gimmeaflakeman 6 months ago 16
@Gimmeaflakeman feels good to learn something new didn't know that
R3DST4R1 6 months ago
@Gimmeaflakeman owned
kittychochostars 6 months ago
@R3DST4R1 lol u r so right
dragonballzgtgohan 6 months ago
Added this to favorites.
FindMeInKurume 6 months ago
Respect, total respect. What a great compilation of words. Awesome video Victor and Rhymin. Glad I watched!
FindMeInKurume 6 months ago
Victor, you're not appreciative.
OfLaSoul 6 months ago
@OfLaSoul
Really? Whatever you say.
Gimmeaflakeman 6 months ago 5
@Gimmeaflakeman Lol I like playing with ya, amigo!
OfLaSoul 6 months ago
It's a good idea, but I feel like you need to ask more than 100 people each to get a representative sample for each given area. Maybe 100 for each demographic— 100 elderly, 100 school age, 100 salarymen, etc. Also, you'd need a control– Just a regular (I.E stereotypical) Japanese guy in formal clothing asking for directions in English. (English because this experiment is about appearance and not language barrier.) If it's worth doing, it's worth over doing, right?
Spaghettilord15 6 months ago
big time CERCL
SmilingMaram 6 months ago
I would rather ask this question on Rhyming's video, but it doesn't seem like he's uploaded this particular video on his channel? Anyway, just curious, when is the deadline for this survey? I'm moving to Japan (again) permanently in 2 weeks time and I wanna know if I can get in on this!
RyuOni1989 6 months ago
this is awesome
gensaiyunikunaotoko 6 months ago
I think you guys should totally do this on your free time. Be a good answer to the whats it like being ..... in japan question everyone gets asked.
qu7aker 6 months ago
Actually, that's a good idea. I like social experiments like that.
r4x2 6 months ago
This video was really inspiring. I'm glad I'm suscribed to both of you.
AsianKing666 6 months ago
Hi RG. What you say is interesting but i'm disappointed because i was really looking forward watching that video, and you didn't answer the question.
I understand what you said about everyone having his own experience and that there is no way of knowing if some of the things that happened to a person were due to his race or not. But still i really wanted to hear your experience.
Victor, maybe you should ask that question to the new guy DirtySouthJPN. Because i really wanna see a vid about it.
StormWolf01 6 months ago
Maybe it's just me but I didn't quite get Rhyming's point. I have seen many of his videos and I felt he had a lot of negativity living in Japan and seemed to have hard time adjusting to Japanese culture and attitude. As a foreigner myself here, I feel many Americans behave like they are still in America and expect the Japanese to accept them because they are Americans. And I agree with you about not agreeing with his idea. It's really hard to know by just taking a survey or with any method.
pskim731 6 months ago
I like that he chose not to speak about being black in Japan. I respect you Victor, I know you're disappointed because this isn't what you expected but this is actually better than "what it's like being black in Japan". He's very honest.
TakaraMitsu 6 months ago 24
@TakaraMitsu
I agree. He took the high road. Respect for that.
Gimmeaflakeman 6 months ago 3
It is a sad testament to humanity that the mere question exists on how differently a person is treated based on race/appearance...it is 2011 and we have yet to truly move forward as human beings and are still locked into what amounts to tribalism.
draxpendragon 6 months ago