Japan FAQ 4: discrimination, medical, film

[jennabean879]

I spoke with a few people who taught English in Japan and they had very similar views as you, if not the same. One of them fell in love and married a Japanese person and now they have a beautiful baby girl. The father is Japanese and he was concerned about the racial discrimination in Japan. He said his child will be disadvantaged for being a mixed race in society. They planned to move to Australia before the child starts preschool.

[gmartdude]

@HatanoD Are Mexicans accepted in Japan? Cause I heard they have a stereotype of us looking like Pancho Villa (poncho, moustache, sombrero). Will there be any trouble if I go over there? Will they treat us like the gringos do? Should I shave my fabulous Cantinflas moustache?

[gmartdude]

@Traces1000 You think you got it rough? I face discrimination at an almoat regular level and I was BORN here. Just cause I'm Mexican American I get dirty looks and security guards and employees FOLLOW ME AROUND IN STORES. The truth is everywhere you go there will always be racism. Sorry America doesn't follow your view of a perfect country. There's even discrimination in my own race with the whole chuntaro and naco stereotypes. Still there will always be good kind people too.

[Midnightryder7]

Do You ever miss where You come from?

[jadujen]

it's excellent how you so thoroughly observe & explain so many aspects of life there. You really tell it like it is, and are really in-depth & thoughtful on topics. Appreciate this~ thanks.

[jadujen]

love the chopping in the background... =) do you have an episode where you show your wife? would love to see it!

[MandyBooVLDarkMoon]

ur video helps alot tysm now understand about japan how they are i enjoy watching ur videos so how do u like living in japan i bet u made good friends meet alot ppl?

[moad]

i agree and i dont want japan to change its discrimination policies keep it japanese !!!!

[Labyrinthitis]

you answered the discrimination question as elegantly as I ever could. thanks

[malevolenceXXXensues]

you kinda look like packard walsh from that movie the wraith

[DPAce456]

There are laws against discrimination but they just don't enforce them.

[kua514]

now, when you say that there is still some discrimination from the older generations, do you mean people in age groups of Pearl Harbor/Hiroshima days, basically grandparents, or will this apply to even people my age group, which are mid-30's and above?

[CoffeePrinceNick]

would they accept British?

[Traces1000]

We Asian living in the West have never been considered as White before. Our population over here are at minimal and we are being blamed for nearly everything and always being portrayed badly by the media to alienate us from assimilating into their society.

I'm an Asian myself and I've been treated badly living in the West even though they kept saying how acceptance they are but im guessing they are just a bunch of liars

[loveChina2323]

@Traces1000

OH MY JAPMAN... WHEN YOU WANT TO HIDE YOURSELF FROM YOUR TRUE IDENTITY,

BUILD UP AND LEARN SOME ENGLISH GRAMMAR BEFORE YOU PRETEND TO BE AN ASIAN AUSTRALIAN...

LAUGHS...

[Traces1000]

@loveChina2323 Thks for the advice my Chinaman. I hope you get shot in the head by your Chinacong government

[Traces1000]

In the West they don't have sign saying White only but when you goes in they discriminate and ignore you...

[explodingmoons]

you probably dont look at these comments since this video is so old. but maybe i'll be lucky. anyway with the not allowing foreigners into certain places... couldn't you get them on a technicality and after you're there for your 7 years and you've become a Japanese citizen you could be allowed in? Even if you did get them I guess they'd disregard that fact since you're not a native born. But what if you were born there from military parents?Do they only allow people who look Japanese physically?

[Weakbody2]

Are there races more "gaijin" than others?

Does a scale like this exist or something? Koreans are less gaijin than Chinese who are less gaijin than Indians who are less gaijin than Arabs who are less gaijin than Europeans.

Or are all foreigners equal in Gaijiness?

[theendofel]

they differentiate

[hidejo3]

Good point.

One important thing to be accepted in this country

is to be moderately gay

[lidlehotti3]

by god you look like cillian murphy.

Also, thank you for all the information. a foreigners' insider account helps me clear up a few old stereotypes.

Ta

[GorkiAngel]

thanks 4 this video. =)) by the way u r lookin handsome.

[Ofionnain]

Do you have a japanese girlfriend?

[st1ckycheese]

LOL, Japan and the United States have such close ties despite the fact that the Japanese racially discriminate against all non-Japanese people almost everywhere and all the time. But the US only sanctions South Africa and not Japan. Where is the outcry from our media and politicians about the de facto racism in Japan?

[HatanoD]

@st1ckycheese

Yeah, sure. Gaijins in Japan are treated a lot worse than the Mexicans or the Islamic people in US. They are often abused, not served in a restaurant, stopped by police for no particular reasons. beaten up by local gangs.

Wow what a sad country..... of course the US I am talking about.

[st1ckycheese]

Fuck you.

[HatanoD]

@st1ckycheese

Very mature. Is that what US people always do when you disagree with someone? No wonder there are so many hatred in your country.

[st1ckycheese]

@HatanoD You're probably more racist than Hitler and Davie Dukes combined! No wonder the Germans allied themselves with you racist Japs you homophobic queer.

[HatanoD]

@st1ckycheese

I am more racist than Hitler and David Duke ( by the way, do you call him Davie? is he a friend of you or something? ) put together because.... I pointed out there are lot more racism in US?? Funny.

Don't worry I don't assume you're racist by using a word " Japs". I DO think you are a looser though.

[st1ckycheese]

@HatanoD You're so racist your shadow is probably yellow. 

[HatanoD]

@st1ckycheese Hahaha!! :)

Yeah! good on you. It actually made me laugh! It was intended to make me laugh, I hope.

[Traces1000]

@st1ckycheese the Germanese are still the Jap's evil homophobic queer looser's master. Look who's talking when you people are the Hitler yourself

[novajoke]

@HatanoD

LOL! Oxymoron.



[Madroxx112]

Thanks for all the info. I'm kinda excited about the TV/ Film industry so がんばります！

[moomoomoo7]

wow you are cool for living there spred the us to the world yea!!!!!

[evan1919]

how much does a stay at a capsule hotel cost?

[PussyCatDoll14]

i love your videos!!

[gamegina]

people keep complaining about the "Japanese Only" thing but you are right! there's nothing that they can do about it! and yeah...in the near future..younger generations around the world could possibly create more peace..asia is one of the most conservative area in the world..so of course some people would still be racist against foreigners..and what's up with people freaking out with "gaijin"?! it's a word! how is it racist?!!! most nations have their own word for "foreigner"

[wjwildcat]

older generation of every country is fading away.

only millenial generation from every country can work togeather for a better future where everything is accepted

[destructicon500]

Are gaijin primarily white? I'm Chinese so would I be discriminated against as a "foreigner," or would people confuse me for a local? haha

[milkjamjuice]

You should make a video about sexism in Japan, not as discrimination against foreigners, but what Japanese women in Japan put up with everyday, like having a hard time finding a job after the age of 30, or being prodded to retire after 35 because "their place is at home."

[kidddude89736]

I agree with pixeldmg

[pixeldmg]

Pretty sure you need to post that interview and commercial...

[HellCuzins]

What if you kinda look Asian, could you try to get in x]

[novajoke]

Untested- 外人は外人. No exceptions! Stop looking for discrimination and accept the fact that you will NOT get accepted! Looks like you accepted that so have fun living in Japan! "JAPANESE ONLY" signs are usually sleazy bars, hostess bars, massage parlors(yes always happy endings in Japan!). Yes they are stuck in 1950s similar to Civil Rights movement in your country but at least Japanese people will not use fire hoses, dogs, separate drinking fountains for Gaijin.

[109mytiger]

a few japanese bars may have ''japanese only '' sign. because hostess don't speak english. Many foreigners are not used to expensive japanese bar bill. When foreigner complain about something, bar owners don't know that how to explain in english. so they just put 'japanese only' sign to avoid any trouble.

[novajoke]

Yes!!!! So go to a place where they don't have "Japanese Only" sign.

[novajoke]

Agreed! Yes accept the fact that you will be discriminated. You know you can't compare 1950's America vs. present day Japan. Just think if you're Harley family moving into Mormon or Amish neighborhood. You think Harley family will face some kind of discrimination??

Harley Davidson- yes I'm referring to American Motorcycle manufacturer.

[latinstuff1]

@novajoke hahahah i lived inside of a mormon neighborhood and am catholic is awesome hahhahaha not really haha so i guess i can consider myself a foreigner (being catholic) and lost in japan ( mormon neighborhood) lmao i understand now lol

[novajoke]

@latinstuff1

Learn how to "assimilate" when you're in Japan.

Mormon people- Very nice people even though their chance of converting Japanese to Mormon is needles in the haystack

Catholics- Well......... what's up with Priests molesting kids in the States?

[vmichial]

@109mytiger My Japanese instructor told me that a hostess literally avoided him by acting like she didn't hear him for fear of dealing with english, but he's near fluent and when he spoke she calmed down. Even in online MMO games some japanese players shy away from, i've seen many "JP ONRY" tags online, its just more work than its worth to em.

[kirby28645]

@109mytiger That would be fine if they said 'Japanese speakers only' rather than 'Japanese only'. There are some native-born Japanese that are racially white, not to mention a number of white Japanese-speakers who have lived in Japan for many years (or at least are well-versed in it, such as official government translators and such). But I would worry that they really won't let you in some places based on race... not that it matters; most places denied to foreigners are bars, lol.

[unrested]

@kirby28645 now and days this would be super rare and can even get places in alot of trouble. for example my son looks completely white but is 100 percent a japanese national because he was born here and has no american passport. if the police asked him for a gaijin card or passport it would be against the law and they would face a lawsuit.

[kirby28645]

@unrested Well, it's good to hear they're starting to loosen up on the gaijin restrictions. I wouldn't go to a bar, but if there was a restaurant that looked good, it would be nice not to have to worry about a 'no gaijin allowed' policy. I'm planning on coming up in a few years and maybe settling down, depending on some factors over here at home. But at the moment, it looks like I'll be settling down somewhere else; if not Japan then South Korea, Taiwan, or heck, Switzerland even, haha!

[MABeezy009]

@109mytiger That still doesn't mean you can go in, and you can't be removed by the police or something.

[cheesesmiles]

Does living in Japanese or speaking Japanese change your behavior?

ive heard that language is a behavior and when you start speaking japaense and understanding the culture you become more aware and polite.

それ　わ　ほんと　ですか？

[unrested]

yeah definitely - its not so much that it changes you. its more so that you adapt so as to enjoy a comfortable life in your surroundings. at the same time you do have the privelage of not having to conform to every aspect as japanese dont expect you to change every habit, custom, or tradition from your own culture. plus no one should ever totally lose themselves totally. if a gaijin tries too hard to act japanese its noticed and annoying. not only to japanese but other gaijin living here.

[cheesesmiles]

ooh souka! so thats it huh^^

thanks for taking the time to anwser my question^ _ ^

[novajoke]

@unrested

LOL! Yeah it's hard to balance that but I see it entertaining when Gaijins are obsessed with my culture. I hope you're still enjoying Japan.

How about them Tigers!

[ImIwilliamImI]

@unrested

Thank you for a very good answer, I also wondered about that.

[Mikeybetts]

@unrested

hey, what is the stereotype of foreigners in japan?

also, at 1:23 or was that just me?

[TheAutumnAyane]

ほんまやで！

if you live in Japan then you generally will become more polite.

I have lived in Japan for a year now and watching English TV / movies I think.. "wow this is really different!" and am actually shocked at how much Japan changes you.

oh and one thing, when writing Japanese, there are no spaces. ( それ　わ。。) should be:　( それわ。。)

[cheesesmiles]

yeah i also think that too! japanese tv is completley different!

oh really? i didnt know

ほんとにありがとうね！＾＾

but its kinda weird to not space lol thanks again for telling me ^__^

[ariesmajor]

@cheesesmiles

それはほんとですか。

Symbol for　わ　cannot be use for grammar of は

and no space when type

でも貴方の日本語は一寸好いです。

[Ostracized1]

Hahaha, I can totally hear your laundry going going in the background (at least it sounds like it.. just like my place here in kyushu). Keep doing what you are doing. Stay cool and stay positive. This has been a message from a masquerading individual.

[KokoroBeach]

Do u happen to know what commericial and/or interview u were involved in for TV? Id luv to c it!

[unrested]

whoa people still watch jfaq4?!! lol jk thanks for the view no matter what. the interview was on a daily news show called zoom. i have the dvd somewhere but after i moved it been hell to find. it was just a mega short clip on low budget show so no biggie. the commercial was for a local takoyaki (a popular octopus dish in osaka) shop. I ate this giant takoyaki ball and then just say onaka ga ippai! (i am full). i never even saw it on tv. although i heard a friend of mine did.

[thalunizz21]

is youre girl eating in the back? lol

[drhikarisan]

on the fact of discrimination, yes its there but I agree with you that I believe it is changing over time. One thing I read about is a man who is now a Japanese Citizen by the name of Arudo Debito is very forceful on his beliefs of equal treatment and while I do think he is helping push the situation for the better I think he is going about it the wrong way and being to forceful about it. The best possible situation will come out over time rather then rushed by force.

[MikeHill77]

Also, what about a Outsider-Japanese person? Like from American for an example. Are they still welcome with full-arms even if they're outsiders?

[unrested]

they get treated like any other gaijin. although my japanese friend from america often got asked directions and other things.

[MikeHill77]

Great video man. You're videos are very useful. This doesn't really invovles "gaijins" but I was wondering how are people of different race but was born in Japan are treat since they wouldn't be a "gaijin". I heard that Japanese(some of them) dislike gaijins just because the fact they're outers. Thinking gaijins are rude and unmoral in genaral becuase they're outers. But how does a person born and knowing the ways of Japan are seen?

[gaijin140]

Of course older generations may have lower tolerance, which is of course common. Especially in Japan.

[suicide006]

How do they react towards people that are half japanese? Because I have a friend thats half korean and some of the people that are full don't really accept her.

[unrested]

same thing tends to happen in japan as well.

[betamaxdc]

great video man. there are a lot of complex issues going on in the society that people really need to understand when considering "discrimination" and also the fact that a lot of foreigners do act like asses, which makes it harder for Japanese society to accept "us". Also, people always complain about how racist Japan is, and I find that interesting since in my own country that kids where kicked out of a pool a week ago because the color of their skin.

[unrested]

i agree alot of gaijin come here and think they can be a rock star and act like a total ass. sadly even a search on youtube can show use this.

[ArtNouveauPunk]

Sexist and xenophobic? As a british girl I'm wondering if going to Japan is such a good idea.

[unrested]

it can be a difficult hurdle. many friends have added it to a list of frustrations that forced them to leave after the first year. most who make it past the first year continue living here.

[creationchick]

Sounds like public schoolers vs homeschoolers lol

[mayglitch]

awesome interesting video.

[BreizhTV]

This bastard sucks with his bloody liberal speech.

Fuck ya moron

[Tnakamura11]

I know that it's rather rare to find that "Japanese Only" policy. But as you say, it doesn't make sense for restaurant and shop owners to do that because their objective is making money unless there is a reason. And videos about this "Japanese Only" policy on Youtube never pick up their say.

[unrested]

ok i will go deeper with this on a future faq because it happens in the work place too and you may be surprised with what companies get away with.

[Tnakamura11]

Will you make a video to explain why those restaurants or shops started their "Japanese Only" policy？ Otherwise, it doesn't sound fair to me, although I feel sorry for people who encounter it.

[unrested]

wait wait i dont want people getting the idea that every other restaurant kicks gaijin to the curb. i apologize if i have created that perception. japanese people love to make money just like you and me so for the most part that situation is a rare find. the sad thing is that it still exists and that the government does nothing to stop it.

[makinawdandy6699]

I lived in Japan for 3.5 yrs. I agree with what you say. I really enjoyed my experience. The Japanese people were pretty cool. Also, enjoyed the Gaijin community there. Gaijin are a special group of people. They are only people who are fun loving, adventuresome, etc. Different from the run-of-the-mill people back home.

[nimbuszero]

I'm excited about eventually moving to Japan, whatever the length of time. I am however, surprised at the paradox that exists with the desire for westernization and the xenophobia that still remains. While it is something I'll have to accept if I live there, the idea of voluntarily subscribing to 2nd class status is a little bit of a put-off.

[unrested]

well it comes with the territory sadly in a country living in the past and the future at the same time. Some days you will be heralded other days ridiculed merely for your country of origin. If you can handle both without cracking then you will do fine. For some though it is hard to take for more than a year.

[ManicRelapse]

Awesome video! This answered some of the questions I had about Japan that were bugging me.

[unrested]

great to hear! let me know if there is anything I can answer for future vids!

[Mitnick25]

THANKS ALOT , wow i was searching around info about japan but could not find any.

So thanks alot, you really helped me out.

[unrested]

No problem, and glad I could help. I remember running into the same problem before I moved out here. Hence I made these videos to help out those in the future who might do the same. If you like all my vids please subscribe and feel free to ask any questions you may have about japan.

[christianzen2004]

who is eating in the background?

[unrested]

haha my gf is eating yakisoba in the background. We both had no idea my camera would pick up the sound so far away, but I didnt feel like doing every single answer again because I am afraid it will sound rehearsed.

[thepims]

thanks for answering my question, I cant tell you put effort in to it

[apexdna]

Thanks for the FAQ section ...

[Chstr]

Thanks for checking out my videos, I'm glad you like them. I plan to move to Japan, so these FAQs are very helpful! I really enjoy your vlogs too, great editing; I hope to make something similar when I'm there. Keep up the good work, I look forward to more!

[andagii]

Great video. :)

[Shutterbug055]

Thanks for answering my question and replying back so soon. I really appreciate it. Ill be looking forward to your next instalment.

[unrested]

No problem. I really enjoy helping people out with any questions they may have about japan.

[2163216]

isnt being the outsider and somewhat special the challenge to live there? that'd be the case for me at least.

btw, will you do any vlogs again with music in the background and showing random stuff?

oh and eating sounds in background at the end = unprofessional = 1 star.

jking

[unrested]

you are right it is a special challenge. there will be times you will be treated like a movie star and other times you will be shunned like a freak. Its all part of the experience.

also yeah I realized the fork banging into the plate sound carries all the way through question 3 and the outro. sooooo annoying!! Next time I gotta check my background noise lol.

[nuffin1black]

fully satisfied with the answer you gave and altough i was expecting it,because i've tried researching the issue a bit...i have to say that you burst my bubble.but that still doesn't change my mind about getting to live in japan one day :)

[unrested]

yeah its an unfortunate situation but dont let it deter you. There are still great times and adventures to be had over here.