Lehmann on Japanese Racism

To Whom It May Concern,

I am a 22 year old Korean-American male living in Queens, New York. The area around where i live are diverse indeed and there are many thriving korean and chinese communities here. Last year, I had a chance to go visit my brother who is stationed as a United States Marine in Camp Kinser, Naha-Shi,Okinawa. He told me about some of his "encounters" with native Okinawans. After I came back from the trip, I began associating with Japanese students in Manhattan and I am glad I've met them. In all honesty however. I am still "confused" and ... critical of the Japanese People as a whole ... particularly because of what has happened in the past between Japan and Korea. When I told my Japanese-American friends about this, most of them did not understand and some were apathetic towards the conversations that I've tried to initiate regarding this matter.
Please send me literature information about Japanese Racism. I would like to study it from a non-partial viewpoint.

Sincerely,
Matthew Kim

Japanese should admit what they did to Koreans during their colonial rule. Get a life! The emperor is not a god! and the prime minister (almost one of the highest political figures in Japanese politics) goes to bow and worship the emperor? talk about a screwed up country

Im curious to know if the japanese have the same view upon european. since They seem to obviously isolated themselves from most white people ( refering to them as ''gajin'' meaning 'white person' or 'outsider'). my dream lies in moving to Japan and knowing that generalize people through such ways is frustrating.

the japanese have an obsessive compulsive disorder. very extreme about everything. many rules. no wonder they do the most fucked up things for recreation. like have their women on high fiber diets and then shit in a bowl for someone to smell and eat. they are the most superficial people on the planet. oh so polite to your face and then they bad talk you behind your back. all about appearances. self- righteous robots

Hi!

Racism in Japan has developed in part in response to Western racism and colonialism.

Portuguese sold Japanese slaves in large numbers overseas, and when Toyotomi Hideyoshi, de facto head of the state, discovered this in the 16th century, he became furious. He proposed to buy back Japanese slaves, but Portuguese ignored him. The slave trade continued, and this was THE REASON why missionaries and converted Catholics were executed, and foreigners were expelled from Japan.

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in response to the extreme racism against the Japanese both in Europe and the U.S.

Nevertheless, Westerners still describe themselves as "whites," a word derived from colonialistic ideology which is not based on facts. If you do not understand this point, I can send you a portion of my book, which explains this in detail.

Michio Kitahara

RE: JAPANESE ARROGANCE TOWARD ASIANS.

This phenomenon is what psychoanalysts call "displacement." That is, irritation and hatred caused by Western racism is released against other Asians. Read "Children of the Sun" by Michio Kitahara, published by St.Martin's Press, Macmillan, Routledge, etc.

Michio,

Perhaps Japanese xenophobia began as a result of the actions of the Portugese 400 years ago, but it does NOT justify the present level of racism. Similar things have happened lots of time throughout history between several nationalities. 200 years ago, the British would kidnap American sailors and make them work on their ships. Does that mean that we're distrustful of British people today? Not at all.
Blaming the Rape of Nanking and other actions of the Japanese in WWII on the west does not justify it, either. I've visited the Yasukuni museum in Tokyo, and some of the displays said that the conquest of Asia was commenced in an effort to "protect the people from Western Colonialism." That may be what the propeganda released by the Imperial Japanese government at the time said, but does anyone really believe that? Western colonialism is something that we're all ashamed of, but when compared to the Rape of Nanking and other Japanese actions, it looks rather pleasant.

Christopher,

Thank you for your comments. Are you an American? My personal experience is that Americans have short memories, and this is both good and bad. I was a freshman at an American university in the West in 1957; only 12 years after the end of the war. I stayed in the U.S. for about 5 years. I naturally expected that I would have unpleasant experience once in a while because of the war. But I was wrong. I was fully accepted as a fellow human being everywhere! This was a very pleasant shock, and I admired and respected American mentality. At the same time, African Americans were expremely discriminated and disliked. What a contradiction! I, a national of the former enemy nation was treated like this, and some of the fellow Americans were treated like that.

Unlike Americans, other nationalities have longer memories. Look at the Jews. They remember everything, including their experience in Egypt.

I definitely do not agree with you when you say Western colonialism "looks rather pleasant" compared with Japanese actions. Read history books carefully!

MK

This is interesting stuff. I have been here in Japan, teaching English, for 3 to 4 months now and have yet to make any headway in understanding the Japanese people. At times astonishingly thoughtful,selfless and kind, at other incomprehensibly illogical and hard to fathom. It is not for me to be judgemental about this, and as it is I who am the outsider I should be making the attempt to understand, but there is no question that they are pretty hard to work out.

Hi,

I am researching slave labor issues of WW II. I am especially looking for detailed account of Chinese, Korean, American and other laborers working for Mitsubishi, Mitsui and other companies. First-person account is most welcome, but any account is better than nothing.

I will be putting most of the material on my http://www.mitsubishisucks.com (Mitsubishi!) site so that nobody forgets the past.

English is preferred but any language is fine. And if anybody want to write a well-research article or set of articles on how big corporations exploited foreign slave labor, please contact me.

Thanks.

PS If you get time, read about my racial discrimination lawsuit in Japan against MItsubishi Electric at http://www.kamalsinha.com/mitsubishi/

The biggest screwed up country in the world is Korea. they actually believe that they are god's chosen people and that they are incapable of any wrongdoing. hell, what is it that koreans do first when the weather starts to turn bad and rain on their picnic? they blame the US and Japan. typical pathetic idiots..they can dish it out but hate to be criticized. i have lived in both countries and i can tell you that Korea makes Japan seem like a multicultural paradise. koreans are pretty much breastfed racism from birth...

I would like to add to Gen's comments about being privy to aspect of Japanese racism not seen by Caucasians in Japan.

I was from India and have lived in the USA for most of my adult life. I worked in Japan too and had the chance to observe Caucasians in Japan.

Caucasians were right in asserting that Japan is xenophobic and racist and I do hope that, some of them, who are fighting the Japanese racism, prevail. For one thing, their fights are going to get more attention from Western media than, say my fight against Mitsubishi (see my previous message for link), which was understandably completely ignored.

However, I was surprised to see so many blind spots in Caucasians' experience that it was surprising. For example, they would complain about not being allowed in a bar, or not given a credit card, or whatever - and I am fully supportive of them - but at the same time they would keep very quite about major issues like their exorbitant salaries, big houses, access of culturally-brainwashed women, and so on. For example, I am a graduate of a very very selective technical school (Indian Institute of technology (IIT)), have had my MBA and MS in Computer Science from States, and lots of other qualifications, and I was paid about the same as other Japanese employees of my age - and I am not complaining about it at all, but the Caucasian males, even the least technically skilled ones, were paid more and had other privileges that only Caucasians (or citizens of Western countries) seem to be enjoying in Japan.

No talk about that all. To all Caucasians: If you really want to be treated as equal, refuse to be paid more than similarly-qualified Japanese or "lowly" Indians like me. Workplace discrimination, unequal salaries,perks and training, to my mind are much bigger issues than some kid screaming "gaijin" at me. Time to grow up.

(Just a side note: Recently I was looking for an apartment in Berkeley, California and met a landlord with a big property who I discovered had bought that from the savings while he was an English-language teacher in Japan.)

A very good point, Kamal!

since my last post I have discovered more about japanese people and believe I am closer to the understanding of why they act as they do. I want to apologize for my last post. I see the logical structure in their ideologies now. I should rather now try to be a better representant of my country and respect their culture which is fascinatingly overwhelming and unique. I will do all I can to learn their manners, costumes, read emotions and communications and praise their traditions. Some japanese might still dislike foreigners for their careless acts in the past which they can't forgive but that is no reason for aggresive counter attacks, rather try to show your understanding for the oppesite party.

I dont think it is right for any slavery to happen

I honestly think Japan is a very misunderstood country internationally. There may be several reasons. One reason is that Japan's history is not correctly known in other countries. History books are quite often not written objectively, and Western books on Japan are inadequte in this regard, including slavery, colonialism, and racism on the part of the West. This may in turn be due to the extremely complicated language which makes it practically impossible for most foreigners to learn. They do not read Japanese books and do not know what Japanese think. May I ask you to visit an English summary of my recent book in Japanese?

http://www.ifrance.com/p-h/japan_ph.php?lang=en/

You may have a little better understanding of Japan and the Japanese. Of course, there is much, much more to it, such as Japan's own egoism. But every country has her own version of egoism, I am afraid.

What Japan did during the and before the war is no different than what America or Europe did. So what if they colonized Korea. How come it is never mentioned that Japan pumped in a lot of money into that country to get them out of the stone-age. Japan educated Korea. Setting up schools and building a lot of their infrastructure. Britan never did this to any of her colonies. The only reson why countries like China and Korea make a big fuss of the Japanese occupation is because they whant get money from Japan.

Japan is an extremely racist country as it has been since their sun god supposedly came down from the heavens and shitted on us Koreans. I was born in Pusan, South Korea and I am a Korean. I find it unnerving that people are now saying Japanese people aren't racist, well, I don't find it suprising I even hear white people aren't racist. The Japanese should of kept off of our fucking peninsula and played samurai all the way to the top of Mount Fuji. I am by all means deeply insulted that the U.S. even though I am a naturalized citizen continues to divide my homeland into two sides. North Korea is protecting itself against the U.S. and Japan. South Korea my place of birth is being bullied by racist Japan and its big brother the U.S.

I do not give a shit if I offended a Japanese person after what happened to my wife's family during the World War 2 era.

Mr. Young

I love being a Korean American!

Japan is an extremely racist country as it has been since their sun god supposedly came down from the heavens and shitted on us Koreans. I was born in Pusan, South Korea and I am a Korean. I find it unnerving that people are now saying Japanese people aren't racist, well, I don't find it suprising I even hear white people aren't racist. The Japanese should of kept off of our fucking peninsula and played samurai all the way to the top of Mount Fuji. I am by all means deeply insulted that the U.S. even though I am a naturalized citizen continues to divide my homeland into two sides. North Korea is protecting itself against the U.S. and Japan. South Korea my place of birth is being bullied by racist Japan and its big brother the U.S.

I do not give a shit if I offended a Japanese person after what happened to my wife's family during the World War 2 era.

Mr. Young

I love being a Korean American!

I find it so interesting that so many people talk about how racist people are in other countries. We will find racism in all countries but we must all work to eliminate all forms of racism. Whether teaching or studying history, we should look at it as an opportunity to learn what we have done wrong and how to better ourselves and our countries. But to use history to justify racism is absurd. The most educated sounding person on this page is the most guilty of this. To blame other people for racism is so typical of the Japanese. Always running from responsibility of one's own actions. It's like saying, "I'm a racist but it's your fault." Listen to how rediculous it sounds. You can educate yourself all you want but simply put you use history to justify being a racist. And in many cases in Japan, history is re-written to promote self-righteousness (eg. Nankin never happened, the Japanese are always victims, Japan is peaceful).

Not likely in the near future but mark my words. Japan is bound to repeat history because it doesn't study history to better itself. It re-writes history to justify itself and hide from responsibility.

As long as this happens Japan will be a country without responsibility and without respect. It will always remain "the 12 year old country"

To Rich:

Western racism is not a matter of the past; it is a matter of today. Western civilization is probably the most racist civilization ever appeared on earth. Many Westerners who claim to be against racism are quite happy to use racist expressions. An example. Why many of these Westerners call themselves "whites"? As long as Western civilization is racist, others must accuse Westerners of being racists.

TO: Rich

I realized that what you are referring to is perhaps me. These are my replies:

1. You state: "But to use history to justify racism is absurd." I never do that. I am only telling what most people do not know. I am doing this because by giving everyone the accurate knowledge, we will have a better world. Yet you refuse to understand my intention. That is ABSURD.

2. You state: "To blame other people for racism is so typical of the Japanese." To the best of my knowledge, the Japanese do very little of this. I think the Jews are the experts on this; not the Japanese. When the Jews are criticized internationally for their atrocities and racism against the Palestinians, they always describe that as "anti-Semitism" and bring about such topics as Nazism and the Holocaust. (Please note that I am NOT saying all Jews are like that. The Jews, like any other nationality, includes all kinds of people, but if you look at the State of Israel, I must criticize it sharply.) The U.S. also accuses others without accepting its own mistakes. Examples. Tariffs on steel imports, trade imbalance, etc. Of course, some Americans do realize this mistake, and there is a special term: "Japan bashing." Sometimes, Switzewrland must endure "Swiss bashing" by America.

3. You state: "Japan is bound to repeat history because it does not study history to better itself." I am afraid it is the U.S. that must study history in order to better itself. In fact, 9/11 happened because Americans NEVER studied why the Pearl Harbor attack happened. The most serious problem is that Americans refuse to know the truth.

America's gonna be a society in many years to come. They're so self-absorb. They refuse education. It's even hard to live there and deal with all these people. I like New York City and it has all different kinds of people. The problem is, it's very expensive to live and everything. 8 1/2% tax rate? They're other states like New Jersey or any othercountry states that're so cheap and the people there are jerks. They're mines so limited and narrow. They don't except any new people at all and form clicks. I'm afraid my family may move to one of these states and I have to come with them. I've been living in the country all my life, this sucks. I thought highly about moving out of the country to Mainland China because the economy is vastly improving. It'll someday become better than America. Snotty Americans come over to foreign countries expressed ignorance towards the locals. They came to Japan and looked down at the people thinking their country is so much better than their's. In Korea, the U.S. soldiers ran over to two girls and others walked in the streets all cocky. American's call locals in foreign countries racial slurs and considered them foreigners. I understand that some Americans got discriminated by immigrants, but it's their fault. They discriminated against them first. American's aren't aware why Pearl Harbor happened? Aren't aware why 9/11 happened? Asians and Muslims or Arabs took the blame for American's mistakes. Pearl Harbor, 9/11, what's next? Oh, right now America is giving wrong information about North Korea, that it is hostile. America is causing problems with Korea already. North Korea sometimes thinks about attacking Japan, Guam, Hong Kong, Hawaii, and South Korea to attack U.S. troops: idiots. North Korea did such a thing. Korean would get harassed and become the third minority to become targets and victims of discriminating blame for America's mistakes. Some year's America's not going to be all white anymore and Europeans are going to stop immigrating to that nation. Well Blacks and Latinos had conflicts other non-white groups, but still there's going to be mixed people. That country would become a complete melting pot. White's are going to become minorities not only in New York City or some parts of California, all of America: even in Colorado Idaho, West Virginia, and any country states. At many states people are so closed. About 60% U.S. troops are from these areas that's why they caused all kinds of trouble. The U.S. government gave them amnesty for deliberately killing innocent people in foreign countries. When these countries defend themselves, the U.S. government either ignores, don't listen, and never thinks it's a big deal. Some U.S. troops committed deliberate war crimes and U.S. government did nothing about it. Someday, America fights any war against any country(I don't care which one), it'll lost badly. Millions of men and women would die. American economy may fall into a complete disaster. China and India would be vaccuming it all up. When South and North Korea unites as I was told from a Korean priest that Korea will be under autonomy and refuse to have an economic relationship with America. Korea will only trade with China. Some years later, America isn't superpower anymore, will be under chaos, and economically weak. Those who got deported out of America will eventually thank that country.

Here's a fun fact I learned about the word gaijin. Most people assumed that it orignally derived from gaikokujin, literally "outside country person (foreigner)." Whereas gaijin was used as "outsider," "not one of the group," generally in the sense that the party using the word was the superior group. It was originally used to distinguish the Japanese from other Asians, and then as Japan came in contact with Western countries it continued the words usage with the same connotation.

This is just my personal observation, but when a word is used to denote a difference by establishing a superiority and inferiority, it reminds me a lot of terms such as "ni__er," "ch_nk," "b_aner," etc. In reality gaijin and those words just mentioned identify the same meaning, that you're not part of the group and you're lower than us. [EDITED BY SITE OWNER]

So it astounds me that whereas such words are generally taboo in most countries now, (at least in public), in Japan, children will blurt this word out and their mothers won't even say a thing. Or a group of people pointing fingers and saying "look it's a gaijin."

Imagine some kid in the US just calling a person of African decent on the street a n_gger [EDITED BY SITE OWNER], or a group of people pointing fingers at a person from Mexico and call him a b_aner[EDITED BY SITE OWNER].

I'm not saying that it doesn't happen, because I'm sure it does all the time, but not to the extent that the word gaijin is used in Japan.

I'm not calling Japan racist, because the thing is that they are doing this without even knowing it, and when confronted they just try to avoid the subject. Even when I tried to bring this subject up to my Japanese girlfriend she simply avoided it by changing topics.

How can this be changed? There needs to be a radical change in the upper ranks of the system so the effect can trickle down faster. The problem is that the current system in Japan was designed to duplicate and replace itself, so that it would remain the same, generally unaltered.

The only other thing non-Japanese could do is just to show intense disapprovement every time the word is used, and make it clear that this type of primitive labeling needs to become the past, and not continue with us into the future.

The speculation by Mr. X is utterly ridiculous. There is absolutely no implication of the inferior-superior relations as he asserts. It is so absurd and at the same time comical and tragic and dangerous when someone makes up "racism" like this without an adequate knowledge of the host culture. The expression "gaijin" is totally neutral, and if you think there is a negative connotation, that is a product of your hallucination.

>Mr. Young
I am a Japanese Australian.

You are stating Japan as a racist country because it invaded your country 60 something years ago. It was a concequesnse of power sttrugle and I really don't think that has got nothing to do with racism like you are saying (however though, I could refer your comment as racist comments). I don't really know why you have brought up your "war story" in this subject. I don't think you are not a direct victim of the war. I don't think you are suffering from physical and emotional termoil caused by it either.

In terms of racism, Koreans are just as bad, or in some cases, even worse than Japanese. I won't go into the details (because I am at work and ready to head off for the weekend!). I am saying this from my personal experiences.

Please do not forget, Japan has made a mistake. But Has been supporting South Korea financially since the end of the war. And Japan has been misunderstood by so many people in the peninsula by the concequent of Anti-Japanese brain washing of your country.

To tell the truth Most of you people suck just like all the racists Japaneses do.
I am a second generation japanese living and working in japan as a language teacher I grew up in Europe and south America. Although I have Japanese citizen as well I am heavily discriminated in Japan till they find out I am swiss(thats when they change their behavior towards me), and so are many Japanese descendents from other poor countries. Sorry to burst your bubbles Ms kitahara but Japaneses are racists because they believe they are superior or above ****** from a what they belive inferior country and not because they were victims of anything in the past otherwise I would have never been discriminated in this country. And in every single ocassion when I am discriminated in Japan is because they believe I am from a inferior country even when I tell them I am japanese they will never belive me but in almost every situation after I show them my swiss IDs, their behavior just change to better.
As for the people that love to mention Invasion Of Korea, China, Nankin or where the hell you might think Japan invaded to preserve asia, its power, protect Japanese against racism from Europe and the US or any other crap You just need to go back to school and try to study a little more of real history and find out that Japan was after coal just like the US is after the oil now.
And yes Caucasian are discriminated in Japan particularily people from Eastern Europe, Central and South America.
And for the records A Japanese court will never rule in favor of a foreigner from a -inferior-country unless the thing is really big.
I lived in South America for 4 years in Argentine and Brazil. Those countries are neighbors but in Argentine there is a lot of racism because the people believe they are superior or above others while in Brazil racism is something almost inexistent because people believe they are the same.
You people just lack a little of experince living in different countries and a bigger wider mind.

One more tip
As a Good proof of history we can see that the only good thing(not so good to tell the truth)that the Japanese imperial army left behind were the railroads or roads which were supposed to be used to transport the coal.
Today there are more the 3,000 survivors from Asian countries receiving compansation from the Japanese governament as they were forced to work in the mines. There arent more because most of them already died.
As for all of you who don`t want to see such things happen again Lets try to stop US Imperialism at once before they do the same in the name of OIL. We learn from our past and mistakes made in the past so our generation or future generation won`t have to suffer the same that our previous did.
Have you been going to any Anti US-Bush demostrations? How about Anti racism demo? How about legal rights for same sex marriage(I am straight)?Any US flag burning? Demostration in front of US foreign missions?Japanese foreign missions?If not you all suck (North Korea`s dictator sucks as well besides being a crazy lunatic-who lives to keep a collection of thousands of movies-He wants to be god and not to protect the North against anything)

I can read japanese and the Japanese books detailing any thing suck most of the time. They are too cosmetic and misleading. I read a lot of japanese books and belive me I can understand their minds(My parents are Japanese).
The Pearl Harbor attack happened because japan needed the island as it is the link between the 2 continents and for any mass attack from such a small country like japan on a giant like the US they would sure need a post in between to refuel their planes, fleet and coordinate a offensive or defensive strategy. Why do you think Japan took the polinesian islands and the US reposessed them after the war. They are strategic points as well.
And if we wish to talk about past events I can mention a lot of things like the first invasion of japan by the Mongolians-From where did they board their ships-Korean Peninsula? Who aided them on the attack-Koreans?How many people did they kill in the villages along the Japan sea?(wanna a calculator?)Who massacred the Tibetians and caused Dallai Lama to go into exile?This is all past and if we start bringing them up we could fill up this whole site with crap cause it is all past and won`t resolve a damm shit.

The word-GAIJIN- is neutral my ass.

Japanese were traded into slavery not in large numbers and they were traded for firearms By hideyoshi himself as he wanted to invade the asian continent-Korea and China. When the Portugueses started trading with the chineses for firearms Hideyoshi demanded the traded labor force back but a deal is a deal and the portuguese just put it into deaf ears.
Hideyoshi also wanted to be allied with the Daimyo who were crhistians he tried to expell the missionaries to avoid them from influencing on the daimyo`s decisions but he failed as the move was proved to be and insult for them. he executed 26 Fransiscan chirstians in Nagasaki over a tale that was probably produceded by Portuguese jesuits taking advantage of the situation when the San Felipe cargo was confiscated denuncing the capitan and amid fierce competition between the portuguese and spaniards for the Asian market and for the christian market as well. And 6000 more christians after that following the dainyo denial to allie and the fear of the daimyo gainining strengh. Such facts can also be seen in the history of Hosokawa Tama. Hideyoshi became greed after losing the war to China-China had inferior firearms but they had many and a hoard of soldiers as well. A eathquake had destroyed his homeland too so he was broken and wanted to have more and better products paying less.

Western colonialism was sponsored by Hideyoshi himself in the beginning as he wanted to have trade with both Spain and Portugal for firearms. How could he become furious about the slavery if he was the one trading the labor force for weapons?
And to talk about displacement and racism from western nations. I have lived in 12 different contries so far being 9 western and I can tell you people this I am better treated as Asian in a Western country then here in japan. And if it is racism towards asians from westerns- Why don`t the japanese discriminate North Americans or Western Europeans as much as they do Asians and other people from poorer nations? They are racist not because of the fear of strangers or strange things(xenophobism)but because they think they are superior people and only rich nations are superior and have a really small and narrow mind.
And Japan didnt pump any money into korea during the colonial era cause it didn`t have even enough for itself. My grandparents, parents, uncles, ants and relatives had barely almost nothing to eat or wear during that time with most of their kids getting AKAGAMI and being dispatched. The money used in the colonies were from the colonies and neither Korea nor the other colonies were on stone age.
Japanese isn`t a difficult language and neither are the japanese kanjis.

And what all this crap history has to do with racism or xenophobia. I bet my butts that not even 1 out of 10 people between the ages of 10 and 50 remembers or knows much of this in details. Principaly in Japan, korea, China and South east Asia where they all just know pieces of what happened or whatever is suitable for their ears cause they`ve heard from someone else who also heard from someone else who didnt know much either.

You have not read Japanese documents enough. There are a lot more to read. You have not read komonjyo. You are thoroughly brainwashed by the ideology of the West. That is tragic. But keep reading!

The komonjyo is a controversia writing It was written influenced by dictators. as for the 2 flags and the 2nd letter handed to the prince of Izu by Cap perry Nothing can be proved and is a very controversial fact as at that time. corruption was going high amongst japanese dirty roalties and officials.It is so controversial Reason why the japanese governament ask to avoid its use to influence writing of Japanese textbooks for schools
And for the records Mr Kitahara the spanish ship didn`t sink on the Japanese coast nor its crew were saved by the local generals. The ship was washed ashore in the Urado bay and its cargo confiscated by a local general and later by Hideyoshi out of his greed The Spaniards threatened the local authoraties with a military strike and attack if the cargo were not returned.
Before you use the word brain washed try to put yourself on the shoes of any Asian or anybody from a no developed country living in japan. It isn`t a lot of fun. For me it is not that bad as I am Swiss and japanese but would feel really sorry for the others.
Why are people from developed natios treated so well in Japan while any body from a non developed country are just treated like garbage?
Why do the Japaneses treat me so well after they find out i am swiss but terrible when they think I am just another Asian?
I and 6 other friends are putting up a research in Japan
It consistes of me a Japanese Swiss average looking, a chinese from Singapore really good looking guy, a blond caucasian from Peru extremely good looking, a brunet caucasian from New York not so good looking but a great guy now(before he was on drugs and crime and had to go through a lot of treatment for addiction he really looks like a criminal even now), A black guy from Kenya, my good friend from Swtizerland blond by the way and blue eyes but not a good looking guy for sure even he is my friend since we were kids and a japanese guy.
We all work and live in japan now.
We started this research in order to possibly write a book about japan in the future.
This how we do. First of all we choose a topic and then all 6 of us go or talk to the subject randomly.
First I say I am Japanese but people think I am lying because of my accent and then when I say I am swiss japanese things change. Then the others go and try the same thing telling where they are from, the singaporian told he was from China. All of us speak japanese well but the American and my swiss friend always fake a bad japanese language skill.
Our first subject were girls looking for dates on the internet. We wrote and contacted about 600 of them saying were we were from, what we did and sent them our pics. About 12% of them refused to meet any of us. From the 88% left about 92% didn`t want to meet Me nor the chinese. 91% didn`t want to meet the Kenyan, 89% didn`t want to meet the peruvian nor the Japanese but all the 88% wanted to meet the swiss and american even they weren@t so good looking. After asking some of them why they didnt want to meet the others they said it was because they werent good enough for them.
Other subject were very expensive piano and musical instrument shops. The chinese guy wasn`t even aloud to touch the things at many shops while I was aloud to have a tour after I told them I was swiss. The african guy wasnt spoken to or attended at most of the places. After learning the blond was from Peru they usually just left him standing alone. as for the japanese, american and swiss They were usually very well treated even with tea and refreshments sometimes.
Another subject were nice and really good typical japanese RYOKANs. Can you guess who were attended and told they could make reservations and who were not?
We are trying different subjects all the time but we have to restrain our selves a lot of times because we dont have much cash to use but we usually try things that won`t cost us anything like trying to make reservations, getting service in nice shops, restaurantes and so on. At all times and in very few exceptions the american and the swiss guys always have the best while the chinese and kenyan always get shit, I always have something after telling I am swiss. The peruvian is turned alway right after they find out he is peruvian and it doesn`t matter our looks or how much money we have in our wallets. Can you explain that?

Kitahara san
I am 2nd gen. NIKKEI Japanese Brazilian.
Your facts are extremely annoying to me.
The Japanese Empire never cared and will never care for its people. The only thing they care is the sistem and the artificiality it has produced for years. My granparents went to South America because they were promissed land and a better life by the governament just like many other poor farmers a lower classes who along went to Brazil, Peru, Panama, nicaragua and so on. When they arrived what they earned was only a small piece of land on a very low region often afected by floods. They had to work really hard to pay off many things and when they complained about the land, the local gov. told them that the japanese embassy knew about the region and its problems and had promissed to send people capable of work that place off and so happened to Japaneses in Central America and other South American Countries. In Central America was worse as the Japanese diplomats in exchage for pluff bribes promissed that the japanese imigrants arriving would work to pay the land at a much higher rate. In a few words they were sold to slavery by its own governament. When my grandparents tried to register their children born overseas they were told that such thing wouldnt be possible and citizenship to their children were denied. my mother had to start working at the age of 4. Even despite of such conditions the imigrants were still loyal to their duties and worked very hard for years and died working. Today their children go to Japan to work like many of my relatives as they are alowed by the gove just like a favor but even they are Japanese in their roots they are treated like inferiors and many times bullied.
The Imperial sistem and the Emperor never cared about its people wether in Japan even more abroad they only cared aboput themselves So to tell and use such facts as an excuse to justify what japan did and do now was because of its people were being treated badly or slaved in other countries are the most insulting and outrageous lies possibly told. my grandparents their cousins, brothers and many other japanese immigrants died working for the japanese gov. false promises while the officilas and royalties got the money. Our ancestors were sold to slavery by its own Emperor and country.
The land my grandparents had in japan was repossed by the gov and pension from my uncle who died in the Phillipness stopped being paid because they were living abroad and the japanese officials there had succesfully arranged a new and better land for them just like happened in Panama and many othe Central and South American countries. The worst is the gov. did it legally.
There was never the concern for its people besides this the people here don`t know what my grandparents and many others endured over there and they couldn`t and can`t even feel or imagine, otherwise our generation would have been better treated over there.
It is despicable to hear from you and read such offenses and see the name of my grandparents being used to justify such actions.
You should not only study more true history but also hear what the japanese immigrants have to say about this. I would cry listenig to my granparents stories and my ants parents who worked in the fields in Panama before coming to Brazil.
You sound not only insulting but also pathetic.

Angry
Good stuff . thumbs up to you.
Any war, invasion or whatever bad that happened in the past was in the name of money and greed.
And now the United the states is after the OIL. They have attacked and invaded 2 countries and killed so many people including children already. If we don`t want to see what happened in the past in Korea, Nankin, Vietnam or whatever more than years ago to repite. Lets forget that as an anger and remember as a lesson for the future so we united will be able to defeat the US imperialism and corporate colonial rule that is growing each day in the name of profits which is making more modern slavery in undeveloped countries and spilling blood in others than ever before. slavery is everywhere and we buy its products everyday. A 9 year old child works for 40cents a day for 15 hours without breaks or restroom time making sneakers for Nike, Reebok, etc and other things as well-This is slavery.
Last month the US deposed another democraticly elected president in the caribbean island of Haiti. Still we can stop the US without war
JUST STOP BUYING ANY US GOODS, GOODS PRODUCED IS THE US OR PRODUCTS FROM US CORPORATES. LET`S WIN THIS BATTLE PEACEFULLY

TO: Angry
The story you desribe sounds familiar; there is an expression "kimin" (discarding people) instead of "imin (emigration)." I do symphasize with you and your parents. I have never mentioned anything about the Emperor; so I do not understand the relevance of what you describe and what I have been saying. I HAVE NEVER approved anywhere what the Emperor did or the Japanese Government did! I am giving an explanation which is probably not familiar to you.

TO: Love & Peace
1. RE: Different attitudes toward "Swiss-Japanese" vs. "Japanese" born in the third world countries. This clearly proves that what you call "racism" in Japan is not "racism" at all but "culturalism." DO NOT MIX these two words.
2. I have a man's name. Anyone with an adequate knowledge of Japanese know that. Yet you call me "Ms"! This proves your knowledge of Japanese is inadequate.
3. Discrimination against someone from a third world country is NOT THE SAME as racism. It can be, but it can be culturalism.
4. Japanese invasion of Asia is a result of the identification with the aggressor (i.e. Western colonialm powers), which is a form of psychoanalytic defense mechanism. Some nationalities are more likely to rely on this than others, perhaps. The Japanese are similar to the Jews in this regard.
5. Africans always complain about racism in Brazil!
6. Study the massive data about Japanese opinions and how the opinions shaped the rise of political movements in Japan against the West and for the attack of Pearl Harbor. Study especially data from 1907, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1920, and 1924 until July 1 before you talk about the Pearl Harbor attack! Your theory of the Pearl Harbor attack is a typical American/British explanation which is NOT BAESD ON the JAPNESE DATA!
7. Japanese slaves were shipped to Southern China, Southeast Asia, and even possibly to Portugal and Argentina. There were a large number of Japanese slaves especially in Goa, India and Thailand. Japanese boys sent to Pope in a mission were shocked to see Japanese slaves everywhere on their way to Rome.
8. Komonjyo simply means old hand-written documents, which ??ncludes all kinds; not just official documents. Japanese history must rely on these komonjyo; practically most Japanese history is based on the study of komonjyo! It is clearly written in such document that Hideyoshi was furious when he learned about the Portuguese slave trade.
9. You seem to have a lot of psychic problem due to your past experience. If you seriously study psychoanalysis, especially psychoanalytic defense mechanisms, you may have a better health. Sorry, that is not my business.

To Kitahara san
What I said was the Japanese gov. always used its people and never cared for their well being. So using my ancestors name to excuse an attack on Pearl harbor is madness. And neither the japanese people over there in japan cared for its fellow country people abroad at any time.
I don`t know much about japanese history just what i learned at japanese schools here in Brazil but as far as I know about Toyotomi He was a dictator with very ambitious plans who himself sold Japaneses on lower classes as slaves for weapons with the portugueses how could he be furious.
And no we almost don`t have racism here in Brazil so cut off throwing stones on my country too. The only complaints we have are from crazy African groups that come from America but the local rarely complain. 75% od Brazil`s population are consisted of blacks or mixed. 3 of my cousins are married to black and you can see many whites blacks yellows pinks and etc dating and marring and walking together. Don`t be a fool and try to explain things you don`t know. It is my country. You talk about a lot of bull shit just like many crazy selfcentered Japaneses do.
It is an insult and outrageous to use my ancestors and the immigrants who perished under japanese system egoism and even more to insult my country. We can have alot of bad things here but racism is something we dont have to worry about. I know I live here.
The explanation you are giving is familiar to me because it is taught at japaneses schools here in brazil as well and they are lies. Not because I am from brazil I am an illetarate cultureless person so dont presume it is not familiar to me. You are not the only one who reads and studies.
And yes it is racism in Japan my cousins were called pigs had to endure humiliation and being bullied in japanese factories when they were there working The japanese had no respect for them whatsoever My little cousin she was 16 years old the the Japanese ladys supervisors forced her to knee on the floor so they could stand on her back and jump for fun. She was called pig and they told her sometimes she was better fit to work as a prostitute. But they loved American-jins so much.
It is because of people like you that those things happen as the japaneses don`t have the decense to admite what they are.
You sympathize with nobody and still call me an uncultured person.
To Love%Peace
Man do you know why there is so much racism. it is because people like you too who talk a lot about it and always remind other people of their color and do little about it. Talk less about and do more yourself. Interact and let the non racism feeling come naturaly just like it happens here in Brazil.
You have great ideas and a bright broader mind. But everything starts from us.
Forget about arguing with the kitahara lunatic the man is totally japanese self centered.

Just a quick note from the site owner. Please keep comments on topic and no personal attacks or I will close this thread or delete it.

I completely agree with the site owner. Close this thread.

Hi all
What a quarrel you guys are having in here.
I don`t think Michio won the support of many Nikkei-Japaneses in here.
Hi Kitahara
I am Andy Nikkei Japanese-Canadian. Nice to meet you.
You are a writer, aren`t you? Live in Sweden I believe.
I have read 3 of your books The entangled civilization. The tragedy of evolution and Children of the sun. I used to like books like Children of the sun or about Japan describing japanese path, glory or anything related as I had this enormous I AM JAPANESE feeling. but after coming to japan to work and live I changed my mind and I think sometimes that those books are better off in a trash can. although there are good literature out there as well.
My grandparents immigrated to Panama after the war and my grands had to work a lot to pay for the false promisses and unproductive land as well, just like many others, after paying everything that was said they owned to the local authorities as they were supposed to pay the japanese officials for the arrangements. After this they moved to Mexico were my father was born and then my dad immigrated to canada from Mexico. I always thought that what my Granpa told me were tales and he was exagerating about his life but I ended up finding out everything was true and so are the the tales from many descendats who keep coming here to work. I am fortuneted for being a Canadian so I have a better acceptence but i must have pity on people less fortuneted from South and Central America.
Why don`t you write a book detailing how the Japanese Lords sold their people into slavery during and after the war to other countries, promissing wealth but getting it. We could even call this book. BETRAYELD BY ITS OWN SUN or how about WHEN MY SUN SOLD ME TO SLAVERY.
Better yet how about a book about the Japanese descendants who are immigrating back to japan, the atrocities that are happening to them in factories and the refusal from the authorities to help them. You could call this book THE REJECTED CHILDREN OF THE SUN or SUN ABUSES HER CHILDREN. I think this last book would deal better with the topic presented here. Yet material won`t be scarse you can find it on any Nikkei comunity here or immigrants who are still alive in Central America. Imagine you won`t need to rely on data from controversial documents you will find your needed documents and details alive, walking, talking and willing to tell you their tales.
BTW Those same immigrants have filed a law suit against Japan based on what happened to them. My granpa is 1 of the plaintiffs.

Hi, Andy,

You are much better qualified to write such a book than I, and I fully support your project. Get started now!

Wow
Have you seen this guy. He doesn`t request he orders. He isn`t the emperor but is full of japanese superior pride.

To all
Thats what happens when you write a book and it ends up been published. You begin thinking you know more than anybody else or are better. You begin thinking you are an intelectual person and ****** around you doesn`t have the kind of knowledge you have and people should read what you wrote. Your opnions are the only ones with the whole truth. You see yourself higher.
Hi Andy Where the 3 books any good?
Anyway I was just passing by.
Bye all Take it easy.

3 japaneses were kidnaped in Iraq and threatened to be burned alive but Koizumis cabinet seems like they aren't willing to do anything about. Japan doesn't care for its people, never cared and never will care. The only thing that Japan cares are power and money so as it was said before in here there is no sense whatsoever in saying that Japan did what they did or do what they do now are due to concerns for its citizens domestic or overseas.
To say that Japan will stand firm against terror. I ask Which terror? and Who is wrong in this story?- A fully equiped military that invades a country after its oil or the underarmed citizes of this country who want to expel the invaders and protect its sovereignt?
Even I don't suport Islamics I think they are right in using whatever they can to protect themselves.

So Kitahara whoever you are.
What do you think about the Japanese gov. response to the kidnaping.
The liders are still feeling like gods and will never have respect for its people.
You live in world of dreams.
WAKE UP

Americans are just as bad as the Japanese. Americans killed a lot of Korean and Vietnamese people in the land of Korea and Vietnam and denies about what they did. Americans played the lives of Koreans and the Vietnamese as the life of a flies. Then Americans are saying that it is the Japanese. It's true. Both of Americans and the Japanese can kiss my ass. Far worse, I hate the Americans more than the Japanese right now.

Can anyone recall the incident several years ago, when a high-ranking French Government Official publicly referred to the Japanese People as "Ants"? I would like to know more specifics about this well-publicized comment and the reaction that it drew. I am including it in a theme that I am writing for my Social Studies class in school.........if anyone can help me, Thanks so much.

Kitahara-san,

In one of your posts you say that Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in response to the extreme racism against the Japanese both in Europe and the U.S.

Since you justify it this way, should other countries now attack Japan in response to racism against their countrymen?

I won't pretend that racism doesn't exist in the west - but your justification of the attack on Pearl Harbor is abhorrent.

The comments have drifted off topic to Iraq and so I have deleted those comments and am closing this thread.

Thank you for your participation.