African Americans in Japan

[xathenex]

Hello all! :wave:

I'll be going to JCMU in the fall. I have a few concerns about my trip. For one, I'm an african american. I know that the population of Japan is mostly Japanese and people of asian descent. So I was just wondering how Japanese people tend to respond to African Americans? I've heard stories ranging from playful curiosity to down right racism. I know it really depends on the person, but do you have any experience with this?

Thanks!

~Brittany

[TwistedMac]

Heya bit-bit (can I call you bit-bit?) I think you'll find although we might have one or two here that can answer your question, BlackTokyo.com (http://www.blacktokyo.com/) has a whole army of people with opinions on the matter :) atleast it's a place to look.

[calsonic]

My brother is over there and he loves it. He is with Nova. He says that rarely does he get racism. Most folks are simply interested to meet him.

[calsonic]

Now he even plays b-ball for a junior league over there.

[BlackGirls_are_nice2]

This is an interesting topic. Yes, I am also curious as to how Black females are treated over there. What about overweight people? especially females.
It's just that the population over there is so thin and being a black girl and all, I have the natural tendacy to be overweight.
Hmm.....maybe that's why most japanese citizens avoid people of color (mostly females) and will date other ethnic groups (especially europe and south america) because they tend to be more leaner than people of color.
PS. this is not to say that all people of color are heavyset. There are a lot of thin ones too (mostly those of mixed decent.)

[Flashjeff]

Greetings, xathenex! I'm African-American and spent nearly two years in Japan during my days in the Navy and was treated well. I never experienced any sort of racism, but was seen as something of a pleasant curiosity by some because I'm tall. If you go to Japan with a positive attitude, you should be treated well.
:cool:

[Ma Cherie]

To B.G.A. N.2. : Yes, this is an interesting topic. Well if you were to go over to Japan being black or overwieght you may get treated like a freak of nature..... :p no, I'm just kidding, really. But I will say that you will stand out. There's nothing you can do about it, because that's the reality of the situation.

[epigene]

There's no need to worry about being African American. There will be playful curiosity for sure--with questions like, "Can you sing and/or dance?" :giggle: (Once I heard an African American complain about this constant question because he was totally out of tune and couldn't keep in rhythm.)

Being overweight also is not a problem--only that clothes that fit you will be hard to find, if not impossible. :-)

[Mike Cash]

No matter the reaction the original poster may receive herself, she will at least have the novel experience of watching her white acquaintances for the first time in their lives attempting to deal with being a minority. I hear that it can be quite amusing.

[cicatriz esp]

No matter the reaction the original poster may receive herself, she will at least have the novel experience of watching her white acquaintances for the first time in their lives attempting to deal with being a minority. I hear that it can be quite amusing.

They could always visit LA to get used to it.

[Newgi]

Hello all! :wave:

I'll be going to JCMU in the fall. I have a few concerns about my trip. For one, I'm an african american. I know that the population of Japan is mostly Japanese and people of asian descent. So I was just wondering how Japanese people tend to respond to African Americans? I've heard stories ranging from playful curiosity to down right racism. I know it really depends on the person, but do you have any experience with this?

Thanks!

~Brittany

:-) Why worry :? Just go to Japan an experience the culture/people for yourself :cool:

[budd]

"I hear that it can be quite amusing."
quite true

[Endsight61]

Hey don't sweat it! I plan on attending TU when I graduate*praying she does not become a ronin*

[Reiko_no_Tabi]

I think you'll find although we might have one or two here that can answer your question, BlackTokyo.com has a whole army of people with opinions on the matter atleast it's a place to look.

I have to agree that blacktokyo.com is a great place to look if someone is wanting to get an idea of the black experience in Japan. I'm currently browsing the site right now, in fact. I plan on going to language school in Tokyo soon and I appreciated finding out what I perhaps should expect. Most of it hasn't been promising; even the Japanese penpals I have say that many Japanese are racist towards foreigners, but I put it all in perspective. Living in the U.S., especially the south like I do, I encounter it all the time. Even so, I can more understand--to put it in a strange way--getting racism from people in a country like Japan, because there aren't that many black people there, blah blah. I just remind myself what I'm going for, what's the reason. I really don't care what they think of me when it comes down to it, because whatever ignorant ideas or stereotypes they may have of me, I'm going to make sure I shatter them. I'm doing it here in America as it is. :yeahh:

By the way, I like your sig, Endsight61. Gackt... :relief: Getting flustered here!

[Inuyasha-the-kid]

There are racist people there read below to see for your self

Racial stereotyping in the world of children persists, however. Today, racist images are more likely to appear in computer animation than between the covers of books. Two such characters appear in "Pokémon" and "Dragonball Z," wildly popular cartoons and digital games from Nintendo and Sony, respectively.


Few of Pokémon's 150 evolving pocket monsters have human attributes. However, the character Jynx, Pokémon #124, has decidedly human features: jet-black skin, protruding pink lips, gaping eyes, a straight blonde mane, and a full figure, complete with cleavage and wiggly hips. In her pink gown, Jynx is a dead ringer for an obese drag queen.

When I first glimpsed Jynx on the "Pokémon" cartoon, I thought surely the character was an aberration. Then I saw Mr. Popo, a cosmic character from "Dragonball Z." Mr. Popo is a rotund, turban-clad genie with pointy ears, jet-black skin, shiny white eyes, and, yes, big red lips.

I discovered these characters because my 10-year-old son is a Pokémaniac. He watches the cartoon, collects the trading cards, plays the digital game, and surfs the Net for game codes and trivia. He still pleads for new Pokémon games, but declares that "Dragonball Z" is his favorite cartoon, as his daily doodles of the show's protagonist Goku attest.


Not coincidentally, both Jynx and Mr. Popo were created by Japanese animators. Apparently, racist stereotypes that would shock Americans don't raise an eyebrow in much of Asia.


Hong Kong's Hazel & Hawley Chemical Co. would probably still be hawking Darkie toothpaste had the company not been acquired by Colgate. The Darkie brand's Al Jolson-inspired logo, a grinning caricature in blackface and a top hat, was as offensive as its name. Colgate bought the company in 1985, and then ditched the logo and changed the product's name to Darlie after US civil rights groups protested. However, the Cantonese name - Haak Yahn Nga Gou (Black Man Toothpaste) - remains.


American advertisers also have a shameful history of racial stereotyping, although such images long ago fell out of favor. Before World War II, African-American caricatures were employed for many products, from soap to cereal. Today, collectors of black memorabilia - mostly African-Americans - snatch up advertising and ephemera at antique shops, flea markets, and Internet auctions. Black collectors reason that reclaiming the images not only preserves heritage but strips the icons of their power to denigrate.

Not all black caricatures have been consigned to history, though. On supermarket shelves, updated incarnations of Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben, bankable logos featuring blacks as domestics, still serve up impressive market shares.


Neither icon bears even the slightest resemblance to Jynx or Mr. Popo, however. Known to millions of children through cartoons and product tie-ins, Jynx and Mr. Popo depict descendants of Africa through the bigoted lens of white supremacy. These stereotypical characters could adversely affect black children's malleable self-images.


Nearly a half century ago, to prepare for the historic Brown v. Board of Education lawsuit, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund enlisted psychologist Kenneth Clark to conduct a study in the South's Jim Crow schools. Using black and white dolls, Mr. Clark asked black elementary-school students which doll they liked best, which looked best, and which resembled them. The students preferred the white doll, but identified with the black doll, despite the fact that they said it looked "bad." This admission upset many of the children. The main hero, Goku,
looks very Japanese (black hair and dark brown eyes). But later, when he
becomes more powerful and reaches a higher level of energy, his hair
becomes blonde and his eyes become blue. No comment.the Japanese word gorirra ( gorilla ) comes to mind, but that it wasn't specifically used towards blacks since
many Japanese often use it to refer to any big, husky, and unattractive person. I once read where someone saw a Japanese college
student with a sambo character on her slippers with the words, Nigger Head. To me, such things are very
offensive, but for many Japanese they are kawaii (cute). Not until I asked how they would feel if I sold little
yellow dolls, with buck-teeth and slanted eyes did they understand why I felt so offended. Another word I
should mention was daisansekaijin which literally means third world person, which does not just single out
Blacks but any dark-skinned person who looks as if they came from an underdeveloped nation.When I first went to an elementary school for a visit, the children surprised
me when they tried rubbing my skin to see if my color would come off. Yet these were the same children that
would cry because they didn't want to see me go. Still, ignorance can be ugly. One of my Black friends once
told me that some old man held out his hand for her to shake. Seeing this as an opportunity to extend her
friendship, she shook his hand. As she shook his hand, he began to lean over, with his tongue out of his
mouth, preparing to lick her hand. Before he could accomplish his goal, she pulled her hand away and angrily
asked what he was trying to do. His reply was that he wanted to find out if she tasted like coffee. Such
incidents as these happen more in Northern Japan where it is more rural and the influx of foreigners is very rare.




besides of that http://www.metanoiac.com/images/toothpaste.jpg

That means black man tooth paste...

http://www.toothpasteworld.com/images/big/darkies.jpg

THis is how it used to look......

All of this is offensive to me ... :(

[komachi]

btw,commodities in those photographs are not made in Japan.
they are product of China. the language is not Japanese. :sick:
The public opinion never permits such a design in Japan.

[Inuyasha-the-kid]

What about mr.popo and that pokemon?

[cicatriz esp]

Interestingly, I talked to several black people in Japan, but none of them were African American. I wonder if there would be a difference in the way they are treated?

[~Midnight Angel~]

I am a African American female also interested in going to Japan after I graduate highschool. I hear a lot of people say that when in Japan, no one has been racist towards them or even any type prejudice. I plan to attend Joichi University when I get to Japan and I know I will be asked alot of questions about myself and my background. But, that's no biggie, right? After all I always say I may be black on the outside but I have an Japanese spirit lurking on the inside. :smiling: Or so my mom says.

[MotomanInuyasha]

I'm a Jamaican/Japanese American, if you worry about what people think about you all the time you wont have any fun. I can understand why you would ask tho, but make sure to bring a white friend with you. You could always pull a Michale Jackson and get your self bleached if it worries you that much.

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

What about mr.popo and that pokemon?

Are those characters the villains? :?
Those characters are recognized to be KAWAII(s) in Japan.

[Gaijinian]

It was odd for me, a white boy, to experience being a minority. The odd part of it all, is that I started to act the Japanese when I saw another gaijin (pretending not to notice them, and so on...)!! I was so weird! Did anyone else experience that?

[xathenex]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Don't worry, I'm not getting all worked up over the fact. I was just curious, thats all. Just a simple question, from humble old me. :blush: So anymore helpful replies would be nice! :wave:

~Brittany

39 days till I leave! :relief:

[Live91]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Don't worry, I'm not getting all worked up over the fact. I was just curious, thats all. Just a simple question, from humble old me. :blush: So anymore helpful replies would be nice! :wave:
~Brittany
39 days till I leave! :relief:

I think that tif you respect their customs, they'll just respect you too ^^.

[japantvhost]

Doesn't really matter what race you are, you will be gaijin and that will give you some good benefits and some negative ones.

[Broken Rose Ren]

I am a African American female and I used to worry about going to Japan and how I would get treated. But, it's fine. I've got black friends already in Japan and they are treated fine. One of my friends recently got a job over there without any problems, she's made lot's of friends and guys even talk to her, haha.

Just don't go over there without any knowledge of the Japanese language because that is a key factor in deciding how people view you. You don't want them to think you are a know-nothing foreigner. Of course people will ask you curious questions, it may get annoying, but they don't mean anything by it or people may even stare at you, but embrace it and bow politely.

Don't let anyone tell you negative things and deter you from going because they felt as though the Japanese were being "racist".

[MoBay]

If you are black and you can deal with racist America then Japan will certainly be a piece of cake. Most of the attitudes that Japanese have towards blacks were initially brought there by white GIs during the occupation. In other words America has been the most prolific exporter of racism to the world. Black people are safer in Japan than they are in America, so please just go and have fun and adopt a positive attitude.

[Gentleman10]

Racists exist all over the world, and people who aren't racist exist all over the world too. From my personal experience, although I didn't recieve any racism as a black person (either that or I didn't care because I was enjoying myself too much to notice), I don't think you should get worked up over this versus getting worked up about the fact that you're going to a different country!

[ArmandV]

Just don't go over there without any knowledge of the Japanese language because that is a key factor in deciding how people view you. You don't want them to think you are a know-nothing foreigner. Of course people will ask you curious questions, it may get annoying, but they don't mean anything by it or people may even stare at you, but embrace it and bow politely.


Whether or not you "know the language" should not deter you from visiting. I don't know much of the language but have enjoyed my visits there. They wouldn't judge you as a "know-nothing," they'd just figure you don't know their language is all. They will go out of their way to try out their English skills.

[MoBay]

If this is any consolation: I have met black guys in Tokyo who just loves it there and don't seem to have any problems. I have this particular friend who is black around 6ft 3in, speaks Japanese fluently, good built and he is constantly being besieged by Japanese women . I have witness this situation, it is not a second hand account. However, this guy would be attractive to women of any race. The point is that if you are not able to pull the ladies at home dont think you can come to Japan and it all changes. It comes down to your personality and general attitude.

[Jpstw]

If you are black and you can deal with racist America then Japan will certainly be a piece of cake. Most of the attitudes that Japanese have towards blacks were initially brought there by white GIs during the occupation. In other words America has been the most prolific exporter of racism to the world. Black people are safer in Japan than they are in America, so please just go and have fun and adopt a positive attitude.

You couldnt have said it any better(actually probably could lol), but racism in America is much much larger then over in Japan, in fact if you get offended while over in Japan since your black, stop being soft :p.

When i go back to Japan and prosper, i took to much racism over here and see that "Black man toothpaste" not even close to offensive, extremely funny hahahah. Positive attitude all the way, most of this forums is filled with so called racism in Japan, do not be discouraged at all, just go to get rid of the stereotypes, thats what i plan on doing.Lol most people i have heard who went their as adults dont even come back so you better hope you have obligations back in Uh Mare Rikka.:lol:

[Broken Rose Ren]

Basically. I honestly think the most you'll come up against is stereotyping (since the Japanese are most familiar with the black people they see on t.v. you know music videos or whatnot) not actual racism. But, as black people it's up to us to to go and show the Japanese what genuine black people are all about and kick stereotyping's ass.

[jonathancameron]

Hello all! :wave:
I'll be going to JCMU in the fall. I have a few concerns about my trip. For one, I'm an african american. I know that the population of Japan is mostly Japanese and people of asian descent. So I was just wondering how Japanese people tend to respond to African Americans? I've heard stories ranging from playful curiosity to down right racism. I know it really depends on the person, but do you have any experience with this?
Thanks!
~Brittany

If you are a beautiful girl, many Japanese men would love you. While there are prejudices for foreigners, the Japanese do not have a history of looking down on African Americans in particular like much of the Caucasian race does. To this regard, the African Americans and the White Americans are treated exactly the same. If there are any prejudices, they are the same prejudices that all non Japanese and repatriated Japanese face. To this effect, there are no heirarchy of foreigner prejudices. The Kikokushijos and the gaikokujin are exactly the same in treatment.

[Mike Cash]

If you are a beautiful girl, many Japanese men would love you. While there are prejudices for foreigners, the Japanese do not have a history of looking down on African Americans in particular like much of the Caucasian race does. To this regard, the African Americans and the White Americans are treated exactly the same. If there are any prejudices, they are the same prejudices that all non Japanese and repatriated Japanese face. To this effect, there are no heirarchy of foreigner prejudices. The Kikokushijos and the gaikokujin are exactly the same in treatment.

Since I know nothing about you, I'll have to ask: Are you basing your statements on firsthand experience and observations? Or are they conjecture based on hearsay?

[jonathancameron]

Since I know nothing about you, I'll have to ask: Are you basing your statements on firsthand experience and observations? Or are they conjecture based on hearsay?
First hand. How can you be so naive? You explain thoughly the hierachy of these prejudices if you think they even exist. If you do, you are seeing though tainted lenses because many of us saw very little, and when prejudices arose, they were all equal to foreigners and repatirates together.

[jonathancameron]

I am basing on first hand observations Mike. Mike, are you Japanese or are you a Westerner like I am. (Or are you a hafu?)

[bexchurnside]

If you are a beautiful girl, many Japanese men would love you. While there are prejudices for foreigners, the Japanese do not have a history of looking down on African Americans in particular like much of the Caucasian race does. To this regard, the African Americans and the White Americans are treated exactly the same. If there are any prejudices, they are the same prejudices that all non Japanese and repatriated Japanese face. To this effect, there are no heirarchy of foreigner prejudices. The Kikokushijos and the gaikokujin are exactly the same in treatment.

Quite wrong, Jonathan! A repatriated Japanese and a Gaijin face very different sort of discrimination! A Japanese repatriate might know the Japanese ways better, but they expect them to embrace the culture way way more than they would ever from a full on Caucasian. Especially tough is the Issei born Japanese returnees. They are made to even go as far as "giving up" their old western ways and become fully Japanese to the point that they cannot be distinguished from the Japanese who never left. Their Japanese skills even if they are good enough to get a BA in Japanese with Summa Cum Laude, from a western university, and pass JLPT LV1, that would not suffice. They must further their skills having the nuances perfected. Yes, they will master it faster than any bright lady like myself can do even in 30 years in 2 years, but the level of achievement expected of them is surmountable enough, as they are expected to achieve the full on Japanese who never left on an equal footing. Jonathan, you posted in one place where you knew a Japanese who had to go to Ritusmeikan and take first year Japanese along with the rest of the natives to prove himself. You even found it odd, but according to my boyfriend, this is rather normal. There is also no one that would applaud them for accomplishing so much in Japanese other than the social acceptance offered to other native Japanese and being no longer being discriminated against. They are the only ones that will be eventually accepted back fully, and a higher price they must also pay.

Jonathan, since you don't have a Japanse girlfriend, you don't know the difference. I don't blame you, because it takes a long time to see these subtle differences. I couldnt have known either until my boyfriend who is all too acutely aware, pointed all this out to me.

The trick for Kikokushijos who are fluent in Japanese to native proficiency is to appear to try too hard to look western and they will just think you are just a wannabee like the rest, and think you are nothing but a japanese who wants to see the west, but has yet to do so.

[craftsman]

Oh please. Can someone do something? If bexchurnside and jonathoncameron are not the same poster I'll eat my computer mouse.

[Iron Chef]

Multiple usernames sharing the same IP... I have placed them on temporary ban for one week (along with another user name, Magoichisaika). If they persist, then the next time will be permanently. Fellow mods feel free to take any further action as you see fit.

[craftsman]

Thanks Iron Chef - I guess the mouse lives to see another day.

[Mike Cash]

I'll not bother replying, then. At least not until he gets finished disagreeing with himself.

[tampopo]

I guess the mouse lives to see another day- lol Craftsman!!!

[yukio_michael]

Just don't go over there without any knowledge of the Japanese language because that is a key factor in deciding how people view you. You don't want them to think you are a know-nothing foreigner.I'm curious, how much of the language do you know, and how did you come to the opinion that people in Japan treat you better, differently, even if you are fluent?

[Mrjones]

I can see their treating people from Us better, than the rest of others anyways. Its very hard to understand Europe.

[macadamia_cocoa]

If you are a beautiful girl, many Japanese men would love you. While there are prejudices for foreigners, the Japanese do not have a history of looking down on African Americans in particular like much of the Caucasian race does. To this regard, the African Americans and the White Americans are treated exactly the same. If there are any prejudices, they are the same prejudices that all non Japanese and repatriated Japanese face. To this effect, there are no heirarchy of foreigner prejudices. The Kikokushijos and the gaikokujin are exactly the same in treatment.

I sort of disagree. To me, the Japanese have always related to whites more than blacks because of the tone of their skin. While foreigners have been portrayed as the "Big Bad Gaijin," blacks have stood out as the rabid foreigner - the ones who are twice as scary because of their African roots.

I honestly think they got this idea from the West, actually.

Still, at the same time, blacks have also had more admiration for the color of their skin - we seem more exotic sometimes, I guess, because we're darker. It can intimidate others. Depends on the person.

[Broken Rose Ren]

I'm curious, how much of the language do you know, and how did you come to the opinion that people in Japan treat you better, differently, even if you are fluent?I know, enough for small conversations. Then again, I'm 16 so I'll be much more advanced later on. But, I said what I said because some of my Japanese pen pals have told me, that sometimes it's challenging to speak to a foreigner who doesn't have very much knowledge of the Japanese language, so many don't try. I'm not saying people will treat you better even if you are fluent, but being knowledgeable of the language would certainly help.

Oh, I apologize for using the term "know-nothing".

[yukio_michael]

[...]sometimes it's challenging to speak to a foreigner who doesn't have very much knowledge of the Japanese language, so many don't try.It's challenging for me to write or instant message Japanese who don't know much English as well. It's difficult because I wind up spending an hour writing or translating a long email--- And I don't have much knowledge of where I'm making my mistakes... When I'm speaking with someone, in person, I can usually say enough that they understand my meaning--- I think people have a natural ability to do these things, and it's either this idea that the other person can't understand you, or your own fear of being misunderstood that effects conversations between Japanese and non-Japanese, at least in my experiences.

If you have the time and the resources, learning with someone in a group effort is great, and there are meetups designed specifically for that. There are those out there wanting to practice their English, and practicing your Japanese with native speakers is the best way to improve. No ammount of book study will give you the skills you will gain from actually speaking the language with someone.

Of course fluency will help you not hurt you in Japan, but what I'm saying also is that there is also sometimes the idea that natually foreigners simply can not speak Japanese, are not capable of it and this effect how Japanese interact with foreigners. Also, there are people who survive in Japan knowing little or no Japanese whatsoever.

I'd like to say howerver that when I lived in Japan, nobody assumed that I couldn't speak Japanese and people always spoke Japanese to me, even when I was asking directions... I kept having to say, yukuri, yukuri kudasai slowly please... I found that to be quite nice.

[Mr.Kitsune]

I'm glad this forum is up, I've been looking through my share of forums and they've all said things like " everyone will hate you" or " everyone will avoid you because japanese hate gaijins" or other random statements, :relief: I'm glad i have a full spectrum of comments to look at now.

[Shaka]

If you are black and you can deal with racist America then Japan will certainly be a piece of cake. Most of the attitudes that Japanese have towards blacks were initially brought there by white GIs during the occupation. In other words America has been the most prolific exporter of racism to the world. Black people are safer in Japan than they are in America, so please just go and have fun and adopt a positive attitude.

Canada is one country where black people are not discriminated, especially British Columbia in the lower mainland. Taxes are, however, heavy.

[TOKYO64]

I'm an African American with 11 years experience in Japan. I have seen a lot of curiousity but I've seen a little racism as well. Most of the racism I experienced were from older men and women. One time I was in Namba station with a Japanese female when a 50 something year-old woman started yelling at us. But mostly I've felt racsism from men around that age. As for the younger generation they are very curious about everything. But the funny thing about Japan is that a person's thoughts and feelings will be totally different than when they were young and in college. A college student can be very tolerant one year and then when they are 35 or so have a totally different feeling about something as they are heavily affected by the environment they live in.

[Glenn]

I was in Namba station with a Japanese female when a 50 something year-old woman started yelling at us.

Namba, as in on the Kintetsu line, as in 難波? That's not too far from here. :-)

By the way, what was she yelling? And did she just start yelling seemingly out of nowhere? I'm trying to get a picture of the scene in my head.

But mostly I've felt racsism from men around that age. As for the younger generation they are very curious about everything. But the funny thing about Japan is that a person's thoughts and feelings will be totally different than when they were young and in college. A college student can be very tolerant one year and then when they are 35 or so have a totally different feeling about something as they are heavily affected by the environment they live in.

I think it probably has more to do with the generation a person belongs to. Are you saying that you've known people who when in college were very tolerant, and then when they got older they became much less tolerant? Also, are we just talking about racial tolerance?

[D-San]

I'm African American and I plan on Living in Japan (with my fiance, who is Japanese) one day.

I have already lived there for two years as a bachelor, and I can say that those were the best two years of my life. I experienced no direct racism at all. The only discrimination coming from the "Japanese Only" establishments around town.

I can understand their point though, because all the Japanese women I came across, seemed to fall in love with me. If I was a Japanese guy, then i wouldn't want foreigners in my bar or club either.

[frmain]

^ But i've found the older WWII generation generally more racist anyway, no matter what country you're from. I hate to admit this but my parents once said that they didn't like the idea of mixed race marriages....they're just after WWII generation....

[pipokun]

...
I can understand their point though, because all the Japanese women I came across, seemed to fall in love with me. If I was a Japanese guy, then i wouldn't want foreigners in my bar or club either.

It is just a hostess bar where you pay money at all.

[pinson27]

What are you guys talking about?? I guess you all are on the side of the Japanese because many of you live there and want to believe that Japan is the best country ever. But Japanese are pure racists. plain and simple.

[maushan3]

What are you guys talking about?? I guess you all are on the side of the Japanese because many of you live there and want to believe that Japan is the best country ever. But Japanese are pure racists. plain and simple.

I beg to differ. There are racist people everywhere, from every race. It's in our genes to be racist, that's why we people are taught to be tolerant of other cultures, creeds and ethnicities, because it isn't right to be racist.

Just take a middle-class Caucasian to some South Central neighborhood in L.A. and see what happens. What about the L.A. riots in Compton about 10 years ago? No, you don't see that. Of course some Japanese are racists, but then again, take a look at the whole world, not just Japan.

Mauricio

[pipokun]

Pure racists Self Defence Force members has worked hard in Niigata, in which a great earthquake broke out, without taking a bath for more than 10 days.

Many Japanese were surprised to see the armed military members in the Hurricane Katrina. Why on earth did impure racists need the gun for disaster relief?

[kireikoori]

Japan isn't more racist towards blacks than the US. Japan just doesn't have political correctness like the US does. :P

[pugtm]

look very few countries nowadays are racist. Iran, some crazy dictators in Sudan and maybe a few others. A whole country cannot be racist no more than all people can be geniuses or stupid. It's about individual people and i don't think that nowadays that many people care about skin color. I find it interesting that in school blacks almost always play the race card whereas everyone else couldn't really care less. Im just saying this as an example that you probably are worrying way too much about this stuff. Look at it this way. Im not even allowed into some countries due to my background.

[D-San]

All i'm saying is that I the years i lived in japan as a Black man, i never came across any blatant racism. Ignorance maybe, but no racism.

[tokapi]

Some handsome Black dude having FUN with Japanese chicks @ local night club,very lovey-dovey :-)

[Static]

Interesting thread. I wish there were more posts. I too would like to travel to Japan one day but, most of the articles I have read online are discouraging.

[Sensationalist]

Sorry to chime in so late, but as an African American, who's been living here in Japan now for about five years, I couldn't resist.
I love Japan. I work, I pay my taxes, I have been living my life to the fullest here. I have never experienced any form of racism directly. I am an overweight, fat and painfully average looking African American male in his mid-thirites. I have worked one job my whole time living here. Everything is good for me so far. I am not in the military.
In addition to all of that, I have published two books on Japan; one on hotsprings and the other on sake, both can be ordered online. In 2008 I plan to have two sold through a major bookstore in Japan. You can also visit my website, the url is on my profile.

Had I experienced racism I would have never published those two books. I would say don't worry about racism so much. I know people and places in America that are far more open about their racial hatred of blacks than in Japan.

[J44xm]

Interesting thread. I wish there were more posts. I too would like to travel to Japan one day but, most of the articles I have read online are discouraging.
Don't believe them. As long as you do not conduct yourself as an idiot, you will almost certainly be fine. You're not much more likely to experience racism here than in America, if at all. If not less. (After all, America (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/23/turner.prom/index.html) isn't as progressive as many like to think.)

Regardless of what some say, the Japanese are not inherently racist. (No more than anyone else, that is.)

[tokapi]

Racism is everywhere if you look for it,otherwise life is plain & simple.

[tokapi]

African nationals can be popular among local Japanese women


He came to Japan from Mali when he was 19-years-old. He started out working at a hip hop clothing store in Harajuku, but now that he’s 37-year-olds and have a family to support, he’s working for a construction company. He wakes up at 5AM and works all day from Monday to Saturday each week.

He met his wife 13 years ago. When asked what she liked about her husband, the wife says she likes black men, citing their style and musical ability as good points. She even says that she sometimes wishes she had been black instead of Japanese. Her parents opposed their marriage, apparently due to a belief that “foreigner equals criminal.” It would seem that despite the husband’s efforts to be friendly with her folks, the marriage is still frowned upon. Because of this their household exists in isolation of any extended family.

complete news story: http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=3523

[Sensationalist]

Style and musical ability are dumb points for liking someone enough to marry them, let alone bare children and hate his/her own heritage. The parents had good reason to oppose the marriage from the start. I wouldn't want my daughter marrying this type of guy.

[akita]

Style and musical ability are dumb points for liking someone enough to marry them, let alone bare children and hate his/her own heritage. The parents had good reason to oppose the marriage from the start. I wouldn't want my daughter marrying this type of guy.



She didn't said that she like only music and style at her husband just that they are good points. Maybe they like to speak about music and fashion. I wouldn't marry somebody just because we share similar musical taste but I would like to have something in common. Imagine you came home and you want to talk about your hobbies and dreams and your wife don 't give a damn because she likes completely different things that you. :-)