Why don't the Japanese differentiate more between foreigners ?

[Maciamo]

IHHO we must never forget that unless we obtain citizenship we can not expect to be treated exactly the same as others.

I may not be Japanese, but as a permanent resident married to a Japanese, speaking Japanese and knowing at least as much about Japan as most Japanese, I think it would be unfair to put me with the "tourists", as Mike call them.

We live in reality, and in reality people do discriminate.

Then they should do it better, based on stricter and more accurate criteria. For example, if people from "x country" steal a lot of bicycles in Tokyo, no need to stop people from "y country" (assuming they look distinctly different). What are statistics made for ? Contemplating ? That would be a bloody lot of money spent just for the Japan Statistical Bureau and National Police Agency's statistical department.

In terms of foreigners, between two people on this thread alone, we know of at least a dozen other foreigners who bailed on their last month's bill of cel phone use. Do you know of any similar cases?

No, I don't frequent "bad people", whatever their nationality (well as far as I know). In fact I had never heard of foreigner not paying their bills properly in Japan. But I admit knowing very few foreigners in Japan outside this forum.

They can see the same trend just as easily as anyone else. It's perfectly understandable that they would then change their behaviors accordingly.

I couldn't find any data about Belgian committing any crime or offense in Japan in the NPA's statistics. Well, there are just about 500 Belgians in Japan, most of them well-paid expats.

On the language issue, what percentage of non-asian foreigners (chosen just because they look different) in Japan do you think are competent enough in both Japanese language and the local geography to answer someone's question about directions?

As I don't know many foreigners in Japan, it's difficult to answer. But anyone who had stayed at least one year in Japan should speak japanese well enough to answer such basic things. As for knowing the local geography, I don't see why people get lost or don't know where they are in the first place. From the first day I set foot in Japan, I never got lost (in fact I had to guide my wife in the train from Narita Airport as she can't read a map properly). My sister and her boyfriend came to Japan last month and I didn't have to guide them around. How can you get lost in Tokyo ? There are (bilingual) signs everywhere ! Not like if one was in the middle of the Amazon.

The person in your example made a reasonable assessment of the situation in my opinion.

I was wearing a suit and riding a bicycle, so the guy should have guessed that :
1) I was not a tourist but somebody working there habitually (so I probably knew at least some Japanese)
2) I probably lived in the area if I was on my bicycle (so I knew the area)

From this, his judgement was forcedly mistaken, and his reaction must have been that :

1) Foreigners, even living and working in Japan, cannot possibly speak Japanese (=> racist assumption)
2) Or he just didn't want to talk to a foreigner (cowardice or xenophobia)

I am sorry, but my way of thinking based on logics and deductions, and if I am wrong I cannot see right now what element I may have missed in my reasoning.

[Mikawa Ossan]

I may not be Japanese, but as a permanent resident married to a Japanese, speaking Japanese and knowing at least as much about Japan as most Japanese, I think it would be unfair to put me with the "tourists", as Mike call them.

I don't disagree, but just by looking at you, no one can possibly know that.

Then they should do it better, based on stricter and more accurate criteria. For example, if people from "x country" steal a lot of bicycles in Tokyo, no need to stop people from "y country" (assuming they look distinctly different). What are statistics made for ? Contemplating ?

But you're talking about average people. How many of them do you think actually know or care what the statistics like that are? Also, no one can possible know for certain what country you're from just by looking at you.

No, I don't frequent "bad people", whatever their nationality (well as far as I know). In fact I had never heard of foreigner not paying their bills properly in Japan. But I admit knowing very few foreigners in Japan outside this forum.

Well, I try to avoid "bad people", too, but when I did Eikawa, I knew foreigners who did the darndest things. Every last one of them was a white American, Austalian, Brit, or Canadian (No Belgians, though ). Why does race matter? Because that's what people SEE.

As I don't know many foreigners in Japan, it's difficult to answer. But anyone who had stayed at least one year in Japan should speak japanese well enough to answer such basic things.

Maybe they should, but I don't think most of them do. And even if they do, just by looking at someone, you can't know how long s/he has been in Japan or his/her Japanese ability.

I was wearing a suit and riding a bicycle, so the guy should have guessed that :
1) I was not a tourist but somebody working there habitually (so I probably knew at least some Japanese)
2) I probably lived in the area if I was on my bicycle (so I knew the area)

From this, his judgement was forcedly mistaken, and his reaction must have been that :

1) Foreigners, even living and working in Japan, cannot possibly speak Japanese (=> racist assumption)
2) Or he just didn't want to talk to a foreigner (cowardice or xenophobia)

I am sorry, but my way of thinking based on logics and deductions, and if I am wrong I cannot see right now what element I may have missed in my reasoning.

I think we probably agree on a lot more than we disagree on. It's probably just our different ways of interpreting the same thing. I think your suit and bicycle are non-issues, because there are other explanations. I would say that based on what that guy saw, he could reasonable assume that you were an honest, clean person, but little else.

I don't mean to put you on the defensive, and I'm sorry if it sounds that way. I used to feel very similar to how I think you do, so I'm just trying to help you find a less stressful approach to your situation.

[Maciamo]

I don't mean to put you on the defensive, and I'm sorry if it sounds that way. I used to feel very similar to how I think you do, so I'm just trying to help you find a less stressful approach to your situation.

I understand and appreciate that. I was not on the defensive, but just explaining the things that naturally flow through my mind in such situations. Sometimes I tell myself that either this or that person is racist/xenophobic or I really can't understand how they think. Either way it makes me feel somewhat nervous or insecure (or even angry).

[Mikawa Ossan]

Either way it makes me feel somewhat nervous or insecure (or even angry).

I feel the same way.