Have you encountered discrimination or prejudices in Japan ?

[Mikawa Ossan]

I wish I would see them...

Me too!

Thanks for your welcome.

You're welcome!

I have experienced racism all my life, so I know what it looks like.

If it's not too personal, would you mind sharing with us at least an episode, so we can get a better idea where you're coming from?

An honest look at the way that everyone treats me? Uh, Yes of course. Come on, you have to be blind or sucking up the Japanese to believe otherwise. Don't be blind, open your eyes and deal w/ what we are saying. Please don't try to cover it up, turn the other cheek, or walk the other way. How many examples do you need? (on the train, in the super, walking on the street, police stopping bikers, store staff interactions, staring, gestures, avoiding, silence, rudeness, oddness....come on.

I guess this is where we differ. I try to interact with people as equals and I have not adopted an "us vs them" mentality during my life here. I do not look for racism, and consequently, I don't often find it.

What I do find is behaviour based upon a certain collective experience which I largely concur with. Most non-asian foreigners are NOT able to hold their own in a conversation in the Japanese language. Also, foreigners' reactions ARE often unpredictable. And this I say based upon my own experience as a foreigner intereacting with foreigners in Japan.

Much of the "racism" you describe seems to stem from the above. I suppose in the strict sense it is racism, but it's not based on any kind of racial theory, but rather experience.

One does not need to fit in at the nation-wide level to fit in with the people around you. And the Japanese people around you are willing to let you in to the extent that you prove yourself to do so.

Metaphor: If a student moves to a new school and can't make any friends, the first place to look is in the self, and not blame the whole school for being bigoted.