Are Japanese more hypocritical with foreigners ?

[mr.sumo.snr]

Wait another four years and you won't really give a damn. Of course you could take action like that ***** 'Debito' in Hokkaido - perhaps picket outside shops where obassans routinely push in front of others at the check-out.

I am fortunate to be blessed with a bulk sufficient to make squeezing around my colossus at the cash register a total non-starter (it's a hobby!).

You can also play the: "I'm sorry but I don't have my glasses with me so can't read the display. Therefore could you please repeat the total amount due; speaking in clear, precise, and suitably honorific Japanese" game with the high school reji-girls at the local JUSCO (it's a favorite personal pastime!)

[Maciamo]

I am fortunate to be blessed with a bulk sufficient to make squeezing around my colossus at the cash register a total non-starter (it's a hobby!).

You can also play the: "I'm sorry but I don't have my glasses with me so can't read the display. Therefore could you please repeat the total amount due; speaking in clear, precise, and suitably honorific Japanese" game with the high school reji-girls at the local JUSCO (it's a favorite personal pastime!)

I think you completely misunderstood my point. I don't have any problem with being pushed at the counter; my example was just to show how Japanese apologize differently whether the person is Japanese or foreign.

As for showing that you speak well Japanese, I did it, as I sometimes go and buy my bento with my wife, and talk a lot to her (and quite fast by Japanese standard), so that the staff clearly sees that I can speak Japanese. But if I am with my wife, they tend to be more courteous and even smile. If I come back the next day alone, immediately they treat me as if they had never seen me befor, avoiding to smile just for me (not for the Japanese customers present), and speaking differently, with visibly less politeness. That is not only in one particular shop, but neither is it in all shops. I'd say it's about half of them. In some places they actually like to see foreigners and ask me many questions about me or my country. Still, half of the Japanese I meet in everyday life having bad feelings toward foreigners (even good customers) is bothering enough.