..."Unwanted stares"...
..."Spoken at, not with"...
..."Excluded"...
Ok, lets clear up some loose ends here. What is the gaijin treatment? Gaijin - non-Japanese person.
Gaijin treatment refers to:
* Being referred to as a gaijin
* The attitudes of Japanese people towards foreign people.
In Japan, foreigners have long been labeled by the term gaijin, no matter how long they've resided within. Literally, gaijin means 'outsider' and derives from 'gaikoku-jin' to mean 'outside country person.'
When '-san' is added to gaijin (gaijin-san) it means Mr or Ms Non Japanese person. It goes without saying that in the west this term would be frowned upon. This kind of language is seen to 'objectify' a person; a big no-no. Aside from that, it can be compared to other controversial terms used for people around the world:
* Gringo - English/American
* Jap - Japanese
* Chink - Chinese
* Yank - American
Racism in Japan is perceived differently to racism in the west, and this is a crucial point. Japan is, perhaps surprisingly, a very racist country, but it's not immediately apparent because of how they express their attitudes.
Attitudes are highly influenced by unsaid rules of social conduct. Racism may be felt, but it certainly won't be explicit (and often physical).
Racism is a very sensitive and conditioned subject in the west. Japan on the other hand has never had to cope with the consequences that result from turbulent issues of ethnicity.
Why?
With their instinctive preference for maintaining harmony, it's not in their nature. The Japanese will drop dead before anything so much as an outburst of foul language. Indifference is virtuous, but karoshi* most certainly isn't.
It's generally 'us' that will take offense, and not the Japanese meaning for it to be offensive. In our culture we wouldn't even consider labelling someone an 'outsider' in racial terms, even though they really are.
That's not to say it isn't used scornfully. Like language in general, it's based on context, and if someone has a reason to dislike you in Japan, it's usually a good one. Some exceptions here are some Japanese seniors who were brought up in an 'anti-foreigner/no foreigner' environment. And perhaps people who live in towns not very popular with 'outsiders'.
Older generations worldwide aren't familiar with countries being so diverse, and likewise all the racial implications we have now. People don't like change, especially as they get older! But unless you move in next door you probably won't hear a peep.
But we're not the only ones -
Soto no hito - outsider
There may be a line drawn between the Japanese and the rest of the world, but there's also a separation between native Japanese.
Anyone who isn't immediate family in Japan, for example a friend, is referred to as soto no hito. This isn't used as an alternative to ones name (like gaijin-san), but it does tell us about their attitude to relationships and positions within society.
People are categorised into groups, which is typical for Japan. So when someone refers to a friend as 'soto no hito' it's a statement of their relationship. So what does gaijin-san really mean?
Gaijin is also really just a statement of what you are, a foreigner. Without the underlying 'references' that we are familiar with in the west. Whether the Japanese claim it's a friendly expression or visitors say it's an insulting term, in the end it's not so much the 'definitions' of words that are different between Japan and the west, it's the difference in context.
"Beyond context, the definitions are exactly the same"
Case Study -
I recently heard a story about a friend's sister (both American) who lived in Japan for 2 years with her Japanese boyfriend. During that time the Japanese landlady of where they stayed never bothered to learn her name but learnt his easily enough - again, he was Japanese and she wasn't...
So why is this? I'd like to start a debate here, but I list my ideas first:
Landlady-
* Didn't know how to approach/interact with someone of a different culture?
* Inhibition? - Holding back socially in a Japanese fashion?
* Expectation? - The girl didn't behave 'correctly' and was ignored?
* Resentment? - Dare I say racism?
* Indifference? - Beyond resentment?
* Language? - Wasn't familiar with the name and so either couldn't remember or pronounce it?
I personally believe you'll find it's a little of all of these. This article was intended to give you a little background on a topic that I believe is quite obscure, and often dismissed as a 'cultural difference' that will never be understood. I hope you gained something from it. Happy travels!
..."Spoken at, not with"...
..."Excluded"...
Ok, lets clear up some loose ends here. What is the gaijin treatment? Gaijin - non-Japanese person.
Gaijin treatment refers to:
* Being referred to as a gaijin
* The attitudes of Japanese people towards foreign people.
In Japan, foreigners have long been labeled by the term gaijin, no matter how long they've resided within. Literally, gaijin means 'outsider' and derives from 'gaikoku-jin' to mean 'outside country person.'
When '-san' is added to gaijin (gaijin-san) it means Mr or Ms Non Japanese person. It goes without saying that in the west this term would be frowned upon. This kind of language is seen to 'objectify' a person; a big no-no. Aside from that, it can be compared to other controversial terms used for people around the world:
* Gringo - English/American
* Jap - Japanese
* Chink - Chinese
* Yank - American
Racism in Japan is perceived differently to racism in the west, and this is a crucial point. Japan is, perhaps surprisingly, a very racist country, but it's not immediately apparent because of how they express their attitudes.
Attitudes are highly influenced by unsaid rules of social conduct. Racism may be felt, but it certainly won't be explicit (and often physical).
Racism is a very sensitive and conditioned subject in the west. Japan on the other hand has never had to cope with the consequences that result from turbulent issues of ethnicity.
Why?
With their instinctive preference for maintaining harmony, it's not in their nature. The Japanese will drop dead before anything so much as an outburst of foul language. Indifference is virtuous, but karoshi* most certainly isn't.
It's generally 'us' that will take offense, and not the Japanese meaning for it to be offensive. In our culture we wouldn't even consider labelling someone an 'outsider' in racial terms, even though they really are.
That's not to say it isn't used scornfully. Like language in general, it's based on context, and if someone has a reason to dislike you in Japan, it's usually a good one. Some exceptions here are some Japanese seniors who were brought up in an 'anti-foreigner/no foreigner' environment. And perhaps people who live in towns not very popular with 'outsiders'.
Older generations worldwide aren't familiar with countries being so diverse, and likewise all the racial implications we have now. People don't like change, especially as they get older! But unless you move in next door you probably won't hear a peep.
But we're not the only ones -
Soto no hito - outsider
There may be a line drawn between the Japanese and the rest of the world, but there's also a separation between native Japanese.
Anyone who isn't immediate family in Japan, for example a friend, is referred to as soto no hito. This isn't used as an alternative to ones name (like gaijin-san), but it does tell us about their attitude to relationships and positions within society.
People are categorised into groups, which is typical for Japan. So when someone refers to a friend as 'soto no hito' it's a statement of their relationship. So what does gaijin-san really mean?
Gaijin is also really just a statement of what you are, a foreigner. Without the underlying 'references' that we are familiar with in the west. Whether the Japanese claim it's a friendly expression or visitors say it's an insulting term, in the end it's not so much the 'definitions' of words that are different between Japan and the west, it's the difference in context.
"Beyond context, the definitions are exactly the same"
Case Study -
I recently heard a story about a friend's sister (both American) who lived in Japan for 2 years with her Japanese boyfriend. During that time the Japanese landlady of where they stayed never bothered to learn her name but learnt his easily enough - again, he was Japanese and she wasn't...
So why is this? I'd like to start a debate here, but I list my ideas first:
Landlady-
* Didn't know how to approach/interact with someone of a different culture?
* Inhibition? - Holding back socially in a Japanese fashion?
* Expectation? - The girl didn't behave 'correctly' and was ignored?
* Resentment? - Dare I say racism?
* Indifference? - Beyond resentment?
* Language? - Wasn't familiar with the name and so either couldn't remember or pronounce it?
I personally believe you'll find it's a little of all of these. This article was intended to give you a little background on a topic that I believe is quite obscure, and often dismissed as a 'cultural difference' that will never be understood. I hope you gained something from it. Happy travels!
Source...