Thanks for the video. It's good that you understand that japanese people try to avoid conversations and don't engage much with foreigners. If most people understood cultures from around the world and different it with really racism that would be nice. Also I would appreciate if they offered me fork, I don't know how to use chopstick 😂 maybe I will appreciate that if and when I go to japan And stay safe Paul. Hope you recover as soon as possible.
My two cents: you know how in Japanese Starbucks they sometimes offer free drinks in small cups to customers who are sitting at the Starbucks? Just marketing a new drink perhaps. Anyway I was at a Starbucks and 22 drinks were prepared for 22 seated customers. All the Japanese customers were offered a drink and there was one drink remaining that was supposed to be offered to me but wasn't offered. The staff member just looked at me as I was working politely and calmly on my computer and decided not to offer me the drink and just walked off. As I'm sure long-term residents of Japan know, this is a big No-No in Japanese culture. Having lived in Japan for over 20 years that was quite shocking to me and the manager of Starbucks had no explanation at all and was quite flippant in his attitude. Secondly whilst sitting on a train in Tokyo with my quite attractive girlfriend at the time, there was only one empty seat next to me, a Japanese salaryman with two women boarded the train and one of the women said to the salary man, do you want to sit next to the foreigner? He looked at me in disgust and said to her in disgust; "no I don't want to sit next to him". For me that was a clear indication of xenophobia. Whilst I appreciate your video, I do believe they are instances of strong xenophobia here in Japan and I think it's important to be open-minded to the experiences of other foreigners and not just a small sample size being taken into consideration. Again thank you for the good video and I hope your subscribers realize that there is a significant amount of xenophobia in Japan.
I had the same thing happen on the train to me too. Two women got on and one nodded to the open seat next to me and the other said "I dont want to sit next to a foreigner."
I am trying to adapt to these micro agreesions so I can live happily in Japan. As with anything else, if when the Japanese other you, you make an effort to be compassionate and understanding for the other instead of judgemental, then most interactions become pleasant. But still is hard and keep feeling disrespected. About the seat on the train. I think there is also a difference depending on your appearance. I am a small gentle looking woman so I had no empty seats around me but the fact that I know it happens makes me feel like people might dislike my presence but I dont notice it. At the end of the day, social anxiety can be intensified in Japan by the constant reminder of one's otherness. I decided to feel like I am just another human and in my head I am part of the human community. One can choose if self-identifying as outsider or not almost all communal situations as we are all different.
Seriously, I LOVE not having to worry about people handing me tissues! 😂😂😂 Although I have had some interesting interactions with them in the past. I've never had a problem on the train though - seems an empty seat is more important to people than me being a foreigner. Great topic, Paul!
Hope you feel better soon. As for microaggressions, I think you have a miss understanding. This was important in the work I do. Microaggressions are behaviors that the privileged class (White in US/JP in Japan) engage in unaware of it's effects on the people they are relating to. Because they don't need to know, they are in a position of power. As the "other" you need to know what upsets the privileged class. What you describe are classic microaggressions. It is one of the reasons microaggressions are so hard to deal with because if you bring it up the other person will say, "I don't do that deliberately." Which is true they do it in ignorance and because there is no consequence for the behavior. Sorry if that sounds like a lecture. Get well soon, love the show.
This is a great point, and I am grateful you brought it up. That indeed explains micro aggressions better than my understanding of the term. 'Othering' is also a defined term, so what, if any, is the difference between MA and Oth?
@@Exjapter Wow that is a good question. So othering would have the quality of making the person aware or feel they are not part of the dominant group. While an MC Is doing something that bothers or is offensive to the othered group. Usually done in ignorance or because the person just doesn't care how it affects the person. There is repeated qaulity to MC. It is not just doing something offensive, it is continuing to do it because you can't be bothered to learn or care how it affects the other person. Asking if you speak JP would other you. Speaking in broken English even though you have spoken excellent JP would be a MA. The person probably has no intention to offend you, but they have clearly ignored the fact that you would probably prefer if they spoke JP. Some things can be both. I hope that helps. It is not a distinction I have ever thought about.
Thanks for the video. It's good that you understand that japanese people try to avoid conversations and don't engage much with foreigners.
If most people understood cultures from around the world and different it with really racism that would be nice.
Also I would appreciate if they offered me fork, I don't know how to use chopstick 😂 maybe I will appreciate that if and when I go to japan
And stay safe Paul. Hope you recover as soon as possible.
My two cents: you know how in Japanese Starbucks they sometimes offer free drinks in small cups to customers who are sitting at the Starbucks? Just marketing a new drink perhaps. Anyway I was at a Starbucks and 22 drinks were prepared for 22 seated customers. All the Japanese customers were offered a drink and there was one drink remaining that was supposed to be offered to me but wasn't offered. The staff member just looked at me as I was working politely and calmly on my computer and decided not to offer me the drink and just walked off. As I'm sure long-term residents of Japan know, this is a big No-No in Japanese culture. Having lived in Japan for over 20 years that was quite shocking to me and the manager of Starbucks had no explanation at all and was quite flippant in his attitude. Secondly whilst sitting on a train in Tokyo with my quite attractive girlfriend at the time, there was only one empty seat next to me, a Japanese salaryman with two women boarded the train and one of the women said to the salary man, do you want to sit next to the foreigner? He looked at me in disgust and said to her in disgust; "no I don't want to sit next to him". For me that was a clear indication of xenophobia. Whilst I appreciate your video, I do believe they are instances of strong xenophobia here in Japan and I think it's important to be open-minded to the experiences of other foreigners and not just a small sample size being taken into consideration. Again thank you for the good video and I hope your subscribers realize that there is a significant amount of xenophobia in Japan.
I had the same thing happen on the train to me too. Two women got on and one nodded to the open seat next to me and the other said "I dont want to sit next to a foreigner."
I am trying to adapt to these micro agreesions so I can live happily in Japan. As with anything else, if when the Japanese other you, you make an effort to be compassionate and understanding for the other instead of judgemental, then most interactions become pleasant. But still is hard and keep feeling disrespected. About the seat on the train. I think there is also a difference depending on your appearance. I am a small gentle looking woman so I had no empty seats around me but the fact that I know it happens makes me feel like people might dislike my presence but I dont notice it. At the end of the day, social anxiety can be intensified in Japan by the constant reminder of one's otherness. I decided to feel like I am just another human and in my head I am part of the human community. One can choose if self-identifying as outsider or not almost all communal situations as we are all different.
Seriously, I LOVE not having to worry about people handing me tissues! 😂😂😂 Although I have had some interesting interactions with them in the past. I've never had a problem on the train though - seems an empty seat is more important to people than me being a foreigner. Great topic, Paul!
I would love to do a social experiment involving the train seat thing but I am not sure how to film it.
Feel better soon, brother! Great vid!
Thank you.
Hope you feel better soon. As for microaggressions, I think you have a miss understanding. This was important in the work I do. Microaggressions are behaviors that the privileged class (White in US/JP in Japan) engage in unaware of it's effects on the people they are relating to. Because they don't need to know, they are in a position of power. As the "other" you need to know what upsets the privileged class. What you describe are classic microaggressions. It is one of the reasons microaggressions are so hard to deal with because if you bring it up the other person will say, "I don't do that deliberately." Which is true they do it in ignorance and because there is no consequence for the behavior. Sorry if that sounds like a lecture. Get well soon, love the show.
This is a great point, and I am grateful you brought it up. That indeed explains micro aggressions better than my understanding of the term. 'Othering' is also a defined term, so what, if any, is the difference between MA and Oth?
@@Exjapter Wow that is a good question. So othering would have the quality of making the person aware or feel they are not part of the dominant group. While an MC Is doing something that bothers or is offensive to the othered group. Usually done in ignorance or because the person just doesn't care how it affects the person. There is repeated qaulity to MC. It is not just doing something offensive, it is continuing to do it because you can't be bothered to learn or care how it affects the other person. Asking if you speak JP would other you. Speaking in broken English even though you have spoken excellent JP would be a MA. The person probably has no intention to offend you, but they have clearly ignored the fact that you would probably prefer if they spoke JP. Some things can be both. I hope that helps. It is not a distinction I have ever thought about.
I'm wondering if it has to do with the instinct of being too accommodating?
That is a really good point, and I think that is likely a part of it.
Too cold for a walk?😎
Ah, that's why
@@otibed358 different kind of cold. Lol
Get well soon, Sam Neill
Thank you.