Comments on: Pockets of Gaijin – The Threat From Within? http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/ Battling Imaginary Windmills Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:14:47 +0900 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jason http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/comment-page-1/#comment-943 Jason Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:47:23 +0000 http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/#comment-943 It's one of those situations where you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't. If the government brings in unskilled immigrants, then they'll wind up taking the crap jobs that Japanese don't want to do, and it'll become an issue once too many lazy people can't get easy jobs (this is seen quite often in Canada and the US). If the government brings in only educated or highly skilled people, then the locals will think their job security is nil because the gaijin will work for less. Personally, it almost doesn't matter what kind of foreigner is brought in as most companies will not accept someone that is not perfectly fluent in Japanese. On top of that, most of us require at least a year's work experience somewhere before we can even think about getting jobs in our area of expertise. That's why I'm teaching English rather than managing and developing enterprise-level databases :???: It’s one of those situations where you’re damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t. If the government brings in unskilled immigrants, then they’ll wind up taking the crap jobs that Japanese don’t want to do, and it’ll become an issue once too many lazy people can’t get easy jobs (this is seen quite often in Canada and the US). If the government brings in only educated or highly skilled people, then the locals will think their job security is nil because the gaijin will work for less.

Personally, it almost doesn’t matter what kind of foreigner is brought in as most companies will not accept someone that is not perfectly fluent in Japanese. On top of that, most of us require at least a year’s work experience somewhere before we can even think about getting jobs in our area of expertise.

That’s why I’m teaching English rather than managing and developing enterprise-level databases :???:

]]> By: Ken http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/comment-page-1/#comment-942 Ken Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:36:40 +0000 http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/#comment-942 That neither the government nor the major political parties do not have official stances on immigration policy is telling. It's simply an issue they would rather not deal with, and probably won't for as long as they can get away with it. There has been talk of bringing in the 'right' kind of foreigners (ie, those with university degrees) by some politicians, but this is not what a lot of people want, since they will see this as competition for certain jobs. That neither the government nor the major political parties do not have official stances on immigration policy is telling. It’s simply an issue they would rather not deal with, and probably won’t for as long as they can get away with it.

There has been talk of bringing in the ‘right’ kind of foreigners (ie, those with university degrees) by some politicians, but this is not what a lot of people want, since they will see this as competition for certain jobs.

]]> By: Jason http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/comment-page-1/#comment-941 Jason Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:36:10 +0000 http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/#comment-941 Thanks, Shane. I just received the "message in moderation message" a few minutes back and it's a valid request. If I were to translate this into Japanese and submit it to various papers, then I doubt it would be published. What I would need to do is change the tone to something a little more ... less direct. I agree with Chris that the racism that foreigners are subject to can be pretty ridiculous, and it often manifests itself in very scary ways. If any message of "cultural acceptance" (I @$^#ing hate the word "tolerance" when it comes to stuff like this) were to be spread, it would need to be done in such a way as to make the Japanese look like heroes, rather than a group of racist and sexist individuals with delusions of elitism and morality. All this said, 98% of everyone I've met and had dealings with in this country have been great. Very rarely have I ever had to walk away from a store/restaurant/person due to excessive racism or verbal abuse. Perhaps I could clean this up and submit it to one of the English newspapers for starters. If it does get accepted, then I can look at modifying it for the Japanese dailies. Thanks, Shane. I just received the “message in moderation message” a few minutes back and it’s a valid request. If I were to translate this into Japanese and submit it to various papers, then I doubt it would be published. What I would need to do is change the tone to something a little more … less direct.

I agree with Chris that the racism that foreigners are subject to can be pretty ridiculous, and it often manifests itself in very scary ways. If any message of “cultural acceptance” (I @$^#ing hate the word “tolerance” when it comes to stuff like this) were to be spread, it would need to be done in such a way as to make the Japanese look like heroes, rather than a group of racist and sexist individuals with delusions of elitism and morality.

All this said, 98% of everyone I’ve met and had dealings with in this country have been great. Very rarely have I ever had to walk away from a store/restaurant/person due to excessive racism or verbal abuse.

Perhaps I could clean this up and submit it to one of the English newspapers for starters. If it does get accepted, then I can look at modifying it for the Japanese dailies.

]]> By: ShaneS http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/comment-page-1/#comment-940 ShaneS Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:19:03 +0000 http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/#comment-940 Check out the comments on Japansoc - Hawaiibadboy said "THIS is something that should be translated and submitted to Japanese sites." and I agree! Maybe you could get it in one of the papers... Check out the comments on Japansoc – Hawaiibadboy said “THIS is something that should be translated and submitted to Japanese sites.” and I agree! Maybe you could get it in one of the papers…

]]> By: Chris B http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/comment-page-1/#comment-939 Chris B Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:04:43 +0000 http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/#comment-939 Who was this meant for? This is "the elephant in the room" that all the "Japan Sugoi" types tend to blow off or ignore. I have been here for 6 years and the racism is so deep it is almost scary. You should translate this to Japanese and submit it to the appropriate Japanese sites. 2cents/ Who was this meant for?
This is “the elephant in the room” that all the “Japan Sugoi” types tend to blow off or ignore.

I have been here for 6 years and the racism is so deep it is almost scary. You should translate this to Japanese and submit it to the appropriate Japanese sites.

2cents/

]]> By: ShaneS http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/comment-page-1/#comment-938 ShaneS Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:25:49 +0000 http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/#comment-938 Great post! Very thought provoking. I too grew up in Canada (Vancouver)and had friends from a number of different countries. I have lived in the US and in Japan and have often wondered why there is a fear of immigration and foreigners. Unfortunately, is seems that this is a case of a few bad apples spoiling the pot for all - immigrants who want the best of there new country while not trying to adapt and understand their new country. Instead of being afraid of immigrants, I have always tried to learn about their customs and also share my own with them. I think that this is the only way that we truly become a global community - when we take the best from all of our cultures and blend them into our own world view. Great post! Very thought provoking.

I too grew up in Canada (Vancouver)and had friends from a number of different countries. I have lived in the US and in Japan and have often wondered why there is a fear of immigration and foreigners. Unfortunately, is seems that this is a case of a few bad apples spoiling the pot for all – immigrants who want the best of there new country while not trying to adapt and understand their new country.

Instead of being afraid of immigrants, I have always tried to learn about their customs and also share my own with them. I think that this is the only way that we truly become a global community – when we take the best from all of our cultures and blend them into our own world view.

]]> By: www.japansoc.com http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/comment-page-1/#comment-937 www.japansoc.com Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:35:02 +0000 http://www.j2fi.net/2008/01/13/pockets-of-gaijin-the-threat-from-within/#comment-937 <strong>Are Foreign Communities in Japan Dangerous?...</strong> Jason has written about Japan's reluctance to internationalize by accepting more foreigners into the country. He points out how foreign communities in his native country, Canada, are a positive addition to each city, not a danger that people should fe... Are Foreign Communities in Japan Dangerous?…

Jason has written about Japan’s reluctance to internationalize by accepting more foreigners into the country. He points out how foreign communities in his native country, Canada, are a positive addition to each city, not a danger that people should fe…

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