Comments on: Japanzine – Reinforcing the Stereotype

By: rod

rod — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:25:32 +0000

Stereotypes work both ways. There are many Japanese stereotypes, some are true, others are more contrived to suit non Japanese impressions
http://japansugoi.com/wordpress/stereotypical-japanese-characters-by-peter-machat/

By: jetwit.com - Christmas Song for JETs

jetwit.com - Christmas Song for JETs — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:05:11 +0000

[...] entry explaining that The Alien has evolved into the present day Japanzine. I also found a blog post on Jason’s Random Thoughts: Yet Another Gaijin in Japan that opines on Japanzine and, more [...]

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:58:34 +0000

I used to write for The Alien..

I wrote a character called Detective Wakrara, and also a lot of humerous articles..

It was a great mag, and very enjoyable to write for.

Those were many years ago.. but good times!

Cheers

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:19:16 +0000

Im a frequent business visitor to Nagoya and I remember Santa Barbera’s, America’s Cup even, and I remember The Alien as a very helpful magazine for foreigners to find places to interact with other foreigners, maybe just an easy way to find a burger , for a guy just in town for 3 weeks a year it was very handy.
Now that I know my way around Nagoya much better , Ive outgrown it and I think the Gaijin community in Nagoya has as well. Having said that I wish Carter Witt continued success with it. It was a prized souvenir from my many trips there in the 90’s , but now that it’s available online, I couldn’t care less.
Anyway just followed the thread to here , I got a chuckle.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:08:00 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Nelson.

It’ll be interesting to see if Japanzine’s subject matter begins to change with the coming economic slump. Sure, there will still be quite a few foreigners in the country as we enter peak recession (hopefully we’ll avoid a depression), but the people I talk to that enjoy this magazine have been leaving the country for greener pastures

By: Nelson

Nelson — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:43:30 +0000

Jason you are absolutely right. I thought the same thing when I saw some issues of the magazine. I am definitely not their target demographic.

By: Jason (NYC)

Jason (NYC) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:03:36 +0000

WOW! I’m impressed with the readings that you guys left in your trail of gaijin destruction. It’s amazing reading all of your post, I see that all your points are strongly valid. Yes, I have lived in Japan for only a few years, 5 to be exact along with reading the Japanzine. Still I believe I can understand both sides and views, for and against the mag.
Me personally, I wouldn’t read the bloody thing any longer. I would rather learn the language and read the country’s own version of stereotypical crap against foreigners, than to read it from another foreigner. I love myself and my fellow gaijins, and care for there prosperity living in Japan. Cause to live here in Japan is like swimming upstream, and there is just no room to badger one another.
Raising a family or just living and getting by is a task all on its own. So if you like the mag continue reading it and if you think it sucks balls, than don’t read it.

“Now food for thought”

If the magazine tends to portray us foreigners as alcoholics, educational clowns, and hunters of (the native female organ located in the lower abdominal area), then why read the crap. Most of us are very intelligent and should be proud to venture this far from home. If you are strong enough to tolerate the abuse that this country can clearly dish out, my hats off to you.

But, without the Japanzine, what else would the incoming foreigner who knows no better have left to read? So in other words they are doing their part even if some of us don’t agree.

By: Nick Ramsay

Nick Ramsay — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:42:34 +0000

Oh, and then it goes on to say “In a follow-up survey, we found that our office staff are most interested in writing about sex and technology.”

See for yourself: Moneyshot Pt.1

By: Nick Ramsay

Nick Ramsay — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:35:31 +0000

Okay, so I went and had a quick look at the Japanzine website, just to see what all the fuss was about. The first thing I noticed was an article by a Dr. H. Crotch, who says “In a recent survey, we discovered that our dear Japanzine readers are most interested in technology and sex. Not necessarily in that order; more probably combined in some kind of clammy, futuristic exploration”.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:28:46 +0000

Thank you for your thoughts on the matter, Swordsman.

Racism is hard to ignore in this country, regardless of our language skills. When people choose to stand rather than sit next to a respectably dressed foreigner on a crowded train, it’s clear that there are some problems with race relations.

We also see the clap-trap that’s all over Japanese TV and it disgusts me just as much as the stereotypical roles that one would find in Canadian or American TV programs. Watching foreigners sell themselves out to be whiny bitches in some drama, unlearned oafs or just plain stupid is hardly a way to earn a living.

I’d be lying if I said that I knew the full extent of the racial biases and stereotypes that are embedded into the minds of so many people here, but when so many have come up to me and pointed to articles asking if “people in America are really like this”, I can’t help but wonder if the young and humourous approach only validates some of the opinions of (most) Caucasian people.

That said, I will take your advice and get back to you in a few years. I have a few things to try out in an effort to curb the growing resentment of non-Japanese people in this country, as well as nixing the stereotype that “we’re all the same”.

Who knows, perhaps in a few years time people will see my name in Japanzine and my bias against the material will have drastically changed. Only time will tell.