Japan Probe attacked by 2Ch

[Mulboyne]

James at Japan Probe carried a blog entry about the Yamanote Line Halloween Party which was scheduled for yesterday and included some YouTube videos of last year's gathering. He wasn't supporting the event particularly and the comments were generally split between those who thought it might be fun and those who thought it would perpetuate the "ugly gaijin" image.

The entry was noticed by 2chers and a translation of the party invitation caused a storm of protest. Many headed towards Japan Probe to register their anger in the above thread. According to a post today on the site, many of these comments were threats, which were deleted, while others called for

outraged Japanese to contact the police and demand that they round up and arrest all the foreigners that joined in on the party [words like “rioters” and “terrorists” were used to refer to the foreigners]. Others boldly proclaimed that they would show up at Shinjuku station with knives and stab foreigners to death

It seems like the party did take place. Details are sketchy but Japan Probe mentions that police did intervene at Shinagawa because someone messed about with the carriage lighting.

Although those who went over to Japan Probe objected to the party, not everyone felt the same way. Among over 2,000 entries on 2ch itself, some thought it sounded like fun and wondered if it might be a good place to try to pick up a gaijin girl (コレに混じれば、可愛い外国人女の子と仲良くなれる� �じゃねーの？). Others didn't object to the party but thought drinking alcohol in a carriage on the Yamanote was out of order. Most of those who weren't calling for a massacre of the partygoers wondered why they didn't just reserve a private space somewhere.

Seeing the anger amongst some of the posters, other 2chers wondered whether Japanese netizens were establishing a solid reputation for being xenophobic (このスレは「異文化との共生を拒むネット社会」のタ� Cトルで記事化されます). One common theme was that the foreigners at the party and the angry 2chers were clearly living in different worlds (やっぱメンタリティが違うんだろうね
どっちが良いか悪いかは別として) but the foreigners ought to be a little more aware of the impact of their action (郷に入っては郷に従え - "When in Rome, do as the Romans do.")

One poster stirred things up by claiming that the 2chers were all big men online but it was precisely their real world Akihabara otaku meekness which allowed foreigners to do this kind of thing. He called for conscription to toughen Japan up.

で､ちゃんと外人の面前で同じ事言える男子がどれくら� ｢ここにいるの?ネット弁慶ばっかりのくせに(笑)現実じ ゃ何も出来ないアキバ系くんでしょ､どうせw
そんなんだから滞在外人も増長するし小バカにされるわ け｡
日本も韓国みたいに徴兵制にしたらいい｡ネット中毒の� �けないオタク男ばっかりになっちゃったし｡

When FG went down recently, I wondered whether it might be because the site was getting similar hits from 2chers looking to see if we were promoting the party. Or it might have been from disgruntled NOVA employees looking for any information on their situation online. Then again, it may just have been standard FG downtime.

[GuyJean]

I went a couple times years ago and it was a lot of fun.. Most of the locals that witnessed it seemed to really have a good time. I remember an old couple surprised when the train pulled in, but then smiled ear to ear and jumped in. The old man was immediately given a beer and started chanting/singing along with everyone.. But I don't know how the party is these days; it could be ugly and more obnoxious..

Those 2channel guys sound like a bunch of wanking losers.. Oh, and since when have Japanese ever 'done as the Romans do' when roaming? I don't know any other race that brings their own 'superior' rice with them when they travel.. And when I was in college, the Japanese students were some of the most obnoxious on campus when drunk..

GJ

[Takechanpoo]

Hey,
I too joined the "attack".
sorry.

[Iraira]

Originally Posted by Takechanpoo

Hey,
I too joined the "attack".
sorry.

Did you join the CH.2 attack (again, safe behind your Akihabara monitor) or did you join the attack on the Yamanote, trying (again hopelessly) to get a gaijin female to talk to you?

[GomiGirl]

We were invited and were tempted*, however, both us us have colds and it was blowing a gale in the typhoon last night. OMG I am getting old.

* I was only tempted as I have a naughty nurses outfit that it calling to me from the cupboard to be worn again.

[American Oyaji]

Originally Posted by GomiGirl

We were invited and were tempted*, however, both us us have colds and it was blowing a gale in the typhoon last night. OMG I am getting old.

* I was only tempted as I have a naughty nurses outfit that it calling to me from the cupboard to be worn again.

Why dont you put it on, doll yourself up and take some pictures.

Greji could use a good thrill.

[ultragaijin]

Interesting. Back in my exchange student days, the Japanese students at my university organized a similar costume party on the Chuo line. It was a yearly tradition for them and most definitely a Japanese originated concept, even though they did invite foreigners along. I have to wonder what the 2chers would make of that.

[Catoneinutica]

Thanks, Mulboyne, for a good precis of the whole highly-amusing affair. I took a look at the Japan Probe blog entry, and found what I think is the E-J-blogosphere quote of the month:

"If any of you are wondering, Akismet spam protection can automatically detect and flag ASCII text art of male genitalia as spam."

-catone
-who knew?

[Greji]

Originally Posted by American Oyaji

Greji could use a good thrill.

Got one! The witch had just traded in her black cat for a black goat!
BTW, I think we should feel sorry for the 2ch group, because they suffer so horribly
because we FGs play this Halloween game in an attempt to insult all Japanese....

[Mulboyne]

This Japanese report of the event appeared on Tanteifile and sparked a further 2000+ comment exchange on 2ch.

The biggest question for most 2chers seems to be why choose a train carriage to have a party? Others wonder why no TV networks seemed to have picked up the story up given that police and railway officials are well aware of this event in Tokyo and Osaka. There's a slight sense of unfairness with some speculating that if they held a sudden party on the train and advertised the fact on the net then the police would not be so lenient. That leads more than a few commenters to observe that angry 2chers come across as jealous about other people having a good time. Japan Probe seems to be almost universally blamed for helping to promote the event.