'Debito' interview on google video

[Taro Toporific]

Watch the google videoof an interview of an/the original f'ed gaijin 'Arudou Debito' nee' David Aldwinckle of debito.org.

[Ketou]

Not bad. Subtitles were a bit weird though.

[devicenull]

Oh, the subtitles are always off... be it movies, tv shows, what have you. Subtle differences in meaning are dropped and language is simplified in the translation. I run into this fun stuff all the time here. I want to convey something, but don't feel I am up to it, girlfriend translates it how I would have if I didn't care about the subtle meanings, then we have a fun argument revolving around how the hell to translate something.

[flotsam]

no offence to the guy but i wouldn't let him in my bath either.

[colorlessgreen]

From his website I got the feeling that he was an individual with very low social skills and a bit self absorbed. This video helped comfirm that feeling.

I agree with his attempts to speak the truth to power but his methods and attitude regarding it all make even his collegues cringe.

[Ketou]

I agree with his attempts to speak the truth to power but his methods and attitude regarding it all make even his collegues cringe.

I'm sure they do. Although as loathed as he may become by many Japanese, it is the people who make the biggest waves that create the most change. One of the biggest problems in Japan is the total apathy the collective shows toward activism. There is rarely a domestic stimulus to change.
Debito might be bringing western methodology into fray but we must remember he is trying to change his own society. He is after all Japanese.

[Catoneinutica]

Dear God, is that what happens to FGs after living twenty years in Japan!? Debito's like the Ancient Mariner. I do admire his balls, though (metaphorically). He mentions the ni-channel litigation. Really, how ARE civil judgments enforced in Japan? It seems like the answer is, they aren't. Hence the existence of people like that "consultant" who was recently killed in Harajuku, the guy who negotiated with Yakuza squatters.

[colorlessgreen]

I'm sure they do. Although as loathed as he may become by many Japanese, it is the people who make the biggest waves that create the most change. One of the biggest problems in Japan is the total apathy the collective shows toward activism. There is rarely a domestic stimulus to change.
Debito might be bringing western methodology into fray but we must remember he is trying to change his own society. He is after all Japanese.

If we are to use history as a measurement we find that individuals who were able to evoke near-universal feelings such as compassion and altruism to their cause were the ones who made the greatest changes. Such examples include Ghandi, MLK and Malcolm X (post pilgrimage).

I feel that, although he is on the right track, he often takes reactionary measures which border on inappropriate at times.


Moreover, It appears that oftentimes his work is simply for show to the international media and/or gaijin community and not for actual social change.

[Molokidan]

2ch is a shithole. Was Debito saying he was a regular poster there or that he just happened to "come across" that site? He may have got what he was asking for just by sticking his nose in that place.

But I really agree with Ketou on this one. He is pretty bombastic and loud, but I guess his heart is in the right place (maybe?) I was trying to go somewhere with this, but the curry is giving me gas.

PS. Or maybe it was his butthole laugh at the end that wrecked my train of thought.

[nullpointer]

If we are to use history as a measurement we find that individuals who were able to evoke near-universal feelings such as compassion and altruism to their cause were the ones who made the greatest changes. Such examples include Ghandi, MLK and Malcolm X (post pilgrimage).

I feel that, although he is on the right track, he often takes reactionary measures which border on inappropriate at times.


Moreover, It appears that oftentimes his work is simply for show to the international media and/or gaijin community and not for actual social change.

Debito compared to Gandhi? This is it! I am done with the Internet.

[maraboutslim]

Debito might be bringing western methodology into fray but we must remember he is trying to change his own society. He is after all Japanese.

No, he's not. He's a Japanese citizen, but he is not Japanese. (nihon-kokumin does not equal nihonjin). His behavior, his way of going about settling disputes and attempting to bring about change, is not appropriate for Japanese society and he'd have better success with an approach geared towards those he is trying to change.

Someone needs to teach Debito about the concept of Upaya.

[drpepper]

No, he's not. He's a Japanese citizen, but he is not Japanese. (nihon-kokumin does not equal nihonjin).

True....

... settling disputes and attempting to bring about change...

The Japanese way.. would be an oxy-moron anyways....

[Ketou]

No, he's not. He's a Japanese citizen, but he is not Japanese. (nihon-kokumin does not equal nihonjin). His behavior, his way of going about settling disputes and attempting to bring about change, is not appropriate for Japanese society and he'd have better success with an approach geared towards those he is trying to change.

Someone needs to teach Debito about the concept of Upaya.

So now we apply Japanese thinking to our arguments? If this is so then all those Lebanese, Italians, Greeks, Chinese, Japanese etc who reside permanently in Australia aren't really Australians. All the Latino, Asians, Blacks aren't really Americans. Since when did we westerners start associating genetic purity with nationality? I stand by what I said, he is Japanese and he is trying to change the society in which he lives.

As for the concept of Upaya, I find it extremely ironic that you would say that. Extreme confrontation is part of that concept.

[Ketou]

Debito compared to Gandhi? This is it! I am done with the Internet.

LOL. That qualifies for a FG quote award.

[drpepper]

Since when did we westerners start associating genetic purity with nationality? I stand by what I said, he is Japanese and he is trying to change the society in which he lives.

I never suggested you needed the genetics but he is an import.. an immigrant, a Japanese citizen but not a true member of Japanese culture unlike other natively born uh.. foreigners... if that makes any sense. I think that was what he was implying in any case.

[nullpointer]

I never suggested you needed the genetics but he is an import.. an immigrant, a Japanese citizen but not a true member of Japanese culture unlike other natively born uh.. foreigners... if that makes any sense. I think that was what he was implying in any case.

I am sitting here reading your comment and your dog (avatar) is slowly shaking his head going no...no...no....no.

[chikatetsu otoko]

This guy must absolutely love living in Japan - he's chosen to make his life in Japan and he wanted to become a Japanese citizen.

One of the Yamato Damacy guys left a comment on the site saying Debito had a lot more positive stuff to say about Japan in the interview than is shown. Obviously the focus with Debito is on his court cases though because that's what he's "famous" for.

Personally, I'd be reluctant to stick my neck out like Debito has done, especially not so publicly. But I don't buy the idea that immigrants (whether naturalized citizens or not, 1st/2nd/3rd generation) into any country should shut up and not stick up for their rights as equals, just because doing so could be perceived as going against the indigenous culture.

Anyway, glad to have been introduced to Yamato Damacy WTF does it mean?

[Taro Toporific]

This guy must absolutely love living in Japan - he's chosen to make his life in Japan and he wanted to become a Japanese citizen.

He just wanted to keep his full-time-salary-for-5-hours-of-work-a-week university teaching job. The only way to absolutely guaratee your job at a Japanese government university is become a citizen (the J-government started to go on a fire-the-evil-longtern-gaijin-professors campaign about 10 years ago).

Anyway, glad to have been introduced to Yamato Damacy WTF does it mean?

It's a play on the name Katamari Damacy and Yamato, the term that came to be used around the late 19th century to distinguish the residents of the mainland Japan from other minority ethnic groups.

[homesweethome]

大和魂 True Japanese Spirit-whatever that is.

[colorlessgreen]

Debito compared to Gandhi? This is it! I am done with the Internet.

That is funny.

I wasnt comparing the two so much as detailing the divergence of methodologies used to bring about social change.

Ah well, I always say a cheap laugh is worth a million dollars. You win.

[maraboutslim]

So now we apply Japanese thinking to our arguments? If this is so then all those Lebanese, Italians, Greeks, Chinese, Japanese etc who reside permanently in Australia aren't really Australians. All the Latino, Asians, Blacks aren't really Americans. Since when did we westerners start associating genetic purity with nationality? I stand by what I said, he is Japanese and he is trying to change the society in which he lives.

My point is not about genetics. It is about behavior and culture. It is unreasonable to compare Japan to countries such as Australia and America since those countries have long histories of immigration and diversity and are used to various cultural approaches to life. Japan has no such tradition and never will, especially with "non-Japanese" populations hovering around 1% of the total population.

Japan, more than any other culture I've experienced, is very singular in the way one is supposed to do things. To ignore those methods and try one's own is not going to be successful. I'm not saying immigrants in Japan have to keep their mouth shut and accept life as it is. Just that if they want things to change, they'd have a better chance of success if they push for change using methods usual to and comfortable for the 99% of the population that was raised to behave "Japanese".

As for the concept of Upaya, I find it extremely ironic that you would say that. Extreme confrontation is part of that concept.

Part. But the main concept of Upaya is altering one's teaching methods to suit the audience. That was what I was suggesting Debito get familiarized with.

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Newscaster regrets anti-foreigner quip

Atonement, it seems, can never come too late. Newscaster Hiroshi Kume has apologized for a disparaging remark he made 10 years ago about foreigners speaking Japanese. The comment offended a number of foreign residents in Japan, prompting some people to formally complain to TV Asahi Corp. that aired the remark. At the time, Kume was a presenter on TV Asahi's evening news program, then called News Station. The program aired in October 1996 and featured a report on India in which an Indian spoke fluent Japanese, according to Debito Arudou, 41. Arudou, who was born in the United States as Dave Aldwinckle and is now a naturalized Japanese, is active in efforts to protect the rights of foreigners. Kume blurted out on the program, "Isn't it better to see a foreigner speaking in broken Japanese?"

Arudou and others complained to the TV station that many foreign nationals are studying Japanese and trying to integrate into society. He posted details of the protest on his Web site. Kume did not respond at the time, according to Arudou. But on Dec. 1, Kume sent an e-mail message to Arudou, saying, "Thinking deeply, I realize this was quite a rude remark and I regret this as being narrow-minded." Kume told The Asahi Shimbun: "I recently learned on the Internet about the protest. I didn't know 10 years ago." Arudou, in turn, said, "I was surprised but happy that an influential individual such as Kume did not neglect what he said in the past and tried to make things right."

[maraboutslim]

Hell, I lived in Japan at that time and watched News Station regularly and I thought Kume's comment was funny. I find it further hilarious that Debito views a personal email sent to him from Kume as "trying to make things right." But then again, I guess the whole episode was about Debito being insluted (no gaijin i knew at the time gave a shit about it) so that one single apology ought to handle it.