Is 'Obeika' Derogatory?

[GuyJean]

Ok. Stupid question: What does 'obeika' mean? I've heard the meaning is 'Americanization or Europeanization'.

I've heard it originated from old-school comedians.. So, if it comes from old comedians, does that mean it's derogatory? Like some old-school comedians in the States used the 'N' word..

End of stupid question..

GJ

* edited to correct spelling

[TennoChinko]

Ok. Stupid question: What does 'obeka' mean? I've heard the meaning is 'Americanization or Europeanization'.

I've heard it originated from old-school comedians.. So, if it comes from old comedians, does that mean it is derogatory? Like some old-school comedians in the States used the 'N' word..

End of stupid question..

GJ

I believe it means "are you a Westerner?" and the way I've seen it used isn't necessarily discriminatory.

Comedian #1: "Hey what do you want for dessert?"
Comedian #2: "I dunno. Maybe a slice of cherry pie" ('cherry pie' being Western versus something Japanese like kakigori)
Comedian #1: hits the other in the head "Obei ka?" ("Are you a Westerner?")
Audience: Laughs for the upteenth time at this stupid joke.

I guess it would not be too hard to include discriminatory thematics:

Comedian #1: "Hey what kind of condoms are you getting?"
Comedian #2: "I dunno. Maybe these Trojans Lubricated Extra Large"
Comedian #1: hits the other in the head "Obei ka?" ("Are you a Westerner?")

[Samurai_Jerk]

Obeika (欧米化) does mean Westernization but I don't think it's an insult. I base this on the fact that I saw an ad for mascara on the train sometime last year using this word in a phrase that translated as "Westernizing the eyelashes of Japan". I don't remember the exact Japanese but I think it was something like "nihon no matsuge, obeika o" (日本のマツゲ、欧米化を).

[Greji]

Obeika (欧]nihon no matsuge, obeika o[/i]" (日本のマツゲ、欧米化を).

Spot on! However, where it does mean Westernization, it is not infrequently used as a qualifying statement, or even in a somewhat derogatory sense, meaning the "white establishments", business, or otherwise, of Europe and North America, when pointing out the unique differences in actions and thinking of "wareware Nihonjin".

[GuyJean]

Cool. Thanks guys; very educational.. I am becoming smarter, my head larger..

GJ

[Takechanpoo]

[Greji]

I am becoming smarter, my head larger..

GJ

I feel that surely a comment of some sort should be appropriate here.....

[Mr Doricar]

Taka and Toshi are brilliant. Although I still don't understand a lot of what they're saying, their facial expressions sometimes are enough to make me laugh a lot. Kid anyone see them a few weeks ago where they had to survive in the woods...catch their own food, make their own onsen etc. Was brilliant terebi!