[Steve Bildermann]

To me you're all fucking Gaijin

[GomiGirl]

"To me, "gaijin" means all people who are not Japanese. Africans, Asians, Europeans and and North/South Americans all have different characteristics but in my general perception, they are one huge group, so my idea is "us and them"."

No!! Really!! I have never noticed that!!

"Obviously, I don't think all foreigners have the same cultural background and characteristics but when I say "gaijin," I simply mean all other people beside Japanese. However, I also say Europeans and Asians depending on what we are talking about."

Slightly more enlightened!!

I know that being PC is sometimes a pain in the behind, but it does get people thinking about the vocabulary they use and why they use it!! Anything that starts people thinking about how words effect the people around them is a good thing...

[Taro Toporific]

To me you're all fucking Gaijin

Hey, do you take that broadsword and kilts combo on your daily trips to the kissa Steve?

I pulled a funky sword out of a wall during remodeling on the rice ranch in Shikoku. The paperwork at the police station for a gaijin sword was a killer. The damn form asks for the swordsmith's or company name and past owner(s).

[gomichild]

I rode my bicycle past a group of young Japanese guys (about an hour ago) and one of them said in a loud voice "sugoi gaijin!"...I'm not really sure what he meant by that...

[GomiGirl]

I rode my bicycle past a group of young Japanese guys (about an hour ago) and one of them said in a loud voice "sugoi gaijin!"...I'm not really sure what he meant by that...

that you are a sugoi gaijin!! That is something we all know!!

[katakori]

(...)said in a loud voice "sugoi gaijin!"...I'm not really sure what he meant by that...

or perhaps you were riding your bike in a very non-japanese way (for example, without any umbrella nor a phone in your hand).
therefore, he said "so gaijin!!"
it's all in the "suggggggoi gainjin!" or the "sugoooooi gaijin!" tone...

[bluepxl]

I rode my bicycle past a group of young Japanese guys (about an hour ago) and one of them said in a loud voice "sugoi gaijin!"...I'm not really sure what he meant by that...

haha, that's when you shoulda said "sugoi nihonjin!" towards them... heh

[gomichild]

hmmm katakori may have something - it was raining and I was riding without an umbrella (grrr I hate it when people ride with umbrellas!!!)

[kurohinge1]

hmmm katakori may have something - it was raining and I was riding without an umbrella (grrr I hate it when people ride with umbrellas!!!)

Or maybe they meant "SuperGaijin" ... have you checked whether you have any "super powers" (besides the ability to ride in the rain without an umbrella)?

[bejiita]

"To me, "gaijin" means all people who are not Japanese"

Just wondering whether this also applies to Japanese citizens who went abroad for a coupla generations (ala Hawaii and Peru) and then returns to Japan. Aren't they also treated as gaijin merely because the gaijiness clings to them even though they are Japanese and speak/write the language fluently?

[Steve Bildermann]

[GomiGirl]

There is a whole subculture of the Nikkei, sankei etc in the US. These are families who are of Japanese descent and intermarry with other Japanese families and so the children, grandchildren etc are basically "pure" for want of a better term.

I have some friends who were born and grew up in the US, speak fluent Japanese and English and all the marriages are with other "good" Japanese families. One of my friends is now living/working in Japan and his grandmother was so excited as he would be more likely to bring home a nice Japanese girlfriend/wife. All his previous girlfriends who were not Japanese have been discouraged somewhat.

But this happens all over.. in Australia there is a very large Greek population. *Useless fact - Melbourne has the highest population of Greeks in any city outside of Athens. * I have many Greek friends as well who are encouraged to date and ultimately marry other Greeks. For some this is not a problem, but it makes it difficult for others.

[Steve Bildermann]