Joe Odagiri calls Americans in Ameica as "gaijin" on CNN Talk Aska

[torasan]

Say it aint so, Joe!

When the 36-year-old Japanese actor/director/screenwriter Joe Odagiri was recently interviewed on CNN's popular "Talk Asia" show, hosted by award-winning anchor Anna Coren, he
spoke of the Americans he studied with at college in America, in Fesno, as "gaijin" (which is a loaded Japansee word for "foreigners") ........when in fact HE was the foreigner studying
in America and his American classmates were not the foreigners at all.

It seems that Joe needs to get his priorities straight and re-arrange his global
strategies to conquer the world box office. Some are calling him ''the Japanese incarnation of Johnny Depp'', for his smokey good looks and daydream eyes,
but the comments about Americans as ''gaijin''-- in their own country, no less! -- has got to go. Say it aint so, Joe!

But he said it and it's on videotape here: near the end:

http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/international/2012/01/06/talk-asia-joe-odagiri.cnn

Who is Joe Odagiri? Growing up with a single mother in Japan, he says he never knew his father and has never even seen his father's face. Commonly known just as ''Odajo'' in Japan among his fans, he is also known for his unusual hairstyles and eclectic styles of dressing, and some say he he is the epitome of Cool Japan.


Odagiri studied at Fresno State University in California, where he intended ........to take classes in film directing, but he says he ended up enrolling in the Theater and Arts Department ..........by complete mistake. He often tells interviewers that Fresno is his second hometown, even though he refers to the Americans who live there as "gaijin" (outside people).

He is married to Yuko Odagiri, 26, who goes by the stage name of Yuu Kashii, 26, and the two of them share the same birthday (February 16) and the parentage of a son who was born last February.

http://www.asianbite.com/screenshot.asp?path=/JapanImages/Joe-Odagiri-and-Yuu-Kashii-at-Press-Conference-15.jpg

His wife is part Caucasian as shown by photo, is Joe also part C?

[MOD NOTE: merged 5 messages together into 1]

[TennoChinko]

When the 36-year-old Japanese actor/director/screenwriter Joe Odagiri was recently interviewed on CNN's popular "Talk Asia" show, hosted by award-winning anchor Anna Coren, he
spoke of the Americans he studied with at college in America, in Fesno, as "gaijin" (which is a loaded Japansee word for "foreigners") ........when in fact HE was the foreigner studying
in America and his American classmates were not the foreigners at all.

It seems that Joe needs to get his priorities straight and re-arrange his global
strategies to conquer the world box office. Some are calling him ''the Japanese incarnation of Johnny Depp'', for his smokey good looks and daydream eyes,
but the comments about Americans as ''gaijin''-- in their own country, no less! -- has got to go. Say it aint so, Joe!

But he said it and it's on videotape here: near the end:

http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/international/2012/01/06/talk-asia-joe-odagiri.cnn

It's hard to tell as the interpreter's voice cuts in on what Odajiri is saying, but I believe when he emphatically used the word "gaijin", he was referring to himself as an outsider (eg. non-American taking acting classes at a US college).

[torasan]

good point let me listen again, thanks TS

''It's hard to tell as the interpreter's voice cuts in on what Odajiri is saying, but I believe when he emphatically used the word "gaijin", he was referring to himself as an outsider (eg. non-American taking acting classes at a US college).
''

but why would he refer to himself as an outsider as a GAIJIN,,,,? no if you
listen again, he was using the G word, but of course in a sweet innocent way,,,,he meant no harm the word is embedded in the J psyche...i have even heard of Japanese tourists in NYC seeing Americans in an elevator in NYC and saying to eac other wink wink "Gaijin-da!;''..when in fact THEY are the GAI JIN in NYC!~

[MOD NOTE: merged 2 messages]

[Coligny]

Before anybody asks... nope... i didun't steal his meds...

[torasan]

hehe, you too, mate?

[Coligny]

even though i often enter in quite colorfull arguments with my car gps i don't master yet your ability to fill a whole thread conversation all by mahself...

[maraboutslim]

I think the reason you find something objectionable here is because you are mistaken. The word "gaijin" doesn't mean what you think it means. (hint: japanese can be foreigners, but never "gaijin")

[torasan]

I might be wrong as you say, then what does ''GAIJIN'' mean then? that's right, Japanese can never be called gaijin, but when i see
Japanese overseas outside their country, i say to them hello GAIJIN with a smile, just so they can know the feeling.....

re Maraboutslim: ''I think the reason you find something objectionable here is because you are mistaken. The word "gaijin" doesn't mean what you think it means. (hint: japanese can be foreigners, but never "gaijin")''

[Yokohammer]

I think the reason you find something objectionable here is because you are mistaken. The word "gaijin" doesn't mean what you think it means. (hint: japanese can be foreigners, but never "gaijin")

Not so sure about the "never" part. Since "gaijin" is basically a contraction of "gaikokujin," which is just a person from another country (aka "foreigner"), I'm pretty sure that many Japanese are capable of considering themselves "gaikokujin," and by extension "gaijin."

It only takes a small shift in perception to see all NJ as "people from another country" though, which is the way some Japanese apparently prefer to see things. That would be the people who cling tenaciously to their national identity wherever they go.

It comes down to having the imagination to see things from another person's perspective ... and therein lies the problem.

[omae mona]

Before we get all debito here, let me agree with TennoChinko that the actor was referring to himself as the gaijin, unless my ears are deceiving me.

[torasan]

we do need to check and confirm that first, i agree. Can anybody check and confirm? What i heard on TV that day was he was referring this his Americansky classmates as gaijin, but without even thinking about the way he was using the word. After all, the interview took place in a CNN studio in Tokyo, in Japan, so by all rights, he had every right to use the gaijin term there any way he wanted to.

RE: ''Before we get all *debito* here, let me agree with TennoChinko that the actor was referring to himself as the gaijin, unless my ears are deceiving me.'

BUT: I have never heard a Japanese person refer to himself as a gaijin ever ever. But yes, let's not get all debito over this. First thing is to clear it up, did he
say gaijin about the gaijin was he was studying with, or was he speaking of himself as a gaijin in California? I doubt he was talking about himself as a gaijin, he would have described himself as a ''gaikokujin'', no? GAIJIN is only used, both as a slur word and as an informal word for 4inners, for 4 inners, no? Correct me if i am wrong.

[Samurai_Jerk]

It was to hear with the voice over but I agree with Tenno. Besides, unless the translation is completely off, it would only makes sense that he was indeed referring to himself when he said "gaijin".

By the way, torasan, could you take a few minutes to learn how use things like quotes, etc? It'll make your posts much easier to follow.

[tone]

seems to my mediocre japanese skills that hes almost italicizing the word in reference to himself, kind of reference how much of outsiders we are, he was like that in cali as a student...

[gaijinpunch]

My rooommate back in 1999 that went back to the US to finish school: I hate America... too many gaijin...

[halfnip]

Everyone in that shithole of a town (Fresno) should be considered a "gaijin"... ; )

[Coligny]

My rooommate back in 1999 that went back to the US to finish school: I hate America... too many gaijin...

Maybe he wuz talking aboot the non wasps...

[gaijinpunch]

Haha... nah. He was afraid of the whites.

[IparryU]

[quote="halfnip"]Everyone in that shithole of a town (Fresno) should be considered a "gaijin"... ]
I am from Sac... Sac, Fresno, Stocton, and anything surrounding is a shit hole... despite Granite Bay, which is nothing but a whole bunch of yuppies and the Sacramento Kings.

[2triky]

I am from Sac... Sac, Fresno, Stocton, and anything surrounding is a shit hole... despite Granite Bay, which is nothing but a whole bunch of yuppies and the Sacramento Kings.

True. But at least you guys got Cache Creek.

[Iraira]

[quote="halfnip"]Everyone in that shithole of a town (Fresno) should be considered a "gaijin"... ]

Only place worse than Fresneck is Clovis. Used to go floating down the King's River in Reedley (Kelly's Beach) during summer, and in the future, will have the melanomas to prove it.

[maraboutslim]

I believe that while speaking the Japanese language, "gaijin" refers to one from outside Japan. Because Japan is always the reference point, the "inside" from which the gaijin is outside of.

Japanese people while speaking English can surely refer to themselves as "foreigners". But when speaking Japanese, I don't think they are ever "gaijin" themselves.

[Samurai_Jerk]

My dad lived in Sactown for a few years so I used to go visit occasionally. God, what a boring place.

[matsuki]

I've heard of of 3 definitions of gaijin from several different Japanese.

1.) Foreigner...when they referred to me as "gaijin" in the US and I pointed out they were the gaijin, they laughed and said, "You're right, I'm the gaijin here."

2.) Outsider...they indeed referred to other Japanese as gaijin. In one case it was an employee from another company, in another it was a Japanese from Tokyo visiting a very inaka town.

3.) Pretty much this:

I believe that while speaking the Japanese language, "gaijin" refers to one from outside Japan. Because Japan is always the reference point, the "inside" from which the gaijin is outside of.

Japanese people while speaking English can surely refer to themselves as "foreigners". But when speaking Japanese, I don't think they are ever "gaijin" themselves.

Some Japanese even go as far as to say, "Gaijin means alien, not human, less than human."

I gave up on trying to define it. I always just tell anyone that refers to me as "Gaijin" to call me "America-jin" if they must refer to me by nationality. (And mention it's very rude to call someone a foreigner/outsider/etc. when they know what specific country they are from.) They usually apologize and do exactly as I have requested.

[GomiGirl]

I gave up on trying to define it. I always just tell anyone that refers to me as "Gaijin" to call me "America-jin" if they must refer to me by nationality. (And mention it's very rude to call someone a foreigner/outsider/etc. when they know what specific country they are from.) They usually apologize and do exactly as I have requested.

I love it when people use "Gaijin-san" to make it less odious. At least they are trying.

To be honest though, the label doesn't really worry me so much. Yes its use is often awkward and hamfisted but rarely do I feel it is used (toward me at least) in a derogatory manner. Remember there is not a lot of other vocabulary available so people have to rely on just a few words eg gaijin, gaikokujin. There is none of this "add-country-here+american" PC terminology in existence in Japanese. But if you want to start a trend and try to introduce some PC vovab, by all means, go wild and crazy.

Fortunately, living in Yoyogi, it is fairly multicultural and we are not oddities so the people around us don't feel the need to define us other than "customers" or "neighbours" or "the parents of that gorgeous little boy".

Some Japanese even go as far as to say, "Gaijin means alien, not human, less than human."

Now this is not something I have heard said or even implied. I find it a bit far fetched for the attitudes of the general population. There be haters everywhere and if you want to get all upset about them, then fine but best to remove all the haters from your own country first before casting around for more.

[matsuki]

GG, I'm not trying to start a PC terminology revolution here and maybe my explanation came off the wrong way but I'm not throwing a fit and giving a lecture every time I'm called gaijin. My point isn't to be some sort of PC prude, it's either to let the person know I'm from (insert country here) or to remind them it's not polite to ignore someone's name/nationality and keep referring to them as foreigner/outsider/however you define "gaijin." As you said, it isn't usually meant in a derogatory manner, it's just used casually. (and in some cases, they may actually be implying that they want to know where you're from...remember how indirect Japanese can be?) Obviously if they don't know me or where I'm from, there is nothing wrong with being called "gaijin-san," ....in fact, unless you are a customer, neighbor, etc. regardless of being Japanese or not, they won't have much else to call you without being rude. (and this can be done politely without giving them attitude...if you were picturing me being a dick about it, that's not my approach)

As to "Gaijin means alien, not human, less than human," I've had quite a few Japanese tell me this. Usually begins with "Do you know what Gaijin really means?" I won't even begin to speculate as to how widespread this definition is, just saying I've heard it from enough Japanese to warrant discussion. Like I said, I just gave up trying to define it as everyone seems to have their own definition. Not sure what your beef is with the US but I agree with what you said, haters are everywhere and it's nothing to to get upset over.

[GomiGirl]

No beef with the US specifically - it was more on a general level is something we should all be doing wherever we are from.. ie remove the log from ones own eyes before the speck in anothers kinda thing.

Where I am from has a huge number of haters and it is often embarrassing for me to be lumped in with some of them.

[Iraira]

Where I am from has a huge number of haters and it is often embarrassing for me to be lumped in with some of them.

Andromeda has haterz?:p

[matsuki]

No beef with the US specifically - it was more on a general level is something we should all be doing wherever we are from.. ie remove the log from ones own eyes before the speck in anothers kinda thing.

Where I am from has a huge number of haters and it is often embarrassing for me to be lumped in with some of them.

Gotcha unfortunately we all have those embarrassing stereotyped moments....fortunately for me it's usually Canadians on the attack and playing hockey seems to buy me immunity. Living in a cuntry with nationalized health insurance seems to be icing on the cake. (unless I get into the hit or miss quality of the health care here )

[matsuki]

BTW, finally watched the video and yeah, was referring to himself. Good on him!

[omae mona]

I get called "gaijin", in an intentionally insulting way, nearly every day. By my wife.

Totally off topic, but that CNN video segued into another video about a guy whose name I think is incredibly cool: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Sexwale