Mood Sours for Japan's Other Asian Students

[cstaylor]

Mood Sours for Japan's Other Asian Students

By any standard, Su Dake, a 26-year-old Chinese student, should feel satisfaction with his six years spent in Japan.

Still, he said he had never felt particularly welcome in Japan. Like other foreign students interviewed recently, Mr. Su said he had not made any Japanese friends here and planned to return to China after earning his master's degree

To many Asian students, Japan is merely a place to get a degree and earn some money before returning home, often with the opposite impression Japan had hoped for. Neither side is pleased. As one newspaper, Nihon Keizai, put it, if foreign students "tell everyone how they hate this country once they go home, we should ask to what purpose we are hosting them to begin with."

Shouldn't the question be, "What is it about us that they don't like?"

Even in this city in western Japan, which is close to the Asian continent and has traditionally had many Asian students and residents, the killing of a family of four by a Chinese student has changed attitudes.

Notice how Onishi conveniently papers over the police coverup. That was a Yakuza hit, and the only student they caught who "confessed" wasn't even at the crime scene.

Huang Tian Shu, 33, a Chinese student who has been in Japan five years, said she was rejected 10 times before finding a 180-square-foot apartment.

At midnight, while Ms. Huang was moving her things, she said the police stopped her, apparently because they suspected she was a thief, and took her to the local station for interrogation until the next morning.

"I felt discriminated against," she said.

[blackcat]

CS!

how do you know that was a yakuza hit??

[cstaylor]

First, the family that was hit
- Family was affiliated with a weakened gangster group in the Fukuoka area.
-The wife was related to one of the local bosses
-The family had run a local loan sharking outfit, and those are almost always gangster related

Second, the hitmen
-For a simple home robbery, one doesn't purchase handcuffs and dumbells before the theft. The goal is to steal money, not murder people. Handcuffs, okay, but why dumbells?
-Why would three Chinese students hit a house when the victims were home? The greatly reduces the chances of a clean robbery attempt.
-Why did the student hitmen wait a few days before fleeing the country? Were they waiting for the payoff from the gangsters? Who tipped them off that the police were after them?

I'm not saying the Chinese didn't murder the family, but they weren't the instigators.

[AssKissinger]

Mr. Su said he had not made any Japanese friends

What's a Japanese friend?

[devicenull]

Mr. Su said he had not made any Japanese friends

What's a Japanese friend?

someone who wants you to teach them english?

[Neo-Rio]

I don't think many of the Japanese themselves know what friends are.

[Taro Toporific]

I don't think many of the Japanese themselves know what friends are.

Odd. Those are the same words my Judo sensei would say about gaijin.

Most adult Japanese don't consider a person their friend until after 8-10 years, if ever. Basically in Japan, if you didn't graduate with somebody, it's hard to be counted as a friend.

[blackcat]

CS
thanks I see your point, I didnt know much about the case other than it was a very conveinient chinese bashing news story the japanese LOVE so much.

[kamome]

I don't think many of the Japanese themselves know what friends are.

Dude, this is a crackpot statement.

The Japanese can be wonderful, loyal friends. They're more reliable than my American friends (in general), because they are very unselfish. If you rely on a Japanese friend for something--whether it be to meet you at a particular time, or to do you a favor--they will come through. I've been more disappointed with my American friends in that regard.

On the other hand, this kind of friendship is more demanding. When someone puts themselves out for you like that, you are expected to do the same for them.

Perhaps that's what Taro's judo sensei was talking about--Americans are usually unwilling to put themselves out for others the way friends are expected to do in Japan. I've been guilty of this myself because of the strain and guilt associated with such responsibility.

[AssKissinger]

I've been more disappointed with my American friends in that regard.

Same here.

I guess the older you get the more meaningless friendship becomes. Especially if you move around a lot and left your hometown a long time ago.

[GuyJean]

I was supposed to meet cs yesterday, but plans fell through at the last minute. No problem, dude.

Kamome, you ever think those loyal Japanese friends are using you for something you natively give them?

Loyalty is overrated... Borders on ignorance at times.

Does punctuality have anything to do with loyalty?

GJ

[kamome]

Kamome, you ever think those loyal Japanese friends are using you for something you natively give them?

Of course...if you're referring to my female "friends" and a tube steak.

Really though, I wasn't talking about punctuality as much as I was referring to reliability. Otherwise, I'd be considered the worst friend in the world! I'm usually late to things, and I recognize that, but I rarely cancel at the last minute.

By the way, loyalty is not overrated; I agree with AK in that people (Americans) mostly don't value loyalty in friendships so much anymore. The Japanese still do, I think.

[cstaylor]

...but I rarely cancel at the last minute.

[GuyJean]

Kamome, you ever think those loyal Japanese friends are using you for something you natively give them?

Of course...if you're referring to my female "friends" and a tube steak.

I meant 'English'.

I'm usually late to things, and I recognize that, but I rarely cancel at the last minute..

I guess I'd prefer one of my friends periodically cancelling at the last minute rather than 'usually' being late]By the way, loyalty is not overrated;[/quote]
Loyalty, shmoyalty.. Loyalty is for court jesters and Japanese housewives.. (joking). Give me 'respect' any day. Respect is a two-way street; loyalty usually aint.

GJ

[kamome]

Of course...if you're referring to my female "friends" and a tube steak.

I meant 'English'.

I knew that...I'm just trying to make you think outside the box.

I guess I'd prefer one of my friends periodically cancelling at the last minute rather than 'usually' being late]

That's not my preference. At least someone who's late and who calls ahead to inform you of that is still being courteous. A last-minute cancellation rarely gives you enough lead time to go ahead with other options.

Of course, if you're 'usually' late, I'd suspect your friends all consider that when making plans.

Good! Then things will work out in the planning after all.

[quote="Guyjean"]Loyalty, shmoyalty.. Loyalty is for court jesters and Japanese housewives.. (joking). Give me 'respect' any day. Respect is a two-way street]

Yes, respect is definitely the alpha and omega. But respect breeds loyalty. If I'm getting respect from someone, I'll be loyal to them (and respect them back).