Racism in Japan

Lance's Shortlist of "Well-known Things About Today's Japan":

• Sushi
• Lots of car companies
• Lots of sex-crazed men
• Not liked within Asia

The last one follows from WWII, and many neighbor countries feeling that Japan has never psychologically paid for war atrocities, and still have a superiority thing going on. Today's post is my take on that. (Short version.)

From what I've seen in my 2 years here, most Japanese people don't believe themselves to be superior, as a race. But they do believe themselves to be different. And within Japan, they like their way best.

Japan is an island, geographically and culturally. It's hard for them to see the logic of the rest of the world. So the rest of the world considers them sexist and racist. It can cause problems, for example, this foreigners' activist site. (The stuff there is true, but luckily not so wide-spread as to matter to 90% of visiting foreigners.)

But, like China, Japan is changing quickly. I keep wondering when Japan's Women's Liberation movement will take place.. divorce is on the rise, woman-owned business is on the rise.. In the 2020's I wager that some incarnation of women's lib will make the news.

In the end: the strangeness of Japan is a big reason why I like it. With homogony comes low crime, a high level of respect and courtesy, and a high quality of life. But I don't feel comfortable with the "obey elders even when they're wrong" concept (also known as the "never ask why" concept), and the "I'm a woman so I'll clean your dishes now" mental programming. For me the good points cancel out the bad points.

PS From the above website, an essay describing an American's experience on a socially harrowing Japanese bus trip. Having been "lost" from a bus trip schedule myself, I could really relate--sans married woman, of course. A great essay.