Sometimes I am really embarrassed to be labelled as gaijin 外人 or gaikokujin 外国人, which in English is literally 'outsider' or 'outside country person'...obviously foreigner. In fact, you really notice that you are a foreigner in Japan; people stare, and not in a friendly way either.
But the time I hate being non-Japanese the most is when other non-Japanese are here and don't respect the culture and customs; I do my best.
For example, I was just watching a tv program on how foreigners (it's too easy to label ourselves and others with that term) disrespect geisha 芸者 and maiko 舞子. Most people are familiar with geisha (entertainers in traditional Japanese arts), but usually confuse them with maiko. Maiko are in fact apprentice geisha, and dress in more colourful, flambouyant kimono. Neither of the two are prostitutes, no matter how they have been portrayed over the last 100 years.
This show was set in Kyoto, where the majority of geisha and maiko work. There was a lot of footage of foreigners taking photos, shouting and yelling at the girls as they were on their way to work. Some would even touch their kimono, and many would run after them down the streets. I couldn't believe how out of hand it gets! I wasn't surprised to see the majority of tourists were American.
No wonder I often get glares from the Japanese :(
But the time I hate being non-Japanese the most is when other non-Japanese are here and don't respect the culture and customs; I do my best.
For example, I was just watching a tv program on how foreigners (it's too easy to label ourselves and others with that term) disrespect geisha 芸者 and maiko 舞子. Most people are familiar with geisha (entertainers in traditional Japanese arts), but usually confuse them with maiko. Maiko are in fact apprentice geisha, and dress in more colourful, flambouyant kimono. Neither of the two are prostitutes, no matter how they have been portrayed over the last 100 years.
This show was set in Kyoto, where the majority of geisha and maiko work. There was a lot of footage of foreigners taking photos, shouting and yelling at the girls as they were on their way to work. Some would even touch their kimono, and many would run after them down the streets. I couldn't believe how out of hand it gets! I wasn't surprised to see the majority of tourists were American.
No wonder I often get glares from the Japanese :(
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