Marie attends a talk show event.

Marie gives the lowdown on being 'half'

Tuesday 25th August, 12:30 PM JST

TOKYO —

Model Marie, 22, was the guest at an event for Harrison Ford’s new movie “Crossing Over,” and took the opportunity to give her views on being a “half” in Japanese society.

Marie, the daughter of a French-Canadian father and a Japanese mother, discussed with the high school students who were present the movie’s theme of immigration and an international society. Marie, who spent her years between 14 and 17 living in Australia and America, told the audience about how she has “lots friends from abroad.”

But she said that being “half” wasn’t all fun and games when she was a child in Japan. “I have some pretty bad memories from when I was young, and used to get bullied because I look different and my name isn’t Japanese.”

“Crossing Over” opens in Japan on Sept 19.

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Latest 15 of 198 Total Comments Show All

Disillusioned at 09:35 PM JST - 28th August

But she said that being “half” wasn’t all fun and games when she was a child in Japan.

This use of 'half' really gets me going. It is no different to any other derogatory racist name given to peoples of different ethnic backgrounds. However, I do enjoy the envy of having kids with straight legs and teeth, light brown hair and more common sense than the mullets that have no other comment than, "Kowaii!"
DXXJP at 09:50 PM JST - 28th August

My kids are half and like my grandmother told me I tell them, "if someone asks you if your half tell them yes the better half".

That said my kids are treated the same and in some cases even special, but then it might be by their own doing as they seem to be really popular.
nipponreddog at 06:32 PM JST - 29th August

Marie wouldn't even earn a lookback if she lived in Europe. She is such a "plain Jane".
sageb1 at 03:08 AM JST - 30th August

what does being half to do with a movie about US immigration issues?
Mexicanish at 09:46 PM JST - 30th August

This 'double' crap really annoys the hell out of me.

You get half of your genetics from your father and half of your genetics from your mother. Genetically speaking we're all 2 halves running around... so really is the term 'half' all that 'incorrect'? I'd say it's actually more politically correct than some PC bull-caca term 'double.'

Double clearly implies you feel you or or your kid is superior to all the other double-halves.

How dare you?!

For the record I'm married to a white guy and when we have kids they will be half me and half him, therefore half Mexican, half white, and completely American... but if you really want to get into it I guess you could say they'll be partially Irish, English, German, Spanish, Aztec, Mayan, Persian, French.... shall I go on?

I also agree with others stating that kids will get bullied at school for many, many reasons... not just racial background. I'd say she still had it easier than a lot of other people out there that aren't even 'half.'

Stop whining about your race or your kids' race, it's so old. Tell them to be proud of who they are and tell them to f-ing gaman.
Blue_Tiger at 02:34 AM JST - 31st August

I actually had Japanese srtudents who went ot the USA and stayed for longer than a year tell me that all of their "friends" later called them "gaijin"...and these girls were Japanese! Two of these students were bullied when they returned to their respective high schools herei n Japan to finish....
Klein2 at 09:24 AM JST - 31st August

I was not inspired by DENTSHOP, but have a look at that comment.

Eventually it will all be sufficiently confusing that people will just give up. Even racists will have to split hairs, which will make them impotent.

I know kids who get ridiculed by others because they are half or gaijin or whatever. It makes it very easy to identify those kids who will live their lives in a little tiny cube much much smaller than Japan, and probably even smaller than their brain capacity. In contrast, the kids being ridiculed quickly come to understand that Japan is much too small a country, no matter what its size or wealth imply.

It all comes around. Would Obama be president if he were NOT discriminated against? Haahaha. Wrap your brain around that one.
Klein2 at 09:33 AM JST - 31st August

But in response to other comments, DOUBLE applies quite well. Children of US citizens are entitled to two passports until majority, they are bilingual, with full access to two cultures. They are also genetically WILD TYPE rather than japonica cultivars, so they are genetically stronger. I think double is a great statement and fits so much better than HALF. But you know why DOUBLE is better? Because it does not DEMEAN other people, it merely emphasizes extra features. Calling someone HALF is another message entirely.

Because of their short legs and meek ways, it has been suggested that Japanese people be called HALFLINGS. How does THAT grab you? Remember that in Lord of the Rings, there were HALFLINGS, AS DISTINCT FROM "The Race of Men." ooops... See how easily this HALF stuff gets turned around to an ugly implication? See how ICKY the HALF word is, even with the best of intentions? I resist its use strongly.
sinedicendo09 at 04:33 PM JST - 31st August

Think about it - Japanese who married a foreigner - are they consider being racist - I think not. Only those who are so insulated who had never been able to live overseas for an extended period of time who will call children of mixed marriage names.

I had gathered that most of posters here are living in Japan for a length of time that you should get used to Japanese characteristics of making snide remarks - but why do you still care?

Those Japanese who made those remarks are either "appearance-challenged" people or they are low self-esteemed people or they just got nothing better to do with their time.

Also if they are truly racist, what of those pure bred Japanese guys and gals coloring their hair blonder than the real blondes themselves. I think the Japanese wished they are Caucasian, too not other Asians if they have a choice.

But I think the Japanese are good-looking people as they are so they don't have be challenged by the so-called "ha-fus."

The Japanese people should accept that seeing more mixed ethnicities in their country is the manifestation of the globalization thing of which they also embraced that's why they opened up to the world some thirty years ago.

This is just my opinion and not challenging anyone else's in this thread.

Let's just have a happy time amidst the real issues - the influenza, the typhoons, the tremors etc...
sinedicendo09 at 04:36 PM JST - 31st August

Oh let's not call anyone halfs, mixed, gaijin etc. I prefer to call my own son - a Third Cultural Kid. Actually, most of us are.
mygrain at 04:45 PM JST - 31st August

My daughter already looks a lot like Marie here, blondish hair, slim build, fair complexion. And it annoys me to no end the Japanese school girls that prattle on in broken English with their "Harros" and "whatzu yuru namu" garbage. The kid was born and raised here in Japan, she's just a toddler, and already she's being treated differently by almost every Japanese person she comes in contact with. Fortunately we have no plans to stay here long term, I can't imagine going through the teen years having to shoulder the burden of different colored hair, skin, eye shape in todays Japan, talk about out of touch with the times.
Nessie at 06:09 PM JST - 31st August

I suppose some would consider "hybrid" out of the question...

Kiwis would mistake it for "high bred."
griff at 01:34 AM JST - 1st September

Also if they are truly racist, what of those pure bred Japanese guys and gals coloring their hair blonder than the real blondes themselves. I think the Japanese wished they are Caucasian, too not other Asians if they have a choice.

that's because of the awesome ambivalence that a lot of japan feels towards the west (or even countries other than its direct asian neighbours); they are fascinated by it, seduced by it, but also uncomfortable/incapable of admitting this fairly harmless fact to themselves or those around them. as a result they end up painting themselves into corners. wake up. if resting on ones laurels was human nature then we'd all still be living in caves
Bologna at 11:19 AM JST - 1st September

Yes, I agree with Marie.
blackbagger at 11:50 AM JST - 1st September

I disagree with the comment that Marie is a Plain Jane. She may look normal when you see her on TV as a talento, but when she's really dolled up she can be super hot.

As for the topic of discrimination against kids who are "half" I have seen it all the time in schools here in Japan. For outgoing kids I think it can be easier to get over and get used to, but kids who are more shy and of a mixed racial background get bullied to the point of social isolation at times.

Oh, and the backhanded praise IMO hurts more than outright insults. Comments about how a kid can run faster because their legs are longer, or how they must be better at English because of their foreign blood can make a kid feel as bad as any obvious abuse.