Ex-hot rodder supports Japanese-Brazilian children in trouble

By Yugo Hirano

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Latest 15 of 19 Total Comments Show All

GW at 11:31 AM JST - 12th February

Sad story with a hopefully better ending.

But it makes me glad my wife & I dont have kids, if we did we most definitely wud have had to leave Jpn. Jpn had better start getting its #$%& together on this front & many others, unfortunately I am not hopeful but am thankful as hell I dont have any children, its tough enough without all the extra problems Jpn presents families.
whyamiinjapan at 11:49 AM JST - 12th February

"Toshikazu Yaeshima, 51, an official in charge of human rights education at the Mie prefectural board of education, said, 'They have become proud of their Brazilian heritage after seeing Mr. Gushi’s way of living.'" After the fact. A little late to step in and do anything good, ain't it Pal?
borscht at 11:56 AM JST - 12th February

Japan needs to open up its mind. Period.

Discrimination against someone because his or her ancestor lost a war 1000 years ago is rubbish, discriminating against someone because they aren't 'pure' Japanese (which means being brainwashed by parents and teachers) is rubbish. Discriminating against someone because his or her name isn't 'Japanese enough' is rubbish.
seesaw at 12:33 PM JST - 12th February

I absolutely agree with you borscht!
Bobo_Roberts at 12:48 PM JST - 12th February

What a terrible translation job! What the hell is several thousand yen a month mean? He made 5,000 yen a month? Also, why use the term hot-rodders instead of bosozoku? Motorcycle gang makes more sense.
pointofview at 02:55 PM JST - 12th February

borscht,

Right on the money! Ive always wondered why discrimination isnt taken seriously in daily life in Japan considering the emphasis they put on being polite and respectful. Makes me wonder.
larguero at 05:24 PM JST - 12th February

I am thinking about changing my name, now. Maybe if I am called Hyuma I could be luckier... I think all foreigners should use a Japanese name, so some people will get really disconcerted. Did you know that descendents of Japanese but are not Japanese and have a Japanese name cannot write it in kanji?
jonnyboy at 05:40 PM JST - 12th February

if japan can't handle those with japanese ancestry how is it going to handle the foreign workers it will need to service its aged population in the next 50 years?

japan needs to add international understanding to its moral education curriculum from elementary level upwards, post haste
McC72 at 09:43 PM JST - 12th February

Once met a child whose mum was a Filipino and she was a leader in their group of friends. She was very proud of the fact that is was half foreign and those J kids followed her with charm. I think not all children can be bullied. House education helps a lot. I also watched the half Black half japanese kids. They are too strong to be bullied
Raymasaki at 11:36 PM JST - 12th February

YES Japan should open up, But what you fail to Notice its pro kindness, YES theres Discrimination But Not just towards foriegners even social class & other Jp kids in school. People always put down America for being "racists" & ignorant But everywhere you Look & see that alot of countries have the same problem. Nationalists Just dont like the fact more people move in. Remember its Not really Racism either because alot of them Hate Koreans & chinese more.
soothsayer at 02:36 AM JST - 13th February

If "hot rodder" is actually bozozoku (biker, for want of a better word), then it's another annoying example of how the Japanese penchant for over-translation just leaves people mystified and excluded.

So, Hirano San, what did you mean?
OhioDonna at 03:28 AM JST - 13th February

I don't quite understand the discrimination against those who are half Japanese and half something else. In my family, I have cousins (all men) who are half Thai and half American and as far as I know there has never been any discrimination. In fact, the boys were extremely popular in high school. They were extraordinarily good looking.
usaexpat at 06:27 AM JST - 13th February

A really good example, he went through dark times and came out wanting to help other children of his circumstance to not make the same mistakes. I wish him the best in his continued work. As for foreign kids being bullied it has luckily never happened to my son. That said he is pretty big for his age and quite outgoing.
cleo at 09:21 AM JST - 13th February

there has never been any discrimination. In fact, the boys were extremely popular in high school. They were extraordinarily good looking.

That's been my experience too. Even those of my son's haaf friends who were not extraordinarily good-looking had no problems.
Faderkinta at 09:32 AM JST - 17th February

Having worked in the Public school systems here for many years, I have seen many kids picked on here. I have seen a lot of half children picked on as I have seen other kids who were socially shy. I think it happens a lot more with the reaction the indivisual kid gives. Some kids are natural born leaders hard to pick on them. Some kids are really tough, it would be stupid to pick on them. Yet there are those soft kids that get it bad and you can't tell me the teacher doesn't see it. I sat five minutes in most of my elementary schools and found out who that kid was. Teachers routinely use to say or he or she is very soft or shy. "There is only on God in the classroom and that is the teacher." Said by my 2nd grade teacher when we were picking on the smelly kid. You better believe we didn't say anything to him after she was mean. Still she was fair and our class knew better but kids get picked on but with the help of teachers and parents it can be lessen. Saying that I would be hesitant to send my kid to school in this country.