Monday May 28, 2012

takoyakitora's past comments

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    I think he'll be Prime Minister within 3 years.

    Posted in: What do you think of Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto?

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    I never,EVER thought I'd agree with this old raisin. Japan should absolutely ditch the constitution and start over. It's about time Japan ditches it's diapers and puts on it's big boy pants and starts defending itself. But the sad fact is they can't. Who are they going to have protecting the country? Kabukicho hosts? When the Japanese finally come to terms with the reality they need the U.S. to defend them, the U.S. can negotiate even better terms. Who knows, maybe even make Japan the 51st state. God knows nobody here can run this country.

    Posted in: What kind of a fool keeps the same constitution that occupation troops forced upon us 65 years ago? We should ditch the current constitution and start afresh.

  • 5

    takoyakitora

    It's proven impossible for me to change my western attitude and think like the Japanese.

    For example, no matter how hard I try I can't bring myself to pretend I'm sleeping just so I don't have to give my seat up in the priority section for someone who truly needs it. Nor can I just back up into a crowded train and push back without caring about who I am crushing just because I can't be patient enough to wait 2 bloody minutes for the next one.

    I also can't pick my nose for 2 minutes straight in full view of people sitting near me on the train or in the restaurant. It's also very difficult for me to not allow someone with one item waiting in line at the supermarket go before me when I have a basket full.

    Not to mention the inability to stop thinking for myself and just blindly watch for the green walk signal without looking both ways or accept everything I see, read, and hear at face value.

    Yeah, maybe I should try harder. I'm sure if I "gambaru" I can truly be accepted.

    Posted in: Planning to move to Japan? Change your Westernized mentality

  • -1

    takoyakitora

    I forgot to mention The Keg Steakhouse, and cadburys mini eggs.

    Someone mentioned Snapple. I think Lipton's Lemon tea is a good substitute for the Snapple Lemon. I actually like it better.

    Posted in: Living in Japan, which food or drink item do you miss most from your home country?

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    White Spot hamburgers and Kraft Dinner! Gatorade in different flavours, and cherry nibs!

    Posted in: Living in Japan, which food or drink item do you miss most from your home country?

  • -1

    takoyakitora

    You see, you really don't get it, if after 6 years you still have a chip on, or you got one on your shoulder now. If you actually think this way and act on these feelings in your dealings with Japanese people who may call you gaijin, things are going to get a hell of a lot harder than easier for you.

    Incredible. Unbelievable actually that someone who appears to be as intelligent as yourself would be so narrow minded as to think I walk around looking to pick a fight with anyone who would dare look their nose down on me. I am not that fragile. perhaps you are.

    Dont assume something here, you'll end up regretting it. I never said what you are trying to infer here. Many if not most Japanese do not know the background of the word gaijin themselves and are surprised many times to hear themselves how it was used prior to WWII. The problem is education and society and people learning to live outside of their own little box.

    Is that a threat? I don't assume anything. You posted a link to something. I read it and based on what you are saying have determined you don't quite understand the meaning yourself. If you did then you would see how wrong you are in the rest of your comments.

    But good luck on your crusade anyway, someday I hope you'll see the light, but if you don't remember you were warned.

    Thank you very much Oh great defender of the Yamato! However I'm not on a crusade. I'm merely stating my opinion based on the article, my personal experiences, the experiences of others I've talked to, and the thinking of many Japanese themselves when I speak with them. I'm not reading into anything here. In fact most of us on here whether they be pro or con the use of the word "Gaijin" are basing our opinions on our experiences whether they be good or bad.

    Oh, you experiences are what they are, doesnt make them any less important or not, and it really doesnt matter just how long you've lived here either. Some folks get it faster than others, and some never get it at all.

    How lucky for you that every experience you have had in Japan has been wonderful and magical.

    I'm afraid that eventually you and others that feel like you do will end up disappointed, dissatisfied, disillusioned, and leave Japan with a sour taste in your mouth because you ended up getting caught up in things like this and others as well that destroyed your romantic vision of what things should be like here.

    I would suggest you be careful not to assume something here. Pretty foolish of you to believe anyone who finds offense to the use of Gaijin falls into this category. I for one never have. I'm quite happy overall with my experiences here. If you feel disappointed by that, that's your problem

    Posted in: Gaijin -- just a word or racial epithet with sinister implications?

  • 1

    takoyakitora

    @takoyakitora, thank you. I never said it was right, I never said what they did was wrong. I am trying to explain the reasoning behind it. The longer you live here the better you'll understand it and more importantly see it for what it is and learn to deal with it better.

    Been here for 6 years. Not as long as some, longer than others. I never came here with a chip on my shoulder, still don't have one for that matter and I love living here. What I don't like is ignorance or a belief that someone is better than someone else because they themselves are too ignorant to look at things more than 5 inches in front of their noses.

    Read an learn, the history of the word was not initially used to describe foreigners. They have come up with the word gaikokujin, to be quite honestly PC in today's world. It isnt BS either. Understanding where it comes from, how it has morphed into what is supposed to be proper today helps one with understanding how to deal with the word.To blatantly dismiss the fact shows an ignorance about the language here.

    I see. So therefore, if I understand you correctly, ALL Japanese know, understand, and use the word according to the historical context? From what i could gather from the wikipedia site you linked to, the context hasn't changed much from its beginnings to now.

    but surely every country has a word to describe anyone who isn't from that particular country. In English-speaking countries it's "foreigner".

    Glad you brought this up Luca. I was actually going to mention this in my last post. You're right. In English speaking countries we do use the word foreigner to describe people not from our country. However I have never heard anyone say "Hey look at that interesting foreigner over there." or " Wow what a cool foreigner!" Most of the time I hear the word foreigner used to describe people in such cases as "Stupid foreigner!", G** Damn foreigners coming over here and taking all our jobs. But even when people have problems with foreigners they refer to them based on their nationality instead of lumping them all in to one group, like they do here.

    Again not everyone uses the word gaijin with malice or in a mean spirited manner. Bu it doesn't make it right. Is it really so hard to say Gaikokujin?

    Posted in: Gaijin -- just a word or racial epithet with sinister implications?

  • 2

    takoyakitora

    You obviously have a rather shallow, or shall I say inexperienced view and knowledge about Japan, Japanese people and the language in general to think that this would actually mean anything.

    Well congratulations to you for being such an expert.

    The problem is it does mean something, you said it yourself. If the word means non-Japanese, then it's just another example of how the Japanese consider themselves unique and completely different than everyone else on the planet. The fact that they would have to have a word to describe everyone non-Japanese reinforces this B.S. belief.

    >

    Again a generalization through experience, they don't usually look at things critically, and are very casual in their use of the word, and for most, there is almost, usually, no intent to criticize, belittle, or put down, any foreigner they come across when they use the word towards you.

    And this makes it OK?

    The number of times Japanese have been hurtful or downright insulting due to their cultural ignorance is appalling yet apologists constantly make excuses such as no intent to criticize. The use of gaijin to describe someone who is not Japanese is a perfect example.

    Posted in: Gaijin -- just a word or racial epithet with sinister implications?

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    It's up to us (gaijin) to react appropriately; don't let it go when there's obvious malice involved, but don't overreact to a mistake or simple ignorance. :)

    I agree, and as a Gaikokujin here in Japan, I think I've been pretty accurate in my judgement of those who have used the word in question.

    Posted in: Gaijin -- just a word or racial epithet with sinister implications?

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    You're absolutely right Luca. But the big difference is I wouldn't refer to him automatically as a foreigner. i would actually take the time to find out where he's from, ask him his name, ask him about his country, buy him/or hopefully her a drink, and introduce him/her as my new friend (insert name here) from (insert country here). In other words the exact opposite of what happens here.

    I get your point and the point of everyone else who says it's just a word. Of course not everyone uses it in a derogatory way. For those who just slip it into a conversation I say "you mean Gaikokujin?" They often correct themselves and say "yes, Gaikokujin." My comment, and I'm guilty of not distinguishing between them, was aimed towards those who use the term offensively or ignorantly. Obviously the use of the word Gaijin is going to have a different impact on everyone. For me personally, I don't like it and see it as a lazy, low brow, ignorant way of referring to someone who isn't from the same place as you.

    Posted in: Gaijin -- just a word or racial epithet with sinister implications?

  • -1

    takoyakitora

    The professor then offered his personal opinion: “My own sense is that some foreign residents of Japan who take offense at any use of the term ‘gaijin’ belong to a well-established phenomenon of foreigners (usually white men) who want to become completely Japanese (culturally, biologically, socially)—cf. Pierre Loti, Madame Chrysantheme, Blackthorne in Clavell’s novel ‘Shogun,’ or James Bond, in ‘You Only Live Twice.’ For these Japanophiles, any indication that they’ve not succeeded in becoming Japanese is taken as a personal insult, and I think much of the offense at the term ‘gaijin’ (foreigner) stems from this anxiety they bring to the situation.”

    This is so true.

    Yeah, uh, no it isn't.

    Posted in: Gaijin -- just a word or racial epithet with sinister implications?

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    I don't know. Lets run a test on them. We should call them gaijin in Japanese language in other countries in the same manner they call us gaijin here, and we well see their reaction.

    Funny you should say that because that's exactly what I do here in Japan. I call the Japanese gaijin. After a couple seconds of dumbfounded looks I ask them if they are Canadian. They say no. Then I say that's right, I am Canadian and you're not. Therefore, to me, you are a gaijin. Because it's not just a word as many here would like us to believe. It reinforces this stupid belief that a lot of Japanese have that there are two kinds of people in this world, Japanese and everyone else.

    Posted in: Gaijin -- just a word or racial epithet with sinister implications?

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    This guy is a genius. too bad it can't work on the morning trains.

    Posted in: Man arrested for making fraudulent reservations on airport limousine bus

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    I'm tired of listening to people blame TEPCO and the Govt. for this mess. They didn't cause this by themselves. The citizens of Japan have caused this. Everyone from the useless bureaucrat to the obasan down the street. God forbid anyone in this country questions those in power or has the audacity to demand answers when they avoid the question and dance around the issue.

    The blame lies with the "free press" in this country, afraid to be excluded from any and all news conferences if they ask embarrassing questions or bring up any sensitive points.

    This is just the tip of the iceberg. It's only a matter of time before we hear of contaminated meat and food products sprouting up all over the country.

    Nippon nation, you are the perfect example of everything that is wrong with the Japanese attitude and thinking when it comes to serious matters.

    Posted in: Beef containing radioactive cesium served to elementary school children in Kanagawa

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    Because he wouldn't behave.

    I'm not condoning violence against others but sometimes I just want to kill some of these scumbags.

    Posted in: Man arrested for scalding 3-year-old stepson with boiling water

  • 1

    takoyakitora

    I dont understand Japan, why is the dude forced out because he has Yak as as a friend, the entire entertainment industry is run by Yakuza,

    Try the entire country. If everyone quit their job because they were connected to the Yakuza in some way Japan would cease to exist. Just an immature little child with no real talent or entertainment value getting what's been coming to him for years. I am now a firm believer in Karma.

    Posted in: Comedian Shimada quits show business over reported ties to yakuza

  • 5

    takoyakitora

    >

    To the government of Japan: You guys are always considering, considering, considering. It's been over FIVE months now. How about some ACTION???

    I really hope people read my post before reacting to it and fully understand what I'm saying.

    It took our management company two and a half months to finally replace our broken air conditioner. TWO AND A HALF MONTHS of discussing and considering all options. In this country this is normal practice.

    Anyone who thinks this monumental event is enough to get the Japanese government moving with purpose is kidding themselves. Support from the government will come when monkeys fly out of our a$$es! Expect years, perhaps decades of discussing, monitoring, and assessing the issue before anything meaningful is done.

    This government and bureaucratic system doesn't disgust me as someone mentioned above. I would expect nothing less from the powers that be to act in any other way than they have been. Incredibly cynical I know but what reason do I have not to be given the state of things and the actions of those in charge.

    It would take a mass suicide of at least 10000 farmers in front of the diet building for politicians to do anything.

    It is up to us, the everyday citizen, visitor, resident, to help in any way we can. If we want anything done in this country we have to do it ourselves.

    Posted in: Suicides add to despair in Tohoku disaster zone

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    Why would you tell anyone this? It just strengths the yen more because investors know the government is about to give money away... Don't these "experts" know how the financial system works?

    This is Japan. Real world economics don't apply here.

    I made a killing off the last 2 interventions. Keep the announcements coming!

    Posted in: Japan ready to act over yen's historic rise

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    Japan, Endless Regret.

    But to Kan's credit any one of the past few Prime Ministers would have accepted the invite and would probably use it as an excuse to stay on the job longer.

    Posted in: Kan drops plan to visit U.S. for summit talks

  • 0

    takoyakitora

    By all means, please explain how?

    Read the post again.

    Posted in: Japan marks 66th anniversary of World War II surrender

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