"So, that usage, which has both a racial and a national tinge, is superimposed by some on the term, but for others the term simply refers to foreigners, regardless of race or nationality. During the early postwar period, the term often took on an informal connotation of a white person, especially an American. I don't believe there are grounds for taking offense in such situations. Since these people were immediately distinguishable from the vast majority of the Japanese people, the term 'Gaijin' was often used to say something like, 'Look there, there's somebody different!' Many non-Japanese in Japan have had the experience of a school child pointing to them and exclaiming 'gaijin da!' These kids are not hostile to the 'gaijin' but fascinated by them and often run right up to the 'gaijin' and try to talk to the foreigner, or giggle and run away in embarrassment. "However, during and after the American occupation, the term was popularly used as a reference for the many non-Asians, largely white people, who came to Japan. A Gaijin can be a person of any race, including Japanese-American or Japanese-Brazilian, of whom there are many residing in Japan. For them it means 'foreigner,' or 'non-Japanese.' It certainly has no inherent racist denotation. Some foreigners in Japan believe it should be interpreted literally, 'non-human' (when the middle term 'kuni' is dropped) but I don't think many Japanese use it in this way. Professor Doak explains, "Gaijin" is a contraction of 'Gai-koku-jin,' or person from a foreign county. He’s the author of "Xavier’s Legacy: Catholics In Modern Japanese Culture” and “A History of Nationalism in Modern Japan.” He has translated numerous volumes, written op-ed pieces for the Sankei Shimbun, Sekai Nippo and is even cited by former Prime Minister Abe in his book "Utsukushii kuni E" (2006). Kevin M Doak is a Professor and Nippon Foundation Endowed Chair in Japanese Studies Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Georgetown University. The observations of one professor impacted me profoundly, however. In an effort to get some insight into the word, I decided to contact a number of linguists and specialists in the Japanese Language. It is a stinging racial epithet with sinister implications deep below the surface. It means foreigner, and as non-Japanese living in Japan, we take it with a sense of humor that it is what we are.īut to a number of expats, it is more than just a word. To most foreigners and Japanese that I know, it's just a word.
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