Comments on: Shinto Priests at Meiji Jingu

By: Shane Sakata

Shane Sakata — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:47:36 +0000

Dave – Thanks for your comment. I cannot speak for Danielle as that was her choice of word, however, I don’t find the term gaijin, or as you call it “the dreaded G-word”, that controversial or offensive. That said, this and many other words can be insulting and derogatory if uttered in a certain tone or in specific situations but I haven’t yet run across one in almost six years living as a foreigner in Japan.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:56:58 +0000

Why not use “gaikokujin” (roughly “foreign-country person”) instead of the dreaded G-word? It’s a bit more polite… Or maybe “less controversial” would be a more accurate description?

By: Takayama Storefront | Nihon Sun

Takayama Storefront | Nihon Sun — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:58:19 +0000

[...] also contributed Shinto Priests at Meiji Jingu to the Symbolic Japan section of photo [...]

By: Danielle

Danielle — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:29:30 +0000

Well I guess I’ll have to leave you Americans to your Americanisms then. I’m going to keep using the word in a neutral sense in the same way so many others do (you are the first person to complain about my use of it on the web or in person) but I do think it’s a pity you can’t see that giving in to those who use it derogatorily is giving in to more than just a word but encouraging people to accept that all foreign things are negative.
“Live as though the world is as it should be, to show the world how it can be.”

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:09:10 +0000

@Danielle,

Well, the word my friends and I use is not that bad, it could be repeated here. We noted that perhaps it is a cultural phenomena that the minority adapts the derogatory word the majority uses to describe the minority, even if the majority has long stopped using that derogatory word publicly. It’s just that we don’t use the g-word. We use an American colloquialism.

Personally, I much prefer the word foreigner to be used in conversation than the g-word. I guess the best term would be to use “non-Japanese resident.”

By: Danielle

Danielle — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:40:45 +0000

@jason lol I think you’ll have to get over that one, there is simply no other word to succinctly describe a non-Japanese person who is in Japan at that moment. I know some people use it derogatorily but it needed be used as such for it simply means “not one of us” and that’s what we are. I am confused, though, you ask me not to use “gaijin” because it makes you feel bad and yet the only alternative you offer is so appalling it can’t be repeated here? Do you only refer to non-Japanese in Japan in a derogatory way? Doesn’t that include you?

A not-unrelated aside – Everyone should be shouting “Voldemort” from the rooftops – the fear is what gives him his power. Voldemort! Voldemort! Voldemort! (omg what’s that horrible THING that’s just appeared…)

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:15:00 +0000

@danielle

I’ve noticed too that Japanese have been fairly good lately about letting me get a shot even in the middle of a sidewalk, but on the other hand I still have tons of people walking into shots.

Wish you wouldn’t use the g-word though. Every time I read it, especially when a non-Japanese person uses it, I cringe like Ron Weasly when he hear’s Harry say “Voldemort” out loud. My friends and I have long ago adopted another term to refer to non-Japanese people, though it may not suitable to repeat here.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:40:03 +0000

Thanks guys, and like Shane I just can’t find it in me to tell people to push off lol. Mind you it is only ever gaijin that get in front of me here, even if I’m just using my little snapshot digi – I’m often realizing people are waiting for me just out of shot and saying “Oh! Douzo, douzo.” and ushering them through – sometimes I see a glimpse of disappointment and when I get my shots home I see those same people had been just barely on the edge of a shot posing nonchalantly lol!

By: Freedomwv

Freedomwv — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:01:24 +0000

Great looking photo.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:35:35 +0000

No doubt it helps to have professional or at least professional looking gear when it comes to the general public not getting in the way of your shots. I noticed this yesterday when hoisting up my new 80-200mm lens, people on the sidewalk actually walked behind me or stopped completely. I was surprised, but pleased!