Comments for Liberal Japan

Comment on Butler’s cafe by Matt Dioguardi

Matt Dioguardi — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:22:36 +0000

Regarding “yellow fever” among white males, Wikipedia notes:

Raymond Fisman authored an article published in Salon which claimed that the existence of Asian fetish is a myth. Raymond based his conclusions on the results of a study, “Racial Preferences in Dating,” that he helped to conduct.[12] The study, based upon speed dating experiments among Columbia University graduate students, found no general statistically-significant racial preference among males.[13]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_fetish

Nevertheless, I have met some men who expressed to me they liked Japanese girls specifically because they were submissive. However, my personal experience is that classifying all girls in Japan as being submissive is far too simplistic.

While it’s only anecdotal I once met a man who told me how happy he was with his “Japanese wife” because she was so submissive. Another man I met was downright irate when his wife would not act according to his stereotypical expectations of her as a “Japanese wife.” In both cases it troubled me that each of them had attempted to marry a stereotype.

The fact that many people in Japan do *incorrectly* have feelings of inferiority towards occidentals is pretty well documented, I think. I think this is changing a lot though, and the younger generations feel this much less than the older generations. In general though this is again too simple, feelings people have towards foreigners in Japan are pretty complex and mixed for each individual.

My own opinion about the place above is sort of like, “whatever, dude.” The exotic is always interesting. I do wonder how much attention a place like this would get in a America. For example, a pub catering to male white customers (though not exclusively) by having all Asian waitresses that pampered the guests. Are there such places?

Again my response would be whatever, but I’m sure some people would argue it was enforcing stereotypes.

Comment on Butler’s cafe by Marcus

Marcus — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:03:51 +0000

I don’t know about any inferiority complex - is that what’s sparking “yellow fever” among so many white males? Probably not. Why is it different? Because Asians are inferior?

Comment on Back when Japanese knew manners … by billywest

billywest — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:03:31 +0000

Wasn’t that one of the main themes of ‘No Country For Old Men?’ Older folks often tend to feel that the world has changed or passed them by, but in reality, there’s nothing new under the sun; Older folks often just tend to feel so disconnected they can no longer relate today’s world to the one of their past.

Comment on Back when Japanese knew manners … by Aki

Aki — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:47:58 +0000

Just for information, I have seen what I wrote above in real time. But I understand that people tend to believe what they want to believe.

Comment on Back when Japanese knew manners … by Ret

Ret — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:36:09 +0000

False. People always say these things, but when you talk to old timers, they’ll tell you things were at least as bad back in the ‘good old days’.

Comment on Dog learns to pray in Japan by www.japansoc.com

www.japansoc.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:24:59 +0000

Japanese Dog Learns to Pray

A cute picture of a dog praying in Japan.

Comment on Back when Japanese knew manners … by Aki

Aki — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:23:10 +0000

I think it was true until early 1970s. Baby boomers initially changed the social behavior of people in the 1970s. I think that people’s manners in public transport are getting worse these days, I mean, after 1990s.

Comment on Foreign students to be exempt from fingerprinting. by azumarisan

azumarisan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:33:02 +0000

What about foreign wives of japanese husbands? We have more to lose, especially in front of our kids! (or foreign husbands of Japanese wives)

Comment on Butler’s cafe by azumarisan

azumarisan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:29:31 +0000

Sounds like the kind of place you go to relax after a hard day serving your japanese husband!! I’m in!

Comment on Dog learns to pray in Japan by azumarisan

azumarisan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:28:07 +0000

Only in Japan!!

Comment on Back when Japanese knew manners … by azumarisan

azumarisan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:27:13 +0000

When i went over a couple of years ago my husband (japanese) was the only one on the train that stood up and gave his seat to this mentally handicapped guy. Everyone else just looked down at their feet or pretended to be busy. I think it’s pretty apalling. I’ve never seen anyone get up for an elderly person or pregnant lady either.

Comment on Back when Japanese knew manners … by sonzai

sonzai — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:44:03 +0000

Man, having lived in Japan in the late ’90s and then coming back for a 3-month stay last spring/summer, I can assure you that it’s better NOW than it was then! I don’t know what that person at the Times is smoking…which, by the way, is another manner’s issue that has improved greatly over the ten years I was away.

Comment on Comment on “MOJ Immigration Bureau violates privacy of marriage” by Dave

Dave — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:40:20 +0000

Can someone tell me the requirements of how many times and/or what type of correspondence is needed to get a spousal visa? I have a legitimate marriage and have been denied twice and am at my wits end how I can ever live with my wife (she cant come here to the u.s. except to visit). Should we send weekly postcards to each other (instead of email) or what?

Comment on Japan Society for the Study of Obesity says fatness starts at 33.1 inches for men by Bob

Bob — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:43:36 +0000

I guess this is a career death-sentence for us big foreigners.
I’m not overweight at all, but I’ve not had a 33.1 inch waist since I was 14-15.

Comment on Butler’s cafe by Two Cents

Two Cents — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:36:07 +0000

The maid cafe, imoto (little sister) cafe, the butler’s cafe, and the gymnasium (boy’s boarding school) cafe are just a form of the costumeplay restaurants, which are manifestations of the otaku culture. The former two cater to male otakus and the latter to female otakus. I’m not surprised that one business struck on an idea to hire western men as butlers to set it apart from the rest. When butler’s cafe first opened, I saw in the TV news that some female clients preferred old men to act the role of butlers and businesses had difficulty finding them. I guess it’s hard to find men in their fifties and sixties who have an understanding of the otaku culture.

It has nothing to do with inferiority complexes. More like fetish, obsession, and fantasy which thrive on the manga, anime, and game culture.

Comment on Hotel faces left versus right struggle. by Matt Dioguardi

Matt Dioguardi — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:48:09 +0000

Actually it slipped by me that they had *already* signed the contract. Thanks for pointing that out.

Comment on Hotel faces left versus right struggle. by ponta

ponta — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:52:48 +0000

An interesting perspective on the right and the left at the extreme.
I think the police does provide security. But the security is not good enough： The hotel like that wants to provide the convenient and peaceful atmosphere　for other customers. You know, with loud speaker, black-van rightist can be a lot of troubles. That said, the hotel should have checked the consequence before it accepted the contract with the union.

Comment on Strict constitutionalism and anti-tax: the JCP by Matt@occidentalism.org

Matt@occidentalism.org — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:10:27 +0000

On the issue of the antiwar clause, I am fully behind you. While I think that alteration of the constitution should be taken under serious consideration, it should be an actual change to the constitution, not an unconstitutional “reinterpretation”.

Comment on Are foreign tourists responsible for rises in crime? by Garrett

Garrett — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:30:07 +0000

About 90 percent of them blame increased tourism for a “rise in crimes committed by foreigners.”

Well, of course, bring more foreigners in and the number of crimes committed by foreigners will increase. What worries me is the possible implication that, but of course foreign crime is the problem, that foreigners commit more crimes, on average, than Japanese nationals.

The question is just plain stupid, though. It reminds me of an article that ran in the Yomiuri a couple years ago touting the fact that foreigners were responsible for over 99% of visa crime. Shocking! Wait. . .

Comment on Japan Shrinks by Cecil Hubbard

Cecil Hubbard — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:17:21 +0000

What was the population of japan in 1937?