"they announced themselves with a cloud of aftershave potent enough to make me nauseous"
That is one thing I have become so much more sensitive to while living in Japan: the waft of aftershave or perfume from some tourist. I hate it. Really there's no need to bathe in the stuff, a few drops is quite sufficient!
I've heard both German and French tourists make snide/rude comments in Japan. They have usually been embarrassed when I speak to them in their langauge. I think it's probably common and it certainly doesn't just happen in Japan. I've witnessed it in the UK, the US and France at different times. And it also applies to other European nationalities too.
Mind you the funniest one of those was back several decades when I visited the Niagara Falls with some people I knew from Finland including a Finnish lady, Virpi. We were in the gift shop looking for souvenirs and these two mid-teenaged kids were running around causing trouble and being rude in Finnish. Virpi rolled her eyes and we commiserated (we could all understand at least some of what the kids were saying). Then they made their mistake by running around the corner and into her/us. They didn't apologize and one of them said something about stupid fat Americans. Virpi shouted back at them with the sort of Finnish you are never taught in school, I forget all the words but Perkeleen Vittupää was definitely in there somewhere. The two kids kind of shrunk and oozed away in shame
Thank you for writing this and I am grateful for your strength in speaking up. Riding the subway in Tokyo these last two weeks I have seen a number of acts of entitlement on the part of Euro-Americans that have left me wondering if I should intervene or just “Let Them” as Mel Robbins says. Nothing quite as explicit but things like allowing one’s child to lie across three subway seats, with shoes on, while an old lady has nowhere to sit, public displays of affection in crowded spaces on trains, etc. I wish these folks would stop treating Japan like it is their playground if privilege.
As someone born in Germany, I am all too familiar with the racist dynamic you encountered. While it is common for Germans to negatively comment on or criticize other countries without inhibition — southern Europeans, and especially Americans are the usual victims — any criticism directed at Germany or Germans is frowned upon and usually firmly rejected. This hypocrisy of aggressive judgment outward and uptight defensiveness is precisely the rather habitual smug superiority you were dealing with. I am sorry you had to experience it. My own comment will typically be deflected as "generalization".
It is a global village and you never know who is nearby, when people say stupid and racist shit. Thank you for writing this. I am now old enough that I will speak up if I hear anyone I understand say something disrespectful. I still have all my teeth, and my nose is still relatively straight. I may have been lucky, but I believe, if cultural sensitivity and respect disappears, we are all doomed.
I feel this post, really. Because the same happens here in Italy. They come to enjoy our country but they mock us, basing on stereotypes which are...well, stereotypes.
As if in Italy everything was allowed because Italians have a good temper so everything is tolerated because this is THE place to have fun.
Well...no. That's another stereotype.
And I won't talk about the damages they cause to monuments, or I will never finish writing.
Indeed, I’d say that’s a racist comment, especially when they speak in another language and assume others don’t understand.
Funny enough, something similar (but not racist) happened to me. Traveling to Hiroshima back in the summer of 2004, I was very enthusiastic as it was my first solo trip to Japan, a country I’ve dreamt of traveling to throughout my childhood. I checked into my hotel heavily drenched in sweat after walking outside under the burning sun with my backpack and belongings. I spoke English and the hotel clerk (a young Japanese woman) leaned over and half-whispered to her Japanese male coworker how much I stank in Japanese (something like 臭いね). I assume she was brave enough to say such a thing in front of me, a hotel guest, while checking in because she assumed I didn’t speak Japanese. I half considered replying back in Japanese but held my tongue. I was bothered by it (as evident by the fact that I remember it to this day) but it faded into amusement over the years. Looking back, I agree with her—I probably did stink!
She’s probably a nice person in real life, but the experience taught me that seemingly nice people will do/say stupid/rude things every once in a while.
Not saying what you encountered was in the same league as what I experienced (not racist, just rude), but it’s funny how people act when they think they can get away with it.
Lastly, good for you to let that young German boy have it. Maybe this experience will teach him a good lesson and help him smarten up. Boys need kicks to their behinds to grow up sometimes 👍
"they announced themselves with a cloud of aftershave potent enough to make me nauseous"
That is one thing I have become so much more sensitive to while living in Japan: the waft of aftershave or perfume from some tourist. I hate it. Really there's no need to bathe in the stuff, a few drops is quite sufficient!
I've heard both German and French tourists make snide/rude comments in Japan. They have usually been embarrassed when I speak to them in their langauge. I think it's probably common and it certainly doesn't just happen in Japan. I've witnessed it in the UK, the US and France at different times. And it also applies to other European nationalities too.
Mind you the funniest one of those was back several decades when I visited the Niagara Falls with some people I knew from Finland including a Finnish lady, Virpi. We were in the gift shop looking for souvenirs and these two mid-teenaged kids were running around causing trouble and being rude in Finnish. Virpi rolled her eyes and we commiserated (we could all understand at least some of what the kids were saying). Then they made their mistake by running around the corner and into her/us. They didn't apologize and one of them said something about stupid fat Americans. Virpi shouted back at them with the sort of Finnish you are never taught in school, I forget all the words but Perkeleen Vittupää was definitely in there somewhere. The two kids kind of shrunk and oozed away in shame
Thank you for writing this and I am grateful for your strength in speaking up. Riding the subway in Tokyo these last two weeks I have seen a number of acts of entitlement on the part of Euro-Americans that have left me wondering if I should intervene or just “Let Them” as Mel Robbins says. Nothing quite as explicit but things like allowing one’s child to lie across three subway seats, with shoes on, while an old lady has nowhere to sit, public displays of affection in crowded spaces on trains, etc. I wish these folks would stop treating Japan like it is their playground if privilege.
As someone born in Germany, I am all too familiar with the racist dynamic you encountered. While it is common for Germans to negatively comment on or criticize other countries without inhibition — southern Europeans, and especially Americans are the usual victims — any criticism directed at Germany or Germans is frowned upon and usually firmly rejected. This hypocrisy of aggressive judgment outward and uptight defensiveness is precisely the rather habitual smug superiority you were dealing with. I am sorry you had to experience it. My own comment will typically be deflected as "generalization".
Born and raised in Germany, now in US (20 years), absolutely true, couldn't have been better expressed. Superiority all around.
It is a global village and you never know who is nearby, when people say stupid and racist shit. Thank you for writing this. I am now old enough that I will speak up if I hear anyone I understand say something disrespectful. I still have all my teeth, and my nose is still relatively straight. I may have been lucky, but I believe, if cultural sensitivity and respect disappears, we are all doomed.
I feel this post, really. Because the same happens here in Italy. They come to enjoy our country but they mock us, basing on stereotypes which are...well, stereotypes.
As if in Italy everything was allowed because Italians have a good temper so everything is tolerated because this is THE place to have fun.
Well...no. That's another stereotype.
And I won't talk about the damages they cause to monuments, or I will never finish writing.
Tourists are welcome, but respect is due.
Indeed, I’d say that’s a racist comment, especially when they speak in another language and assume others don’t understand.
Funny enough, something similar (but not racist) happened to me. Traveling to Hiroshima back in the summer of 2004, I was very enthusiastic as it was my first solo trip to Japan, a country I’ve dreamt of traveling to throughout my childhood. I checked into my hotel heavily drenched in sweat after walking outside under the burning sun with my backpack and belongings. I spoke English and the hotel clerk (a young Japanese woman) leaned over and half-whispered to her Japanese male coworker how much I stank in Japanese (something like 臭いね). I assume she was brave enough to say such a thing in front of me, a hotel guest, while checking in because she assumed I didn’t speak Japanese. I half considered replying back in Japanese but held my tongue. I was bothered by it (as evident by the fact that I remember it to this day) but it faded into amusement over the years. Looking back, I agree with her—I probably did stink!
She’s probably a nice person in real life, but the experience taught me that seemingly nice people will do/say stupid/rude things every once in a while.
Not saying what you encountered was in the same league as what I experienced (not racist, just rude), but it’s funny how people act when they think they can get away with it.
Lastly, good for you to let that young German boy have it. Maybe this experience will teach him a good lesson and help him smarten up. Boys need kicks to their behinds to grow up sometimes 👍