LogFAQs > #887623180

chaosbowser posted...

Also the fact that its permissible is the problem not that someone put up the sign and took it down. That would never fly here.

You say that, but right now there's a case before the US Supreme Court about businesses being allowed to deny services to gay people.

chaosbowser posted...

Their racial ignorance is so deep they're not even aware they're being racist.

To be fair, the situation is a little different in Japan than it is here. The US - dating back to its founding days, thanks to both immigration from various parts of the world and forced slavery, has always been a nation with substantial racial mix. By contrast, Japan is one of the most ethnically homogenous in the world, with over 97% of Japanese citizens being ethnic Japanese. The "Japanese Only" signs, from what I can gather, seem to be less a hateful call for racial purity (as such actions tend to be here) and more a way of saying "No tourists". Tourists in Japan have a reputation for being loud, ignorant, inconsiderate, and rude and it's a reputation that isn't undeserved in my experience. Having taken many a trip to Okinawa, the locals appreciate the tourist dollars of the US GIs coming from the nearby military base, but otherwise have a pretty strained - and, in some quarters, openly hostile - relationship with them (not helped by the fact that GIs have been involved in several murders and high-profile rape cases, including one of a 12 year old girl).

Is it ignorant? Sure. But as I said, every culture has its warts. The Japanese would probably contend that denying service to people who look different is no worse than shooting them, which is what tends to happen in America.

chaosbowser posted...

What i find amusing is your inability to realize the problem.

I don't think I ever said this wasn't a problem, nor have I ever denied that Japan has issues with xenophobia.

chaosbowser posted...

It says that in America at least inequality is largely racial

No comment on the significant economic inequality that plagues America?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality

Amongst Western nations, only Mexico has worse inequality (South Africa too, depending on how you want to define "Western"), sitting around the 30s, depending on what data you're using. If you scroll way down, you'll see Japan sitting in the 120s.

chaosbowser posted...

My point was that our population continues to grow because we have a strong immigrant population which we encourage where as japan does not and entirely of their own choice.

Given your current president's statements and policy decisions vis-a-vis immigration (both legal and otherwise), I question exactly how much "encouragement" the US is giving these days.

Regardless, you're correct that Japan has low immigration, that is by choice, and I've mentioned that myself several times.

You seem to be misunderstanding me in this little debate. I've never said that Japan was a saintly nation with no problems whatsoever, nor did I suggest it's markedly better than the US. I simply said the issues that Japan faces are different than the ones the US faces and it's ultimately down to personal opinion as to whether or not one outstrips the other.

The US has horrific issues with violence, particularly gun violence, income inequality, and social disunity. Japan struggles with sexism, xenophobia, and a tendency to hide personal problems.

Again, one nation's culture isn't better than the other; they are simply different.
---

Kill 1 man: You are a murderer. Kill 10 men: You are a monster.
Kill 100 men: You are a hero. Kill 10,000 men, you are a conqueror!