Re: Hinkaku - It isn't the same as xenophobia!

["A. Strader & G. Monaghan" <monaghan@apsicc.aps.edu>]

I think that Mr. Beauchamp has made an excellent point here.  I too have
lived in Japan.  Racism is the norm, not the exception.  Anyone who has
tried to find a place live there knows this.  If you want further proof,
take out your Gaijin card and note the fingerprint.  When I lived there,
my bicycle was stolen.  I thought I should report it to the police.  It
was a most interesting experience which culminated in my fingerprints
being taken.  It left me with distinct impression that I was the
criminal and not the victim.  Maybe it was the butter stench I was
exuding.

My point is that Konishiki was the strongest rikishi at the time he was
being considered.  Now, he didn't comethrough and win back to back
yusho.  But, if I remember correctly, the alleged comments and the
repsonse from the yokozuna committee came after his win and before the
next basho.  He knew going into the basho that he probably wouldn't be
promoted and that he didn't have the hinkaku or the gravitas or whatever
nice word you care to use to euphemize this nasty, xenophobic
sentiment.  He was tainted before he had a chance to win two yusho.  

Charles Beauchamp wrote:
> Not wishing to revise history that I remember quite well a few points
> here.  I have lived in Japan and have found a general opinion that the
> average person in that country whom I have come in contact with have a
> bit stronger sense of anti-foreign attitude then most Americans would
> find comfortable.  Japan IS Xenophobic.  The term Gaijin is not a
> compliment.  I see no reason to be apologetic for what is the plain
> truth.  I for one find little dignity in racism no matter how
> "traditional" or "poetic" it looks.  It is one facet of Japanese society
> as well as American society that I find distateful.