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

["murrl" <murrl@pen.net>]

I for one do not agree, I lived in Japan for over 20 years and not once was I made to feel anything but welcome, maybe it's how you take things. And a big yes this is not the place to take this up.....
-----Original Message-----
From: A. Strader & G. Monaghan <monaghan@apsicc.aps.edu>
To: sumo@brooks.statgen.ncsu.edu <sumo@brooks.statgen.ncsu.edu>
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 1997 11:48 AM
Subject: Re: Hinkaku - It isn't the same as xenophobia!


>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.