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Issues of Identity: Who I AmAlllooksame....Wow, I got a lot comments saying I look like Takeda Tetsuya! Is that right? Personally, I think the only resemblance is the fact that I'm a dedicated teacher who loves his students, and Tetsuya PLAYED a dedicated teacher (Kinpachi sensei), on TV. So, anyway, below are three photos. One is Takeda Tetsuya. One is Jackie Chan. One is me in 1996--I was 40 years old then. Can you guess which one. Take your time. Don't rush. Don't look at the profile pic on the left--that's cheating. Now, do we "alllooksame"? Ok, ok, let's make it easier: one is Japanese, one is Japanese-American (me--doh!), one is Chinese (Hong Kong, as if no one knew....) Isn't that easier? hahaha! If you guessed the one in the middle, then you'd be right. Pat yourself on the back. This photo was taken around the time some people thought I looked like Jackie. Actually, we're brothers. Tetsuya, Jackie and I are all half: Hong Kong/Japanese. Tetsuya is the eldest, six years older than me. Then Jackie, a year and a half older. Tetsuya was really into Kung Fu, but never made it big as a martial artist, so he became an actor in Japan and used his Kung Fu in "Keiji Monogatari". But he really became famous as an the elementary school teacher, Kinpachi sensei. Jackie followed in his footsteps and became a star in Hong Kong in Kung Fu movies. You might have heard of him. Me? I avoid the limelight and just became a teacher... Ho hum... Oh yeah, and in case your were wondering, our real names are Manny, Moe and Jack. Saturday, October 04, 2003 Asians in America IIMy post from last Thursday elicited different comments. I responded to Paiky on Friday. Today I will address Dizzo who provided an opposing comment suggesting that, as far as he is concerned, all races in America are equal. CultofDizzo: to be completely honest, i never considered asian americans any different from regular americans until they told me they were. I didn't know about the cultural differences until I became friends with a lot of asians. A lot of these negative stereotypes we're trying to get rid of were first introduced to me in the context of being told they weren't true. In an American city like DC or NYC, when you see an asian or a black person or any other "minority" you don't bat an eye, because it is normal. I'd be much more uncomfortable if I was in america and everyone was white! Posted 10/2/2003 at 11:44 PM There are many non-Asians who have told me that they received similar discriminating treatment in Asian countries. And that is true and unfortunate. But there is a basic difference between our situations. For the most most part, the non-Asian probably chose to go to Asia and has the choice to leave, as they have a place to return to. I had no choice and nowhere to return to. I did not choose to be born in the US; I did not choose to be educated in a system that paid lip service, telling me that I was "legally" equal to everyone else in our great land; I did no choose to be raised in a culture that made me feel different, that convinced me that I WAS different from other "regular Americans" through images of typical White middle American values in the media. I also have no where to return, for I am an outsider in Japan. I look Japanese, but my passport guarantees different treatment when I go to find a job, try to find an apartment, get a loan, etc. So I live here and try--in my own small way--to effect change from within, to influence young people positively. I have to believe that its possible, that there is a goal to strive for; perhaps not a Utopia, but a better place than this. To those of you who have read these past two Asian American posts: Don't think I don't respect these two gentlemen, or that I have singled them out for rebuttal. I only know Paiky through Xanga, but I have been reading his sites regularly, and from what I can tell, he is a straight talking guy. He is totally cool, and I respect his opinion. I have met Dizzo, and although we have never had a real heart-to-heart, I know enough about him through mutual friends and his Xanga site that he is a kind and gentle soul. And I respect his opinion and observations as well. But I needed to make a point and I wanted to address them here. They are good people who I'm sure will accept a difference of opinion. Friday, October 03, 2003 Asians in America IMy last post elicited different comments, which is, in my opinion, a good thing. Discussion--even if divergent and at times conflicting--is always good in that it is the first step in understanding each other and getting along--but please, don't call me Rodney King: PaikyPoo: we live in a world of physical senses. your idea where we're all equals is a utopia which will never be realized. no matter how twinkie i am, how perfect my english is, how patriotic i am, how abercrombie & fitch i dress, how white my gf/wife is (if i had one), or how much money i make i'll always be seen as a yellow man. doesn't bother me tho... one of the advantages of being older is i've had more time to contemplate about such things. i got over my insecurities about it several years ago. Posted 10/2/2003 at 7:37 PM CultofDizzo also left a comment that reflects the other side of the spectrum. I will respond to that tomorrow... Wednesday, October 01, 2003 On Getting MarriedI posted a comment on ekka's page a few days ago that got me thinking about how I chose a marriage partner. Once, about 10 year ago during my previous marriage, a school bud asked me what I thought was important in choosing a girl, and I gave him a list of "priorities".
My ex-wife fit these criteria to a tee. She has a PhD from UCLA. She's a Half--Japanese/German--good face, full lips, and even taller than me. She's bilingual and bicultural. She's a decent cook. And she liked sex, but only as a means to procreate--not to have fun. So except for #6, she seemed to be perfect, but still we got divorced. And I think its because we were too "analytical". We both had certain expectations in a partner that could be catelogued and prioritized. And we approached life in this fashion, as well. Everything was done for a reason, everything we did had to make economic, social, cultural, and academic sense. I think she was happy with this, but for me, life became too predictable and rigid. We lived in Japan where she was an assistant prof. at Hitotsubashi--not a shabby place--a job, I should mention, she got through my connections: yes, kon� (connections) is really important still. Anyone who tries to convince you Japan is an egalitarian, meritorious system is full of it. Anyway, when I got my Ph.D. and decided to return to the US, she refused to return with me; she wanted to pursue her career in Japan and have our daughter continue her education in Japan. Hitotsubashi is a prestigious national school ranked 3rd in Japan. It didn't make sense to her to quit it for a job I got at a middle first-tier university? (The school is, solid in many areas but it is not a Harvard or a Stanford or a Michigan or a Berkeley...) And "practically" speaking, she was right: it did not make economic or academic sense in terms of HER career. And the education our daughter was receiving was good as well. And Japan is a far safer environment than the US. Can you say, Columbine? Anyway, what was missing from the equation is a sense of passion. My first marriage--for both parties, I think--was calculated, whether it be what we expected from each other or how we lived our lives and planned our future. For her, living apart was not a big deal; it made sense in many different ways. But I began to question the type of relationship we had and we ultimately divorced, as she wanted to pursue her career. You may ask why I didn't decide to stay in Japan. Well, I earned a Ph.D. in Jap. Lit., and there was not school that would hire me, an American, to teach Jap lit. to Japanese. Indeed, I tried; I applied to two different jobs, but it was always, "no sankyu". And my ex-wife was an anthropologist in Southeast Asian, but her main responsibility was as an international student advisor. So she wasn't really working in a job that she had studied for. I guess taking the path she set out for herself was not so important, but it was for me. I had the opportunity to do what I had trained for. Should I have turned it down? I said, "No". And she said, "Be my guest." So I went. But that was then. I had to re-evaluate how I saw relationships. Should I continue to be calculating? Should I adhere to the priorities and standards that I thought were so important in a relationship? Well, Musubi-chan answered that question for me. We were friends and we were out drinking with friends one night in Fuch�. As we were walking back to the train station to go home, she slipped her hand into mine and bang! Electricity! I know, it sounds so corny. But its true. I never thought this could be. I have read in novels about "true love", about how you get this electric feeling and how you just know that this is the right person. I was a skeptic--"baloney" I'd say--for most of my life. But I am now a believer. I tell this to my friends, and all they can say, sarcastically, is ???? (gochisou-sama: lit. thanks for the feast) It took me 40 years to find the right girl, but I found her in Musubi-chan. Is everything bliss? No. We have differences of opinions and argue, but who wouldn't? I mean, we had 40 years to develop our own personalities. Do we have a perfect relationship? Yes, but I can't explain it. She doesn't fit all the criteria I had set out above. She dropped out of college, she is neither bilingual nor bicultural. And, not to brag, but I think I'm a better cook, although I should let my kids weigh in on that one, since they've actually eaten what I've made.... Anyway, Musubi-chan doesn't fit all of my previous criteria--but I think we have a passion for each other that transcends mundane--albeit important--issues such as money and career. The point is, however, finding a mate is not an exact science, at least any science that is currently found in a textbook. It is about the feeling and the passion. Musubi-chan quit her job as a successful and popular aerobics instructor to be with me in the US. She gave it up, not because it made sense, but because of her passion--I'm embarassed to say--for me... I guess, I'm pretty lucky. Tuesday, September 30, 2003 Sushi: Japan, Korea and smoke
The operators of this establishment are Korean--no, no, they do not serve Nemo-maki--and the service and freshness were adequate, certainly better than some Japanese-owned places I have been to. But the problem is the seasoning of the rice. I've come to the conclusion that this could be a Korean thing. It's not bad, just different, but not what I expect in sushi meshi (rice). It seems to me that Koreans like there flavors bolder than Japanese. This might explain their taste in spicy foods, such as kimchee, a favorite of mine; and the tendency in Korean-made takuan, the yellow pickled radish, to be sweeter than its Japanese counterpart. Sushi rice is, IMHO, supposed to be subtle in flavor, otherwise it would mask the subtle taste of the fish, for sushi is, after all, about the fish and its freshness. Don't get me wrong. I am not saying Korean sushi tastes bad; it is a bolder--perhaps sweeter--taste than I am accustomed to in sushi. And I am definitely not saying the Koreans can't make good sushi. That is something I would NEVER say, for it has nothing to do with race or genetics. There are many stupid Japs who say that only Japanese can make good sushi because it is uniquely Japanese. That's a bunch of crap, as that would be tantamount to saying--as I have mentioned a number of times previously--that Japanese cannot make good pasta or steaks or even ramen. But they can. And I know for a fact that Koreans can make good sushi as I have eaten tasty sushi by Koreans before. But these were Koreans born and raised in Japan. I guess it simply has to do with the environment in which one is raised. The Koreans in Japan have been raised with Japanese food and know the subtleties of sushi eaten in Japan, even as they still maintain the flavors of their "own" culture--of course, if they were born and raised in Japan, there "culture" is also Japanese, but that's an issue for another day. I have a Japan born-and-raised North Korean friend who runs a Korean BBQ restaurant in Tachikawa, so I'm not giving you a bunch of BS or trying to kiss anyones arse (re: Chaucer). She makes excellent sushi, to go along with her kakuteki (gaggduki?) and she should bottle her tare (Korean BBQ sauce?!?), it would make her a millionaire over here. Oh yeah, her pickled seseme leaves--egoma in Japanese--almost brings me to orgasm, its so good. But the greatest obstacle to eating sushi is smoke. The one good sushi place in DC is a dive called Cafe Japonais. The owner is a jerk, and the place is filled with smoke, y'know, the kind of place from where you return home and your clothes and hair reek of cigarette smoke. If I ever get lung cancer from second-hand smoke, I'm gonna sue this place. But the sushi there is pretty good, far better that Kaz's Bistro near school. But the smoke prevents me from going there. It's so rare to eat good sushi; to think that it's spoiled by the smell of smoke exhaled from someone else's lungs. Yuck. Hahaha, all this bitching from a former two-pack a day Marlboro Red smoker. Well, it's usually the ex-smokers who are the most annoying. So Taku, you quit smoking, yet? I've been clean for over three years... except once, when I had to bum smokes from my students at Cafe Japonais. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em... bachi ga ataru ze. But even back then, when I was a heavy smoker, I would not have a cigarette when I sat at a sushi bar. When I refer to the subtle taste of sushi, I am dead serious. I would never alter my tastebuds with tar and nicotine when I eat a delectable slice of hirame or madai (tile fish?) or, aaaah, the perfect shime saba (pickled mackerel). Ooooh, you have not lived until you've eaten the perfect shime saba. Ooooo, talk about orgasmic. Man, now I hafta take a cold shower... Monday, September 22, 2003 : What's in a name? :
"So how do pronounce this in Cantonese?"
If I ever go to Hong Kong, I would never use the Chinese characters for my name. Can you imagine if they paged me at the airport or hotel? It would sound like, "Phone call for Mr. F*ckin'" Be happy its not YOUR name.... Wednesday, September 17, 2003 : Etymological Question 2: *UPDATE* According to www.pigmentation.net, difference in color is due to the number of melanin granules in skin cells. The idfference in complexion is generally categorized into 6 types. This categorization suggests that I to IV are non-Asian and non-Afro-Caribbean, perhaps suggesting different tones among "whites". Accordingly, I must be "white" since I belong to category II: "burn easily, tans some." Hahahaha! Damn! Who knew? Ok, so two questions to whomever takes the time to read this sight: Tuesday, September 16, 2003 : Etymological Question :Tiggerj asked the following: What is the historical context behind 'hakujin' ? But it begs the question: Why in English (or the West) is a white person called a "white"? Or for that matter, a black person a "black"? This may seem like just another insipid question, formed to incite unnnecessary arguments. But really, why is a caucasian considered "white"? Strictly speaking, a caucasian is not white, as in "white as the driven snow." If you ask me, most have a "pinkish" tone. Could it be that the image of what is good and pure is "white"? Perhaps I am being facile, and besides this point has been discussed by more intelligent people than me, and does not need any regurgitation from me. But let me play devils advocate. Consider: Look at the seemingly innocuous box of Crayola crayons. Tell me, what is the color of "flesh tone"? Isn't it that beige-pink combination? Do you suppose if Crayola were marketing its wares in an African or Asian country, do you think "flesh" would have a darker hue? Of course, Crayola has rethought its terminology and renamed this particular color "peach", sorta confirming my observation of this pinkish color. Interestingly,黒人 kokujin--black person--is also read kuroto. As the opposite of shiroto. it suggests the "professional", one who is recognized as having all the appropriate training and know-how. Go figure! align=center style="margin-top=10;margin-bottom=15;">Friday, September 12, 2003 : Maintaining culture :
1. Omiyage: the practice of bringing back something from a trip to distribute to friends and relatives is relatively common. I practiced this when i lived in Japan, because to not to meant being totally anti-social. But back in the US, I find very few non-Japanese/Asians who do this. Even Japanese who have lived here a significant number of years seem to have stopped giving omiyage, so I sorta did to Why continue to give omiyage to people who accept it, but NEVER return the courtesy? This may sound rather selfish, but how many people coninue giving Christmas gifts to those to don't return the courtesy? Very few i would imagine. Of course, since I married Musubi-chan,this has changed. She is steeped in J tradition, so she can't imagine NOT bringing back omiyage. Fortunately, the number of omiyage is slowly decreasing as she begins to realize that many truly don't return the courtesy... 2. Enryo--reservation/modesty: this is, in my opinion, the kiss fo death for JAs in American culture. Indeed, I would venture to say that this is the root of the "model Minority" syndrome. "Oh, Mr. Tanaka, you did a very good job. You deserve a raise." "Oh no! Not me, I must have been lucky. I just try to do my best..." Well, that gets you no where fast in American culture. More often than not, people will accept your opinion of your work and leave it at that. "Mr. Tanaka? Yeah, he did a good job, but he doesn't seem to think much of it. Maybe he didn't really put that much effort into it, so he probably doesn't really need (choose one or more) a. raise, b. promotion, c. recognition." 3. Tsukiai: In Japan, cultivating a relationship with friends and colleagues takes hard work, or more specifically, hard drinking. Indeed, I too have indulged...er, I mean, been subjected to this way of life. Even in LA, I had a lot of fun... I mean, was forced to cultivate relationships with colleagues in J-Town. The only problem is that sometimes this gets out of hand. How often have I had to babysit a sick friend at a Denny's until they sobered up? Once or twice is okay; a wild Friday night? Maybe understandable. But when it becomes a regular Wednesday thing, or a Thursday tradition, I had to start drawing the line. When a friend started to ask me to lie or hide things so his girlfriend would find out, then I began to wonder what this friendship was about? I'm sure there are more "customs" that don't seem to fit into the US lifestyle. I'd also bet that JAs aren't the only ones. I have heard about Korean cultural practices that would even boggle the mind of the most conservative of Japanese. For example, if you're a smoker, you can NEVER smoke in front of an elder. I thought this was mostly in Japan--I became friends with a few really old school (read: North Korean/Kita-Ch?enjin) people--but I have seen a number of my Korean students hurriedly put out their cigarettes whenever they saw me approaching them on campus. I have known a few to leave the room in order to smoke. Talk about smokin' in the boy's room! Anyway, if you got another one, time to share... Friday, August 22, 2003 PM Update: Response : J-Identity and Musubi-chan dorkus_maximus: What's your insight about sansei Japanese-American's or above? My friend (he's not very credible sometimes =X) told me that they have an identity crisis because they're confused of who they are. Usually, Nisei are the ones that know their culture very well and speak their language fluently because of their immigrant parents. What does that leave the sansei if their parents who were Nisei didn't really impose any of their culture upon their children? Would that leave the 3rd generation or beyond really confused about who they are? Before you roll your eyes, let me assure you that I am not trying to boast. I'm just trying to let you know where I stand. The Nisei have nothing on me. I surpass most Nisei when it comes to things Japanese. And because of all this, I know for a very real fact that I am most emphatically NOT Japanese. If you read to the conclusion of my story of "Expectations", you will find that I have come to a definite determination... But I'll let you read it on your own. I'm getting close to wrapping it up, but its taking more time since I want to end it right... Anyway, sansei and yonsei and gosei and the rest need to deal with the reality: We are not Japanese. We may have an affinity for Japan to varying degrees, but still we are not Japanese. Many of the Japanese "traditions" we learned from our parents and grandparents are relics from an older time, passe and anachronistic by modern Japanese standards of culture, society, and ethics.
sleetse: man how much younger is wife!, If she is younger than you by more than 10 yrs I'm gonna boycott your site. korikai: Musubi-chan is so hot! And didn't you say before that she's a grandma? Good Lord, I wanna look like her when I grow up! (or, now, even). Can you ask her what her workout routine is? (and if she says that she doesn't work out, just....make something up, please). Xanga for the really bored reader i read ur entire entry!!! but i still don get it. what exactly is the "not living up to expectations" thingy?? i guess this one was about ur old crushes so is the "not living up to expectations" thingy about ur life??
Uh, not quite, Fido... er, I mean Pochi... If you had read all the entries from the beginning, the title might make more sense, but your comment has forced me to reconsider the direction of my story, for indeed I seem to be focusing on that most favorite subject of mine, ME... So I thought I'd take a pause and reconsider what I'm trying to convey. The story began when Takunishi79 posted a comment about "screwing up" and the possibility of bouncing back. Not that I'm such a great example or anything, but I wanted to relate to him--and anyone else reading--my experience about being an almost-high-school drop-out who eventually turned it around in the right direction. As an almost-high-school drop-out, I did not live up to the expections placed on me by my parents and JA society at large as a good little oriental boy (Glob). I failed to go to college right away and spent a good portion of my youth dancing, playing in a band, looking for girl friends, etc. much to the disappointment of many around me, even some of my friends. But for a while I was satisfied with what I later found to be a wretched, go-nowhere existence in J-town. As the story continues, it inevitably runs through a portion of my life when I had, by my standards, an extraordinary streak of luck with women. Believe me when I say, in all honesty, that I have always considered myself to be an ugly duckling, and believe for the most part to have grown into an ugly goose. But during that time in my life, for reasons I still cannot fathom, I... well, in Japanese, for lack of a better word, moteta. And that is the portion that Pochi read recently... Well, as I re-read the passage that gave Pochi the wrong impression, I think that perhaps I have dwelled too much on "gurlz". And although to a degree this portion of my life did alter my world view, it has little to do with my actual turn-around. I really understood how much I was getting off the track when I read the continuation of 6 posted on the JAJournal. The way 6 ends is wrong; it does not reflect what I really want to say. It should end when I enter a Japanese singing contest in J-town and... well, I don't want to get ahead of myself... I just want to thank Pochi for forcing me to reconsider and confirm the direction I was going with this story. I truly appreciate your input... as accidental as it may have been... You never know from where words of wisdom will come, which is why I always encourage the comments of everyone who read what I say. Don't just comment with a response to a comment I made on your Xanga page... You know who you are... But chances are you don't read this far. Ha-hah! Sunday, July 20, 2003 AllLookSame: Revisited More Banzai Here are links to articles on the TV show Banzai!
Thursday, July 17, 2003 A good guy, HattoriHanzo from Florida, has an opinion on AAs in the movies--actually one movie, a forthcoming Tarantino flick called "Kill Bill" (Hey Hanzo, that the right title?). Click on his name to read what he has to say. In general, most directors--including Tarantino--see no difference in East Asian actresses, or even any Asian actress from Japan to Vietnam. They look the same to them and so have no qualms about using them in roles that do not reflect their actual ethinic background. I don't really have a problem with this. Besides the fact that I can't even tell the difference sometimes--re: July 02 and the Alllooksame quiz--corresponding ethnicity would require many directors to avoid an actor of Mexican descent, such as Anthony Quinn, to play a Greek (Zorba the Greek), a Jew (Barrabas), or a Turk (Lion of the Desert). Ethnic roles have always been difficult, but in Lucy Liu's case, at least she is Asian. This is not an evaluation of her acting ability--I have seen her in "Ally McBeal" and "Shanghai Noon" and "Jerry Maguire". The problem, if any, is the "authenticity" training. If she's going to play a Japanese, people like Tarantino have to budget for cultural and language instruction. Get someone who could teach her how to act "Japanese" and speak "Japanese"... hmmm, anyone know anyone in Hollywood? I come pretty cheap.... All interested in JA/AA issues Monday, July 14, 2003 No Banzai! Intentionally or Not, Fox Undermines Asian Image The show is supposedly a spoof of crazy Japanese game shows. If you've seen Takeshi's Castle,then you'll probably have an idea as to where they're coming from. However, these shows (unless you watch TNN's Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, a dubbed version of Takeshi's Castle) are obscure to most US viewers, and the ultimate result is that most Americans will just think Japanese and/or Asians are simply off the wall. Another major issue I have with the show is the "foreign" accent of the "Japanese" narrator. I think anyone who has ever heard a Japanese native speak English can tell that the voice is of an American trying to sound foreign--sometimes the Rs and Ls were too perfect... not that an authentic foreign accent would have been better. Another point of contention is something I have previously mentioned: the image of the "mysterious oriental". Japanese/Asian actors contort there faces while striking a martial arts pose. I mean, will we ever be portrayed as regular citizens? These types of stereotypes remind me of Mr. Bojangles--"We here t' entertain da masser, yowzer." Some have said that it is just in fun--something that even the Japanese might do (not the most legititmate argument)--and if you don't like it, don't watch it. But what they fail to realize is that: while I may refuse to see Banzai, others will see it, form an opinion about Asians influenced by this program, and carry this opinion around, someday affecting me or my fellow Asians. Why don't some people get it? We don't live in separate, insulated worlds; we're all mixed together in one society, affecting one another, directly or indirectly, whether we like it or not. <sigh> Misdirected Pride And the possible saving grace? Yes, you guessed it. The Japanese/Asian were putting the non-Asians to task. In the Shopping Cart joust or the Old Lady Wheel Chair game of Chicken, all contestants were white while the referees were Asian. Only stupid non-Asians would actually perform these inane acts. But, is this good? Not really. For one thing, the show is in incredibly poor taste. The One Limbed Soccer Penalty Kick Conundrum (or something like that) takes a shot at the handicapped. In this bit, they pitted a one-legged kicker--without his prosthesis--with a one armed goal keeper. I mean seriously, a spoof is a spoof, but this was totally tasteless. "So," the white viewer might think, "are all Asians this tasteless?" Worse for Asian Americans, the issue may be even deeper than just a lack of taste. It deals with our identity and place in society. With a critical eye, we might ask: Why use white contestants? Well, any good ol' boy could easily respond, "Hell, yeah, of course the contestants were white folk. Who'd watch the program if the contestant were all Asian?" Indeed, who would? In many respects, we are an invisible minority in the media--except maybe in news broadcasts. (Y'know, those Asian are smart, right? Like, they dominate math and science, right? Like my Calculus class is a sea of black hair.) To change this situation, we have to do it ourselves. No one will do it for us. Now, if I only knew how... Any suggestions? And again.... Monday, July 07, 2003 Recognizing Ourselves Commingling In my experience (we're talking late 60s thru the 70s), most people tended to gravitate toward the familiar. Raised--if not born--in LA, there was a relatively large population of JAs and ABCs (American born Chinese), and a few KAs. There was a degree of commingling between JAs and ABCs, particularly when it came to socializing in things American--sports and music, I think. I recall some Chinese playing basketball and baseball in the CBO league and at dances, often sponsored by JA groups. There was at least one Korean--my old geometry teacher--who played NAU baseball, another JA centered group. I don't recall Chinese or Korean leagues back then (if I'm wrong, someone let me know) and it seemed that if Asian-Americans wanted to play American sports or dance to American music played by AA musicians--in which I also participated--they associated with JAs who were more heavily invested in these kinds of activities. (I have a notion that this is related to WWII and the internment camps, but more on that later.) But for the most part, these groups hung out with their respective groups in a kind of "voluntary segregation." Indeed, even the JAs had distinct groups: Westsiders around Crenshaw area (Dorsey, LA High), Eastsiders (Roosevelt, Garfield and later Alhambra High). And those from Gardena/Torrance area. There were JAs in other areas but they usually tried to fit into one of these three groups. So with regard to current AAs, the same principle may still apply: Birds of a feather... Perhaps if there are smaller numbers in each pool, then commingling arises in a move toward solidarity of Asians in general and East Asians in particular. It seems to me that there should be more of this now actually, if JAs in LA are any indication. J-Town was a community when I was growing up, but today there doesn't seem to be that sense anymore. There is a kind of JA diaspora occurring, with JAs moving out to the suburbs--West Covina, Pomona, Cerritos, Orange County. And teenagers may not have the opportunity to hang with others JAs in large numbers as I did. My cousin's sons are certainly an example of this. The bottom line, however, is that I believe that AAs should perhaps loosen these demarcation lines between themselves--if indeed they do still exist. As we continue to be Americanized, we need to recognize that we have more in common with each other than we do with mainstream society. Solidarity is empowering. I don't mean to sound political, but as we all know, we are often made to feel as if we are different--the other--and to change this we should work together. And the first small step toward creating any semblance of solidarity, is commingling with each other, getting to know each other, and each other's culture. Wednesday, July 02, 2003 Back to being JA/AA: But, of course, there are those who would vehemently disagree. Certainly East Asia does not hold a monopoly on such a concept as stories through images. For example, in the West, there was... uh hieroglyphics, and there was... um, images of the Catholic Stations of the Cross. Uh, I'm sure someone will be nice enough to suggest more. Anyway, before I get into trouble, I main point I wanted to make was that the idea that one of us can tell the difference between CJK based soly on physical/facial features is overrated. To test this out go to: Its an interesting test. Have fun. Thursday, June 26, 2003 Being Japanese American (cont'd) その二: Everyone always says I'm not really American because of the way I look, and now you're saying I'm not Japanese. Now this is something that I can relate to, and really cuts to the core of the matter: How we are viewed within mainstream society. I should mention first that it seems me that many non-Asian young(er) people--at least the college students I meet--harbor fewer preconceptions as to what an American looks like, like Capt. Gaijin. They seem less concerned with background than with current interests and lifestyle. And I find this refreshing. However, while it may be ideal for all of us to be equal and Americans--and I admit that I try my best to make non-Asians feel that I am as equal as any of them--there is no denying that JAs/Asians are made to feel like we are different. Certainly, the statement by Capt. G's significant other suggests that there are still those who view Asians as being less than "authentic" Americans--and she's from an area populated heavily by Asians. One important way that makes us feel different is mass media. Okay, there are many Asian newscasters and reporters now. But that is fairly recent, and mostly in urban areas heavily populated by Asians. How about "real" mass media? In the movie, "Karate Kid", Mr. Miyagi seems to have this "Oriental" mystique about him, separating him from the rest, He is also short, looks like a gardener, and bows all the time. Definitely different from others. What other images of JAs or Asians are there in movies? Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, all matial arts related. And the Japanese? "Rising Sun" portrays Japan as mystical--did you like Sean Connery's attempts to exude Zen qualities? Or as business/working automatons, a la "Gung Ho" with Michael Keaton. More telling might be the complete absence of JAs/Asians on TV. Besides Arnold--the goofy restaurant owner--of "Happy Days" and the incredibly forgettable "Mr. T and Tina" (both by Pat Morita), has there ever been a film or TV show--non-historical--in which a JA or any Asian starred as an average American? (There is, of course, "Better Luck Tomorrow" which portrays Asian youths as... wow, American youths with a foreign--Asian--cultural background. But I haven't seen it yet.) These portrayals may not necessarily represent malicious discrimination; but they do spawn the view that Asians are different--in many cases, vastly different--from the mainstream. This view might evoke curiosity in an American--how many have been told they seem exotic or asked if they knew a martial art? Those who have asked me "What are you?" (re: previous entry) perhaps felt an obligation to "recognize" and "tolerate" the diversity that enter their life. The view that JAs are different was once applied as a tool to make a social point. Does anyone remember the term "Model Minorty" from the 70s? (Okay, everyone's too young!) It suggested that JAs did not not complain, did not riot, did not try to overturn society. Some may argue that this was a way to demonstrate that JAs improved their lot in life by working within the system, but there is a hidden subtext. Never mind the implicit comparison between races--JAs are models, why can't you be like them--which more radical elements identify as a divide-and-conquer strategy practiced by the mainstream. On a more basic level, the term itself suggested to me that I was simply different from the mainstream. I always wondered, "Why don't they just call us model Americans?" The obvious answer was that I am different from the rest of America, and hence a minority. Was I/were we set apart because we were "studious" or "good in math" or "respectful"? Are members of other groups less studious or less respectful? Do we have a monopoly on these characteristics? Of course not. The point is I was, and often still am, made to feel as though I'm different. So when Capt. Gaijin--truly well meaning, of course--says that we are all Americans, he doesn't recognize that I, and maybe some others--"feel" different, that his comment strips away the one thing that American society has allowed me to revel in--my ethnicity--and as a result, his comment can be construed as insensitive. While he has suffered discrimination in Japan as Mr. Gaijin, he was subjected to it as an adult, not as a child of 4, 7, 10 or 15 who may not yet have all the tools to objectively analyze a potentially emotionally affecting situation. So in short...I mean long, I disagree with Capt. Gaijin, as well. While it may be ideal to think of myself as an American, it is difficult when I have been subjected by Americans to a large dose of "you are not really an American" most of my life. I think I should stick to Hay Fever. Tuesday, June 24, 2003 Being Japanese American その一:
First, please go to www.xanga.com/CaptainGaijin to confirm that I have paraphrased him correctly. Back? Okay. First, a disclaimer: As the moniker suggests, CaptainGaijin is non-Asian, white, a foreigner in Japan, the gaijin 外人, and I should state for the record that I personally know him. Now, his position is one I am familiar with. While I don't agree with it, I also don't disagree. Okay, okay, it sounds real spineless. But let me have my say. Keep in mind that I'm a JA reaching the half century mark. (Yeah, that's right, an old geezer...) First, why I don't disagree: In an ideal--albeit na�ve kinda way--what he says makes sense. We are all individuals. We should accept others for what they are now, not for what their ancestors were. (BTW, the Japanese are also from Siberia, the Ryukyu Islands and SE Asia. I mean, is there a more diverse looking demographic in East Asia?) We were born in the US and so we are all Americans. I actually believe this� very firmly, in fact. I was once a proud Buddhahead from LA. Back in 1970, I went to Grauman's Chinese Theater with my fellow "countrymen" (as the Dean of my HS would group us) to see Tora Tora Tora. We brought our Japanese navy flags and waved them as we cheered each bomb falling on Pearl Harbor. During the Olympics, we would always root for the Japanese. Back in the 60s and 70s, as a distinct subgroup within American society, we felt very much privileged to say we were Japanese--or Buddhaheads--much as the "Negroes" were proud of being Black and Mexican Americans, Chicanos. But I had a rude awakening when I went to Japan. I spoke Japanese and thought I knew Japan, but I was wrong. I found out I wasn't Japanese. In fact, they told me so then, and have reminded me repeatedly over the years that I am not Japanese, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. All those customs I learned when I was young--going to the relatives and neighbors houses for New Years greetings, eating manju, being humble, being modest, being respectful of your elders--are dying if not dead in today's Japan. I/we practice a culture that is viewed as quaint by modern Japanese. Our ancestors came to the US and brought their 19th/early 20th century customs/culture to the US and they fossilized. In a way, most of us are Meiji/Taisho-Japanese Americans. As we all know, cultures are dynamic and change constantly--and there is no culture in the world that changes faster than Japan. So when people inquire, "What are you?" So I do not particuarly disagree with Capt. Gaijin's post. Although it is a bit naive--in the same way that George Will naively wants to believe that we now live in a color-blind society; all of us are, afterall, Americans--it can be viewed as one ideal that should not be disregarded out of hand so easily. Indeed, this view could (I say, could) be associated with the Asian American plight regarding affirmative action. Don't some Asians believe that they should be able to enter a university based solely on merit, and not be denied because someone of another race is more eligible for admission primarily due to the color of his skin and not his SAT score or GPA? Do we distinguish when we use race--not okay for college admission but okay for socio-cultural settings? (of course, college is a socio-cultural setting, too.) Where do we draw the line, and who draws them? This is a complex issue that leads me back to Capt. Gaijin and why I do disagree with him. He told me that his (former? Don't break up because of this!) significant other--who is JA--was very upset by this post, and he asked if I was offended, as well. I told him.... To be continued tomorrow. I don't want to burden anyone with a lengthy post--Yes, Little Diamond, I know its already long.... Wednesday, June 18, 2003 Hey JC, discrimination is discrimination, but the "reverse" in "reverse discrimination" implies that the victim of such discrimination is being subjected to a similar discrimination. Yeah, right. As if Bakke was denied admission because he was considered intellectually inferior because of his race, or because the majority categorized him and everyone else of his race as less privileged simply because he was the wrong color. So, yeah, I agree with you, "reverse discrimination" is a term we should reconsider. According to tiggerj, "writing about all these topics are cathartic..." I agree. So let me purge myself by sharing one of my pet peeves: Why do the Japanese in Japan call me by my first name? Isn't that a kind of discrimination? A way of setting me apart because of my nationality, or worse, to stigmatize me as not being Japanese? This thought really bothered me a few years ago when I was living in Japan. I went to get a haircut and the male hairdresser, thinking I was Japanese greeted me and began to cut my hair. I had signed in as 花見りお, and he commented that my first name was rather cool. ご両親はしゃれてますね。「りお」って名前をつけて、コッコいいですね。 (You're parents are hip. Giving you a name like Leo is pretty cool. ) I replied: 実は、あめりかじんだから、Leoって別にしゃれた名前じゃないですよ．(Actually, I'm American so Leo is not an especially cool name.) Well, we continued to talk as he cut my hair, when I realized that he was now calling me by my first name: りおさん、頭をゆすぎます．(Leo-san, I will rinse your hair.) Hmm｡... What's this all about? If he were talking to any other first-time customer, he would never call them by their first name. What made me so different? So I asked him, and his response was:りおさんはアメリカジンで、アメリカではファーストネームを使うのでは...(You're American, and so don't they use first names in America?) Ooooh, I get it. How IGNORANT can I be? So when this hairdresser comes to the US, I should refer to him as Mr. Suzuki (not his real name)--unlike my associates Bob, Carol, Ted, and Alice--because, IN JAPAN THEY USE LAST NAMES WITH EACH OTHER. His response? それは、ちょっと不愉快ですね．(That would be a bit uncomfortable.) DUH! Monday, June 16, 2003 Today, I was asked: Why does Ichiro Suzuki's jersey say, Ichiro, but on the batting order, they put up Suzuki? This is mostly because he is a narcissist. When he was in Japan, he wanted to be different from the others, he wanted to be an "individual". So he received permission to wear his first In the States, since the custom is to use everyone's last name on the shirt and everywhere else, I was sure that he would have Suzuki on his back over here. But I guess he got some kind of waiver in his contract or something--the Mariners are owned, I think, by Nintendo, a Japanese corp. If you listened to the announcers on TV, most--especially the purists--called him Suzuki at first, but most now refer to him as Ichiro. Even Joe Morgan calls him Ichiro, now. I think Joe Buck of Fox still calls him Suzuki. In any case, I thought there was no way that he could succeed in the US; I was kinda of counting on it, actually. He is just to egotistical for my tastes. He wants his name on his back to be different, to call attention to himself, but when the press move in, he claims his right to privacy. If Reggie Jackson put Reggie on his back, he would've had a field day. But Suzuki is a closet individualists. He wants notoriety, but only as much as he can control. As far as I'm concerned, he can keep it. But I must admit, he turned out better than I could have ever imagined. They say he has great body control, and can hit a home run more often if he wanted to, but I have never seen this. He usually exposes himself as a weak slap hitter who looks like he's bailing out of the batter's box when he swings. What has actually impresseed me is his speed and his defense. He was fast in Japan but I didn't think it would translate here in the big leagues, but it did. And the dude has got an arm! His throw to third or home is on a clothes line. This is not the first time I have said anything like this. Previously, some have expressed surprised that I wouldn't want or care for Suzuki to do well. Why? Because I was JA. Huh? What does that have to do with it? What a racist remark. Reminds me of a scene in Rising Sun, a book--and movie--dripping with racism by Michael Crichton. Lt. Smith is surprised that Dr. Tim--a Japanese-American coroner--thinks the Japanese can be a pain in the ass. How can people be so pathetically ignorant? |
(I can't believe I just used an emoticon, ack! gag!)
Has any one heard of 
name on his back rather than his last. This caused quite a stir in Japan, as you can imagine, since Japan is the land of conformity, group consciousness, etc. There was precedent, however. One foreign player in Japan, Brad Lesley, had his college nickname--Animal--put on the back of his jersey. Ultimately, Suzuki's talent won out. He excelled and everyone thought--sho ganai--and let him wear his first name.
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