Quote:
Originally Posted by maskedmelon
[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
It is interesting how words can carry different meanings to people. Like in the US, it is not uncommon for little kids to shout "banzai!" When jumping into a pool or lake or something. Japanese people do use it as a cheer, but using it like that can be, well onjectionable? Most Americans don't even know, but many hundreds of Japanese including mothers holding their infants jumped from the Banzai cliffs at the invasion of Saipan.
Conversely, in Japan, the slang term for a Polaroid camera is bakachon kamera. Many people use it without knowing the meaning is somewhat disparaging to people of Korean ancestry (literally means a camera that even an idiot or chonseijin (Korean) can use).
|
Regarding this; I myself would never yell Banzai dropping into a pool, its clearly racist and have been tricked on to unknowning kids in the US. USA used to be very racist towards Japan and might still be I dont know.
But as we shall see this stuff always goes on a merry go round since Japanese people are perhaps known as one of the most racist peoples in the world, no doubt. Ive not personally been there, but I was a japanophile during my late teens early twenties, and several of my family and friends have been there and have experienced the Gaijin term etc. I know from uni and private studies that japans treatment and stance towards China is nothing to write home about either. Considering how long they refused to open themselves up to the rest of the world its not a suprise.
11-15-2016, 03:30 PM
Linear Mode
