Full four pages of Feb 17 2009 SPA! article on “Monster Gaikokujin” scanned

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Handbook for Newcomers, Migrants, and Immigrants to Japan\Foreign Residents and Naturalized Citizens Association forming NGO\「ジャパニーズ・オンリー 小樽入浴拒否問題と人種差別」(明石書店)JAPANESE ONLY:  The Otaru Hot Springs Case and Racial Discrimination in Japan
Hi Blog.  For your discussion are the full four pages of the SPA! magazine article on how NJ (rendered “monster gaikokujin”, abbreviated to “Monga” to save space) are coming to Japan and doing bad bad things.  Have a read.

A brief synopsis of the article starts (predictably) at Tsukiji, giving the reader a picture of the disruptive behavior of NJ fish-kissers and the like, flitting onwards to onsens (boy, that dead horse never gets tired), then on to “Monga” of monstrous sexual desire, propositioning Maiko as if they were prostitutes (and libidinous Chinese photographing their lap-dancers), drunk black people with video cameras terrifying a chaste Akiba Maid (who wasn’t too shy about posing maidly for the article), Koreans fouling hotel refrigerators with kimchee, etc.  Of course, the nationality or the race is always identified and linked with the behavior (we are, after all, talking about breeds of NJ).

Then you turn the page for more detailed case studies of NJ depravity:  An Australian who assaults a taxi driver (the latter just wants to tell the world that “it’s not only the evil-looking foreigners that are frightening — even the likes of White people who look like they work for world-class companies will do this”).  A Turk who uses his looks and language skills to become a sexual predator.  And a Filipina overstayer who plans to use her feminine wiles to land a life here.  

Two bonus sidebars blame Lonely Planet guidebooks of encouraging NJ “eccentricities” and give you a Binaca Blast of Benjamin Fulford.  Benjamin, safe behind sunglasses, asserts that 1) Caucasians let the natural “effeteness” of the Japanese people go to their head, and that 2) he’s being targeted by the yakuza and how Mossad is involved and… er, dunno what this point is doing here.  Holy cow, the shuukanshi got hijacked for Ben’s personal agenda!  (BTW, not mentioned is how Ben is now a Japanese citizen.  I guess now he feels qualified to pontificate from the other side of the mirror glasses how “Doing as the Romans do” is universal…)

See for yourself.  Here are scans of the pages (click to expand).  Comment from me follows:

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QUICK ANALYSIS FROM DEBITO:  This article is far less “brick through the window” than the “GAIJIN HANZAI” magazine a couple of years back.  It acknowledges the need for NJ to be here, and how they’re contributing to the economy (not “laying waste” to Japan as the very cover of GH mag put it).  They even mozaic out the NJ faces.  From the very title, SPA! even mostly avoids the use of the racist word “gaijin” in favor of “gaikokuijn” even as it tries to mint a new epithet.  And it’s trying to get at least some voice of the “foreign community” involved (even if it’s Benjamin Fulford, who can find a conspiracy in a cup of coffee).  It’s an improvement of sorts.

That said, it still tries to sensationalize and decontextualize (where is any real admission that Japanese do these sorts of things too, both domestically and internationally?), and commits, as I keep saying, the unscientific sin of ascribing behavior to nationality, as if nationalities were breeds of dogs with thoroughbred behaviors.  Again, if you’re going to do a story on foreign crime (and it should be crime, not just simple faux pas or possible misunderstandings), talk about the act and the individual actor (yes, by name), and don’t make the action part of a group effort.  Doing so just foments prejudice.  

But I’m sure the editors of SPA! are plenty sophisticated to know that.  They’re just pandering to sell papers.  I’m just glad it’s not worse.  Perhaps after all these years I’m getting jaded.  Arudou Debito in Sapporo

ENDS

10 comments on “Full four pages of Feb 17 2009 SPA! article on “Monster Gaikokujin” scanned

  • “They’re just pandering to sell papers.”

    Kind of my point before.

    In any case, I thank you for reproducing this article. A great service for those of us who do not feel queasy about Japanese copyright law and want to make up our own minds about these things.

    Could you improve the quality though? The text is barely legible.

    Reply
  • 顔射actually stands for “ejaculation on the face”. I was really disgusted by that part “Chinese tourists watch like crazy Japanese AVs and think that “gansha” is part of Japanese culture”. Yes, of course, with so many students studing Japanese language and culture and getting PhDs, I’m sure this is the message they bring home. And,see, Chinese tourists are bunch of pervs, who come on sexual tourism here…
    As for the taxi driver incident, this is a thing that should not happen, and I disapprove any kind of violence. But actually I had similar experience.I’m 5th month pregnant and on my way back from shopping food for the next few days I felt very sick. I was near my husband’s company, so I called him and he came and called a taxi to take me home and to have some rest. The guy obviously didn’t seem happy to take a sick person,but he couldn’ refuse my husband. I explained him that I’m just pregnant and I’ll be better with some rest. He, just like in the article, dropped me on a place completely different from the address we gave him(and I repeated him), and just like in the article said- I’m not going any further, I don’t need money, just get out. I wasn’t yelling-in fact, I had strenght only to whisper then. I just asked:”But…what shall I do now…I can’t walk…”He remained firm:Get out !So I just crawled outside, sqwatted and began to cry-of pain and despair, and because of his inhumane behavior.When my husband learned about that, he was enraged. I felt he would tear the taxi driver into pieces, if he got him. Now, lets talk about violence.

    — Not sure how this story is really all that relevant to this blog entry. More relevant I think is the news story a week or so ago showing Japanese patrons beating up a taxi driver. Taxi driving is a dangerous profession, anywhere. Regardless of the nationality of passengers.

    Reply
  • I remembered the Minichi News was forced to apologize and discontiue one of its english column after domestic Japanese raeders found the translated content abasing Japanese people; and several articles of that column happened to be of Spa’s products.

    No wonder.

    Reply
  • I don’t like it either, but it could be worse.

    I read SPA from time to time and for the most part find it quite entertaining. One thing I notice about the magazine’s style is the tendency to oversensationalise just about everything. Whether the topic is monster parents or monster foreigners, the results are similar. To be honest, I am a lot more comfortable with this sort of thing than with the kind of nonstop “foreign crime!!” headlines in the mainstream press a few years ago.

    Reply
  • I had my girlfriend (Japanese) take a look at the scans. After reading the article, I asked for her thoughts. Her response was, “Foreigners are very dangerous. Foreigners are rude.” I said, “All foreigners?” Her reply, “Yes. But, no, not you.”

    It’s easy to see how a flaky article like this is effective in negatively influencing Japanese perception of foreigners. I was actually very surprised by the decided response I received from my own girlfriend. After thinking about our conversation for a while, I recalled that my Japanese friends echo the same sentiment when I point out negative articles about foreigners. They usually say that foreigners ARE dangerous and rude but I am not like other foreigners. I am different.

    I have put in the effort to learn how to operate in Japan (seemingly) without making an ass of myself and I have always been able to make friends easily. I wonder, then, if the true difference they are referring to is – familiarity. To my friends, I am a nice guy and I am safe to be with. Therefore, I am automatically precluded from the real threat to Japan: the dangerous, destructive, and always unpredictable… Unknown Foreigner.

    — I guess that’s because to them you are the “Known Foreigner”. Therein may be the key…

    Reply
  • Speaking of known foreigners, I actually know one of the people in those photos. He works for a major university in Japan, has a Japanese wife, speaks fluent Japanese, and is probably one of the best ambassadors of Japanese culture his age.

    And yet, right?

    Reply
  • I had my girlfriend (Japanese) take a look at the scans. After reading the article, I asked for her thoughts. Her response was, “Foreigners are very dangerous. Foreigners are rude.” I said, “All foreigners?” Her reply, “Yes. But, no, not you.”

    Didn’t Archie Bunker tell George Jefferson that he was “one of the good ones”?

    Reply
  • This is a recent trend in the news: commenting on foreigner etiquette in Japan. Recently Kyoto has picked up the torch and there are now volunteers who ‘protect’ Maiko from foreigners as they shuffle from job to job. This was covered by NHK no less and depicted video images of various foreigners on the streets quietly photographing the Maiko….along with dozens of other Japanese people taking photos. The camera literally scanned the crowds to hone in on the few caucasians doing what everyone else around them were doing taking photos. I guess during another Japanese economic recession, the country needs to find something to feel superior about and uniting everyone under the guise of another ‘anti-foreigner campaign’ (a la terrorists, soccer hooligans, criminals) might just make them feel better about themselves.

    Reply
  • More on Benjamin Fulford. Seems like there’s a lot of sons of rich and famous daddies (like Gregory Clark) coming over here to Japan to make trouble for the plebe gaijin. Debito

    =====================
    Diplomat Dwight Fulford saw Cuban missile crisis up close
    Posted to the Canadian embassy in Havana from 1961 to 1964, he went on to become ambassador to Argentina
    BUZZ BOURDON
    Special to The Globe and Mail
    February 24, 2009
    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090224.OBFULFORD24//TPStory/Obituaries

    OTTAWA — Dwight Fulford was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, but he didn’t let his privileged background prevent him from carving out a memorable career as a diplomat and ambassador during the golden era of Canadian diplomacy.

    Dealing with some of the major figures of the 20th century, Mr. Fulford, who displayed boundless intellectual curiosity, represented his country as a gentleman of the old school. “He was an excellent diplomat because he never antagonized or upset anyone. But he always made Canada’s official position on human rights crystal clear,” said his daughter Sarah Fulford.

    Anyone could make an appointment to see him and he met all types of people during his diplomatic career, from high to low. No matter who they were, he treated everyone with the same courtesy, “whether they were the president or the cook,” Ms. Fulford said.

    A strong believer in social justice, Mr. Fulford fought hard for human rights. “He, along with our mother, was blind to colour, gender and culture – what influenced him were the issues and causes,” said his daughter Martha Fulford. “This was also reflected in their home life. I don’t think I can count the number of refugees, immigrants and others that enjoyed their hospitality and support over the years.”

    Posted to the Canadian embassy in Havana as second secretary from 1961 to 1964, Mr. Fulford saw the results of the revolution that had swept Fidel Castro to power in 1959. He and his family arrived right after the Bay of Pigs invasion and things were tense, said Mr. Fulford’s wife, Barbara.

    “We were quickly disillusioned with the regime. It was quite cruel and arbitrary. I met Che Guevara but avoided meeting Castro. But my husband had to meet all the famous revolutionary figures in his work,” she said.

    During the Cuban missile crisis of 1963, Mr. Fulford and his family were “scared stiff” when the United States and the Soviet Union came close to nuclear war over Soviet missiles deployed in Cuba,” Mrs. Fulford said. “We lived near a small airport and saw the Russian MiG planes. We thought the Americans would bomb with conventional weapons.”

    Fifteen years later, Mr. Fulford, who had been appointed ambassador to Argentina in 1978, listened sympathetically when people told him about the repressive and brutal tactics of the military junta that controlled the country. He had many meetings with the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, women whose children had been abducted and murdered because they criticized the regime.

    Argentina was racked with social unrest and economic problems, but at home in the ambassador’s mansion – complete with a cook, a butler and a gardener, plus an orchard, garden, swimming pool and tennis courts – one could try and forget about them. Security was tight, though, and the 1½-hectare complex was surrounded by a fence and guarded by armed police officers.

    As Canada’s representative in Buenos Aires, Mr. Fulford was required to entertain a great deal, including members of the ruling junta whose hands were bloody from what came to be known as the Dirty War. “We had these people for dinner, including presumably torturers and murderers and we had to be polite to them,” Mrs. Fulford said.

    When Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982, Mr. Fulford was instructed to inform the junta that the Canadian government opposed the invasion. To emphasize that, Mr. Fulford was recalled to Ottawa. After he returned, the Argentine government expelled him but that didn’t bother him at all. He simply holed up in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, until the junta fell from power.

    Mr. Fulford grew up in Brockville, Ont., the scion of a wealthy family that moved with ease among the moneyed upper classes of North America and Europe.

    Winter vacations in Florida, cruises on the family steam yacht – his mother Josephine travelled in style with 80 pieces of luggage – Mr. Fulford and his family lived a life of privilege in Fulford Place. The mansion built by Mr. Fulford’s grandfather on the shore of the St. Lawrence River is now a museum.

    The family fortune was created in the late 19th century by Senator George T. Fulford, an entrepreneur who built an empire from patent medicine. Acquiring the rights to Dr. William’s Pink Pills for Pale People – they claimed to “make weak people strong” – Senator Fulford harnessed the power of advertising and used testimonials of “miracle cures” to sell his pills all over the world.

    It wasn’t all fun and games, though. In common with many upper-class families of the era, his parents left much of the parenting to the governess. Even birthdays didn’t always rate anything special. When Mr. Fulford turned 2, his father wasn’t there to wish him a happy birthday. Instead, the elder Fulford sent his son a telegram.

    “He was saved from being a poor little rich boy by the servants. His nice personality was due to [their influence]. He was brought up by Swiss governesses and he saw his mother every Thursday afternoon,” Mrs. Fulford said.

    By the end of the Depression much of the family fortune had melted away, but there was still enough left to maintain appearances. Mr. Fulford hated his boarding school but things got better when he transferred to the public-school system for two years. He finished high school at Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ont.

    It was during this time that he started thinking about a career in diplomacy and becoming an ambassador.

    After graduating from the University of Toronto in 1953 – he majored in history and excelled in debating – Mr. Fulford took his new bride to Oxford University so he could study law. He had met Barbara Screaton at a debate in 1950 and asked her out a week later.

    “I refused him because he was starting to lose his hair. My mother said, ‘What! At least you were asked out by someone with a nice Canadian name!’ The next time he asked me I went. He was very amusing and clever, totally devoid of condescension and snobbery,” Mrs. Fulford said.

    They were married in Toronto on June 30, 1954.

    In 1955, Mr. Fulford passed the External Affairs exam and was posted to Buenos Aires the following year for the first time.

    Back in Ottawa by 1969, Mr. Fulford, an authority on energy issues and widely accepted as the smartest man in the department, played a key role in helping to defuse an international crisis when India exploded a nuclear device in 1974 with plutonium extracted from a Candu reactor sent to India as a gift to generate electricity. Quickly developing a new nuclear-safety policy for the federal government, Mr. Fulford advocated unilateral restraints on uranium exports and stringent safeguards on exports of nuclear material.

    Because of his experience with energy, Mr. Fulford’s final posting as an ambassador was in Saudi Arabia from 1982 to 1985. “He made himself such an expert on the region and its history that reporters would call him years later for his opinion,” Sarah Fulford said.

    Dwight Wilder Fulford was born on May 29, 1931, in Toronto. He died of acute leukemia in Ottawa on Jan. 23, 2009. He was 78. He leaves Barbara, his wife of 54 years, daughters Sarah and Martha, sons Wilder, Benjamin, Daniel and Adam, sister Martha and six grandchildren.

    ENDS

    Reply

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