 The characters for Gaikokujin, lit: "Outside country person". Gaikokujin (外国人 "Foreigner" lit: "Outside country person") is a Japanese word used to refer to foreigners or people not of Japanese nationality. Although Japanese has separate words that specify race or ethnicity, including hakujin (白人, lit: "white person") and tōyōjin, (東洋人, lit: "Oriental (east ocean) person"), gaikokujin can refer to people of any race or nationality, including the Japanese themselves if the context is outside of Japan, although ironically enough, this term is still used to refer to non-Japanese even when the speaker and listener are both in a country outside Japan. Download high resolution version (1304x3793, 41 KB)Large reusable gaikokujin text image in kaisho typeface. ...
Download high resolution version (1304x3793, 41 KB)Large reusable gaikokujin text image in kaisho typeface. ...
The term the Orient - literally meaning sunrise, east - is traditionally used to refer to Near, Middle, and Far Eastern countries. ...
Gaijin (外人 lit: "outside person") is a separate but related word. It is usually thought of as an abbreviation of gaikokujin. However the words have separate histories (see below) . However, the word implies outsider or alien in a way similar to the German word auslander. The term gaikokujin was coined in contrast to naikokujin (lit: "inside country person") in reference to the people outside Japanese Empire (Japan, Taiwan and Korea). For this reason, the term is often used to refer to foreigners of non-Oriental background. His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Akihito of Japan The Emperor of Japan (天皇, tennō) is Japans titular head of state and the head of the Japanese imperial family. ...
Korea refers to South Korea and North Korea together, which were a unified country until 1948. ...
History
The first Europeans to visit Japan were the Portuguese in 1542. They were known as Nanbanjin (南蛮人 lit: "Southern barbarian people"), because their ships came sailing in from the south, and that they were perceived as unrefined by Japanese standards. This designation was adopted from Chinese usage, and had been in use to name southern people in general. This article is about the continent. ...
Events War resumes between Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V. This time Henry VIII of England is allied to the Emperor, while James V of Scotland and Sultan Suleiman I are allied to the French. ...
The period of Nanban (Southern Barbarian) contacts in Japanese history extends from the arrival of the first Europeans to Japan in 1543, to their near-total exclusion from the archipelago in 1650, under the promulgation of the Seclusion Laws. ...
From 1854, when Japan opened again, until the early 20th century, foreigners in Japan were referred to as ikokujin (異国人 lit: "Different country person") or ihōjin (異邦人 lit: "Different motherland person"). However, they were commonly refered to as ijin (異人 lit: "Different person"), a contraction of ikokujin or ihōjin. The reason for this differentiation was that ikokujin or ihōjin also refers to Japanese from different feudal state or homeland within Japan. The term "kuni" (alternate pronounciation of "koku") in Japanese originally was reference to feudal "estate" which eventually become feudal state so it could mean both as a country and also as hometown. Japanese still use expression "kuni ni kaeru" meaning "I'm going back to my hometown (i.e. visiting my parents)". Again, colloquial form "ijin" was used as a short of "ikokujin" or "ihoujin". But when Japan re-established diplomatic contact with European, old usage of ikokujin or ihōjin was ressurected. However, to differentiate it from the reference to people from other feudal state as well to emphasise racial and cultural nuance, ijin or ketou (red hair, now a projetive reference to white) become a de facto reference to European. 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...
(19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the...
The history of the word "gaijin" or "guwai jin" in old hiragana is contested, but believed by many to be a shortened form of "gaikokujin" or "guwaikokujin". However, these words were used to refer to people from outside hometown or village. So gaikokujin, ihoujin, ikokujin or gaijin/ijin were all used with the nuance that the person was from the outside (of the home). This was naturally before there were any non-Japanese in Japan to be seen, so the concept of "foreigner" in Japanese was developed based upon the division within the Japanese archipelago itself--meaning it could apply to any Japanese person. Starting in the Meiji era, however, with the influx of foreigners both as trainees and traders, the term gaikokujin was used to refer to Japanese residents from outside Japan or later outside the Empire of Japan, while the term naikokujin (内国人 lit: "Inside country person") was used to refer to nationals of other territories of the Empire. The naikokujin term fell out of use after World War II, but gaikokujin remained the official government term for non-Japanese people in Japan. History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Meiji period (Japanese: Meiji Jidai 明治時代 ) (1868–1912...
Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest...
Political correctness Gaijin, often claimed to be an abbreviation of gaikokujin, might be considered to be politically incorrect. Because of mixed perceptions of the word gaijin, it is a common target of kotobagari (lit: "word hunting", the censorship of words or phrases considered to be politically incorrect). Political correctness is the alteration of language to redress real or alleged injustices and discrimination or to avoid offense. ...
Kotobagari (言葉狩り, lit. ...
This is to some degree understandable. In Japanese, the shortening of long words is common, and to describe race, ethnicity or nationality in this manner is not derogatory in and of itself. The word gaijin does not have the same nuance as keto (derogatory word for people of Caucasian descent) or kuronbo (derogatory word for people of African descent). The original meaning of the word gaikokujin excluded Orientals of the Japanese Empire, while the current official meaning of the word does not. Additionally, because Japan is thought of as ethnically homogenous, the term foreigners could refer to someone's non-Japanese ethnicity as well as nationality. Caucasian may mean: Look up Caucasian on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Of or relating to the Caucasus region A member of the contested anthropological Caucasian race (generically, in the United States it is often used to refer to members of the white ethnic group) Caucasoid, a designation in physical anthropology...
World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second_largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ...
Consequently, there exist subtle differences in nuance between the words. Gaijin is more colloquial and informal, while gaikokujin is more written and formal. The word gaijin connotes a nuance of race or ethnicity while the word gaikokujin connotes nationality. After all, if a caucasian becomes a naturalized Japanese citizen, he would no longer be seen as a "gaikokujin", but the term "gaijin" would still stick. However, as Japan tends to conflate race and nationality, the two words are often used interchangably when talking about someone who does not "look Japanese".
The main reason that the political correctness of the word is so contested is that while it is not grammatically pejorative, it could, in usage, be considered offensive, or a racial epithet. Gaijin can be used to harmlessly denote nationality or ethnicity, or it can imply that someone is culturally or racially alien. Because the differences in nuance can be difficult to differentiate, the intended meaning can be unclear. Gaijin could be used to refer to Chinese or Korean visitors to Japan, although it hardly ever used for permanent residents of Chinese or Korean origin. It is, however, more often used towards Westerners, which makes them more sensitive towards its use. Many Japanese, including broadcast media such as TV Asahi, avoid using the word "gaijin". Nationality is, in English usage, the legal relationship between a person and a country. ...
The concept of ethnic origin is an attempt to classify people, not according to their current nationality, but according to where their ancestors came from. ...
For alternative meanings for The West in the United States, see the U.S. West and American West. ...
Both sides of the debate often fail to articulate their arguments. Many Westerners are neither fluent in spoken Japanese nor functionally literate in written Japanese, and are thus unable to effectively communicate their concerns. Additionally, many Japanese are unaware of the historical origin of the word, gaikokujin, and because the issue concerns the usage of the word in certain contexts, those who do not use gaijin to emphasize racial nuances are unaware of any potentially offensive implications. Indeed, many Japanese use the term gaijin as part of their daily conversation without pejorative intent. The issue still causes bewilderment to many Japanese and many still ask Westerners why they find the word gaijin offensive. Look up pejorative on Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Still, because Japan is generally thought of as ethnically homogenous and its culture is notably conformist many foreigners feel that the word symbolizes their cultural and social exclusion from the Japanese community. They believe that the literal meaning of the word gaijin, i.e. "outside person," emphasizes the idea that non-Japanese are outsiders. Others counter by pointing out that, in most languages, the words foreigner or foreign likewise imply something strange or alien, but to insist upon the removal of, for example, the word foreigner from English would be considered moronic. One American was reportedly irritated by a comment overheard in an American Airport-- "Uwaa, gaijin bakkari!" ("Wow, foreigners (non-Asians) everywhere!") His reply was "Chotto matte. Kokode gaijin nano wa anata da yo!" ("Wait a minute; you are the foreigners here!") Others argue that the word gaijin is somewhat abrupt. They counter that, in English and other European languages, the shortening of nationality or ethnicity is often considered abrupt and pejorative (as in the usage of Jap to refer to Japanese people.) Many Japanese, it might be added, similarly find the word "Jap" offensive. In English history, Conformists were those whose religious practices conformed with the requirements of the Act of Uniformity and so were in concert with the Established Church, the Church of England, as opposed to those of Nonconformists whose practices were not acceptable to the Church of England. ...
Many foreigners also complain that they are referred to as gaijin (or gaijin-san) by their neighbors long after settling into Japan and becoming somewhat proficient in the language. A corresponding situation in the English language would be to call a Japanese neighbor foreigner or Mr. Foreigner or Mr. Japan months after making their acquaintance. The term is also regularly applied to naturalized Japanese citizens of non-Asian ancestry. Japanese who have lived outside Japan point out that it is not unusual to be called "that Japanese/Oriental/foreign gentleman/lady/girl/guy" because they are usually the only Asian in the neighborhood. This is a reference of fact and therefore not often a source of complaint. Moreover, they point out that the more commonly used word in this context is not gaijin (foreigner) but gaijin-san (foreign gentleman/lady), the equivalent of that Japanese gentleman/lady.
In the early 1980s, some foreigners (particularly those from the West) began demanding that the Japanese stop using the term gaijin, which caused much bewilderment to many Japanese. Even so, most Japanese generally avoid using gaijin in front of non-Japanese, using instead the term gaikokujin, mainly because many non-Japanese insist upon this. In contexts such as upscale department stores, use of gaijin might cause embarrassment, while the honorifically suffixed gaijin-san might not. The 1980s, in its most obvious sense, was the decade between 1980 and 1989. ...
Among those Japanese who have lived abroad, their view is influenced by how they view the entire idea of political correctness. From the Liberal viewpoint, correction of insensitive language encourages, promotes and helps establish certain social outcomes and relationships which are beneficial to society. From the Conservative or Libertarian viewpoint, the outcome is entirely superficial, and only serves to divert attention from substantial debate. Most agree that there is nothing wrong when a word is used to refer to a matter of fact, even in the case of race. Some Japanese phrase this as "Gaijin o gaijin to yonde nani ga warui?" ("What's wrong with calling foreigner a foreigner?") In the case of some Westerners, an acceptance of non-Japanese identity is proclaimed to assert such identity in a positive manner-- "Ore wa gaijin da ze!" ("I am a gaijin!"). Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of...
Conservatism or political conservatism is any of several historically related political philosophies or political ideologies. ...
See also Libertarianism and Libertarian Party Libertarian,is a term for person who has made a conscious and principled commitment, evidenced by a statement or Pledge, to forswear violating others rights and usually living in voluntary communities: thus in law no longer subject to government supervision. ...
See also This article deals with the characteristic ethnic issues in Japan that affect Ainu people, Ryukyuan people, Uilta, Nivkhs and immigrant workers (particularly workers from Korea, China, and other Asian countries) and are caused by the socio-cultural history of the country. ...
Zainichi (在日) are long-term Korean residents of Japan and culturally/ethnically Korean Japanese nationals. ...
Sangokujin (Japanese: 三国人; third country national) is a Japanese term referring to colonial nationals of Taiwan (Taiwanese aboriginal), Korea and China. ...
Entrance to the sentÅ at the Edo Tokyo Open Air Museum SentÅ (éŠæ¹¯, ã›ã‚“ã¨ã†) is a type of Japanese communal bath house where customers pay for entrance. ...
Ethnocentrism (Greek ethnos (nation + -centrism) or ethnocentricity is the tendency to look at the world primarily from the perspective of ones own ethnic culture. ...
This is a list of words meaning outsider, foreigner or not one of us. Though often such words are not used with an intent of disrespect nor contempt, their nature of non-inclusion sometimes makes them offensive terms. ...
External links - The case that "gaijin" is a racist word.
- Japan Today Poll and Discussion: Do you think that the Japanese word 'gaijin' is racist or derogatory?
- Japan Times readers' forum on "gaijin" and "gaikokujin"
- Is the word 'Gaijin' derogatory? - A discussion by expatriates
|
Feeds |
Contact