Japanese American Identity & Self-Image | Asian American Poll

JAPANESE AMERICAN IDENTITY & SELF-IMAGE
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:14:08 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

In relating with other Asian American groups, Japanese Americans most exhibit which of the following attitudes?
More Americanized than thou | 51%
More rooted in ancestral heritage | 0%
More anxious to be low key | 49%
More embracing of other AA | 0%

Which of the following has the most impact on the Japanese American identity?
Smallest percentage of recent immigrants | 36%
World War II internment | 51%
Japan's economic success | 6%
Smaller population than other AA groups | 7%

This poll is closed to new input.
Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

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WHAT YOU SAY

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Proud American, Prous AA, Proud JA,

Damn, I must say, I like your way of reasoning. I also agree that this Japanese girl has no idea about the fundamentally political nature of debate. She is another FOB who came to America to get a taste of Malibu, the Empire State, Texas cowboys, and Aerican football. I don't think she has a place to lecture you, since she's only been in America for 2 years (that is REALLY fresh...), and you've been in Japan for 10 years.

I think FOBs like her make life harder for other AAs.
Another Proud American who's also Asian Wednesday, September 26, 2001 at 10:57:19 (PDT)

True Japanese girl,

Ummm… How old are you? Let me see… 17+2=19. Ah, 19 years old.

You ARE the young that I had described. However, let me say that there is nothing wrong with that. I’ve never said that those behaviors by the young are western or immature thing. I’m not sure why you would think I said those things.

By the way, how old is old in your definition. How many (percentage wise) is a lot in your definition. I’d say it’s a REALLY good bet that your dad does not have dyed blond hair.

Furthermore, I would have to say that you and your friends ARE the few (percentage) that I’ve described. Remember, I’ve never said that dating another race is wrong. I rather think it is an enlightening experience. However, it is definitely not a behavior practiced or wanted by majority of people in Japan. Not only that, the many people in Japan do have a “name” for you, although they may not say it to your face.

You asked me how long ago I'd lived in Japan. I’ve lived in and out of Japan during the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. I visit at least 4 weeks a year. The last time was in August of 2001. I’ve lived in Japan before you were born, and I suspect I’ve been there more recently than you have.

Now, I'm not saying I know everything about Japan. Who does? However, my point was that those people who assert that the Japanese hate themselves or the Japanese women throw themselves at Americans, French, or whatever, don't know what they are talking about. ...Or do you actually agree with them?

Proud American, Proud AA, Proud JA Thursday, September 20, 2001 at 14:13:18 (PDT)

Proud American, Proud AA, Proud JA

I'm a Japanese girl who has lived in Us for two years. I'm sorry that i totally disagree to your opinion. Lots of japanese people, like me, date Asian, white, and black people. It really doesn't matter what nationality or color they are, but their personalities. And they are a lot of old japanese people who dye their hair. Do you think they are immature? i dye my hair reguraly(sometimes blown, blond,etc.) but I'm not doing this so that I can look more similer to Americann or I hate the way I look, but it's just a style, and I'm just enjoying the changes.You said you had lived in Japan for 10 years, but how long ago was it? Everything is changing, and I just left there two years ago after living in Japan for 17 years.
True Japanese girl Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 19:01:33 (PDT)

As a JA who has a very strong sense of my heritage, I would like to clear somethings about Japan and Japanese.

Only people who falsely believe they know Japan are accusing Japanese of being self-haters.

In US, you see young white kids dressing up like rappers, and using hand/arm gestures like LA gangsters. Is it because those white kids hate their white heritage? I rather think it is a young pop culture phase they are going through that they will grow out of eventually.

In US, many cartoons have non-human facial and body features. Does that mean the Americans are not proud of their humanity?

Japan, like any other countries, has it’s own dynamic pop cultures. If you notice, the Japanese who dye their hair, dress strangely (unique but with western influence), and do other “weird” things to themselves are young. Those kids and young adults in Japan will eventually grow out of their pop culture phase and become “typical grownup” Japanese citizens.

Here is another thing. If you believe all or most Japanese girls want American or any western men, you will be quite disappointed. Most Japanese girls would not even consider going out with any foreign men. Although, many Japanese women think it's neat to have them as friends or for conversationalists, since foreign people are “different” and rare.

It is a small percentage of Japanese women and girls who have foreign (white and/or black) men fetish. Those girls swarm all over foreign men and hang out where foreigners are. It is understandable that some foreign men may perceive most Japanese girls want them because of these girls’ persistent proximity.

Please do not pretend you know Japan. From people who really know, it seems that all you know is what you want to believe by seeing little bits and pieces through dim spot lights.

I’m a JA who lived in Japan for 10 years. I think I know Japan a little more than people who never lived there.

Proud American, Proud AA, Proud JA Wednesday, September 12, 2001 at 08:40:54 (PDT)

Japanese don't worship French. I don't know where you get the information. How many Japanese people get plastic surgery? Korean people are always trying to change their face.
Watch out who you call to as a "JAP". How can you think you will have Japanese friends whether they are American or not.
Inazuma Tuesday, September 11, 2001 at 22:19:28 (PDT)

I am Japanese and have lived here since childhood (20 years). Compared to many of my Chinese and other Asian friends, I feel relatively isolated from people that share my 'culture,' for lack of a better word.
Steve Tuesday, September 11, 2001 at 12:46:14 (PDT)

Anais
Your observations are correct. We (other Asians ) are rather puzzled by this self hatred. Even many of their cartoons have European physical features, I guess its their secret desire to emulate you folks.
Its one thing to admire other cultures and perhaps even mimic it but to immerse oneself in it and shune its own (Asian) is disgusting.
But as Yi Dae stated earlier majority of JApanese Americans I've met have been cool, its these brainwashed ignorant Japanese tourist (like Iroha) who continues to paint all Japanese or Japanese Americans in poor light.
Oh, by the way, alot of Japanese worship French culture as well espcially the Japanese girls.
Abientot

"Boston King" nicely done with Iroha..lol !!

Sean Monday, September 10, 2001 at 18:45:12 (PDT)

According to one of my Sociology professors (old white guy), he’s finding was that Japanese exhibited slightly different behavior in general, than other Asians that immigrated to United States.

While other Asians tended to socialize more with their own nationality, the Japanese immigrants socialized somewhat less with their own. His thoughts, from various studies he's done in this area, were that the Japanese in general were more accepting of “new ways of life”. He further argued that this is one of the reasons, why the Japanese quickly learned (and “Japanized”) western science, engineering, political, and other systems. This particular Cultural Revolution started quickly after William Perry forced them to see what’s out there in the rest of the world.

This explains why the Japanese has “advanced” in many fields. Historically, countries that quickly adopted new ways through exchange of ideas advanced quickly. Western world didn’t really have advantage in “technology” until the Europeans madly started to trade in search of gold. With huge endeavor of gold trade (accumulation), the Europeans had learned many of the knowledge of the world through the traders.

Anyways, what I am saying is that many Japanese, while proud of their own ways, are somewhat more willing to accept “new ways” and go on. This may be seen as Japanese or Japanese Americans of not being proud of their own heritage. I tend to think that we have different view and use of our heritage, although we tend to think we are proud.

BTW, as for those people who assert all Japanese are this or that on this forum, you are very successfully advertising your own ignorance. The same goes for the Japanese and JA who assert similarly about other nationalities.

Proud American, Proud AA, Proud JA Monday, September 10, 2001 at 06:19:15 (PDT)

Japanese people are rather strange:they are very proud of their country(which has now a very strong economy)but at the same time they're ashamed of their physical appearance.Why do they think that looking more "white" is best?I find it even more ridiculous as,whatever they do to look different,they just can't hide that they have japanese origins:I mean changing the color of one's hair or using white powder doesn't change all the physical characteristics that make them look japanese and not italian,brazilian or moroccan.And living in a country in which appearance is so important doesn't help them to understand that whatever one looks like,
he or she should rather be proud of it, as anyway one can't choose his or her race.
anais,a french girl Monday, September 10, 2001 at 01:46:31 (PDT)

Nikkei Guy is absolutely right. I find that the majority of Japanese AMERICANS fall into either of two categories:

1) Upstanding, self0-respecting, and PROUD members of the AA community,

2) Scared, white-worshipping, conformist lemmings.

Luckily the majority of Japanese Americans fall under the first category.

I think we need to do a better job distinguishing between JAs and ignorant Jap bastards like Iroha who have NO IDEA what the Asian American experience is about. To them, 'being American' is all about Disneyland, bad dye-jobs, Levis, Hambugers, and Cowboy hats. In other words, they are clueless TOURISTS who have no business being on an Asian AMERICAN website.
Yi-Dae Korean-Am Guy Sunday, September 09, 2001 at 16:38:40 (PDT)

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