Comments on: An empty seat on a crowded train http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com Adventures in the land of all that is cute and small... Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:13:47 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Oli http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-2176 Oli Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:03:24 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-2176 I just found your blog, and I have to say it is really really enjoyable and intriguing to read! I've started to learn Japanese myself, and it definitely isn't easy to rewire your brain to comprehend it, or so it seems. Keep up the killer posts! I just found your blog, and I have to say it is really really enjoyable and intriguing to read! I’ve started to learn Japanese myself, and it definitely isn’t easy to rewire your brain to comprehend it, or so it seems. Keep up the killer posts!

]]> By: roler http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-1866 roler Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:13:35 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-1866 p.s. loco u also live in an area of high military bitterness, compound that with the way some gaijin act, u have a receipe for zenophobia!! remember this is a 3rd world country with 1st world money!! na!! p.s. loco u also live in an area of high military bitterness, compound that with the way some gaijin act, u have a receipe for zenophobia!! remember this is a 3rd world country with 1st world money!! na!!

]]> By: roler http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-1865 roler Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:05:40 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-1865 it ain't where u from it's where u at, nice story yo, but here in osaka, where my japanese sucks ass and i don't try and study to improve it, i just live, and not to just get by but to do me and fam... come ride the train with me and check how the folks act, none of that bullshit seat left open crap, u better get urs b4 obachan elbows u there, i've given my seat to the oldschool and was surprise to hear the old lady say "why don't young japanese men do the same" i must admit when i first got here the stares where disconcerting, but after sec and a homeboy once said, u'd stare too if u saw someone green walkin down the street. there have been times when my oldest son did face bullying in school becuz he was the only african american in the place(sink or swim baby)! but after an agressive brooklyn style parenting conference in which fathers were threatened with "we tried it the japanese way of turn the other cheek, now we'll try it the brooklyn way of after school special ass kickin, on the daily!!" well of course the gaijion go home chants morphed into thanks for takin a stance on behalf of the weaker kids, but really i can say thats really been the extent of my racist encounters here in osaka, i have to say osaka just seems different from other places here...kinda surface but real artisty!! more openess, friendly for the most part, even my yakuza homies carry themselves different and i've been in a room full of 30 so, and not once did anyone speak out the side of their face, even while drunk becuz nigga's know it ain't where ya from it where u at!!! it ain’t where u from it’s where u at, nice story yo, but here in osaka, where my japanese sucks ass and i don’t try and study to improve it, i just live, and not to just get by but to do me and fam… come ride the train with me and check how the folks act, none of that bullshit seat left open crap, u better get urs b4 obachan elbows u there, i’ve given my seat to the oldschool and was surprise to hear the old lady say “why don’t young japanese men do the same” i must admit when i first got here the stares where disconcerting, but after sec and a homeboy once said, u’d stare too if u saw someone green walkin down the street. there have been times when my oldest son did face bullying in school becuz he was the only african american in the place(sink or swim baby)! but after an agressive brooklyn style parenting conference in which fathers were threatened with “we tried it the japanese way of turn the other cheek, now we’ll try it the brooklyn way of after school special ass kickin, on the daily!!” well of course the gaijion go home chants morphed into thanks for takin a stance on behalf of the weaker kids, but really i can say thats really been the extent of my racist encounters here in osaka, i have to say osaka just seems different from other places here…kinda surface but real artisty!! more openess, friendly for the most part, even my yakuza homies carry themselves different and i’ve been in a room full of 30 so, and not once did anyone speak out the side of their face, even while drunk becuz nigga’s know it ain’t where ya from it where u at!!!

]]> By: BK http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-1182 BK Mon, 18 May 2009 00:04:19 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-1182 Well I live in metro downtown tokyo and have been experiencing this Japanese shell shocked, racist, behavior a long time. But what's funny with all the media hype portraying blacks as evil, here we have barely scratched the surface of what was done to them in Hiroshima, and Nagasaki in one week. Well I live in metro downtown tokyo and have been experiencing this Japanese shell shocked, racist, behavior a long time. But what’s funny with all the media hype portraying blacks as evil, here we have barely scratched the surface of what was done to them in Hiroshima, and Nagasaki in one week.

]]> By: Garfield http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-823 Garfield Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:46:16 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-823 This is a great story. すきですよ！ I want to go to Japan someday.　わたしの大学で日本語をべんきょうします。もとかきますを 下さい。 This is a great story. すきですよ！ I want to go to Japan someday.　わたしの大学で日本語をべんきょうします。もとかきますを 下さい。

]]> By: Locohama http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-811 Locohama Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:34:40 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-811 Hey Steve, thanks for the shout. Turning it back on them does offer a measure of satisfaction from time to time doesn't it? (-; I wished the good outweighed the bad for me as well...you're lucky! I'd be happy for 50/50 Loco Hey Steve, thanks for the shout.
Turning it back on them does offer a measure of satisfaction from time to time doesn’t it? (-;
I wished the good outweighed the bad for me as well…you’re lucky! I’d be happy for 50/50

Loco

]]> By: Steve http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-810 Steve Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:43:53 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-810 Great post. I've had the empty seat experience as well. I try to turn it on them. With an empty seat on a crowded train, I'll look and refuse to sit in it :-) I've had the henna gaijin experience as well. I was in a nice sushi bar in Ginza when a drunk chef came out, stood behind me, and ranted "henna gaijin." With a packed counter, I turned and yelled "Baka Yaro!!!" The other chefs laughed and called him off. The customers were in shock. For the most part, I take the good with the bad and there is far more good than bad. There are far more women who go ga ga than idiots who say "henna gaijin." That's a win in my view. Otsukaresama. Steve. Great post. I’ve had the empty seat experience as well.
I try to turn it on them. With an empty seat on a crowded train, I’ll look and refuse to sit in it :-)

I’ve had the henna gaijin experience as well. I was in a nice sushi bar in Ginza when a drunk chef came out, stood behind me, and ranted “henna gaijin.” With a packed counter, I turned and yelled “Baka Yaro!!!” The other chefs laughed and called him off. The customers were in shock.

For the most part, I take the good with the bad and there is far more good than bad.
There are far more women who go ga ga than idiots who say “henna gaijin.” That’s a win in my view.

Otsukaresama.
Steve.

]]> By: Locohama http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-754 Locohama Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:16:34 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-754 Good, not trying to put you off. just my experience. Yours may be totally different...maybe heheh good luck to you and thanks again for the shout!!! Loco Good, not trying to put you off. just my experience. Yours may be totally different…maybe heheh

good luck to you and thanks again for the shout!!!

Loco

]]> By: Chantelle http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-753 Chantelle Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:00:39 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-753 ok..i finished it and it's a nicely written piece. I'm hoping too work in Japan on the Jet Programme and what you've said hasn't put me off....in fact i expect all of the above!!!! Great Blog :) ok..i finished it and it’s a nicely written piece. I’m hoping too work in Japan on the Jet Programme and what you’ve said hasn’t put me off….in fact i expect all of the above!!!! Great Blog :)

]]> By: Locohama http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/an-empty-seat-on-a-crowded-train/#comment-751 Locohama Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:39:21 +0000 http://goinglocoinyokohama.wordpress.com/?page_id=11#comment-751 Glad you're enjoying so far! Loco Glad you’re enjoying so far!

Loco

]]>