“Monster Foreigners on the Rampage!”

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Japanese magazine SPA! has recently published an article regarding the threat of foreigners in Japan.

Coining a new term, the piece rails against “monster gaikokujin” (doubtless hoping to catch an echo of the furore over “monster parents“), and goes on to refer them in amusingly abbreviated form as “monga”.

The publication cites numerous incidents, including the case where a nude man invaded the moat of the Imperial Residence in search of a bag.

Other outrages mentioned are the case of an American lady who used a flash at a no-flash event, and ignorant bathers neglecting to wash themselves prior to entering onsen.

More reasonably, the case of a “black man” chasing a maid, and an Australian beating up a taxi driver are mentioned.

Interestingly, the article focuses mainly on faux pas style errors by tourists; the vast majority of non-Japanese in Japan are actually Korean, Chinese and Filipino, but these are normally off limits to the mass media.

They are given token mentions, but with a million Koreans, half a million Chinese and two hundred thousand each of Filipinos and Brazilians, and all the rest making up a few hundred thousand, the focus is clearly not set by statistical preponderance.

Koreans in particular are usually absolutely out of bounds, despite being widely recognized as being involved disproportionately in a variety of untoward activities. Of course, many of these Koreans are Japanese in all but citizenship,  so perhaps they are not as soft a target as tourists…

Aside from its criticism of blundering or wicked non-Japanese, the article admits their contribution to Japan’s economy in difficult times, doubtless a heartfelt sentiment as their antics help the magazine shift some copies.

The article also comes out at with rather ironic timing, as Japan’s former finance minister exhibited odd behavior while abroad in Rome at the Vatican Museum.

The ex-minister allegedly touched a number of art pieces, and set off an alarm when he got too close to one of them. This occurred on the same day he appeared intoxicated at a press conference…

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    Comment by Al
    02:33 21/04/2009 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    Japan has a great value of culture, beautiful environments and anime, but racism(or its closeted form, "Xenophobia") is still alive? V_V

    I bet it's all those politicians' fault for inspiring ignorance. Someone needs to nuke them and help elect politicians that are truly tolerant(and will serve the people, NOT lie to them). ^_^

    Avatar of Bokusatsu Tenshi
    Comment by XSportSeeker
    01:35 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    Xenophobia is the worst thing about Japan.
    If it wasn't for that, maybe I'd be already living there...

    Oh, about brazilians, they are probably also not mentioned much because most brazilians who works in Japan are japanese decendant... thus, oftenly not as distinguishable as the average european guy.

    And yeah, I know there are lots of f*cking stupid gaijins in Japan, including brazilians...
    but using this fact to discriminate all foreigners is prejudice and racism.

    Causes damage to lots of people who works in Japan and even have great influence (for good) there.

    It's kinda scary that a society as evolved and open to several things still considered taboo in western countries falls behind so much in such a basic thing like equal rights.

    Articles like that in a newspaper, even here in Brazil, would probably end up in jail time for the responsibles, if not the complete shut down of the news vehicle.

    Society as a whole would also be disgusted by something like that.

    Comment by Infernal
    02:29 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well as I've said before, xenophobia can further lead to racism. That and it's easy to use xenphobia as an excuse for racism as it's a lighter and more acceptable way to look moral. Truth is some of this isn't even xenophobia, just racism under the pretense of being xenophobic, or people are just in denial.

    Again such written articles (or any news) can really cause a moral panic within societies and is just going to escalate until it reaches a saturation period and dies down again (hopefully), how long it will go on for is in question. However sometimes unfortunately it still lingers on and becomes part of that societies view and reinforces the view they had before. 'Media following Sheep' are everywhere. Some things are just accepted more in other countries than others due to culture.

    Comment by apez
    13:15 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    in amarica you wouldnt go to jail or be shut down... you may just be sued so badly you will be sold to china ...

    Comment by Onni
    03:28 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Look out for foreigners! They'll...teach your school kids! Because you won't hire them for any other jobs!

    They'll...buy your hard to import merchandise!
    They'll...date your native population!

    They'll...visit your Shinto shrines!
    Those dastardly fools!

    Avatar of Muzaffar
    Comment by Muzaffar
    03:23 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Whatever the news is about or how xenophobic the Japanese are, I'm moving to Japan no matter what! Japan is a way better country than Malaysia will ever be, and living here is nothing but trouble and misery. Also lol at some of those pictures.... =P

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:12 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    last pic...Albert Wesker wannabe? lol

    Comment by HathawayNoa
    05:59 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    So... cancel my Japan trip and go ahead to Germany instead?

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:21 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    zeich heil!!!

    Altho to be honest...different looking people in a mostly single race dominant country really DOES look out of place somehow...

    In countries like Canada...and...Canada.....multiculturalism may be a good thing...it gives that particular country a quality that other countries dont have...i.e a soup with all sorts of random ingredient in it...so an extra "different" looking person wouldn't change a thing...

    But in the case with Japan or other countries dominated by a single race...a foreigner from a different hemisphere really DOES look out of place...

    Chinese (well maybe not chinese due to past circumstances) and Koreans might have an easier time fitting in since their appearances are a little closer...but dont be expected to be greeted with open arms when you're white and from N.America (the loudest and dirtiest tourists as far as my experience could tell...)

    As for racism...thats a funny thing...some say it stems from protectionism, and some stems from xenophobia, but when I was like 4, before I even knew any other race's existed, I was thoroughly repulsed with seeing a person different then I am for some reason...I got over it now...but that little racist streak is still a mystery to me even now...which leads me to think it might be a built in sort of thing...anyone care to explain?

    Comment by Infernal
    07:11 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Racism (or any kind of Prejudice) stems from many factors from what I learnt in Psychology. I mentioned xenophobia as 1 of those factors. Humans are naturally afraid of what they can't understand, see, hear or anything of the unknown. Built from fear one will discriminate over it. But we are also curious creatures, how the curiousity develop is also essential.

    Another is just insecurity; whereby a person feels he/she is inadequate in some form and has a need to look down upon others to make themselves feel better. Similar to the 'Associative Grouping' whereby of peers in Schools. E.g. Jocks, Emo's, Plastics, Moshers, Otaku (lol)The feeling of wanting to belong in a group, if your with similar peers, not only do you feel more confident about what you say and do. It improves self-esteem, therefore knowing similar peers accept you, you feel other groups of people as worthless to you which further reinforce that mindframe.

    Most prejudices usually stem from these 2 points as I've seen. Fear and Insecurity. Ignorance/Arrogance is another, just out of stupidity in being unable to understand anything out of their '6 walled imagination' with self deusions of grandure, seeing one better than all others and just generalise everything; with typical terms being called Narccissist, Elitist, Moralists, Bigots, Soccer Moms etc... Of course there are secondary factors involved, in which media plays a large role involved. It's known that in Western media the 'White Man' is usually the hero. Even in Cartoons, children grow up seeing that as a role model. Unconciously belieiving that only 'White' people are better than other coloured people. Though of course it has changed greatly by today standards, to an extent. Even Anime has plenty stereotypes, there's no denying that.

    Other Secondary Factors obviously include parenting. Remember the 'Twin Girl Nazi Singers'? Parenting also plays a large role in this. If said parent does not teach said child about different cultures and people or expose them to other peoplle of different race. Then of course said child will become less tolerable of anything different to them or anything they don't understand and out of their comfort zone.

    Sorry for it being tl;dr. There are more explanations and factors (culture and belief) that I didn't cover, but this is the most likely reasons IMO.

    Comment by kenjiharima
    Comment by Anonymous
    02:29 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Nationalism is the last refuge of scoundrels. They -- especially the traditionalists, nationalists, and the fogies -- expect foreigners be in their own place and stay there.

    *re-reads the late Michael Crichton's Rising Sun*

    Comment by Buddy Bryant
    03:56 01/05/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    03cid4cgpn5ofy76

    村上水軍の館

    Comment by Anonymous
    15:41 20/06/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    LOLing at all the shocked weeaboos

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:51 22/01/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    lol white people

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:02 22/05/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Aussie punch up cabbies?
    Hardly news - our footy 'heroes' do that everyday. It's compulsory!

    Avatar of Icy-nee-san
    Comment by Icy-nee-san
    09:27 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    And thats why the world loves Canadian tourists...now only if they'd love our money XD

    Avatar of misterchef
    Comment by Riot Gear
    11:44 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    only people from South Park doesn't love Canadians though.If only foreigners obey the rules of law of other countries and not doing what is the best for them like,"I am what I am or I am the best there is." thing,maybe we can get a second opinion.

    Comment by plmko
    12:21 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    There is nothing worse than a white, fat otaku. TRUST ME.

    So I guess this article has some merit.

    Comment by apez
    13:25 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    heyyy!!!! i could be all muscle , just after i finish this newest chapter of bleach

    Comment by Anonymous
    13:40 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    big deal, just do what baseball players and football players do, inject steroids straight into your balls.

    Comment by Otaku Dan
    15:27 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I don't know why but the title of this post reminds me of the blackzilla skit on the Chappelle Show.

    Comment by flip
    16:19 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    lol man i miss that show

    Avatar of dmil666
    Comment by dmil666
    15:49 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    If SPA is just a tabloid rag then it's just manufactured outrage in the hopes of selling more copies. I doubt if there is much truth present in the article if SPA is anything like western tabs.

    Comment by BuggyBY
    05:15 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's not exactly just a tabloid. It's a fairly popular women's magazine, if I'm not mistaken. Honda Tooru's book "Denpa Otoko" quotes several articles from it.

    Comment by Anonymous
    15:49 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Of course, no Japanese can do no wrong...

    Comment by CommonSense
    16:21 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The title is misleading because the incidents are a joke at best. If this a "rampage" then my name is Hades.

    Comment by Firo
    23:10 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Oh, hai Hades \(^_^)

    Comment by Anonymous
    Comment by Anonymous
    Comment by D.T.H.Snake
    17:20 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    in the second picture what have they said about the lonely planet Japan guide book?

    Comment by BuggyBY
    05:17 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Without going for a full translation, the title of the box is "Onsen places full of foreigners". My guess is they copied the most recommended affordable onsen resort list from the Lonely Planet book (which in my opinion is selling way more copies than it deserves).

    Comment by Luffink
    15:23 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    (first pic)
    Oh, I remember that guy, he jumped into a sacred lake naked to swim, didn´t he?

    Can´t blame the japanese, I guess... a lot of people do whatever they want when they travel, and specially in places like Japan, they can go with the "Sorry, I can´t understand you" excuse...

    Comment by weee
    15:52 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    ah yes... the almighty "excuse"...

    Comment by Particia “Patty” Martin
    23:41 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Ah~ Sorry I can't understand all those difficult nippon worlds.

    Avatar of yaku
    Comment by yaku
    04:52 21/04/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Not nippon, it's moonspeak.

    Comment by HELL
    14:52 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Fuckin gaijins

    Comment by Anonymous
    15:02 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    lol live life bitches.

    Comment by trygle12
    14:49 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I thought this was crude and terrible satire :/

    Comment by AmericanOtaku83
    14:44 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I guess I'll cancel my trip to Japan.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:42 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    And your plans to leap nude into the imperial moat?

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:35 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I'm offended.

    Comment by ANON
    09:11 16/05/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbfBnBHqVAI

    Comment by Anonymous
    15:37 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    This is sarcasm.

    ...right?

    Comment by Anonymous 2
    17:29 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Seriously. I'm Filipino

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:02 21/04/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Who cares about the war? The Phillipines probably would have been better off if Japan stayed. We'd at least get more anime related stuff.

    Comment by flip
    16:15 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    wait i'm Filipino, hows this suppose to be offensive? was it the Vatican thing? well yeah lol. I can see a catholic Filipino getting mad about that. But i don't see anything offensive to whats said

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:27 22/01/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    The Phillipines should have stayed with the USA. It never even went up for a vote, because the corrupt Phillipino leadership were afraid of losing it.

    Comment by Anonymous
    14:08 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    flip thread me too add me to the list

    Avatar of Icy-nee-san
    Comment by Icy-nee-san
    09:26 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    me 4 :D

    Comment by Teabag
    07:56 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    True. But we have already forgotten about the Jap invasion and hating on Americans(at least members of the militant and leftist groups) now.

    Comment by mr.mortified
    07:38 03/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    me 3!
    but didn't japan invade the philippines in WWII?

    Avatar of repure
    Comment by repure
    22:34 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    hey me too!!

    Comment by Hangmen
    17:29 02/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    More offended than a Jew passing by a Holocaust Denial Convention.





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