Is this the reason why everyone here thinks they are special?

[captain harry]

Because of a movie? A damn movie?

I like when he says 'you aint worth a duck's ****'

http://youtu.be/bepa9y5cJlI

[hennagaijin]

No.. probably not.

It appears you are your biggest fan, Captain Tokyo Joe Harry or Tokyo Captain Hairy Joe.. or whatever your name is...

[captain harry]

Ive met him and he helped me out when I was first here. I can get pm bulletins from TJ on the Tokyo Forum and yes, I am one of his fans, probably not the only one though. I see other threads here were people seem to like TJ.

I think he's right about people thinking when they first come it's going to be like Lost in Translation especially when you think that hes right - there are no other white people in the movie - just Bill Murray, Scar Jo, the blonde lady and Ribisi and who else?

If you watched the movie you would think that there are no white people on the streets of Tokyo - he's hit the nail on the head.

But the duck's **** thing made me lol.

[rainbowtokyo]

Tokyo Joe made some mention of the declining gaijin population in Tokyo. Is there any basis for this? Haven't most of the cowardly flyjin returned?

[madazzahatter]

Tokyo Joe made some mention of the declining gaijin population in Tokyo. Is there any basis for this? Haven't most of the cowardly flyjin returned?

I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell I'm doing here?
I don't belong here

[guyjeen]

TJ is probably Jinseinosensei
or most likely EdinJ

or both

[rainbowtokyo]

Don't ever mention Jinsei or Debito. These two names make many forumites livid.

[John Grey]

Tokyo Joe made some mention of the declining gaijin population in Tokyo. Is there any basis for this? Haven't most of the cowardly flyjin returned?

Foreign residents decline a third year, by 56,000


http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120610a3.html

[StarfoxPro]

Foreign residents decline a third year, by 56,000


http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120610a3.html

The natural disasters (and unnatural: i.e. Fukushima radiaion) is just one reason why foreigners are decreasing. Other reasons include low salaries, decreasing opportunities and people are starting to realize that living in Japan is very much living anywhere else. After all, the routine is exactly the same here as it is anywhere else. You get up and you go to work. The daily grind is the same no matter where you live. I think people are realizing they can do that same daily grind in their home country for a lot more money. Therefore people are starting to realize that being here in Japan is really nothing special (depends on your POV of course).

There is also the growing fear of the predicted Tokai Earthquake. According to a study conducted by the Science Institute at Tokyo University (last year), there is a 70% chance the Tokai Earthquake will happen within the next four years. I know many Brazilians who were living in Aichi, Mie and Shizouka prefectures have already left. I can't speak for English teachers though. However, if I may make a supposition, I am going to guess they are not hanging around either.

Just food for thought

[KansaiBen]

There is also the growing fear of the predicted Tokai Earthquake. According to a study conducted by the Science Institute at Tokyo University (last year), there is a 70% chance the Tokai Earthquake will happen within the next four years. I know many Brazilians who were living in Aichi, Mie and Shizouka prefectures have already left. I can't speak for English teachers though. However, if I may make a supposition, I am going to guess they are not hanging around either.

Just food for thought

I think that for a number of people. the growing realisation that you will never be more than second class citizens no matter how long you live here, the level of salary you make. That perennial feeling of being a guest worker, a visitor and someone who will eventually go back to where they came from. For many foreigners, no suffrage, no vote and no influence over politicians who make decisions that affect their ability to function here. In Osaka Toru Hashimoto is starting to act increasingly authoritarian and dictatorial. Dont forget Adolf Hitler was democratically elected into power in 1934 and look how that turned out.

For most in the teaching field, endemic lack of job security, falling salaries and no sense that things will get better, when in fact they got worse.

I have a friend who has suggested I look at teaching at universities in China. For once I am seriously beginning to consider it, where I wouldn't have 5 years ago.

[StarfoxPro]

I think that for a number of people. the growing realisation that you will never be more than second class citizens no matter how long you live here, the level of salary you make. That perennial feeling of being a guest worker, a visitor and someone who will eventually go back to where they came from. For many foreigners, no suffrage, no vote and no influence over politicians who make decisions that affect their ability to function here. In Osaka Toru Hashimoto is starting to act increasingly authoritarian and dictatorial. Dont forget Adolf Hitler was democratically elected into power in 1934 and look how that turned out.

For most in the teaching field, endemic lack of job security, falling salaries and no sense that things will get better, when in fact they got worse.

I have a friend who has suggested I look at teaching at universities in China. For once I am seriously beginning to consider it, where I wouldn't have 5 years ago.

One Brazilian lady that I worked with taught Portuguese. She was nearing 1 kyu Japanese and lived in Japan for 15 years. Her salary was 1000 yen per hour. She went back to Brazil this past March. The moral of the story is that people are realizing the futility of their efforts here and are taking better opportunities else where.

[KansaiBen]

One Brazilian lady that I worked with taught Portuguese. She was nearing 1 kyu Japanese and lived in Japan for 15 years. Her salary was 1000 yen per hour. She went back to Brazil this past March. The moral of the story is that people are realizing the futility of their efforts here and are taking better opportunities else where.

There is a very good book called Cartels of the Mind by Ivan Hall where he talks about in the inbuilt discrimination. the racism, the parochialism of the locals. Konishiki even said it when he blamed not being promoted to Yokozuna on racism. Not just sumo by press clubs, foreign athletes (foreign baseball players being intentionally walked so they wouldnt beat Saharau Ohs home run record. Diplomats, academics,. sportsmen, educators, entertainers all come in for the same treatment. Brazilians paid to go home because they have become surplus to requirements after spending their time here working in Japanese factories. The list goes on.

Alex Kerr said much the same in Dogs and Demons. The deck is stacked against the gaijin here but as so many of us have our lives invested here with kids, mortgages and families you just suck it up as part of the price of living here. Some even become japan apologists and become exclusionist themselves.

[haggydoggy]

I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell I'm doing here?
I don't belong here

Do you care if it hurts?
Do yo want to gave control?
Do you want a perfect body?
Do you want a perfect soul?

[ruserious]

Oh just don't mention America and President Bush. Brings out the worst in the man.

So If I say George W. Bush is a great American, KB will blow a gasket?

[Seattlegirl]

So If I say George W. Bush is a great American, KB will blow a gasket?

KB is not American, so who cares?

Btw, I would say that someone can be a "great American" but not a great President. They do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.

[mechatron]

KB is not American, so who cares?

Btw, I would say that someone can be a "great American" but not a great President. They do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.

A "great American" wouldn't deceive his country into a war about nothing which killed and permanently maimed 30,000 of his fellow citizens, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi men, women and children and cost a trillion or more borrowed dollars in a time of economic crisis. That's treasonous.