| Japanese xenophobia should be understood properly | | | | society that are not generally considered acceptable |
| prior to jumping to any reactive conclusions. | | | | in Japanese society, and also certainly many things in |
| Xenophobia is not really racism, although it can | | | | Japanese society which would not be acceptable in |
| occasionally cross the line in Japan and both are | | | | most of Western society. It is easy to understand |
| occasionally evidenced. For Japanese society any | | | | why it could be somewhat more challenging to open |
| xenophobia is more of a fear of the unknown and a | | | | up completely if there is a history of being judged for |
| fear of being overpowered by that which is | | | | some of the most basic aspects of a society. |
| unknown. In all honesty, many people in Japan are | | | | In addition to concerns about average physical size |
| rather intimidated by other countries and also their | | | | and a historical tendency for Western cultures to |
| relatively large people. It may sound silly, but it really | | | | misunderstand and judge Japanese society, there are |
| does stem from the most basic things like physical | | | | also basic differences in the general psychology of |
| size. | | | | various societies. Japan has what is most likely the |
| Due in part to historically taking the offense on | | | | most obedient modern society in the world. There is |
| xenophobia, the Japanese government has historically | | | | no modern history of revolution and there are no |
| made some rather unwise choices internationally. The | | | | riots in the streets. People are generally quite polite |
| results of such choices have made the nation feel | | | | and Tokyo, although the most populated metropolis |
| somewhat guilty and also somewhat worried about | | | | in the world, is possibly the safest city for a child to |
| belated retaliation from its closer neighbors, in addition | | | | be in at any time of day or night. Purse snatching and |
| to simply feeling defeated. To go from a state of | | | | the like are practically unheard of and are certainly |
| megalomania to a state of apocalyptic defeat is | | | | uncommon. People will stand in herds at a street |
| obviously rather shocking and, as a result, Japan is | | | | corner and wait for the light on the crosswalk to |
| now much more cautious about its role on the world | | | | change to green, regardless of there not being a car |
| stage. The nation of Japan was also occupied after | | | | in sight. It is understandable that there could be some |
| WWII and essentially had its entire culture exposed | | | | concern over people from societies in which the cars |
| before a relatively judgmental Western perspective. | | | | don't even stop at stoplights, as is common even in |
| Apparently as a result, some people in Japan also | | | | other parts of Asia. |
| seem to fear exposure and being misunderstood or | | | | In a way, Japan is like a clock and Japanese society |
| judged for their lifestyles. | | | | generally seems to like to keep things running like |
| Many things simply are drastically different in Western | | | | clockwork. Thankfully the introduction and adoption |
| and Eastern culture. Japan is even quite unique in | | | | of new ideas is part of what makes has made that |
| Eastern culture. To say one way of doing things is | | | | clock run so well, and so Japanese society is still quite |
| correct and one is incorrect would likely be primarily | | | | open to careful introductions. It just isn't so game for |
| based on the cultural background of a viewer and | | | | any oversized unhygienic elephants to come trampling |
| thus it would be an inaccurate assessment. There are | | | | through its delicate clockwork. |
| many things considered normal in most of Western | | | | |