> it's a Japanese word, after all, and is not derogatory in Japanese That reminds me of 外人 (gaijin). Many will argue it's not a negative word, but when you hea

> it's a Japanese word, after all, and is not derogatory in Japanese That reminds me of 外人 (gaijin). Many will argue it's not a negative word, but when you hear people say it, it's almost never said in a very friendly, inclusive sort of way. It reminds me of the way white people in their 80s and 90s will use the word 'nigger', and the expectation is "that's just what everyone called them back then, it wasn't racist." And you know, some of the time it may well not have been. But it was always meant as a way of saying, "not one of us." Now sure, as a literal fact, this person is half Japanese, and this is the word to express that. But what's more important, is when and why is it being brought up? It shouldn't matter, and there should be very few times in life when you need to say or ask it. These sorts of things seem inevitable when you have such an overwhelmingly homogenous society (99% native, and most of the remaining 1% still Asian.) I'm not quite as hopeful as the author that this is going to change any time soon there.