Japan Archives - The Race Card Project

Do you have a foreign name too?

February 12, 2024February 12, 2024 Akira Uchimura, araguay, Bolivia, Chile, Chino, Costa Rica, difference, Ecuador, El Salvador, father, foreign, Japan, Japones, mother, Nikkei Youth Network, Outside USA, Suriname

Akira Uchimura,
Outside USA.

I was born in Costa Rica, raised in Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, El Salvador, Suriname, Japan and Chile (3 to 4 years in each country). I didn’t notice any difference between my friends and I until the
“So where are you from”
“Do you have a foreign name too?” and
“Where did you grow up?”
started popping up a lot since I was 13. My sister was born in Paraguay and my brother in Bolivia. My father is Japanese and my mother is Chilean so imagine how I need to respond to these questions.
Normally I give a full explanation, which takes about 2 minutes and give a short one if I am tired, but I don’t mind because the person is asking out of curiosity and wants to learn more about me.

But I also notice that with questions like “do you have a foreign name too?”, people usually want to have a more exotic explanation of who they see in front of them. Depending on what I wear or how I act that day, I can be more Japanese or more “latino”, meaning that I can camouflage to a full “national” sometimes so when I start to speak, the person tries to look for that foreign part of me. During my teens, it was something that bothered me so much. I had found out that I am a foreigner wherever I went. I was a Latino or gaijin in Japan, and a “Chino” or “Japones” in Latin America, and a Hawaiian or Native American in the United States.

But after a while I also noticed that I had a choice. To see this difference as a negative thing, or to see it as a great potential to become the bridge between my two cultures. I chose se second one and feel very good every time I have to explain Japan to Latin Americans or American Latina to the Japanese.
Looking at this website and on so many half, double, mixed roots groups on facebook, I see that we are many now and the numbers will go higher and higher, until we all become beige regarding to skin color, but to understand cultures and ideas of “foreign lands” I think we are the ones that can best do it if we want to and am making this my life goal.

That is why we started an organization called Nikkei Youth Network and a crowdfunding site called Samuraidea, but that is another story.

Uplift and encourage each other

November 27, 2023 Ashley, encourage, Japan, uplift

Ashley,
Japan

You’re not from here, are you?

January 9, 2023January 9, 2023 American, face, High School, Japan, not from here, predominantly White, Rachel Butler, regular, town

Rachel Butler,
Japan.

I’m from Virginia, from a primarily white town. I went to a pretty white high school, but had a mixed group of friends all the same. I went to the University of Nebraska, which isn’t known for any great ethnic diversity, but it was welcoming to all. I was a collegiate track and field athlete and therefore tended to be surrounded by a mixture of races, which always seemed completely natural to me. Then, a little over a year ago, I came to Japan.
Never before had I stood out so much. Not even in high school when I had flaming red hair! I couldn’t (and still can’t) go to the supermarket without someone commenting on the size of my face (it’s small), the length of my legs (they are long), or the whiteness of my skin (I’m pasty). It was the strangest feeling to be so noticed.

When I went back to the US to visit my family, I was almost disappointed because I was just “regular” again. At the same time, I realized that I always sort of looked at other people in the US as American. I think perhaps most of us do. Because it’s such a diverse country, I think we usually assume a few things when we see first someone, even if they look a lot different from ourselves: 1) They speak English, 2) they have lived in the US forever and 3) probably so did their grandparents. I actually feel like these are complimentary assumptions because they decrease the barriers between us. In Japan, it’s generally assumed that anyone who doesn’t look Japanese probably can’t speak Japanese, thus throwing up a barrier before even speaking to the person. It will probably always be impossible for me to blend in, even if I want to.
I like that it’s hard to put a single face on “American.” We’re lots of colors, lots of sizes, and speak lots of languages. Any face can be American, and that’s something of which we should be proud.

I wasn’t Asian. I became one.

March 18, 2021March 18, 2021 2010, Asian, China, experience, Japan, jigsaw puzzle, PA, Penn State, Saitama, Shanghai, spokesperson, University Park

Kasumi H
University Park, PA

I came to the USA to attend Penn State as an undergraduate student in 2010. I was born in Saitama, Japan and grew up in Shanghai, China. When I arrived, it felt like I was turned into a spokesperson for all Asians. Before, I was just a person, a girl, a student. My experience is inherently mine, unique and valid — so are other people’s. Please don’t expect me to be an expert on all things Asian. There are aspects of Asia I still have yet to explore. I can only offer you my pieces of the great jigsaw puzzle that is Asia. The rest, you need to find on your own.

1 race, 7.5 billion names

July 27, 2019July 27, 2019 Edward Iwaskow, Japan, names, Race

Edward Iwaskow,
Japan.

Soul Surfer is Light without color

January 30, 2019August 18, 2020 AL, CA, check the box, Color, first experience, first generation, Japan, Japaneese American, Japanese, Montgomery, NanJo Carter, other, Richmond, soul, soul surfer, speak, surf

NanJo Carter,
Richmond, CA.

I grew up in the fifties and sixties. We moved to Japan when I was 2. We moved to Montgomery, AL when I was six and I attended Capitol Heights Elementary School. These were intense times with the National Guard escorting us to class and the school. We experienced discrimination and hatred from all sides. My father forbid us to speak Japanese because he was afraid we would be killed. We were always called “other”. I was very shy, however, when asked (often) to choose one race on the selections for myriad reasons I was one of those who always drew my own box and wrote beside it 50% Japanese and 50% Caucasian American. I was sent to the principals office several times because I refused to pick one box and make my own. One day a teacher said I couldn’t be sure that I was 50% and had to pick. I said if I believed I was 51% of something I would choose that but could not pick one because I was 2 ethnicity’s. Like some of the posts, we experienced a lot of physical, mental and emotional abuse from the world we lived in.

The most common first question people ask me (even to this day which is interesting because we live in such diverse times) is “What is your ethnicity?”. The second thing that happens is the person who asks proceeds to tell me I do not look Japanese (like they are the definitive expert) and give evidence to prove to me that I am not Japanese. I recall never in my life any attempt to provide evidence to anyone that they are anything other than what they say they are. It’s kind of like telling a woman, you aren’t a woman, you are something else…. I am a woman. I am first generation Japanese American. I am half Japanese and half American Caucasian (European mix, ah there’s that word again, mix of English and French). I am equally proud of both.

Racially inclusive only when conveniently beneficial

September 25, 2018September 25, 2018 beneficial, claim, conveniently, crim, immigrant, Inclusive, Japan, mahority, medal, multiracial, struggle, Zensaku

Zensaku,
Japan

As a multiracial person, I find that the majority of people from your background will lay claim to a person who does good for that “race”. Win a medal and you are “one of ours”. Commit a crime or struggle as an immigrant and you are “from the other race”. Hence my race card.

Kindergarten Registration: White? Asian? Choices? Eskimo!

July 6, 2018July 6, 2018 application, Asian, check the box, Eskimo, Japan, kindergarten, Okinawan, registration, white, you don't look

Heinrich Beck
Melville, NY

I am white. Both my parents are from Germany. I have reddish blonde hair and a red beard.
My wife is Okinawan (from Japan).

I went to register my older daughter for kindergarten, and they use “Power School” as an intake form.
My daughter looks much more like my wife, but talk to her for 30 seconds, and you know she is my daughter.
The very nice lady doing registrations asked me, “What is your child’s race”?
I was stunned. I never thought about it. I answered truthfully, “She was born in New York. She is an American.”
The lady said, “No, i mean “Caucasian”, “Asian”, etc…”
I said, “I am 100% white. My wife is 100% Asian, so she is half of both.”
I was getting annoyed and the nice lady could sense this. To take off the stress of the situation, she quickly added, “It doesn’t really matter” with a smile.

I said, “Ok, if it doesn’t really matter, what are the other choices?”
The nice lady read the list, and the last entry was ESKIMO.
I turned to my daughter and asked, “Hey Monika, do you want to be an Eskimo?”
My aspiring kindergartener promptly laughed, “Sure!”
I looked that the nice lady and said, “Make the kid an Eskimo!”

Six humans running Lincoln Memorial steps

July 6, 2018July 6, 2018 arm in arm, Baltimore, earth mother, human, Japan, Lincoln Memorial, MD, Nancy Eliot Corrsin, overalls

Nancy Eliot Corrsin,
Baltimore, MD.

Somewhere in Japan is a snapshot of a black man, an oriental man, and a white man galloping down the Lincoln Memorial steps arm-in-arm with three wildly various white women, one petite in shorts and dark braids, one sleepy-eyed blonde earth-mother, and me in bib-front overalls. I think we all visited my parents for dinner.

“Other” has always meant special.

July 6, 2018July 6, 2018 check the box, Japan, other, Saya Powell, special

Saya Powell
Japan

Thank you!

Half Kraut, half Jap: lotta KRAP.

June 22, 2018June 22, 2018 1951, Blue Lake, CA, Cher, German, Half, JAP, Japan, Karl Koessel, Kraut

Karl Koessel
Blue Lake, CA

German-descent St, Louis raised 16-year-old volunteers for war. Japan surrenders while he’s in boot camp. Sent as occupational soldier, but really doing puberty. Comes to Berkeley in 1951 with new wife for school and I am first of 7 children to come. Growing up in mixed neighborhood where groups appeared to be made by race, and with Cher singing Half-Breed”, never felt I would “fit” in.

Gaining knowledge to break the cycle

August 15, 2017 cycle, first experience, Japan, learn, racial slurs, Regina Hatten, white neighborhood

Regina Hatten,
Japan.

I grew up in a predominantly white area with family who used racial slurs regularly and racially profiled all those who were different. As an adult I learned how wrong they were and I don’t want that to be who I am.

Teach in Japan, but you’re black

April 17, 2016April 17, 2016 backlash, Black, black teacher, Dee Moore, educator, Hajimemashite!, Japan, LA, Shreveport, stereotype, stigma

Dee Moore,
Shreveport, LA.

Hajimemashite!
That is the stigma I am always facing in my community. I am a 25 year old African American educator who has plans to teach overseas in Japan. I am also studying Japanese so that I can develop some kind of fluency. Since I was young, I was always interested in Eastern culture, particularly in the Japanese community. I made up my mind that I wanted to spend time in Japan and teach Japanese children. I want to know the feeling as an educator to teach outside of my norm and Western culture.

When telling people my intended plans, there is often backlash. Responses like “Asian people don’t like black people,” “They will kidnap you,” and “Why not teach in Africa where they really need black teachers.”

I feel as though that I am individual who has right to teach where ever I am pleased and going to Japan is something I really wanted to do. It is about time to end this stigma of stereotypes and fear. If one continues to fear, then nothing can be accomplished.

I don’t know when I am going to Japan, but trust me, I WILL GO AND WILL TEACH! Because teaching is something I am good at, and I will be the best educator any Japanese student would love to have.

Sayounara!

Skin white, soul rainbow, accept me

August 21, 2015 Accept, culture, Heather Melberg, High School, Japan, past, Race, rainbow, Renton, Seattle, soul, stories, WA, white skin

Heather Melberg,
Renton, WA.

I am born and raised in Seattle. Lived in Japan my junior year of high school. Fascinated with all races and cultures and our stories of now and the past.

I don’t look like a doll.

June 6, 2015June 7, 2015 Alysha White, Asian, caucasian, doll, Japan, stereotype

Alysha White
Japan

It’s a 3rd culture, neither Asian nor Caucasian, people don’t get that.

We are all just human beings.

March 8, 2015March 9, 2015 Ashley M., beings, human, Japan, we, we are all just

Ashley M.
Japan

I look white, I’m also Japanese.

January 23, 2015January 23, 2015 Greencastle, Hanae Weber, IN, Japan, white

Hanae Weber,
Greencastle, IN.

I am mixed race. My mother is half-Japanese, my father is white. I was raised in a Japanese-American household, but sometimes people struggle to grasp this or accept me as Japanese-American because of my blue eyes and brown hair. I am so proud of my culture that I refuse to sink to their labels or negative comments about how I’m a “fake-Asian”. I am white and I am Japanese. That’s all there is to it.