Comments on: clashed then jacked. http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676 ... because eating is serious business! Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:15:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Marc @ NoRecipes http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676&cpage=1#comment-1128 Marc @ NoRecipes Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:12:23 +0000 http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676#comment-1128 I agree with Matt. There's a pervasive kind of nationalism in Asia that's really different than the overt racism we see in the US. As Japan's aging population shrinks though it will be interesting to see how those attitudes change. I was born in Japan, but grew up here, so my Japanese was never so good and I always got the sense that people were only nice to me because they thought I was mentally handicapped or something. The irony is that most Japanese aren't really Japanese, just like most American's aren't actually Native to this continent. I recently had a DNA test done, and it turns out my fathers side descends from Ainu (which are the native inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago), and on my mom's side, we're actually a Chinese minority (not Han) prevalent in SE Asia. Maybe i'm just idealistic, but I'm all about bringing about cultural change and understanding through food. If you look at the world of Japanese food, unless it involves grilled dried fish or rice, it's probably something that was imported from another country at some point. I agree with Matt. There’s a pervasive kind of nationalism in Asia that’s really different than the overt racism we see in the US. As Japan’s aging population shrinks though it will be interesting to see how those attitudes change. I was born in Japan, but grew up here, so my Japanese was never so good and I always got the sense that people were only nice to me because they thought I was mentally handicapped or something.

The irony is that most Japanese aren’t really Japanese, just like most American’s aren’t actually Native to this continent. I recently had a DNA test done, and it turns out my fathers side descends from Ainu (which are the native inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago), and on my mom’s side, we’re actually a Chinese minority (not Han) prevalent in SE Asia.

Maybe i’m just idealistic, but I’m all about bringing about cultural change and understanding through food. If you look at the world of Japanese food, unless it involves grilled dried fish or rice, it’s probably something that was imported from another country at some point.

]]> By: ila http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676&cpage=1#comment-1099 ila Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:44:58 +0000 http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676#comment-1099 aaron, this is true. when everyone was reading the hobbit, our parents bought us the rape of nanking as well as books on korean comfort women. things they never mention in history class! naturally, we grew wary of history texts. matt, it is horrible. but at the same time, yes, asians as a whole have a superiority complex of some sort. i hope that the current fusion trend will make border-breaking much easier for the upcoming generations... till then, i will be noshing on delicious pork kimchi bowls :) aaron, this is true. when everyone was reading the hobbit, our parents bought us the rape of nanking as well as books on korean comfort women. things they never mention in history class! naturally, we grew wary of history texts.

matt, it is horrible. but at the same time, yes, asians as a whole have a superiority complex of some sort. i hope that the current fusion trend will make border-breaking much easier for the upcoming generations… till then, i will be noshing on delicious pork kimchi bowls :)

]]> By: mattatouille http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676&cpage=1#comment-1097 mattatouille Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:42:01 +0000 http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676#comment-1097 Not *Japanese Not *Japanese

]]> By: mattatouille http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676&cpage=1#comment-1096 mattatouille Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:38:10 +0000 http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676#comment-1096 Very interesting bit about Japan's culture and idea of ethnicity. I do agree with you. As a Korean person who's spent time in Japan, I certainly get weird looks from people when they realize that I'm not Japan, but really a Korean-American. I think change takes time, but I do believe that it's also still very much inherent in Japanese people that they consider their race, culture, and language to be superior. It's not unique to them though, Koreans and Chinese each think their race/language/food/culture is superior, but it's all very myopic and nationalistic. Ultimately I think something like food can be used to bring cultures together, to reconcile peoples, and remind us that there's beauty in culture. Very interesting bit about Japan’s culture and idea of ethnicity. I do agree with you. As a Korean person who’s spent time in Japan, I certainly get weird looks from people when they realize that I’m not Japan, but really a Korean-American. I think change takes time, but I do believe that it’s also still very much inherent in Japanese people that they consider their race, culture, and language to be superior. It’s not unique to them though, Koreans and Chinese each think their race/language/food/culture is superior, but it’s all very myopic and nationalistic. Ultimately I think something like food can be used to bring cultures together, to reconcile peoples, and remind us that there’s beauty in culture.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676&cpage=1#comment-1094 Aaron Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:46:47 +0000 http://www.inomthings.com/?p=1676#comment-1094 I think much of the problem has to do with Japanese education and indoctrination for children. It's fine to be patriotic, but it can easily be taken to an extreme. For example, the Chinese are upset about Japanese whitewashing of war atrocities in Nanjing. But then again, there are plenty of American tragedies not in American textbooks. I think much of the problem has to do with Japanese education and indoctrination for children. It’s fine to be patriotic, but it can easily be taken to an extreme. For example, the Chinese are upset about Japanese whitewashing of war atrocities in Nanjing. But then again, there are plenty of American tragedies not in American textbooks.

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