arigat-NO!

[jongeh]

Recently i was talking to one of my friends about people going into places like Chipotle, where all the employees are hispanic/latino/etc. (well at least the ones i live near), and trying to speak spanish to them. we both agreed that it could either be extremely insulting, or humorously flattering.

Ironically, it's a few weeks later and i have just started working at a japanese/korean restaurant (owned by koreans, all the employees are korean), and people keep saying arigato to me or other japanese things they've learned (hopefully not all from styx songs). it really irks me cause these people think they are being so clever by being culturally aware. i can't tell you how many snooty old white ladies have bowed at me with these stupid smirks on their faces while saying "arigato".

anyways, would anyone else get offended? part of me thinks they can't help it, it is a mostly-japanese restaurant, but the other part of me thinks that i would never make the same assumptions.

[LaiSteve66]

* pictures snooty old white ladies bowing and saying "arigato" *

LMAO!

After awhile it would get old though.

[tvbdude]

I would be offended

[Chad]

that might get annoying if I were in your position. but i wouldn't really be offended, just remain silent and do not reward the behavior with a smile or verbal correspondence.
i used to get white people trying to speak spanish to me all the time. i wasn't offended because i understood why they did this. but i did not accomodate them, i used it as an opportunity to practice some elementary german. my reasoning was this: speak to me in a language i don't understand and i will do the same back to you.

[LaiSteve66]

I've never had a White person speak Spanish to me, but I've had countless of Hispanics do it. No hablo espanol.

[Chad]

"du Bist Ein Sauuuuuuuuuuuu"

[Faithless]

It may just be, unfortunately, that there's more Japanese cultural awareness amongst this crowd.

I think in a lot of Japanese restaurants they seem to encourage Japanese right off the bat, right? Don't we hear in a many Japanese restaurants -- Irashaimasen!

[rice cracker]

Are the patrons greeted in Japanese? When I am greeted in Korean, I usually respond back in the same language.

[lethal]

Is there any indication on the signage of the ethnicity of the owners or employees? If its a Japanese/Korean place, maybe customers just assume that you're Japanese and that they don't know any Korean.

Ask yourself this: would you be offended if the customers said phrases in Korean to you?

[jongeh]

Are the patrons greeted in Japanese? When I am greeted in Korean, I usually respond back in the same language.

no, they're not. there is no japanese in the restaurant at all.

[rice cracker]

no, they're not. there is no japanese in the restaurant at all.

Oh, well, nevermind.

[Faithless]

no, they're not. there is no japanese in the restaurant at all.
Okay, then.

Well, there's probably two paths you can take --

Intending to keep the job a while path: "He, he. That's cute, lady." (All the while thinking to yourself -- "dumb broad".)

Intending to quit soon and never return path: "B, STFU! That's about as flattering as for me to respond in an Irish brogue!" :rolleyes:

[HeyaB!]

hehe ;)

when I was in high school taking Japanese, the teacher organised a dinner night at a small local Japanese restaurant so we could practice ordering in Japanese. When we got there though, it turns out the place was owned and run by Chinese.

So whilst we couldn't practice our Japanese, I did get to order in Cantonese. Still a fun night though.

[kimpossible]

Off topic a bit, but I can't remember the last time I went to a Japanese restaurant run by anything but Koreans who usually assume that I assume they're Japanese.

[SunWuKong]

hehe ;)

when I was in high school taking Japanese, the teacher organised a dinner night at a small local Japanese restaurant so we could practice ordering in Japanese. When we got there though, it turns out the place was owned and run by Chinese.

So whilst we couldn't practice our Japanese, I did get to order in Cantonese. Still a fun night though.


hahhah that's funny as hell.

Off topic a bit, but I can't remember the last time I went to a Japanese restaurant run by anything but Koreans who usually assume that I assume they're Japanese.

these days when i walk into any Japanese restaurant, i assume it's ran by Koreans. and when i ask about anything related to Korean food, sometimes they'll think i'm Korean.

but there are a couple of places in the DC area that are actually owned and operated by Japanese people.

[TB4000]

So the Japanese restaurants are perpatrating a fraud? I guess they use that "people think we all look alike" thing to their advantage.

[mr. x]

So the Japanese restaurants are perpatrating a fraud? I guess they use that "people think we all look alike" thing to their advantage.
well I guess japanese food sells better than korean in the scheme of things

[eos]

this japanese restaurant i go to used to be run by a japanese guy, with hispanic sushi chefs, and a mixed wait staff. then it gradually shifted to a thai manager, same chefs, and an all thai wait staff.

[mr. x]

this japanese restaurant i go to used to be run by a japanese guy, with hispanic sushi chefs, and a mixed wait staff. then it gradually shifted to a thai manager, same chefs, and an all thai wait staff.
I believe the guys in my area are Chinese, possibly hawaiin immigrants. Whether ownership is Japanese or not the staff often looks Chinese/SE Asian/Hispanic

[Emperor_Mike]

Certain types of ignorance can be forgiven and rectified with a smile and a few kind words correcting the error(s) in question.

[freak]

Recently i was talking to one of my friends about people going into places like Chipotle, where all the employees are hispanic/latino/etc. (well at least the ones i live near), and trying to speak spanish to them. we both agreed that it could either be extremely insulting, or humorously flattering.

Ironically, it's a few weeks later and i have just started working at a japanese/korean restaurant (owned by koreans, all the employees are korean), and people keep saying arigato to me or other japanese things they've learned (hopefully not all from styx songs). it really irks me cause these people think they are being so clever by being culturally aware. i can't tell you how many snooty old white ladies have bowed at me with these stupid smirks on their faces while saying "arigato".

anyways, would anyone else get offended? part of me thinks they can't help it, it is a mostly-japanese restaurant, but the other part of me thinks that i would never make the same assumptions.

Why would you get offended over that? I think the targets more open for offense here are the idiotic white fellows. Of course you would never make the same assumptions as they do- you aren't white, and therefore you fortunately do not have the same personality flaws as white people do. I mean, I can see how in some cases this could be ignorant and patronizing, but please; keep in mind that white people are naturally pig-headed and arrogant, and though it may seem like they're being snide a lot of the time they're just trying to "fit in with the locals" (and they'll think they're oh-so-good for doing so.) You'll find that a lot of white people will pretend to be experts on any topic, be it Asian culture or otherwise, so don't take it so personally, just be happy that they haven't said something nasty to you instead and have a good laugh about it later :smile:

[jongeh]

Why would you get offended over that? I think the targets more open for offense here are the idiotic white fellows. Of course you would never make the same assumptions as they do- you aren't white, and therefore you fortunately do not have the same personality flaws as white people do. I mean, I can see how in some cases this could be ignorant and patronizing, but please; keep in mind that white people are naturally pig-headed and arrogant, and though it may seem like they're being snide a lot of the time they're just trying to "fit in with the locals" (and they'll think they're oh-so-good for doing so.) You'll find that a lot of white people will pretend to be experts on any topic, be it Asian culture or otherwise, so don't take it so personally, just be happy that they haven't said something nasty to you instead and have a good laugh about it later :smile:

actually, i am half white

so i should not be offended because they are "NATURALLY pig-headed and arrogant"?

ohhhh:rolleyes:

[TB4000]

I suspect freak isn't asian at all, or someone that's trying to spark debate. Just a theory of course.

[eos]

I suspect freak isn't asian at all, or someone that's trying to spark debate. Just a theory of course.


check out the "i hate my nose" thread.

apparently, freak is white.

[freak]

actually, i am half white

so i should not be offended because they are "NATURALLY pig-headed and arrogant"?

ohhhh:rolleyes:
I'm sorry if I offended you but frankly, your thread has offended me also. And I don't particularly warm to the fact that I'm being called a racist for taking jabs at my own race when so many other people in here seem to be having a great time making fun of how idiotic white people are and complaining about "white supremacists" who really only exist in the form of the KKK nowadays; so have a nice new year, because I can clearly see that me staying at this forum will cause nothing but grief for both you and me, and I shall consequently take my leave from here. Good day to you, noble sir.

[kimpossible]

I'm sorry if I offended you but frankly, your thread has offended me also. And I don't particularly warm to the fact that I'm being called a racist for taking jabs at my own race when so many other people in here seem to be having a great time making fun of how idiotic white people are and complaining about "white supremacists" who really only exist in the form of the KKK nowadays; so have a nice new year, because I can clearly see that me staying at this forum will cause nothing but grief for both you and me, and I shall consequently take my leave from here.

Then make it happen. I'm not in the mood to tapdance out passive aggressive bitch moves. If you have a problem with YW then say so plainly like another member did in the feedback forum. Otherwise I can help you in the process of leaving.

And kusojiji, start posting something else besides knee-jerk reactionary insults that mods have to end up deleting.

[kusojiji]

And kusojiji, start posting something else besides knee-jerk reactionary insults that mods have to end up deleting.


Where have I lied?

[younggiftedandblack]

They do this at Todai (Japanesse / Seafood buffet). They greet everyone in Japanesse (but most of the servers aren't). Once when my fiancee placed her order in Japanese the waiter looked at me for a translation of what she was saying.

[jdmdrift]

being of half japanese descent but taking full pride in it, i think its only natural that people think an asian working in a japanese restaurant would be japanese, you put on a cop uniform most are going to suspect you are a cop, same goes here.
no offense to koreans(before im called a racist my fiance is korean) but if they dont like it then dont take my culture and butcher it for your own financial gain.
my grandfather moved to this country and opened a japanese restaurant, hired all different types of races to work there but only japanese hands prepared japanese food.
thats just the way i believe it should be.

[pikachupacabra]

being of half japanese descent but taking full pride in it, i think its only natural that people think an asian working in a japanese restaurant would be japanese, you put on a cop uniform most are going to suspect you are a cop, same goes here.
no offense to koreans(before im called a racist my fiance is korean) but if they dont like it then dont take my culture and butcher it for your own financial gain.
my grandfather moved to this country and opened a japanese restaurant, hired all different types of races to work there but only japanese hands prepared japanese food.
thats just the way i believe it should be.


I don't think food should be constrained towards a specific culture. Japanese cuisine carries a lot of culture, tradition, and societal value in it, but does that mean it is exclusively the domain of the japanese?

If it does, then by the same notion, am I automatically disallowed from making myself a grilled cheese sandwhich at home? Must I use tofu, or perhaps even soy curds instead, sandwiched between two mantou halves?

The point is, anyone can make the food, and it's your choice to eat there or not. On one hand I do agree; it galls me to NO end to see Panda Express call themselves "gourmet chinese food". I'd love to see their definitions of Gourmet, Chinese, or Food, because honestly, they qualify as none of the above. It also galls me to eat at "bai ren" chinese restaurants, but at the same time, food adapts, food accepts new cultures, food accepts new ingredients. It evolves, changes, and becomes something new, and yet old.

So what if the label sucks. So what if it isn't "traditional" japanese food even if it labels itself as so. If we're going to prevent non-japanese from making japanese food, then we better shut down all the japanese restaurants that use non-japanese ingredients. Say goodbye to my california roll...

[deez nuts]

patrons saying little japanese phrases here and there to you cuz you work in a japanese/korean restaurant? the horror.

[jdmdrift]

I don't think food should be constrained towards a specific culture. Japanese cuisine carries a lot of culture, tradition, and societal value in it, but does that mean it is exclusively the domain of the japanese?

If it does, then by the same notion, am I automatically disallowed from making myself a grilled cheese sandwhich at home? Must I use tofu, or perhaps even soy curds instead, sandwiched between two mantou halves?

The point is, anyone can make the food, and it's your choice to eat there or not. On one hand I do agree; it galls me to NO end to see Panda Express call themselves "gourmet chinese food". I'd love to see their definitions of Gourmet, Chinese, or Food, because honestly, they qualify as none of the above. It also galls me to eat at "bai ren" chinese restaurants, but at the same time, food adapts, food accepts new cultures, food accepts new ingredients. It evolves, changes, and becomes something new, and yet old.

So what if the label sucks. So what if it isn't "traditional" japanese food even if it labels itself as so. If we're going to prevent non-japanese from making japanese food, then we better shut down all the japanese restaurants that use non-japanese ingredients. Say goodbye to my california roll...

NO YOU ARE CORRECT. i should rephrase that. i dont think ONLY japanese should make it, but it should be made as japanese make it,
like the "sushi bar" at the chinese buffet's that is just crap. no pride or tradition in it at all,
sushi is an art and should be treated as such.
but i also feel the same way for the "chinese" food in those same buffets, crap.
just add water slop in traufs for fat hillbillies to feel cultured and exotic while they use there chop sticks