BakaGaijin.com is all about life as a foreigner in Japan. There are several sections of the site already, with more coming soon.
Life in Japan – silly “you’ve been in Japan a long time when” jokes. We find them soothing…
Japanese Body Language – Japanese hand gestures
Japanese Idioms – since life is not all jokes and hand signals, may as well enrich your Japanese speaking skill. This section features common idioms with zany illustrations.
On ‘Gaijin Culture’
“Gaijin” means foreigner (lit. “person from outside”) in Japanese. It’s kind of like saying “alien” in English. These days some Japanese have become sensitive to this distinction and now say “gaikokujin” which means “person from a foreign country,” and is perhaps more politically correct.
In Japanese “baka” means crazy or stupid, so “bakagaijin” means “stupid foreigner.” Foreigners in Japan mostly learn it from each other, and the phrase becomes part of the neurosis of being a foreigner in Japan. Some Japanese use the phrase too, but mostly when talking to each other about foreigners. (like this guy)
It’s uncommon to be actually called a bakagaijin by a Japanese person. In fact I’ve never seen this happen. First of all it’s just not nice. Second, most Japanese don’t have a problem with foreigners. Of course there are racist and xenophobic people in Japan, as in most places. But to come right out and say it isn’t the Japanese way. Racism in Japan is far more sneaky and passive aggressive than that.
I’ve recently noticed that there exists a sort of “gaijin culture” among foreigners in Japan. Regardless of where you’re from, there are common challenges and experiences associated with being a long-time foreigner in Japan. This common thread, and the impossibility of integrating fully into Japanese culture, has fueled the evolution of a separate culture. Gaijin Culture.
BakaGaijin.com is a satirical look at Gaijin Culture, with some Japanese language enrichment activities thrown in for extra fun.
Meet Our Hero
Gaijin Joe is a Gaijin in Japan. He’s moderately overweight, but will start a rigorous diet and exercise program next week.
Meet Gaijin Joe
Joe likes travel, computers, and small electronic gadgets. He doesn’t like anime or manga, but somehow has stayed in Japan anyway. Joe’s been in Japan most of his adult life and recently began to notice the things that happen when you’ve been in Japan a long time – when you become a member of the Gaijin Culture.
Disclaimer
The views expressed on this site are solely those of the author. The events depicted are fictional. Any resemblance to actual events is coincidental. The individuals portrayed are fictional. Any resemblance to real people, living or deceased, is a figment of an over-active imagination.