I'm Japanese American, which is not the same as Mr. Yunioshi, who I believe came from Japan. I watched the movie when I was in my forties and felt his part offensive, although I love and respect Mickey Rooney, the actor. What is strange was that had I watched it when I was younger, I wouldn't have felt the same. I have lived in Japan for the past 20 years and have seen the other side of the coin. I watch Japanese stereotypes of Americans/caucasians on TV here, (fake noses for one, accented speaking for another) especially on the late night shows, which can be more freewheeling, and can say that they are not laughing with you and the same can be said for Mickey Rooney's performance. There were many fine Asian actors that they could have used, and if allowed to creatively develop the character rather than following the script or the director's instructions, might have been created a memorable character commensurate with the rest of the movie.
On similar lines, I have seen many examples of American TV getting Asians right, whether it's Asian Americans like Jack Soo's character on Barney Miller or as foreign visitors in police dramas. They often go the extra step of making them use believable accents. But the fact is that I can watch American TV and can see positive Asian role models, whether heroes, villains or ordinary joes. It outweighs the stereotypes that sometimes crop up. For example, I could predict beforehand which person on the Challenger crew would be stuck with the comedic relief role on the TV movie.
To add to the comments about East Of Eden, Eli Stone's Chinese acupuncture doctor also did the same. The movie and TV series of East of Eden, both excellent, also marginalized Lee, who was more important in the book.
Something not mentioned enough is that Mr. Dang is not Japanese but perhaps Chinese or from South East Asia and also that the Japanese still have some image problems with other Asian nations. As others have said, not all Asians are the same and for one to say that he was not offended, cannot be taken as applicable across the board, but one point of view.
If a TV show made in England had a British actor portraying a Yankee as overweight, loud, obnoxious, ignorant, smarmy and money grubbing, and a person from the South had said that he had no problems with it, we would not take his opinion as applicable to all Americans.
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tsauden
13 years ago
An American that goes to Japan does have to develop a strong mind if he wants to see things as they are, I grant you this. But there's no comparison whatsoever between the two types of discrimination, and this can be illustrated by the fact that a good-looking American man in whom Asia has made a deep and altering impression will typically attract a much higher percentage of women (and men) than a similarly sensitive Japanese assimilating in America. This, to me, is as much a comment on a graciousness in the Japanese spirit as it is on a superior potential in Western character. There are not many Westerners (to say nothing of Americans) who can really relate (notice I don't say 'assimilate', which I believe to be impossible) in the East. In other words there are fewer of us who can do it well than there are Asians who can mix well in the West; however, the few of us who can do it end up penetrating much more deeply. Japan's stereotyping is more rooted in truth and experience, and they are readier to love foreigners. Japanese fall in love with foreigners (I don't necessarily mean romantically) in a way that Americans don't. Does that make East or West superior? The question is and will always remain a paradox.
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gmat6441
13 years ago
I think that the Japanese for attraction for caucasians is the same feeling that Americans have for British and Australians. It is the cachet and exotic feeling that has been cultivated in the minds of Japanese, more than any graciousness in the Japanese spirit. Japanese are very gracious and are also human. I think that you are correct that there are differences, but the underlying feelings of anti-foreigners can still pop up in both cultures. I look Japanese so if I don't speak, Japanese will sometimes speak with more candor in front of me than in front of foreigners. I was at a meeting of English teachers in Japan when an older Japanese person came to our group and starting complaining in Japanese about the foreigners, and my friends could only look at me uncomfortably. It is also sometimes the same when I'm part of a crowd in a live house and listen to Japanese crack jokes about foreigners.
But I think that the failure of Westerners to relate (or assimilate) is due equally in part to the Japanese refusal to let foreigners into the final inner 'us' circle as well as the strong core of Western identity that many Westerners have that prevents them from making the last step to become Japanese. And Caucasians in Japan are like Blacks in America, no matter how much you try to assimilate, you can never hide your skin and that prevents you from totally merging or rather being accepted without conditions.
If you are presently living in Japan, have you seen the 'Debu man,' the grossly fat foreigner pretending to be an American who appeared on the afternoon kids show on TV Tokyo, who sat around and pigged out and was too lazy to move, while the Japanese around him laughed? This was before the Mar. 11 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. The effort made by the US Forces in Japan and aid efforts made by citizens in the US did much to balance the resentment against the US that had been building up over the years. There is less overt anti-US feelings shown on the media and I do notice that more people wear clothing with the US stars and stripes than before. Almost no one wore such clothing before the Earthquake, although the British flag on clothing and accessories were very popular. Americans do have a lot to answer for, it is true, but there was and is much good in the relationship.
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tsauden
13 years ago
What I'm tried and failed to say is that Japanese prejudice is more based on experience than America's. Most Americans don't end up mixing well in Japan, and it takes a long time of seeing many different things to be able to do it. I don't think a foreigner should want to completely assimilate, and I don't think it's finally possible. No matter how close one gets there will always be a distance to go. It's a process of relation, but that relationship (in which there are certainly fights) can become deep to the point of seeing each others' weaknesses as long as the outsider is willing for his or hers to be seen first. The Japanese are very conscious of their prejudice and when an outsider stands up to it prettily (very few can or do) they tend to admire it. It takes a long time to be able to do that because it takes a long time to see and admit the truth in the prejudice. As a matter of fact I want Asian nations to resist globalization. I want each country to retain its unique character. I don't want it to be easy. Americans project their mentality too easily and I want other countries to resist it. Our story of overcoming prejudice has no place in Eastern countries.
I did live in a Japan and my story is unique, but I'll use my grandfather as an example. He went to Japan after the war as a missionary and ended up beloved. To me that does denote a graciousness in Asian character--at least a potential for graciousness.
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