The True Power of Prejudice

It has been my experience that for the most part (and I can confirm the following is not in fact universally true) that your average Japanese assumes that by simple virtue of your foreigness you are completely unable to understand the Japanese language. This comes from a somewhat deep seded belief that all foreign languages are nearly impossible to learn and Japanese especially so. Now, normally, this serves as a mere annoyance. Saying simple things like "mizu onegai shimasu" (water, please) or "sore wa kekkou" (that's enough) will often elicit reactions along the lines of "nihongo sugoku jouzu (sometimes the more slangy umai) desu ne!" (your Japanese is amazing!) or onetime from a Jehovah's witness "nihongo wa kirei!" (you're Japanese is beautiful!). Most of the Japanese people I respect and admire have said no such thing to me.

So, I was at a food shop (not sure what exactly to call it; mostly a place that sells coffee, baking supplies, and various foreign foodstuffs) in Toyohashi buying some spices and tortillas, when the lady behind the counter asks me if I have a point card. I reply in the negative (something like "motte inain desu;" I don't exactly remember), and she erupts in "nihongo umai!" over and over again. At that point the Brazilian woman behind me goes off, bitching about how insulting it is to be condescended to like that. It's really weird to hear your own thoughts being parrotted by a fiesty Brazilian woman.

But the fascinating thing IMO is how useful this prejudice is, unlike, say, racial discrimination in housing or crime prevention. Just a moment ago, a woman came to the door to advertise something. From the looks of her pamphlet, it seemed to be a restaurant of some type. Before a single word came out of my mouth she assumes "nihongo wakaranai deshou ka..." (lit. "do you not understand Japanese?" but the question is more hesitant than direct). I, being deeply involved in writing at the time, wanted for the most part to be left alone, so I did nothing to disabuse her of this assumption. A tiny bead of sweat formed on her forehead as she tried to fumble through her stack of pamphlets in an effort to communicate what she could. The stress caused her to give up almost immediately, and I was able to go back to my work.

The irony, though: as she's fumbling, "nihongo dekinakute taihen desu yo ne?" (your lack of Japanese puts us in a tough spot, doesn't it?) and my response "zannen desu ne" (yeah, that sucks, doesn't it?).