Is 'Gaijin' a Bad Word? (Japanese Street Interview)

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Some people say 'gajin' or 'foreigner' in Japanese is discriminatory but other people say it's not. I asked Japanese people to find out their opinions.

[CygnusExOne]

I've been planning on buying an umbrella for a long while now but after seeing this video I'm just gonna stay umbrella-less... because I look cool.

[Kenazzle]

A friend describing me as a gaijin would be absolutely fine and I'd be happy with it. An angry Japanese man pointing his finger at me and shouting "gaijin!" would be a discriminatory term and I would not be happy with it.

It's all about intent.

[YiaMdj]

I never use umbrellas. Never.


I am so

[Ghjnvd]

When I was in a taxi in Hakodate, the driver called me 'gaijin-san' over the radio. I thought it was kind of cute! Hahaha

[elestromusicgamesfun]

"It's cool that they don't use an umbrella even if it's raining" - Haha! Best comment ever! :) I SO wanna visit Japan!

[ROCKSTAR]

i think in Asia, when people say "foreigner", they mostly mean Westerners.

[alanfalleur]

"gaijin" vs. "gaikokujin" is like "foreigner" vs. "foreign national" in English.

[kekkoutsutayaiku]

Many Japanese people like to say "gaijin-san" because it sounds more friendly and respectful. And even when we say "gaijin", it usually doesn't include negative connotation at all, it's just easier to say. Thank you "Gaijin-san" for being interested in and visiting Japan!

[myanime]

I literally have a shirt that says gaijin on it and abunai on the back japanese people find it irresistibly hilarious

[Boomaroo]

Bigfoot sighting in the background at 0:33

[Alphax]

There was a Japanese student at the college I was going to (In Canada). She would casually refer to everyone else as gaijin. No one who knew what it meant was offended. We just thought and even said ; No, YOU are the foreigner here, that moniker doesn't work outside of Japan.

[ddz]

I think the term 'gaijin' is made derogatory by movies for white people, such as in Fast Furious Tokyo drift. They kept using the word, and made it seem bad.

[TokyoLifestyle]

I love these Videos. There are so intersting. Thanks for youre hard work :D

[DustinRodriguez_]

It sounds like 'gaijin' in Japan is identical to 'foreigner' in America. Some people certainly do use the term as an insult and such, but it really doesn't have that meaning by itself, it depends on context.

[funkyshade]

The girl on the left at 3:20 is gorgeous! Her smile makes me melt

[jukkis]

Yuta should become a professional interviewer! oh wait he kinda is!
I really like his interviews, you can see how he has gotten even better and more experienced, especially in interviewing Japanese people. I could say hes getting the Japanese people he interviews to be more relaxed in every video!

[eirikmurito]

i cant believe we r known for not usin umbrellas lol

[Terszel]

"The guy that doesn't use an umbrella even if it's raining"
I mean yeah it sounds pretty badass when you phrase it like that but still...

[charliesommers]

I lived in Japan for eight years back in the 1960's and was called both a gaijin and a gaikokujin. I thought the longer word sounded more dignified but I never took any offense at either name. I had many good times in Japan and a great love for both the people and the culture.

[aspiringlich]

Wow, the girl on the left at 0:54 is gorgeous.