Vocabulary lesson: Gaijin/ CoCoJin

We took this picture yesterday at the Sunabe Sea Wall.

The space on the wall between my girls says Welcome to the Gaijin Ghetto.

This is your vocabulary lesson for today.

Gaijin (pronounced GUY-GIN) is a Japanese term used here to describe foreigners. Gai means outside. Jin means person. Put it together and you have Gaijin... Outside person... Foreigner.

In terms of world trade, Gaijin is used to describe a non-Japanese investor in Japan. In everyday terms Gaijin is pretty much used to describe everyone who is not Japanese. If they see someone who is, let's say Spanish- they're Gaijin, Indian- Gaijin, White- Gaijin. It's great for Okinawans cause they don't have to figure out where anyone is from. If they're telling a story and use the term Gaijin it's understood that they don't know (and most likely don't care) where the person is from, they just know they're not from here.

Easy enough to understand right... WRONG!! Apparently some people find the term extremely offensive. I've found just in the little bit of research I've done for this post that even some Japanese people agree that it can be, and sometimes is, used in a derogatory way while others think it's complete nonsense that folks have- and I quote- "made up a definition for a word based on their own insecurities." It's actually a very heated topic of conversation. I don't know anyone who has been offended by the term and I've yet to hear the term actually come out of someones mouth to describe me but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I doubt I'd be offended if I did hear it.




Vocabulary lesson- Part Two

On our way to the sea wall we drove by a Japanese Elementary school and Marcus mentioned that he told one of his coworkers we were thinking about sending Charlie to a Japanese Preschool.

His coworker responded, "Just so you know, if you hear the term CoCoJin... (yes, readers you know exactly where I'm going with this)... don't be offended, it's not derogatory, that's just what they might say to describe your kids."

Wow. That's cute. While Gaijin is used to describe a foreigner, CoCoJin is obviously used to describe a foreigner who is the color of cocoa! I'm laughing just typing this mess.

Again, not sure whether those who are offended by the term Gaijin expect me to be extra offended by the term CoCoJin, but if they do they will be disappointed. Gaijin literally means "outside person" and that's what I am. Nothing to be offended about there. CoCoJin is meant to mean "outside person, color of cocoa". Again, I say that's what I am. On a side note I looove my cocoa colored skin so there's definitely nothing to be offended about there :).



Seriously. Gaijin, CoCoJin... as long as you don't call me nigger it is all to the good.