"Can Altinbay" > wrote in message =
nk.net...
> "Musashi" > wrote in message
> om...
>=20
> - Asking for something in Japanese, the server IS Japanese and still =
doesn't
> know what I'm talking about because he/she doesn't know sushi =
terminology.
> This is far more infuriating than the former.
>=20
>=20
> At least in Tokyo and Yokohama, they aren't weirded out any more when =
a
> henna gaijin like me speaks to them in perfect Japanese. It used to =
be a
> problem, especially when they hear you, look at you, then conclude =
that they
> didn't understand what you said.
>=20

Yes that is something that has changed and continues to change.
With more non-Japanese celebrities, such as Thane Camus and Dave Spector
appearing on TV speaking totally fluent Japanese, the old stereotype
that "foreigners don't speak Japanese" is dissappearing. Which is a good =
thing.

> (Of course, when I was much younger, there was a gaijin speaking =
impeccable
> Japanese at a record store. I approached him and said, "Nihongo =
ojouzu
> desune.")
>=20

And he said...Hai, watashi wa furansujin desukara nande mo jouzu desu?
LOL