"Jap"

[neko-chan]

we often use the word "jap" describing autos from or made in japan.

From Wiki:

Jap as War Slur

Jap, n was first used in 1860 to refer to members of the Japanese embassy in the United States. It was later popularized during World War II to describe those of Japanese/Asian descent, and used as a disparaging term to describe Japanese people.

the Jap attack on Pearl Harbor...

Note: characterized as an anachronism. Many Americans find the term extremely offensive and racist, but a Japanese living in Japan would have trouble understanding their violent reactions, as the term would not be racist to him.[citation needed] Many non-Americans use the term as a natural abbreviation of the word "Japanese". [citation needed]

Unsurprisingly, in Japanese dictionaries, the term "Jap" is only defined as a disparaging term used against the Japanese people, like it is the case in many English language dictionaries. [1] These dictionaries accurately reflect the fact that the term "Jap" is not used in Japan as a neutral abbreviation for Japan or its people.

I myself am guilty of using that word.... It's like calling black americans "negroes" or thugs which is derogatory... my japanese-american cousin got mad at me for using that word when we talked about certain japanese cars.

[kimpOy]

noted...just use the term JDM (Japanese Domestic Market)

[BlueBimmer]

hmm i guess it also depends on the intention of the person speaking the term..kung talagang racist e bad talaga..

[architect]

I think, these days, it is mostly those who are less educated or less traveled who use that term. They do so but without malice as they are pretty much oblivious to the derogatory connotation. Of course, there will always be those who are hardcore racists. (But then racism is usually the product of ignorance or lack of education).

Still, it is good to be aware of derogatory terms (racist, ***ist, religious, special children, etc.) to minimize the chances of inadvertently offending other people. I am sure no one in his or her right mind would want to offend an Americanized Yakuza with the "Jap" term - intentionally or not.

[niky]

Just don't use it with an American. I don't find it offensive, but older Japanese Americans will. My mom hated that word when she was in grade school, and it was used against her, often, because she looks more Japanese than Caucasian.

Never mind the fact that her mother was put in a concentration camp by the US government and stripped of all her rights and properties, despite being a second generation US Citizen... or the fact that the US killed hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians in the Tokyo bombings and the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki... bloody Yanks.

It's like "negro", Americans get all worked up about it, but dark skinned people won't. A black guy on one of my other boards hates the fact that he is referred to as an African American, even though he's never been to Africa. He prefers the term "black" period.

And "nigger"... while whites still see it as a racial slur, black American kids use it on each other all the time... go figure... ...funny thing is, nigger, short for niggardly IS naturally derogatory.

I personally don't find "jap" offensive, as there are no current negative connonations attached to it. If I hear it used as an abbreviation for Japanese, I just let it slide.

EDIT: Don't use it on Jewish girls... I just remembered, there IS one current derogatory use for "JAP"... Jewish-American-Princess... for (supposedly) rich, spoiled Jewish teens.

[empy]

well, in my experience only japanese americans are offended by this, for all the reasons already stated and because america is the most PC nation in the world by far...so take all this with a grain of salt if you're not from the US.

Never mind the fact that her mother was put in a concentration camp by the US government and stripped of all her rights and properties, despite being a second generation US Citizen... or the fact that the US killed hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians in the Tokyo bombings and the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki... bloody Yanks.

is your grandmother japanese? those actions were completely inexcusable by the US, and are now widely regarded as such - kinda like how present-day germans regret the holocaust, etc. i sincerely hope america has learned a lesson from that black mark on its history. but i also heard about people who were interned for simply being asian, not necessarily japanese.

but what's the point of bringing up hiroshima, etc? those were the rules of war at the time, and they had been that way for centuries. it may feel wrong now in the age of politically correct wars and smart bombs, but in those days you beat an enemy on his home ground and crippled his cities and infrastructure.

why don't we talk about the atrocity that STARTED the whole damn pacific war - pearl harbor? or better yet, about the hundreds of thousands of atrocities on philippine soil during the war and occupation?

[niky]

:lol: Too true... try calling an old Chinese or Korean "Japanese" sometime... they'll kick your butt.

but what's the point of bringing up hiroshima, etc? those were the rules of war at the time, and they had been that way for centuries. it may feel wrong now in the age of politically correct wars and smart bombs, but in those days you beat an enemy on his home ground and crippled his cities and infrastructure.

why don't we talk about the atrocity that STARTED the whole damn pacific war - pearl harbor? or better yet, about the hundreds of thousands of atrocities on philippine soil during the war and occupation?

Sorry for going a little too far OT, there... but as a note:

Yes, Pearl Harbor was atrocious, but far from the most atrocious act committed by the Imperial Japanese at the time.

Fact is, the bombing raids carried out on industrial targets differed very much from the Tokyo Fire Raids and the nuclear strikes in that the latter intentionally targetted civilians. Yes, it was a very different war back then, when civilian manpower and human resources were considered a valid target for destruction, but with Japan on its knees at the time and just about ready to sue for peace, an atomic attack was unnecessary... the second was just overkill.

Just personal opinion mind you, and the US has more than made up for it to the Japanese by helping them rebuild and by providing them military aid (how healthy would Japan's economy be, I wonder, if they had to maintain their own army in this day and age? )... it just sucks that the other issue, the concentration camps, took so long for them to admit (it still isn't in their history books, despite happening on American soil) and even longer for reparations to come... they came decades later, when most of those affected were dead.

It's a sensitive issue, because racism was used as a weapon by the US Government, to whip up an anti-Jap frenzy on the homeland in support of the war. Would've been different if they'd locked up Italians and Germans, too... but they didn't. Heck, my Grandfather on that side was a German, and he spent the war serving in the USAF in the Pacific. Mind-boggling.

As for atrocities committed to our people by others... best not to take it personally... history is history... don't forget, yes, but don't hold what someone's ancestors did to yours against people who had nothing to do with it.

[MAXBUWAYA]

"Tojo"

Is also use during WWII

[imprezawrxsti]

The japs - they are the biggest creditor in the world for 15 years straight , followed by Switzerland. now the biggest debtor, SURPRISE ! USA ...my hometown...

[imprezawrxsti]

Japs- smartest people ?

[Jun aka Pekto]

There's the danger of opening old wounds here. I symphatize with Japanese-Americans being sent to camps in the middle of nowhere and with those who died in the atomic bomb attacks. But, that's little comfort to my Dad who had both his parents killed by the Japanese right in front of him....... It haunts him to this day and although he's doing his best to change, he still has a deep mistrust for the Japanese.

[b1rken5tock]

my grand parents calls them "SAKANG"

[BoEinG_747]

Noon sabi ng mga Magulang:::Mga anak magsi tago na kayo .padating na mga hapon baka kunin kayo at pagsamantalahan

Ngayon sabi ng mga magulang:::Mga anak magsi labas na kayo at padating na mga hapon .mag sipaghanda na kayo ,para sa audition (maging Japayuki) para kumita naman tayo ng LAPAD at guminhawa ang buhay

[baludoy]

m54 powered posted:

or better yet, about the hundreds of thousands of atrocities on philippine soil during the war and occupation?

the americans themselves are guilty of this. they have yet to apologize for the untold thousands they killed in balangiga and in the whole island of samar in 1901 during their "manifest destiny" and "white man's burden" expansionist campaigns. what's worse is the US govt still refuses to dignify the deaths of these people by refusing to return the balangiga bells to its rightful place because they view these bells as trophies and as reminders of victory for that single despicable act they committed

[mazdamazda]

the americans themselves are guilty of this. they have yet to apologize for the untold thousands they killed in balangiga and in the whole island of samar in 1901 during their "manifest destiny" and "white man's burden" expansionist campaigns. what's worse is the US govt still refuses to dignify the deaths of these people by refusing to return the balangiga bells to its rightful place because they view these bells as trophies and as reminders of victory for that single despicable act they committed

off topic... but...

the past is past...

1901? that was over a hundred years ago... should the americans apologize now? would that improve the lives of filipinos?

[doriftospeed]

the past is past...

^this is one of the fiipinos problems, madaling magpatawad and makalimot. (i.e. Marcos) The past maybe the past, but if you forget your own history, your bound to just repeat the same mistakes. I say forgive, but never forget.

should the americans apologize now? would that improve the lives of filipinos?

Yes, they should apologize. It may not improve the lives of the filipinos, but for them to just show humility is enough. They are not better than anyone else.
.02Cents

hmm, for me, calling someone Jap isn't racist; calling someone sakang or yellow b*st*rd, now that's racist

Calling anyone a derogatory term, may intention man o hindi is still a derogatory term. I dont think i'm being racial if i say "what up Nigga", but truth of the matter is, it is still a derogatory term. i just like saying it, lol. (just not to an "african-american" dude. hehehe )

[baludoy]

^yes they should

[mazdamazda]

war is war... the usa paid spain for the philippines didn't they?

they were also the ones who really granted us real independence on july 4, 194X. heck, if not for them we would still be under japanese rule right now.

[Bogeyman]

Ibalik ko lang muna sa topic:

I once came across another slang term for the Japanese -- "Nip", likely short for "Nippon", which is one of two native names for Japan. It was used in such contexts as:

I bet those danged Nips are still holed up in them caves, just waiting to strike.

[MAXBUWAYA]

war is war... the usa paid spain for the philippines didn't they?

they were also the ones who really granted us real independence on july 4, 194X. heck, if not for them we would still be under japanese rule right now.

yup real independence, after taking a lot of our natural resources, treasures etc. Nothing is for free.


WWII it was their war. It wasnt ours. We were drag into it But we suffered from both of them.

Thats why we have to work hard so we wont be drag into them.

We can start by not throwing garbage in our street