On Saturday, May 5, 2012 9:58:26 PM UTC-5, mtfe...@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
> http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120501ad.html
> 
> Couple things;
<snipped>
> 
> Oh, and someone should point out that one of the reasons Japanese ask "gaijin"
> if they like  natto is because many Japanese do not.
>  
Sometimes I think that Debito doesn't understand the art of conversation. There are things you ask people about when you want to be friendly, when you want to start up a conversation with them. I'm not sure it's stereotypes so much as an assumption that a lot of Japanese make about people new to their country; we all do it in our home countries, so why persecute every random Japanese who does so as well? And I know MANY people in the US who cannot use chopsticks; I couldn't when I went to Japan the first time.  And I hate natto. It is the most vile food in the world. The only purpose natto serves is as (one) indicator that I won't be having sex that night.

John W.