John W. wrote:
> Declan Murphy wrote:
> 
>>Ken Yasumoto-Nicolson wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Anyway, it is a very nice place, enjoyed it immensely, apart from
> 
> the
> 
>>>frequent times I had to studiously avoid acknowledging the other
>>>whities.
>>
>>Why? And why "I had to"? Were you not a white tourist in Kanazawa?
>>
> 
> Years ago when I was deciding whether to settle in Kansai or Tokyo (for
> personal reasons I'd narrowed it down to those two) I chose Kansai. The
> reason was that while sitting in Osaka Jo Koen pondering my life a few
> gaigin came up to me and started talking. I was obviously a tourist
> (backpack and everything) and probably looked a little lost. But that
> helped convince me, because they offered to help me get work, find a
> place to stay, etc., whereas not a single gaigin in Tokyo made eye
> contact, much less asked if they could help in any way. And I never
> regretted the decision to move to Kansai (though I have met many
> gaigin-avoiding gaigin there).

I never understood why GAIGIN felt there was some obligation of GAIGIN 
solidarity. A total stranger GAIGIN once accosted me because I didn't 
greet him.

- Kevin