Jim Breen wrote:

>> Just out of interest, why do so many non-Japanese routinely
>> pour scorn on this guy?
> 
> I admire his energy, and I think he has done some good things.

That's my impression, too.

> Having said that, he's fallen out with many of the gaijin-of-
>influence in Japan allegedly for reasons like his personality,
> which many say is obnoxious, total lack of tact, bull-at-the-
> gate approach to many issues, etc. etc. 

Well, yes, but I get the distinct impression that gaijin-of-influence in
Japan tend to be a bit like Lenny Henry ("the white man's black man").
Of course someone who actually tackles the issues is going to cheese
them off.

> I have had only one exchange with him in which I got him,
> eventually, to modify a university blacklist which I
> thought was in error.)

I believe someone at my university was involved in getting him to back
down on what may be the same issue (an accusation that terms of
employment/promotion prospects were racially biased).

I can see that someone who shoots off as much as he does is going to
miss the mark sometimes, but the fact that he's shooting at all gets him
a higher rating than most "gaijin-of-influence" in my estimation, and
certainly higher than the people who moan about Japanese racism from one
side of their mouths and then take sneering side-swipes at "Debito-san"
from the other (which seems to be a standard pattern among quite few
foreigners).

John