I'm far less concerned with gender issues than with cultural ones.

We had a small exhibit for the Japan America Society of Greater Austin (3k people showed up!) and only one Japanese person... a very matronly lady... spoke to me all day. At the beginning of the show she asked if we had any Japanese members. I answered that we didn't but that Japanese members would be very welcome in our club since many of our members are fluent in Japanese and have even lived in Japan for years at a time. She literally turned up her nose and walked away.

Throughout the day many Japanese people would come by our exhibit, then point and laugh. And not in a good way. These trees were of exceptional quality!!!

Is this racism? Could it be that it is impossible for gaijin ("barbarians") to create bonsai? That we must be doing something else, but it's not bonsai because we are gaijin?

The Vietnamese and Chinese I've spoken to are intrested but like everyone else, just can't find the time. But the Japanese locals are downright mean about it.

What's going on here???

Kind regards,
Jim

I can't say for sure, but it sounds like the perception might be that your club members have usurped an Eastern art. Whether that is true or not is a different story. Are you a bunch of white guys running around in happi coats, bowing and calling each other sensei?

Regards,

Matt

"Is this racism? Could it be that it is impossible for gaijin ("barbarians") to create bonsai? That we must be doing something else, but it's not bonsai because we are gaijin?"

It goes to show that snobbery is universal and a people famed for mannerly reserve can be cloddish oafs too.

I find the idea of Japanese folks living in Austin laughing at something because it may not be "Japanese" enough, rather amusing. Were the people doing the laughing and pointing running about in kimonos and slatted shoes? Or were they wearing Ralph Lauren jeans and cowboy boots? So much for cultural "purity."

Ignore them. Their behavoir suggests they know nothing of their "native" culture, or they have forgotten that humor and respect for others that are hallmarks of it.

Jim,

That's an unfortunate story. I've never been to Austin, but the Japanese, and Americans of Japanese descent, that I've spoken with have almost uniformly encouraged my pursuit of activities with a strong asian influence - both bonsai and martial arts. Perhaps they've been too polite to comment on their perception of my level of achievement.....

Brian

That's an outrageous image!

No, we are a diverse group of men and women. Some are daisy-lovers and others are rednecks; from the very old to the very young.

Well put. No one culture owns bonsai, as no one culture owns "cultivated ignorance".

My Japanese friends have always been sincerely encouraging and warm regarding my pursuit. Not simply polite. This sounds like what you are saying, Brian. They are, however from Japan and can't really comment on what is happening locally.

I suspect that the Grand Dame of the society approached me and was miffed (only gawd knows why) and after that we were marked.

I've heard of Westerners going to all Japanese clubs on the West Coast and being told outright lies, like they don't use fertilizer, etc.

All of this antipathy is frustrating. If they don't want to participate that's fine. But it's a resource that they could enjoy if they would stop with what I perceive is prejudice.

Kind regards,
Jim

WHOA there Jim! Our club has a high Japanese participation, they are anything from people born in Japan, to those whose families have been here for generations. They are extremely supportive and give all that they can to the clubs. Our last bonsai show was at the Japanese Cultural Center, and it was well attended and well remarked upon by both the non-bonsai Japanese people and the neighborhood folks.

You were in a very unusual situation.

Joanie

Here in L.A. I've spoken to Japanese who strongly believe that bonsai is part of the Japanese tradition. Westerners can imitate it, but will never grasp the essence of it. For those who hold this view, an imitation will always be below the "real thing" no matter how good it may be. They regard our bonsai activities as a curiosity but not much worth of respect.

Those who believe that are deeply ingrained in their prejudice and there is not much you or I can do about it. Usually they belong to the first generation in this country.

(I think deep inside is just plain old gelousy)

Attila is right. Working for a Japanese company a while back, I ran into this from time to time.

There can be a certain bias against "gaijin" as you call us. I've found, however, it is rarely displayed in such an obnoxious, insulting manner. It is usually more subtle than that. It's also rare and resides mainly with particular older individuals who are usually insufferable a#$!^&%* s anyway.

The Japan America Society began in Austin. It dissolved because of internal conflict a few years ago and so a new chapter has opened this year, led by a gaijin. Perhaps this lady was part of the initial conflict and wants to see this dissolve too. Or maybe she's a bigot.

I will say that one of my Japanese friends was actually slow to come around to me practicing "Japanese" activities. She used to be polite, or even tacitly stubborn. It was really frustrating to talk to her about these activities because she couldn't accept that I new what I was talking about. She would sometimes adamantly refuse to accept my understanding, even when it was a simple matter of plant taxonomy. But after a lot of travel, and getting to know me in context to these activities, she has been very generous and encouraging. We love her as a part of our family.

Joanie, most of us have Japanese friends and do not want to malign them in the least. However there appears to be a certain reaction from some Japanese folks that we are barbarians and cannot do this or that. It is frustrating to say the least!

Cheers,
Jim

That's right. Being polite and disguising their true feelings under an air of graciousness is also a strong part of the Japanese tradition. A trait that I happen to like, btw.