Friday, September 9, 2011
Sunday, March 8, 2009
JAPAYUKI
Let's start with the most controversial word in the Japanese Language which everyone knows and frequently used.
I remember a young girl, a neighbor of mine, taking care of her nephew. She told me that she wished he is a girl because she can be a 'Japayuki' when she grow up. That they will become rich and I saw the disappointment in her eyes, then she said 'Because he is a boy, he will become a "Jeepney driver".
The word 'JAPAYUKI' for your information means 'JAPAN BOUND'. It was mistakenly interpreted by mostly Japanese as their version of 'KARAYUKI'. Which means in the ancient times, when Japan was still striving, young Japanese women who travel to other countries ... to prostitute.
So everyone who set foot on the 'Land Of The Rising Sun' should be called 'JAPAYUKI' because that is the meaning of that. Whether you are a royalty, presidents, actors and actresses, billionnaires, businessmen, tourist, contract workers, ex-pats, entertainers and mostly trainees you are now branded as 'JAPAYUKI'.
I remember how my real state agents call his/her clients Japayuki and they try to explain that I'm different from them. Sorry, the damage is already done.
That my very own American citizen cousins believed that working as 'hostess' in Japan is prostitution. I tried to explain but it became a heated argument. So, I challenged him to come to Japan and I will bring him to every Philippine club, and show me where prostitution is taking place.
The reason why I wrote this is to serve as an eye-opener to mostly Filipinos. I received a lot of letters of complement praising me that at last they found a Filipina who has a great career in Japan and not the usual dirty job as they believed without proof. It doesn't please me... I have friends working in a club, I worked in a club... to find the truth (I'm writing a book about life in Japan and I have to try different jobs of every Filipina to have an actual experience).
In my opinion, the reason why most Filipinos are becoming judgmental about the so-called 'Japayukis' is... it's more on envy. They built a big house for their family, opened a business, bought a car, send their siblings to school, support their good for nothing Filipino husbands and boyfriends. With the salary alone, they cannot do it. There were dramas, sex, lies... who cares? Any girl in different countries are doing that... why do they concentrate with 'Japayukis' alone? Hookers in America go for $20. Prostitutes in the Philippines for... as cheap as P20? What about the Thais? Indonesians? Chinese? Russians? Romanians?
In Tokyo and Yokohama, you'll see a lot of Chinese, Russians, and Romanians standing by the road and waiting for customers... but you cannot find a single Filipina there. They might have more than 1 boyfriend who give them monthly support, so what? Anywhere in the world everyone is having sex... mostly without receiving a single cent. Some do it for fun, others for their biological needs, can we blame these 'Japayukis' for using their brain?
I remember a young girl, a neighbor of mine, taking care of her nephew. She told me that she wished he is a girl because she can be a 'Japayuki' when she grow up. That they will become rich and I saw the disappointment in her eyes, then she said 'Because he is a boy, he will become a "Jeepney driver".
The word 'JAPAYUKI' for your information means 'JAPAN BOUND'. It was mistakenly interpreted by mostly Japanese as their version of 'KARAYUKI'. Which means in the ancient times, when Japan was still striving, young Japanese women who travel to other countries ... to prostitute.
So everyone who set foot on the 'Land Of The Rising Sun' should be called 'JAPAYUKI' because that is the meaning of that. Whether you are a royalty, presidents, actors and actresses, billionnaires, businessmen, tourist, contract workers, ex-pats, entertainers and mostly trainees you are now branded as 'JAPAYUKI'.
I remember how my real state agents call his/her clients Japayuki and they try to explain that I'm different from them. Sorry, the damage is already done.
That my very own American citizen cousins believed that working as 'hostess' in Japan is prostitution. I tried to explain but it became a heated argument. So, I challenged him to come to Japan and I will bring him to every Philippine club, and show me where prostitution is taking place.
The reason why I wrote this is to serve as an eye-opener to mostly Filipinos. I received a lot of letters of complement praising me that at last they found a Filipina who has a great career in Japan and not the usual dirty job as they believed without proof. It doesn't please me... I have friends working in a club, I worked in a club... to find the truth (I'm writing a book about life in Japan and I have to try different jobs of every Filipina to have an actual experience).
In my opinion, the reason why most Filipinos are becoming judgmental about the so-called 'Japayukis' is... it's more on envy. They built a big house for their family, opened a business, bought a car, send their siblings to school, support their good for nothing Filipino husbands and boyfriends. With the salary alone, they cannot do it. There were dramas, sex, lies... who cares? Any girl in different countries are doing that... why do they concentrate with 'Japayukis' alone? Hookers in America go for $20. Prostitutes in the Philippines for... as cheap as P20? What about the Thais? Indonesians? Chinese? Russians? Romanians?
In Tokyo and Yokohama, you'll see a lot of Chinese, Russians, and Romanians standing by the road and waiting for customers... but you cannot find a single Filipina there. They might have more than 1 boyfriend who give them monthly support, so what? Anywhere in the world everyone is having sex... mostly without receiving a single cent. Some do it for fun, others for their biological needs, can we blame these 'Japayukis' for using their brain?
The media is always exaggerating things. They will only show the bad side of Filipinas working in Japan because of business. Who will watch the truth away from their imagination?
I don't criticize anyone as long as they have a purpose in life...
Next time you heard someone mention the word 'Japayuki' I hope you'll share what you learned from me...
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Japanese Mothers
I attended my son's kindergarten party today, although he's been sick for almost a week now the other mothers called me to say that he should at least attend the Farewell Party.
We came late as usual all his classmates and parents are already in the room and the teacher had started the program.
When my son entered the room I saw the excitement in the faces of his classmates, happy that he is present.
Because I was too busy with the lesson plans and taking care of my son I failed to make a message of 'Thanks' to the officers in the class.
These mothers are dedicated to hold meetings, organize activities etc.
One parent who thought of surprising these officers by giving them message albums said that since I didn't make any note for them I will be the presentor of the albums so I can thank them personally.
They were of great help to me since I am the only Filipina, the other foreign mother is a Thai and really is trying hard to learn the Japanese language I am so stubborn to insist that someone must translate everything in English for me.
Fortunately, one of the mothers is married to an American and she's been my translator ever since.
Upon presenting the message album, of course I thank them with all the patience and support and unending explanation of every meeting and announcements.
After handing the album I embraced each and everyone of them which is not common to Japanese culture. They are inexpressive and taught not to show emotion especially in public.
But the good thing is I taught them somehow to show love and affection to people.
Even the teacher hugged every mother and although they are hugging her back you can see that they are still feeling awkward.
One of the games is that we have a blanket and behind it were 4 mothers and the teacher.
Each one should show a hand thru the hole in the blanket and the students will guess who's hand is the teacher's.
We chose 5 students each batch and it was so amazing to see how the students know the teacher's hand.
When we pulled the curtain down to reveal whose hand is that the teacher burst into tears and so are the mothers too.
Quite emotional that everyone is crying coz every mother liked the teacher so much and the mothers are really closed to each other that we did a lot of lunch dates and night outs.
Well, it only proves that I can survive in a foreign land, understand the foreign language, adapt the foreign culture and give a part of me in each and every person I meet.
We came late as usual all his classmates and parents are already in the room and the teacher had started the program.
When my son entered the room I saw the excitement in the faces of his classmates, happy that he is present.
Because I was too busy with the lesson plans and taking care of my son I failed to make a message of 'Thanks' to the officers in the class.
These mothers are dedicated to hold meetings, organize activities etc.
One parent who thought of surprising these officers by giving them message albums said that since I didn't make any note for them I will be the presentor of the albums so I can thank them personally.
They were of great help to me since I am the only Filipina, the other foreign mother is a Thai and really is trying hard to learn the Japanese language I am so stubborn to insist that someone must translate everything in English for me.
Fortunately, one of the mothers is married to an American and she's been my translator ever since.
Upon presenting the message album, of course I thank them with all the patience and support and unending explanation of every meeting and announcements.
After handing the album I embraced each and everyone of them which is not common to Japanese culture. They are inexpressive and taught not to show emotion especially in public.
But the good thing is I taught them somehow to show love and affection to people.
Even the teacher hugged every mother and although they are hugging her back you can see that they are still feeling awkward.
One of the games is that we have a blanket and behind it were 4 mothers and the teacher.
Each one should show a hand thru the hole in the blanket and the students will guess who's hand is the teacher's.
We chose 5 students each batch and it was so amazing to see how the students know the teacher's hand.
When we pulled the curtain down to reveal whose hand is that the teacher burst into tears and so are the mothers too.
Quite emotional that everyone is crying coz every mother liked the teacher so much and the mothers are really closed to each other that we did a lot of lunch dates and night outs.
Well, it only proves that I can survive in a foreign land, understand the foreign language, adapt the foreign culture and give a part of me in each and every person I meet.
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