Racism against Asian people in Germany

Racism is the one of a big topic which can be discussed all over the world.
When I was living in Japan, I almost didn’t think about it because there were not so many people who are not Japanese around me.
Especially in the countryside, I knew only foreign people who were English teachers at school when I was a child and teenager.
There are many Brazilians in my hometown but I didn’t have any connections with them.

Since I started training at the gym and working at an office in Japan, I met a few foreigners at the gym or at work.
When I traveled abroad as a tourist, I felt that people were nice to me in foreign countries and I didn’t think about other people’s races so much.
After I started living in Berlin,Germany, I noticed that I’m a foreigner there.

There are many foreigners in Berlin, Germany.
More than 35 percent of inhabitants in Berlin are with foreign roots.
I think it’s comfortable and fun to live in this city, Berlin.
Additionally, if there are many kinds of nationalities, I guess there are less obvious racist problems.

But still, there are still some racist people against Asian or others.
If you face something discriminated, try not to think too much.People who discriminate against religion or race, they are neither thoughtful or educated.
Every person has a different thinking.
Therefore it is sometimes hard to judge the words or gestures you say could be discriminatory remarks or not.
Let’s see my case whether to see it as a racist or not.

Case1

The one friend of my boyfriend was obviously talking about Japanese whiskey, however he mentioned that “there were all Chinese letters about the product on the website”.
I was able to hear that part clearly even though he spoke in German, that’s why I corrected that “it is Japanese”.
He accepted what I said and just kept talking.

My boyfriend said that he just made a mistake.
Although, I think he did not care about a country’s name so much.

Case2

The other friend of my boyfriend knew that I am Japanese but he greeted me “nihao” which means hello in Chinese.
I taught him that it’s Chinese and hello in Japanese is “konnichiwa”.

I didn’t feel that I was discriminated against Asian.
Instead, I thought that many people in Europe don’t know or they have less knowledge about whatever Chinese, Japanese or Asian.

Case3

Once, the random guy on the street asked me how to go to a specific restaurant.
I knew how to go there because I am living nearby, so I explained.
He thanked me and asked me if I’m Chinese for some reason, so I told him that I’m Japanese.

In my life, a lot of people guessed my nationality.
At least, My guess is not always right to judge Chinese, Japanese and Korean people and so on.
However, I wouldn’t say a specific nationality to the person who I don’t know well unless I’m sure or I was asked to guess.
Some people might not mind being told a wrong nationality but some people might mind.
So why don’t you avoid any risks to hurt someone’s feelings?

On the other hand, if you feel bad about being told a different country name,
you could be a racist against the country.
I feel like it is endless.
A lot of reactions, words and actions that you don’t mean could be racism.

Case4

One of my German friends made a gesture which is making eyes thin with fingers when she mentioned an Asian face.
She said that Asian faces look gentle and like to talk with them.
She even said that her hair is dark and she is really interested in Asian stuff so she might have a bit Asian gene.

I know that she has traveled to some Asian countries and has Taiwanese friends.
So I didn’t feel she was offended at all if I think about the way she talked.
At that time, I did not even know that the gesture was a typical racist action though.

Case5

My ex boyfriend once explained about a cartoon he saw.
That was about a part of the scene in the cartoon about how to make an Asian face.
In a factory, workers punched the faces and made them flat which means Asian faces.
He said that the scene was meant as a joke.

I couldn’t find the source.
As a Japanese person, I can see many Asian people have a kind of flat face compared to Caucasoid.
Some Asian people might feel insulted by watching those jokes.

Case6

When My boyfriend, his friends and I were paddling the boat,
I could not paddle well because that was my first or second time.
My boyfriend said “Do like this, a paddle is not a chopsticks”.

I didn’t focus on the chopsticks part but the joke was made because I am Asian who uses chopsticks often.
The way he spoke hurted me but using the word “chopsticks” was not the point for me.

Case7

One day, I showed Rice cream T-shirt I designed to my friend’s friend.
He said that it is cool and he would like to buy it.
But after a few days, I talked about it and he said as below.
Rice cream looks cool but if he wears it, people might think he is making fun of something Asian stuff.
His girlfriend also mentioned that discrimination is very sensitive topic in Germany so they should be careful for their actions etc.
I never thought about that way with Rice cream and some people around me do wear my Rice cream T-shirt.

Everyone has their own opinions.
Therefore it is hard to say what discrimination is.