Japan - No monopoly on exclusion

Regarding Jim Rion's March 20 letter, "Recourse besides racial exclusion": Rion needs to embrace the Japanese exclusionary tendency with humor because changing attitudes will take longer than his life span. I have fond memories of going to an exclusive Japanese restaurant in Sydney, only to be told it was fully booked when my eyes told me otherwise. In response, I took out my Sony digital camera to snap pieces of evidence. I just wanted to give the staff a fright, as I respect everyone's right to be stupid or not.
A similar exclusive bar around the corner catering to Asia elites had obscene cover charges to keep out the apparently uncultured gaijin Australians. (Frankly, though, given the implicit values of these people, I was pleased that they were considerate enough to hide themselves.)
Rion has to understand that Japan is a highly collectivized society. It isn't going to change overnight, and one suspects that the majority don't want it to. They have a subjective concept of truth. Comparatively, many Westerners hold an objective truth. Yet we are all humans with the same nature. Let them believe that every gaijin is an American, that all Americans are overweight, etc. But act with integrity.
You may argue for rights, but in essence you are asserting that you should have the right of access to their property. You may talk of cultures visibly holding everyone who is not a member with fear and distrust, yet your views embrace the same premise -- that rights, values and identities are collective.
A great many Japanese are sympathetic or firmly supportive of Western values. I choose to drink with them; they will give you access. Principles matter when applied consistently.

ANDREW SHELDON CROOKS, Saitama, Japan
Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/ric.htm