People's First Impression on me

Just this afternoon at work, I heard about those typical first impression on a guy like me. Guess what they answered:

I am gay or lesbian or tomboy. WHAT?

Yes, I've heard it a lot of times for the past few years, even when I was still in my homeland. People never even tried to tell me what I want of an answer but I will never tell the public. It's a bit frustrating but I don't want to spark a debate on them. It's their choice though. I can't force people to like me since I am outspoken when people knew who I am truly.

For example, in the Philippines my colleagues in college called me Gu-Jun Pyo, a character from the Korean adaptation of Hana Yori Dango, to which I don't like since I am born of Japanese descent, not Korean or Chinese or Taiwanese. People just doesn't open their eyes on what is true or they simply never knew me well.

Even some of my closest friends told me to cut my hair, to which I am not fond because I am on a diet and trying to imitate Japanese hairstyles for men. I hope my diet is worth it but to those that never knew me well, just answer me the other way around since I am not a girl.

Why Filipino-Japanese assimilated rapidly?

I don't really get why i never had earned a Japanese surename since birth or dad simply didn't cared of using that surename. Or maybe, this explains it well.

Early as the 12th century there are either traders or populations itself, and the Tokugawa expulsions in the 16th centuries for Christian Japanese... Oh wait, during the war, a lot of the Japanese-mestizos who are native before World War II were indiscriminately killed, forcing the living ones to change to Filipino names and deny even a bit of their Japanese heritage.

That pattern of assimilation irritates me. As a Sansei, i am slowly discovering my roots and tries to learn Japanese since i have a Japanese born Girlfriend and pregnant with my first, as i will name it Masahiko Đorđe if a boy and Ajko Jefimija if it is a girl. I may call both names because i have a strong leanings on both Japanese and Serbian cultures.

But choosing a Filipino name is not an option. Homestly. Unlike the Brazilian-Japanese or the Japs in America that have either maintained their cultural identity despite all the wartime propagandas thrown against them, the Filipino Nikkeijins simply assimilated unlike the Filipino-Chinese that won't even make a full-scale assimilation to the Filipino culture.

Not for racism or pride but i lament the negative effects of assimilation and the consequences of my family or the group i am born from that never cared about their roots.

Name for my first born

While me and my girl is currently debating on the name of our first child, it seems she would not want name having the suffixes: ko for a girl and hiko for boy. 

While that naming for me is fine since it is formal, she is annoyed and will say the word やだ or stop it while she is displaying a funny face. It is clear even a good name like Keiko or even the name Fuyuko(which is Child of Snow). She wants a cool name for girl, which i could not like(laughs).

If it is a boy, she would say that stop it phrase if she hears the name Takehiko, Masahiko, or even Ryouhei or Shouichi.

Can i only name it in Serbian version of the child's name?

But i know she will eventually give in to my small demands for a better Japanese name. I am hoping that it will not be treated as a Gaikokujin because my child will be born here and not in my homeland. They could be Yonsei but, since it is on Japanese soil, they are automatic Nihhonjin and i will raise my children with the most love and will for the future.

Apresijacija Japanske Kulture

In my own words, i fell in love with this country. To people, they call it Japan or Nihhon but i call it Japan(Iapan/Serbian pronouciation). Ever since i stepped in to the land of the rising sun, i soon felt it is my second home, since my grandmother came from one of the islands(Okinawa) and treats Japan as my ideal country as well, although that is 1% possible because of my lack of Japanskog learning or the Kanji i know.


I love their culture, the people, practice and their assistance to us foreign-born Japanese as well. Like the discipline they exhibit always, like the code of Honesty. Many things are returned to the owner because of this system. The police are fair. Everything here is like, you will truly fight for, for your future generations and everyone who would hear your own story.

If there is one thing i would be here, is to raise my family here. I won't give up to make sure my kids would have a much brighter future than i got. That is what kids bring hope to the adults, like how Japanese kids are the future of this country.

Filipino-Japanese identity

Being a person of Japanese descent, i wonder why very few Filipino-Japanese are celebrating Undokai(native Okinawan/Japanese festival) or some other Japanese inspired fiestas. It is just a shame for me that a few Fil-Japs are proud of their heritage and now, describes themselves as either Filipino or Japanese. I rarely heard them of being Filipino-Japanese like i do. If i see some foreigners who appreciate Japanese culture, i felt why not my fellow Nikkejin do the same?

When i was a kid, i am mistaken by some as Chinese. When i grew up and people in my country were invaded by overrated Korean Pop, i am called a Korean. What in the world they are thinking? My paternal grandmother is a Japanese from Okinawa and i am proud that i had a Japanese blood although i don't call myself a Japanese.

For me, a Filipino-Japanese is someone from mixed Filipino and Japanese ancestry and a delayed group that will never let itself assimilate by other external groups that will be proud of their roots and proud of their host country no matter what situation.

The questions i would raise everytime to a nikkeijin is who is the full blooded Japanese among their family? If they do, i would introduce myself too. And a greeting of a fellow Nikkei to him/her, is that a simple task?