So, I've taken some time recently to think about the image of myself on the internet and other people. And the first thing that popped into my mind was wow, I've probably made myself sound like a WEEABOO to a ton of people, and how I think that they're disgusting because of what they do. So now here I am, talking to whoever reads this sorry excuse for a blog about myself just to get it out of my mind and convince myself and others that I'm not a weeaboo.

If you don't know what a weeaboo is, it's basically somebody who obsesses over manga/anime/Japanese stuff to the point of making an ass out of themselves by trying to act stereotypically Japanese even though they're not actually Japanese.

Right out of the gate, I'm immediately removed from part of that definition, given that I am Japanese. Japanese-American, sure, but still technically Japanese. Additionally, even though I DO like Japanese stuff, having been exposed to it for almost all my life (Hawaii is full of Japanese and East Asian people), I don't obsess over it to that extent where I use honorifics and that sort of stuff in everyday speech. Because that's irritating. Also because I'd sound like an ass.

Second, even though I do enjoy a good manga or anime every now and then, and have gone to an "anime convention" (it really was more like a small comic-con) before, I don't consider myself obsessed with it. On the issue of the subbed/dubbed war, I don't really like the "dubbed" versions that much, but I don't care. As long as I can watch it, I'm okay with it, I don't really listen to the words anyway if there are subtitles.

Third, I don't try to act like an ultranationalist Japanese person from the WWII era. Sure, I bash the USA from time to time, but that's all in good fun, or because I want to make a point, but that doesn't mean that I hate it. I like my American life, thank you, even though homosexuals don't have equal rights, the Obama administration has failed America, and other things that I wouldn't care to state here in the interest of time. That being said, I am trying to learn Japanese, but for a legitimate reason that's totally unrelated to other reasons that I don't have. As I stated before, Hawaii has a ton of East Asians, and some of them are Japanese, who know and speak the language. Some of my friends are some of them, and I'm kind of jealous that I can't understand them sometimes, and I value the ability to understand and communicate with people. So basically, that's the reason why, but I'm taking learning Japanese slowly because I have to make sure I have enough time to do what I want and not screw up in school. After all, I do have to speak English far more than any other language, and Latin (which I am studying in school) is a dead language. Anyways, I'm somewhat knowledgeable about the language, but I don't go around saying Japanese phrases for whatever reason. And sure, i want to go to Japan, but that's because I've never been there and everyone in my family has said it's a really nice place, and I like traveling.

Finally, all the Japanese stuff that I have was either given to me (Decorative swords? My grandparents found an extra set in some of their stuff that somebody gave to them a long time ago, and they didn't want them, and I'm really just a junk hoarder) or I bought because of my tendency to like certain cute things that Japan has large amounts of (cat plushies, anyone?). Instant ramen is like Jesus food even though it gives you hypertension with over-consumption, Pocky is okay, and I grew up with Japanese food. So it would take an isolation room to for me not like and/or have that stuff.

So, now I've pretty much convinced myself of why I'm not a weeaboo. If it sounds like I'm discriminating or hating, it's not intentional, and I'm mildly sorry if I offended you. I think that I'm trying to be a better person by learning the language and I grew up in and live in a place filled to the brim with Japanese people and things. Say what you want, but I'll stick with this until I question myself yet again.

If you want, write stuff in the comments, and have an amusing .gif image.

Keep on reading,

Wyze