White Sushi Chef? from Zach Black's blog

You accuse the Japanese of being racist while you also have some stereotypes about the Japanese. Perhaps, it won't be so bad. Good luck with your interview.

Give us an update Z, let us know how it turned out. Sushi spots pay good money for good culinary skills, but you have a cultural ideologies clash with the spot's owner. Shit, I'd like to see your twist on satanic themed sashimi, or themed rolls with a satanic bent. I've seen your creations they look bomb, man.Give us an update Z, let us know how it turned out. Sushi spots pay good money for good culinary skills, but you have a cultural ideologies clash with the spot's owner. Shit, I'd like to see your twis...See more

I think that if someone uses race as a general rule of thumb for determining someone's other qualities, then yeah, that's racist. It doesn't have to be based in hate or fear to be racist, only prejudiced where the person can only see race as a factor. So, what qualities does being Japanese represent (to the person hiring)?I think that if someone uses race as a general rule of thumb for determining someone's other qualities, then yeah, that's racist. It doesn't have to be based in hate or fear to be racist, only prejudi...See more

I can only spreak based on my experience based in the sushi bars I have worked in. But, I have worked in many. And the so called racism against white chefs is wide spread opinion, with other white chefs.

It very may well be the particular industry us white chefs choose. Which is what I believe. And by no means am I gonna say or compare the racism Japanese may feel upon whites. After all, we did drop nukes on them. So, if choosing a hard profession dominated by Japanese people with some racism is what whitey gets, I am not gonna complain to loud.It very may well be the particular industry us white chefs choose. Which is what I believe. And by no means am I gonna say or compare the racism Japanese may feel upon whites. After all, we did drop n...See more

@ Anna - I am not stereotyping Japanese. This is my experience working in a Japanese dominated industry. And this is my impression after working with Japanese people for over 5 years. In the area and industry I tend to work in this is a common complaint. I happen to agree that it is real. Now, Japanese get discriminated against in other industries. And the attitude is " if you don't like it you can leave". Same goes for me I guess. And all other non Japanese. Issue is most of the sushi bars are owned by white folk. But ran by Japanese chefs. So, there you go.@ Anna - I am not stereotyping Japanese. This is my experience working in a Japanese dominated industry. And this is my impression after working with Japanese people for over 5 years. In the area and ...See more

What I was asking was -- what qualities does being Japanese symbolize to the people hiring? Being smart? Good with a knife? If someone knew this they would know what to talk about during an interview.

You would have to be in my profession to understand. But right now it does not matter. I seriously injured my hand. So, I aint doing shit for a while.

As a gaijin (foreigner, here in a physical sense as opposed to a locational one), you are bound to face some discrimination in a field some think is best performed by Japanese, but from my limited reactions with Japanese people, I've learned that so long as you are able to demonstrate proficiency in what you do and, where applicable, respect and adhere to their standards, then you will be seen as more of an equal (or at least the possibility is higher. Sometimes you're just fucked).As a gaijin (foreigner, here in a physical sense as opposed to a locational one), you are bound to face some discrimination in a field some think is best performed by Japanese, but from my limited rea...See more

Sorry to hear about your hand.