Hmm... I'm still really excited, but yeah.

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

I was really excited at the news of Jun's new drama today -- it really made my crappy day alot brighter... but when I got home, I read the premise of the drama, and my boyfriend and I got to thinking -- why did they put such an emphasis on Jun's character being half-filipino?

It's not very common - one would've expected perhaps being half-chinese or half-korean to appeal to a larger fanbase, if anything.

The other thing that stood out was that the description said Jun's character has a "complex" from the past -- I guess we'll see what this really means when the story progresses, but my boyfriend and I agree that there may be a possibility that the said "complex" could stem from his ethnicity (somewhat true, from the Tokyograph). Both of us being Filipino, we would not like to see that happen. It also mentioned something about his father dying and his mother being missing -- hopefully the complex is more from that area, but ... yeah there's still the large possibility there could be some background issues.

I mean, they wouldn't put such a large emphasis on it for nothing. Sigh. I have a heavy feeling in my stomach. Hopefully we don't get bashed, but we'll see. Being positive is good! (trying)
Who knows? It could possibly be a huge fan-service....? no...lol
I guess we'll see in April. Hana being mute is also pretty unique.

In any case, this drama already sounds interesting. And I'm dying to watch it.

::UPDATED::
 

Ok, so I just read from jocularreaction's lj post:

 

"Jun Matsumoto and Yui Aragaki will co-star in a new TBS drama series titled "Smile." Takayuki Takuma ("Hana Yori Dango") is handling the script, though he is using his real name rather than his usual pen name of Mikio Satake.

Matsumoto plays a half-Filipino whose father has died and mother has disappeared. Despite his misfortune and the issues he deals with, such as race, he lives his life positively with a constant smile.

Similarly, Aragaki plays a young woman living cheerfully despite losing her ability to speak due to an accident. Her character is said to be modeled after a real actress in the theatrical troupe that Takuma runs.

The supporting cast includes Kiichi Nakai as a lawyer who watches over Matsumoto and Aragaki.

"Smile" will air on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in April."
 

Ok. So. I guess that answers my question >< 

Oh how troubling it is to be Filipino, right?? *sarcasm* -- ugh srrsly? <-- this was a "roll eyes" - exasperated type of comment 

Oh well, hopefully it will still bring light to the Filipinos in some way. At least even more exposure? :-/

I wonder how we're going to be portrayed... eek... but whatever. I'll just be like Jun's character and know that however they may portray Filipinos, I'll live my live positively with a constant smile :P  

... but it'd still be nice to have SOME good things about Filipinos show up in pop culture (like Charise, and groups on ABDC) instead of things like.. oh... random comments on Family Guy about being Quagmire's new sexual fetish or the "secret" behind the Rock's true ethnicity -_- 

 

Comments

[quriousity.livejournal.com]

I don't think that they mean that the show will portray Filipinos in a bad light, but rather as in he faces ostracism from other people because his character isn't well, full-Japanese.

I have this feeling that my comment sounds a little stupid :/

[devione-angeli.livejournal.com]

It doesn't~ I understand you completely~ o:

I'm from the Philippines, and I have a friend who might work there soon, and she's actually a bit scared about rumors that -some- Japanese still tend to discriminate foreigners. o:

[iemkhaye.livejournal.com]

actually being in the situation Jun character's in...hmmm...it's weird somehow here in the phil cause once you have a foreign blood some (STRESSING ON THE WORD SOME) makes it like big deal here and some are even amazed by it...but when we go to japan or back to states...we experience some sort of discrimination......

one of the best movie that portrays this is the Japanese movie "Go!" better watch it...so people can understand it...

BUT LET ME STRESS...not all are discriminating Half-something something in japan...there are just really some who do.....

[x817.livejournal.com]

When I heard that Jun's character was going to be half-Filipino, I cringed. Being a Fil-Am myself, I'm dreading this drama because it's not a secret that for the most part, Japanese people look down on Filipinos or even other Asians in general. It's a touchy subject and I hope they'll be sensitive in portraying our people. Somehow I think that they chose his character to be half-Filipino than another Asian ethnicity because they probably think that offending or stepping on Filipinos won't be as big a deal as say, offending the Koreans or Chinese especially since the East Asians patronize each other's entertainment. Sorry if I'm making generalizations but that's practically the truth without any sugarcoating.

[musikal-neko.livejournal.com]

yea . I do agree with your points .

there ARE a lot of dark well known facts about Filipinos in Japan .

I don't feel like this is a proper way of saying it but ..

about jun's mother.

I'm not surprised if she's the filipino one you know ? :/

On another note. There are actually more and more Fil-Jap people both in Japan and in the Philippines. There are a lot of large firm societies that offer a lot of benefits for Fil-Japs in the Philippines regarding living in Japan and vice-versa yea.

[neocopasetic.livejournal.com]

But isn't the point of stressinh his race to shed some light on the racism that goes on in Japan. I mean, I'm sure they're not doing it as some kind of mean joke. To make him half-filipino and then not show the hardships that any half-anything would go through in Japan seems kind of pointless. That is, afterall, probably the point of the drama.

Like in America, there are countless movies on black or gay rights and about how those people were and still are treated... but it's so people can see the error of it, not to make it a joke.

[coffee-hanjan.livejournal.com]

Considering the fact that even half-Koreans are ostracized in Japan, I think it's going to show up in a story about a half-Filipino character.

But if it gets you down, try to think of it this way- wouldn't it be much more insulting if they didn't touch on the issue at all? By bringing up the race issue I think those making the drama are probably trying to point out that it's a societal problem that needs to be fixed, or at least dealt with.

I think that's a better way to look at it, instead of "they're making Filipinos out to be bad." But then again that's just my opinion.

[zinnie4arashi.livejournal.com]

Completely agree with you! "Seal of approval"

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

Coffee_hanjan, you're right. While it is a bit scary, it is better to bring up the race issue and deal with it than to ignore it. Thank you for showing another way of looking at things :)

[devione-angeli.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Hopefully, the idea of bringing it up will be like shedding light on the subject of discrimination and racism in general, instead of just ignoring it as if it's not happening? If so, it'd actually be a nice idea. o:

Also, a friend said there are a lot of Fil-Jap families in Japan lately? Or at least the population's growing. So that might be an additional factor too.

As for the suddenly disappearing mother being the Filipino one - Well, hm. I wouldn't be surprised actually. But I wouldn't be bothered either? Things like that really do happen, irregardless of race.

Besides, they do that in Filipino dramas too. XD Lead's half-Filipino half-[insert random race here]; never sees foreigner father because he goes missing/leaves as soon as he finds out the mother's pregnant; has a hard life, etc. --- you get the drift. But you don't see Filipinos seriously hating on foreigners because of it, do you? To some, it's actually the exact opposite, but that's another topic altogether. =_=;

Anyway, I think my poin it is, I opt not to worry or be defensive or anything unless something really ugly comes up? XD At most I am basically just wondering if Jun or any character will talk in Tagalog in the drama. Ahaha. --- I'm easily amused that way. =_=;

Also, I kinda rambled. Sorry. XDDD

[neocopasetic.livejournal.com]

I seriously doubt any harm is going to be meant by this. Honestly, whenever an American is portrayed in a Japanese drama, it's usually a stereotype to the extreme (remember the black guys in Hana Yori Dango?). But it's something I've come to humor. You have to take everything with a grain of salt.

Japan, up until a little while ago, was a pretty isolated country, and still has a bit of that "us" and "them" outlook on the world. I think this drama is probably trying to speak out against that "us" and "them" outlook, but who knows until we see it. A lot of people suffer from discrimination because of race. To be mad that that would be portrayed in a drama seems like... counterproductive to me. That's just my two cents.

[hontowa.livejournal.com]

Filipino-Japanese mixed people are actually becoming a lot more common in Japan today. When I studied abroad in 2007, my host mother was half filipino. Unfortunately, racism is a huge issue in Japan. It can be very difficult to be a Filipino or a Filipino mix living there, partly because of some stereotypes. Filipinos in Japan are kind of like hispanics (particularly Mexicans) in the United States - many of them originally came over illegally and took low-wage jobs, like being maids, gardeners, trash collectors, etc. There was even a trend for a while where a lot of Japanese farm men would seek out Filipino wives because Japanese women were becoming more interested in moving to the city and not being housewives/farm labor. Filipino women, like many other Asian immigrant women in Japan, have had to resort to working in the sex industry to make money. So Filipinos unfortunately been stereotyped as low class. Filipinos also typically have darker skin, and the Japanese see light skin as much more beautiful. These could be the sort of issues they look at in the drama.

OR, judging by the writer, it could just be another cheesy love drama. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the whole half-Filipino thing is there so that Jun's character has an issue to deal with (i.e. racism) so he can identify with the mute girl he falls in love with - they're both outcasts in society and they overcome their problems together.

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

Ah, those are the types of issues I was thinking about. Thank you for your first-hand insight on Filipinos in Japan -- I've been curious about it. Hehe, knowing that alot of the Hanadan staff will be working on it makes me hope it will turn out to be a cheesy love drama, but with a ton of unique twists :)

[(Anonymous)]

I honestly can't say that I feel as though it's the Filipino aspect of Jun's character that's going to be examined in the drama more than the general other-ness of his racial status in a homogeneous country like Japan.

Really, the general consensus here is that if you're foreign it barely matters where you're actually from; foreign is foreign. Not-Japan is foreign. There are barely any degrees of "less-foreign" to the Japanese people. Look at the portrayal of other ethnicities in Japanese drama - the first thing that sprang to mind were the black guys in episode one of Hana Yori Dango 2: Returns. As far as I remember, people laughed, didn't take it seriously, and no-one I know of complained that they'd been hoping that the drama might show African-Americans up in a better light.

Japan is often a law unto itself. Take the drama as it comes, and you may well find that they barely touch on being specifically Filipino rather than just being foreign.

[(Anonymous)]

AMEN!!!!!!!!

[decimatedreams.livejournal.com]

Trust me, not everyone laughed. When stereotypes about race are shown in really popular programs, like HanaDan 2, (and I also think of the really rude white guy) it only helps to fuel misconceptions that people already hold.

I get what you're trying to say, but in order to examine his "other-ness" the drama WILL have to touch upon the differences between being Filipino and being Japanese. And when that happens, of course there's going to be stereotypes.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not narrow-minded enough to think that simply because I didn't hear anyone complaining that no-one did; I'm sure there were people who were upset with it. But the whole culture of laughing at the funny foreign people in Japan is something you either get over or you don't - and trust me, if you don't, you don't last long here without developing serious issues.

My point was more that things would be exactly the same had Jun's character been half-French, half-American, half-Chinese. It's less about the race they've chosen for him and more about the fact that he's NOT Japanese.

It does fuel and perpetuate stereotypes and misconceptions about foreigners, but this is a Japanese show made by Japanese people targeted at a Japanese audience. As I said before, Japan is a law unto itself. The most we can do as foreigners is stick around and keep being something other than the stereotypes, but nothing is going to change until the Japanese perception of themselves changes.

[(Anonymous)]

I think it is a special case that is said half-Filipino because as mentioned in one of the comments above, Filipinos have a 'low class' image in Japan. Well, actually, maybe not just Japan, perhaps the world in general.
There are basic stereotypes about particular races but the stereotypes for some are quite good while for others, its negative. Good = Chinese, Japanese and Koreans in America as really smart, Italians as really good in cooking, etc. Bad = African Americans as goons in HYD, etc.
For Filipinos, they don't really have a good stereotype in general do they? Yes it is a possitive image that in case of adversities they are still able to smile and live cheerfully. But the general image for Filipinos in Japan are workers in the sex industry, or has jobs that no Japanese would want to do... Perhaps like the Burakumin in Japan or the untouchables in India?

[nunuuu.livejournal.com]

i actually understand your sentiments as i'm filipino too. but i think it's just a matter of displacing ourselves from the fact that jun matsumoto's character is half-filipino, then i'm sure there's not going to be any problem. maybe that's because i think it won't focus on that aspect of his character much. maybe :) i think it's more on the fact that he's not full japanese, like someone else mentioned earlier. not because he's half filipino.

in any case, i'm looking forward to it!

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to it too :) Thank you :)

[talkativebunny.livejournal.com]

I just wish they don't make Jun's character angry with himself because he's a Filipino. But it's interesting that even just in a drama, Jun and I share the same blood. Hahaha!

Thanks for the news btw.

[shatterdayvinyl.livejournal.com]

being a filipino is an issue?
let's not forget that we have BOTH positive and negative attitudes/traits. i just hope (as all of us hope) that they would not dwell much on the negative attitude/traits. : )

idk. maybe Jun's mom in the story is a japayuki? noh?
maybe they could do some filming in the Phil? ooh exciting! XD

[(Anonymous)]

his father is the filipino

[waku-waku.livejournal.com]

the first thing that i thought was..
is he going to film here??? OMGies.
sa jeep, sa tricycle. lol.

on a more serious note, i hope they use the being positively. of course negativities cannot be excluded but yeah, i hope they portray Filipinos in an interesting way.
thanks for this!

[(Anonymous)]

I think it's a bit too early to jump to conclusions on whether or not filipinos will be portrayed badly...maybe we should wait until we actually know something about the drama rather than just the title and airing time ^^;;;

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

I totally agree, it is too early for me to jump to conclusions. Pre-speculation is one of my bad habits ^///^

[maclou.livejournal.com]

It's kind of funny how you didn't quote the whole thing:

"Matsumoto plays a half-Filipino whose father has died and mother has disappeared. Despite his misfortune and the issues he deals with, such as race, he lives his life positively with a constant smile."

His father is dead, his mother is missing, yeah I think that's the misfortune part. It does say issues such as race but as the others have said that's because racism IS an issue in Japan, there's really nothing that can be done about that...

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

I didn't quote the whole thing because I linked to it and didn't want to be too repetitive ... but maybe I should've. I understand that there is the added element if his parents.

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

*in. damn automatic phone text

[melonz139.livejournal.com]

' Oh how troubling it is to be Filipino, right?? *sarcasm* -- wtf srrsly' Seriously Don't mind it. As someone living in the western world since 15 years ago, as my parents are both asean ( hence I have asean look), despite I speak with the proper accent even completing high school and college here, there will be people just won't accept you as a person. Recently, I even had a gang of teenager harrassing me at my rented home saying they are picking on Paki's, because they want too. Ironically, I am not a Paki (even then... does that matter!). Nevertheless, in the nutshell, it will happen anywhere, in all continents. and yes, there are people who just can't have a global mind. I do really enjoy being in ARASHI's fanclub (inofficial one as I have no idea how to be in an official one), as I can meet all the liberal & global thinking independent women who deeply in love with the kawaii ARASHI

[ha-na-bi.livejournal.com]

Here are some articles that could bring to light as to why his character had to be a half-Filipino and half-Japanese:

http://forum.gaijinpot.com/showthread.php?t=64338

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080604-140716/UPDATE-Japan-top-court-strikes-down-nationality-law

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/member/member.html?fl20050719zg.htm

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20081114a1.html

I think they are going to stress the issue of his citizenship with his mother gone missing and all which would mean he would only be receiving the citizenship of his dead father. It would make for a very interesting drama I have to say.

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

wow, thank you for these links! It would be really cool if they took this route with the drama

[devione-angeli.livejournal.com]

Same. I actually kinda agree with an earlier comment and think that this *maybe* another one of those cheesy dramas, but with all this talk, I'm actually wishing they'd tackle the racism issue a bit further? XD I think I'd actually appreciate the drama more that way. o: More real life happenings in my dramu~ >.>; XDDD

[(Anonymous)]

But it said "The clause is straightforward enough if the mother is Japanese, or if the couple is married. "
Jun's mother is the Japanese. So this issue does not really apply to him, even though his mother has gone missing. At the time of birth, his mother is a Japanese so he is Japanese by law.

[(Anonymous)]

not Jun's mother, the mother of the role Jun is playing in the drama. hahahaha

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

Hi all,

I just wanted to say thank you for all those who put in their 2 cents and commented, I really appreciate all the different + important points brought up, along with all the informative information and links. I wanted to apologize if any part of my post was offensive to anyone, since it really wasn't meant to be in any way. It was one of those 4am-studying-too-much rants, and I really am not "seriously" taking the race issue to heart, since it's just a drama. I was just curious to see what other people felt about it, so thank you all :)

[(Anonymous)]

It's normal for Filipinos to be apprehensive about how Filipinos would be portrayed given the negative image they have in Japan and in the world.
The issue may be about being foreign in a homogenic society but if that's the case, then isn't it enough to state that the person is half-Japanese? Given the short information given and being half-Filipino was expressly stated, it has important connotations.
What is your image of Filipinos? Possibly low class, workers in the sex industry, ugly because of brown skin and flat nose, nannies and domestic helpers, etc. -- this is the general image that comes to mind for most foreigners and the fact that the good image of "Filipinos still smiling and living cheerfully even though they lead difficult lives" does not counter all the negative images. I mean in a Greek dictionary, Filipina (term for Filipino women)was once written to mean maids or domestic helpers.
For foreigners and maybe some Filipinos, did you ever wonder how come being a "Filipino" of a particular successful person is not stressed out when they are doing interviews? It is seldom mentioned. Maybe in the Philippines, there is all that hype about that person being Filipino or half-Filipino but in press for the international public, this is seldom mentioned at all. Come to think of it, even Leah Dizon (whose father is Filipino) states that she's American (birth), French (mom), Spanish and Chinese (dad) --- but not Filipino.

[(Anonymous)]

Actually, they don't really hide the fact that Leah is part Filipino, that her dad is Filipino-Chinese.

[orobourous.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with Anon. Here in the States, it's seldom seen that celebrities that are half or part Filipino would speak up about it. Sadly, alot of people would rather say that they are of Chinese and Spanish descent, or are Hawaiian. Although I do acknowledge that Filipinos have been a bit more vocal as of late, with a few more breaks in the dance and sports world (like Manny Pacquiao and Olympic multi-gold medalist Natalie Coughlin), there still seems to be some sort of a barrier that people just don't want to cross- like Chad Hugo, from the Neptunes.
Blah, I'm getting a bit off topic -- I guess I just want to say that like many other races, we might not be able to shake the infuriating stereotypes that are bound to pop up... and like many of the other commenters have said before me, we just have to shake off things we cannot do anything about. But I still think it would suck to be stereotyped like the African Americans in HYD ... that was pretty wtf.

[devione-angeli.livejournal.com]

Mrr. I don't know. I watched the news clip about the drama earlier, and I can remember hearing the caster say, "Filipin-jin" (is my romanji right? =_=) and "Nihonjin" so I don't think the Filipino part is as "expressly stated" as you think? As for Tokyograph's article (or wherever the article originated) I think they just didn't mention the half-Japanese part because, well--- it's kinda obvious. ._.;

As for the "image of Filipinos" that you've mentioned - It actually seems like you're the one thinking and generalizing like that, and not the people you're talking to. If you're also Filipino, it kinda actually sounds insecure, and maybe a little too defensive.

And not really about the drama anymore, but unless that person is actually doing something as a representative of his country, I really don't get the point of stressing out his nationality too much. >_>;

(And, it's already mentioned, but the first thing I knew about Leah Dizon is that she's at least half-Filipino, so I didn't really know it was supposed to be a secret.)

[harshaz.livejournal.com]

i'm sorry to say this but i really don't think this shud be any issue at all. i'm working with japanese and my sister is studying at japan so i get pretty much idea how japanese mind work. u see, it's not about just Filipino here, it can be any races. they are just like that, they refuse to accept anything NOT JAPANESE, be it ppl or language. and if they accept it, they'll turn that into japanish style. like english, for them the right way to pronounce it is like they pronounce it, not how british pronounce it ^^!! (i work with the most excellent engineer here but most of them can't speak english or they refuse to, except markating ppl).my sister said she have japanese coursemates but it's kinda bit hard actually to get real close with them.

i'm not condemning japanese ppl here instead i'm just trying to point out that every country have their own style their own believe. i'm sure filipino too, like my country too .. for me, i watch jdoramas for the story and for the candy eyes (of cos ^^) but i don't make a reference expecially about other country out of that dorama.

just my 2 cent :)

[matsumara.livejournal.com]

i think that it has been an established fact that there have been some perceptions about filipinos in japan. however, i think times have changed and the japanese community is open minded about half -half... well i think...

the filipino's have negativities in themselves and yes that is a fact but its not only them right? i mean, every nationality has flaws in them 'cause technically no one is perfect and there no universalism in that aspect too as cultures vary from place to place.

i guess what im trying to say is that however they portray what it means being half - filipino we should understand that that is how they see it.. we are entitled to our own opinions right? besides, i think the writer won't even go to the point that he'll put half- filipinos in the bad light... at least i hope...

i enjoyed reading your post oroborous... it got my mind thinking about some issues i overlooked because of the hyp of jun getting a new drama! haha peace!

[alexza-18.livejournal.com]

Well ... i think that you have to take it with humor
I understand very well the stereotypes I mean I´m mexican and believe me I´m not a maid or a farmer or anything you can possibly think i don´t have a cactus in my living room I do eat beans but it´s not the base of my diet lol ... but the world it´s like that you can´t know all the cultures so for the fast scape you make stereotypes some races get the good part some don´t and we can´t do nothing about it
racism it´s bad yes it is but the world it´s trying to fix it or so it seems

[devione-angeli.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. I know I've commented enough on this post already, but the "I don't have a cactus in my living room." bit made me laugh so hard, ILU. :'D

[choberibad.livejournal.com]

you know i'll be more worried if this drama is done by an American or European production outfit, i mean they really aren't that familiar with the Asian culture in general and what they might do may come across as offensive if not done properly, right? and i really trust how the Japanese are subtle when it comes to storytelling. trust me on that.

besides, Tokyo is just an hour plane ride from Manila and jun really looks like a Fil-Jap.

:)

[grungetta-25.livejournal.com]

Yay! Jun has a new drama. I agree that I was apprehensive upon reading the half- Filipino bit however all those apprehensions melted when I saw the title. Many things can be said about being Filipino and the stereo types that come with it however one thing we can be proud of is our ability to Smile. Smile when it's flooding yet gleefully waving at TV cameras. To find the lighter side of any given situation. I can only wait for this to air on the plus side it will have plenty of Jun in it. :D

smile

[(Anonymous)]

i'm a filipino and i live in moscow. the first time i saw this jap drama i was like wtf! but, on second thought, it is just really one of those hard realities for filipinos around the world to accept and live with. there's no point of screaming mad about being discriminated, a lot of people around the world are also suffering from racism not just us (people from the caucasus region and ex-ussr countries are heavily discriminated too in russia)...

when i saw the part where Vito was stopped by the police and was asked for his passport and was called a "filipino bastard", it made me cry and sigh in realization that these particular scene are actually a reality for most of us living abroad.

while it is true that we are typecast as members of the "lower class" we can only prove them wrong and show the sincerity in our hearts. and so the title is quiet appropriate to sum up the filipino spirit, that even though we go abroad to work as entertainers, laborers, nurses and nannies we can still be cheerful and trully smile, knowing that the kind of job we may be doing doesn't define who we are as a person.