I think older generations might know that it was a slur that was used and maybe some people who stumble upon old cartoons/newsreels (somewhat unlikely given poor English ability in Japan as a whole) or otherwise find posts like this. My wife, now in her 30s, had never heard it. I’ve met a few who have around my age (mid 40s) who knew it but all except one or two had decent English. I can’t really speak to younger people.
Older generations definitely do. It got referenced in a Murakami short story set in the 70s (or 80s maybe) where a couple of Japanese guys vacationing in Hawaii who don’t speak English heard a racist guy go off and said they could pick up on that one word without understanding anything else.
That makes sense. I never really read much Murakami (I started but don’t recall finishing one of his books). Given all the Japanese tourists in Hawaii (and probably Guam as well), that would make sense, too.
I think older generations might know that it was a slur that was used and maybe some people who stumble upon old cartoons/newsreels (somewhat unlikely given poor English ability in Japan as a whole) or otherwise find posts like this. My wife, now in her 30s, had never heard it. I’ve met a few who have around my age (mid 40s) who knew it but all except one or two had decent English. I can’t really speak to younger people.
Older generations definitely do. It got referenced in a Murakami short story set in the 70s (or 80s maybe) where a couple of Japanese guys vacationing in Hawaii who don’t speak English heard a racist guy go off and said they could pick up on that one word without understanding anything else.
That makes sense. I never really read much Murakami (I started but don’t recall finishing one of his books). Given all the Japanese tourists in Hawaii (and probably Guam as well), that would make sense, too.