More Qs from Cosmos

Cosmos asks some more:

"Ok, here goes another: have you faced any kind of discrimination in the visual scene because of your origin? I mean, being and American in the middle of the Japanese, wasn't it a bit strange?"

 Here's the deal: if you can communicate easily and are good at your instrument, you will have no problems. Young people are not that bigoted. They may be misinformed, ignorant, and wrong about a lot of the world, but they are curious and will take the time to get to know you. It takes patience on both sides.

Actually, I have noticed that the reverse is true: I didn't face discrimination, so much as I faced some sort of...Charisma Man transformation. People were interested in me, people thought I was interesting or talented solely because of my non-Japanese origin. I'm actually not all that interesting but somehow they hear about the other things I've done and they think I am. Then again, these are people who don't remember much of their Jr. High English class and have probably never traveled outside Japan, so I guess it makes sense. It's slow going trying to convince people I'm just as normal as they are!

I have found at this point that I will not be discriminated against because I am a white American; if I am disparaged at all it will be because I was a jerk or I sucked or something. Sometimes it isn't about race.

Basically, communication is key!!!!!