What does the phrase "local nationals".....

[Muku]

conjure up in your mind? Is it discriminatory? Is it racist? Probably not but to me it sounds arrogant with a pinch of superiority.

For some reason I personally just can not get used to using the term "local nationals" to describe Japanese or Okinawan people. Probably just me but something about the term just doesnt sit right with me. How do you discern between the "true" locals and the Japanese from mainland? They aren't local nationals. Would you like to be called a local national in your home country?

Sure I know it's just a "custom" and people have gotten used to it and just copy everyone else, however does that make it right? There are times in the US's past where people used an extremely negative word to identify the Blacks in out population. Even to this day people still use it, however for the majority it is not a commonly used word in our language.

Comments?

[DougP]

When I hear "local national" I instantly think Okinawans. But if I was in another country I would probably think of the local nationals of that country :)

Oh and on the using of the term. Think of who its being used by. It may be hard for them to distinguish between Okinawans
and people from the mainland. So the term then refers to Japanese. Being that the Japanese are obviously more "local" than the Americans I suppose. Also its a widely used term not just reserved for Japan alone and literally means what it says. The military also uses the word host nation a lot too.

How someone can take offense to this confuses me. After all we live on an island that uses words like Naicha and yamatunchu to describe people from mainland Japan. The term gaijin is used quite offen too as opposed to the full term gaikokujin. So I guess I'd rather be called a local nation in my own country rather than gaijin or naicha when visiting someone else's. Local national is actually a PC term like african american. Why they don't call white people european american is beyond me :)

[Muku]

How someone can take offense to this confuses me
I am not taking offense at the term, just commenting that I have a hard time using the term.

It appears to me that it is just the US Military that uses the term, is that correct? Do other countries use it as well?

It would be just as easy to refer to the people as Japanese, without differentiating between the Okinawa and mainland. Insert the word Japanese where ever one would use the word "local national".

Local national is actually a PC term like african american. Why they don't call white people european american is beyond me

I wonder, I cant remember where I read it but there are blacks that actually hate the term African American because their heritage isnt African. To them the word black was more PC because it didnt identify or assume all blacks in America came from or had their roots in Africa.

I wonder about the white european as well. Yet I think people would really think one would be racist if they started using that. Just like try having a "White History Month" and see how much night-shade hit the fan.

I guess my point is I am uncomfortable talking about people in generalizations, and local national, at least to me comes across that way.

Good comments though, thanks for sharing.:D

[DougP]

I agree I hate being PC as well... I usually just used the phrase Okinawan or Japanese. Sometimes you got to use the PC terms when talking to people if you want to get through to them.

service member: "Sir, should we pull a U-turn over there in that Okinawan school?"

officer guy: "What?"

Service member: "Oh I meant local national, sir."

officer guy: "That's more like it."

[Muku]

I agree I hate being PC as well... I usually just used the phrase Okinawan or Japanese. Sometimes you got to use the PC terms when talking to people if you want to get through to them.

service member: "Sir, should we pull a U-turn over there in that Okinawan school?"

officer guy: "What?"

Service member: "Oh I meant local national, sir."

officer guy: "That's more like it."

I get it, I dont know if I like it, but I get it.:)

[socalheart]

When I hear "local national" I instantly think Okinawans. But if I was in another country I would probably think of the local nationals of that country :)

Me too. It's not a term I usually use, because it sounds redundant to me. eh. Having lived at a boarding school, we called the people who lived in the town "locals" or "townies". When I was a civilian here, I was considered a "local national" by the military, in spite of the fact that I'm a US citizen and permanent resident of California. eh. It's just how they separate SOFA folks from non-SOFA folks, I guess. eh. :o

[Fairlady]

i would not think that the term local national should be taken in a bad way. It is really a more respectful way to describe a type of person, i mean i can think of (saddly)

[DougP]

Me too. It's not a term I usually use, because it sounds redundant to me. eh. Having lived at a boarding school, we called the people who lived in the town "locals" or "townies". When I was a civilian here, I was considered a "local national" by the military, in spite of the fact that I'm a US citizen and permanent resident of California. eh. It's just how they separate SOFA folks from non-SOFA folks, I guess. eh. :o

Damn I guess that would make me a local national too :)

[Boost]

Damn I guess that would make me a local national too :)

I think so too I suppose. I remember always using the term not so much to refer to Okinawans or Japanese, but for any permanent resident of Okinawa. Though I guess if you do not actually hold citizenship and can vote, you are not technically a national of the nation.

[DougP]

In some prefectures (not sure about this one yet) you can be a resident (not a japanese citizen) and still vote in local elections. :)

[Muku]

In some prefectures (not sure about this one yet) you can be a resident (not a japanese citizen) and still vote in local elections. :)


There is increasing political pressure in Japan to grant rights to foreigners to vote in local elections. This is backed by the New Komeito Party, which is part of the ruling coalition as well as by opposition parties. The Liberal Democratic Party, the major party in the ruling coalition is opposed. In 1995 the Supreme Court of Japan ruled that it would not be unconstitutional if the right to vote in local government elections was given to long term foreign residents so long as approved by the legislature. Legislation permitting this has been brought up in the Japanese parliament since 1998 but does not appear to getting anywhere on the national parliament. On the other hand, the town assembly of Kobuchisawa, Yamanichi Prefecture held a referendum in August 2004 where permanent foreign residents were permitted to vote.

I dont not know of any city/town in Okinawa that allows permanent residents the right to vote.

[DougP]

eh I don't even vote in any elections in my home country anymore so it doesn't bother me at all :)

[Hollarey]

hmm...I just say locals. I was told that Okinawans get offended by being referred to as Japanese so I just say locals.

[Asshat]

I never liked the term either. Don't give a shit about PC, just seems like the wrong term to use for a tourist from the Kanto, a Chinese here on a working visa, or an Okinawan.

[yaesetea]

Local national refers to someone whose nationality is from that country, in this case Japan/Japanese and has family roots in that part of the country.

[ryukyuboi]

The US government also classifies workers as "local hires." The "local" part translates into living in the local community in which a job vacancy exists - geography based. Generally, local hires do not receive equal benefits for performing the same job that someone who is not locally hired receives. For example, most local hires would not qualify for an overseas housing allowance. The US government blatantly & legally discriminates against local hires based on the geographic point of hire.

To me, a local national means a person from the community (local) - who also is a citizen of the country in which the community is located (national).

[CGoki]

The US government also classifies workers as "local hires." The "local" part translates into living in the local community in which a job vacancy exists - geography based. Generally, local hires do not receive equal benefits for performing the same job that someone who is not locally hired receives. For example, most local hires would not qualify for an overseas housing allowance. The US government blatantly & legally discriminates against local hires based on the geographic point of hire.


Yeah but they sure stick it to us twice by also making us pay taxes yet use no services within the US!!! Should have the same benefits of contractors working outside the country. Most local hires, if let go after their 5 years here are not really in the GS system so why were they paying taxes all that time and not afforded housing allowances? Though I can't complain too much, as I am where I want to be and somebody would easily fill my position if I wasn't here, because somebody is always wanting work. They have us "local hires" by the nads just because. Though I have never left the island and was forced here by the military, so not sure how I actually am a "local hire". :thumbdown: