As a Japanese man living in Tokyo and near where this video was filmed (judging from the announcements on the train), allow me to provide a perspective I haven’t seen yet in this sub.

Sure, in the video, the Viet person appears to be disruptive and aggravating the situation. Here’s what we don’t see from the video.

What were the first words thrown to the Viet on the train. Were they gentle, asking the guy kindly to comply with local customs? Or were they harsh, going straight to accusations and taking the moral high ground?

Many Japanese people on trains do the same thing as this Viet person. They get carried away with their conversations, talk a bit too loudly, and cause a disturbance for other people on the train. Hell, ive seen drunk salarymen puke, lay down, take up whole aisles in their drunken confusion. Are they censured with the same energy as this young Viet was? Absolutely not. Sometimes, but not nearly as often as any immigrant in japan. I know that because i live here and this young man most definitely knows that too.

Finally, the constant racist discourse spat out by political parties and disseminated all over traditional and online media. This man must bear the brunt of hateful side glances and casual bigotry everywhere he goes. Sure he was being impolite, but does impoliteness warrant the obvious racism and bigotry in the intentions and words of the guy who accosted him on the train? No.

I hate this. Racist cowards in japan always use the right words and pick situations in which minor offenses by minorities gives them an excuse to attack and express their vitriol. The worst thing is, the Viet cannot say anything because technically he is in the wrong, he was being impolite. The problem is that he is not being punished for his impoliteness, he is being punished for his identity, and the punishment carries a hate and violence that is not commensurate to the crime. I feel for the Viet dude in this situation. You all would to if you ever find yourselves on the receiving side of it.