Personally, (as an Asian Australian (specifically of Hong Kong descent), I have no issue with non-Asian people wearing traditional Chinese clothing (like the whole prom dress thing). But, growing up as a racial minority in Australia, I've found that if I do/wear/eat things that are traditionally Chinese or more broadly Asian, I've been judged, whereas if other Western people do it, it is celebrated as cultured and cool. And that is where I think the offense comes from. So I think the reason that people find this uncomfortable is because we ourselves often find we cannot express our culture but others are celebrated for it, even though they sometimes don't respect it. That's why I think that people only want people who understand it properly to wear kimono and cheongsam or whatever. And I though I often hear that it's actually fine because the Japanese, Chinese or whoever think it's OK, I also think that Japanese and Chinese will never understand the racial struggles that us as minorities have, and thus will never care that others are wearing their traditional dress. We are offended, because as a racial minority, we suffer racial profiling and judgement that Japanese in Japan and Chinese in China will not understand. And then in the end, some people will say that others should not dabble in other cultures at all because they deem it disrespectful and almost fetishising, especially because it seems that they are embracing surface-level aspects of the culture while continuing to hold strong racial prejudices towards the actual people, or sometimes only thinking of countries and foreign people as caricatures. And because America (and Australia) have, comparatively, significant communities and populations of racial minorities, many people care that they feel like their culture is being commercialised. Hope that makes sense, and maybe sheds some light to anyone who is maybe confused as to why some Asian Americans are offended.

This is great! Haha

A video I saw on another channel had a Japanese man interviewing elderly Japanese people on various subjects. One was what they thought about westerners wearing kimono. I found it interesting that the elderly like the idea. Their approval was very logical. They said that the old traditional arts are dying out in Japan and that artisans like kimono makers are losing their jobs. They see the export of kimono as something that is saving a part of their culture that they don't want to die out. It makes me want to buy more kimono.

If you are presenting something of another culture in a bad or negative way then it’s wrong but other than that if you like it than why can’t you appreciate it, wether that be clothing or a dance or anything. Some people are just too obsessed with keeping their culture all to them self. If anything you should be happy and proud that other people appreciate you culture as much as you do.

I love Japanese history and culture and planning a trip to Japan next year and one of my top things to do is hire a kimono as they look beautiful

My wife is Japanese American and thinks the people who get offended are retarded.

This is the some question with the scottish kilt! You are free to wear it, if you like to do it. Noone will be insulted. But don't wear it in a gay bar!!

she is really pushing it… how far can her questions go when he already said.. its ok! what if someone is burning a kimono in public in a busy Japanese street? seriously! wtf! lol … im joking of course!!

And I do believe that cultural appropriation is a valid and important discussion – I just don't think that discussion should be as radical, tightly wound and angry as it currently is. Not everything that looks like appropriation IS appropriation, and even if it is, it is worth having an intelligent discussion about, rather than screaming "RACIST". I think the internet is escalating discussions because of anonymity. The internet is harming common sense.

As an American I am petrified to have more traditional Japanese things. I am part japanese but look Caucasian so I feel someone will get upset at me and like I’m not Japanese enough. My grandma is from japan and she is very proud of it and wants me to be more apart of the culture

There are times that Americans are very stupid. Which has been lately. Thank-you for sharing.

I just don't get it. We're seeing this still when a high school girl wore a Chinese dress.Why…WHY is this a big deal?If I saw someone in Japan dressed in a frock coat and powdered wig, I wouldn't give two shits…Good for them, embracing a culture outside their own.I don't know how the word "Appropriation" gets thrown around, 90% of the time it's out of APPRECIATION.And cosplay? That doesn't even count…the entire purpose of cosplay is to emulate a character you like. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".

It is a corruption of true concern by pampered, privileged, juvenile mentalities warped by post modernist thinking.

This was literally something in the news today regarding an American high school girl wearing a Chinese dress to prom. I'm glad that others feel that celebrating culture and beauty isn't something we should get so upset about. In this day in age, all culture at some point in history is partially appropriated from another. I think it would be different if they were using it to make fun of a race (*cough* minstrel shows). Cultural celebration is something totally different to me. People don't seem to have qualms that America has culturally appropriated Asian furniture into its modern aesthetic. lol.

I love that it's made clear that America is going haywire on the racism. This focus on racism there is creating a bigger divide. Why would you not be able to wear something you find beautiful from another culture

これ、騒いで中止に追い込んだのは、アメリカ在住のKoreanとChineseだよ。日本の文化の素晴らしさを広めたくない、おとしめたいって奴らの仕業。数も多いしすぐ暴力に走るし、声はでかいし、ウザい嫌われものども。下手に開催したら、美術館職員の子供がKoreanやChineseから襲われる危険性あったんだろうね、だからポリティカルコレクトネスとか最もらしく理由つけて中止にした。

do americans get upset about japanese people waring blue jeans.