I don't think it's racist to want to protect your culture. I think racism is just to assume that some difference is due to race without taking into account culture, economics, and other factors, and to treat individuals in a certain way due to racial stereotypes even when they don't fit those stereotypes.

That doesn't mean I agree with the methods and reasoning for Japan wanting to protect it's culture, and there definitely IS some racism and even more xenophobia, like a level that goes beyond wanting to protect the culture and actually looking down on other cultures. I just don't think that makes up a significant amount.

I think most cultures have a concept of "You can be whatever you want and do whatever you want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else" but Western cultures tend to focus on the first half of that statement and Asian cultures tend to focus on the latter half. Not always but definitely more.

Then again maybe it's just stuck a huge contrast from here where everybody is yelling and spitting All. The. Time.

Exactly! See, I feel that kind of overwhelming in your face feeling in the US as much as China even if it's different. Japan actually feels more comfortable to me than anywhere else I've ever been and I say that despite the fact that it's EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE to me. I guess I'd rather struggle to connect with people than struggle to get them off my back, the former feels like I have some control over it while the later just makes me feel like people suck and I don't want anything to do with them lol. I'd rather long for human interaction than long to be alone....lol!