I wanted to build a character having Kusari as his area of interest. However I don't have the faintest clue about Japanese cultural and social norms, language and so on, and tbh it does not interest me enough to wanting to read several volumes on the subject.
Sooo as to not break the continuity in the highly codified Kusari-RP others are doing really really really well, I was thinking about making an exile Rheinlander, born at Helgoland St. who joined up with one of the Kusari corporations just this moment, which will give me plenty of RP reasons to my lack of detailed cultural knowledge (and yes plenty of reason for any and all Kusari players to be obnoxious bullies towards my character. Oh well). Or is that a total RP "faux pas"?
I do understand that Kusaris are xenophobic, but with the free flow of information (and travellers) between the systemst and houses, I fail to see the realism of a North-Korea/Burma-style xenophobia, where every gaijin is the devil himself. I find it much more realistic that Kusari kind of xenophobia borderlines the form we see in contemporary North-Western Europe, ie "We are better than everyone else, and if someone with a foreign background is here, it is surely because he/she is here to cash in the rewards of OUR hard work".
In other words I view the only realistic form of xenophobia in space-age Kusari would be a rationalized form of xenophobia (coming up with more or less random reasons as why not to like the foreigner, but reasons nonetheless) with the same premise (that it is a pre-given that Kusari is better than anything else) as the North-Korean and Burmese style xenophobia.
How to handle this issue? How hardline/"North Korean" is the Kusari xenophobia in rp? And will I be able to make a character like the one suggested above without getting into so much trouble that it isn't worth playing it?
On a side note: Why didn't the BRIC countries make a sleeper ship? Yes I do know that Russians and Chinese constitute the Coalition, I just think it would be awesome to see a colourful mix of epecially Brazilian and Indian culture - also it would call for less streamlined/cartoon-like/homogeneous houses
You all are RTFMing him. Except, by saying..."Just go there and watch"
You could also toss in other bits of japanese.
Like Konbonwa, for when its evening.
introduction to Japanese is your friend!
But, deeper than that, rumor rumor news rumor. Get in there, play, interact. Be polite, ask questions. It won't just emerge without you pursuing it, it isn't floating in the clouds.
The levels of xenophobia is dependent much on the players. Roppingi base is very interesting in that regard, in that, there is space for the foriegn in Kusari..a very specific space. I do think you can have a very interesting time just playing turist, or student, and learning things firsthand from the players.
Course, I did just RTFM you. Mostly cause I don't know enough myself.
Basically, unless you're a big-wig just be polite and formal. Try to talk in complete sentences and be articulate. Say konnichiwa instead of hello and you're fine. The rest of it can really only be discovered by going there, playing the game, and finding your stride. Maybe being a xenophobic character will be for you. Maybe it won't. I honestly can't tell you. We can't exactly tell you how to play the game for yourself.
That said xenophobia is somewhat wide-spread in the Kusari right-wing (which ironically is on the left on the space map). If you're in Kyushu, the people are probably pretty livid about foreign influence. If you're in Honshu, they're a lot more accepting. In politics these days, Samura has lost a bit of power after the war, ergo xenophobia has taken a small step back. The center systems are pretty divided over the issue.
Also, using a greeting based on a localized time which might not exist in space is silly. Konnichiwa works for all occasions and is supposed to be polite. Use konnichiwa regardless of what time your PC clock says.
[8:32:45 PM] Dusty Lens: Oh no, let me get that. Hello? Oh it's my grandma. She says to be roleplay.
[12:49:19 AM] Elgatodiablo: You know its nice that you have all that proof and all, Bacon... but I just don't believe you.