Attention readers in Kyushu: Mr. James will be visiting McDonald’s restaurants near you this weekend

“I have been told that its not particularly well-written”

Damn right it isn’t. From Debito’s letter:
“外見が外国人みたいな外見がある人”….
“People who have an external appearance like a foreigner that is an external appearance”….or something.
And then there is: “弊団体にとっても、国際化を目指している日本にとても、”
A little proof-reading would go a long way here. Some phrases may be hard, and we know Debito’s not the best linguist, but elementary proof-reading would give a better impression to McD’s, surely?

“foreigners who are angry about his ad campaign to call him out in public”

Need to be careful here. The actor isn’t responsible. He’s doing it for the cash. Talk to him if possible (I’ll bet his handlers won’t allow it though) but let’s not have any shouting of abuse.

Now I’m thinking Mr. James costume for halloween this year.

Really? You’re going to encourage people to harass this man, who is only doing a job to live?

That’s pretty sick.

If you find it so offensive, just don’t give McDonald’s your money and/or write to corporate and complain that way.

How about if instead of calling “Mr. James” out for making a buck on a goofy but harmless ad campaign that no-one will even remember in a month or two, we call Debito out for doing a far, far better job of making foreigners look like clueless dipshits? Anyone want to pay a visit to Hokkaido? Just look up his site info on whois.com if you need an address or phone number to help you find him.

Is James especially angry because the character is called “Mr. James”?

ha ha ha maybe this is how japanese really see us
it’s not so flattering is it
anyway golden arches is an american company
you americans created it!!

I saw a much more offensive Gaijin clown at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan.

Unlike the animate Mr. James, who at least tries to communicate in Japanese, this one doesn’t even speak at all. He just stands in the entrance way, reinforcing the image of Gaijin as not really being human and completely unable to communicate in Japanese.

Adding to this he has a prominent white beard, a nod to the image of the hairy barbarian, no doubt. His hands are also always displayed in an outstretched ‘attack’ position- leading Japanese consumers to have their views of Gaijin as dangerous criminal-types reinforced.

Since this caricature is meant to represent me I am not only offended but am now worried that if and when I am refused an apartment it may be because of the after effects of this type of racial discrimination.

Note also that this would be a crime in Germany.