Won't Miss #380 - the "gaijin" vs. "gaikokujin" argument

Offense at a word is in the eye of the beholder. Racially insensitive product name or really bad katakana translation of "mommy"?

One of the longest running debates in the world of foreigners is whether or not being called a "gaijin" (outsider/foreigner) is offensive. The term "gaijkokujin" is generally viewed as being more polite. Frankly, I think this is a trivial issue which masks the real