Getting Our Asians Mixed Up

I used to have a boss that went to Japan one time and learned how to say "konnichiwa" or "hello" in Japanese. Thereafter, every Asian visitor to our company was greeted by him with a hearty "konnichiwa" and complements about Japan. Now to a Vietnamese or a Taiwanese etc. this can be a bit put-offish. To a Korean or a Chinese person it can be irritating for historical reasons. No matter how many times I told my boss he continued to do this, innocently trying to be hospitable but in fact embarrassing everyone except himself. It's as if an American visitor to Japan were greeted with a sombrero-wearing Japanese shouting "hola!" and stories about his recent visit to Mexico.

Along the same vein I noticed this advertisement for a West Peavine massage business that features a drawing of a Japanese geisha but says 100% of the massage staff are Korean. Might as well have a picture of Frida Kahlo.