Gaijin makes a fake book cover that he uses on trains...

Why, here it is

 

That is funny. I would totally do that for shits and giggles if everybody didn't think I was Japanese. Being an Asian-American gaijin has its pros and cons.

Pro: Everybody thinks you're Japanese.
Con: Everybody thinks you're Japanese.

 

How's that a con? You mean everybody expects you to aspire the strict Japanese behavior code?

 

I believe the PC term is Stealth Gaijin.

 

What slightly annoyed me, especially when travelling on more provincial commuter trains isn't so much instances of people staring, but most people going to seemingly great lengths to avoid having to sit next to gaijin. It's just a bit odd compared to, say, Korea where they couldn't care less.

In (Mandarin) China a lot of people genuinely still seem to be in awe of white people, so at least the staring is accompanied by people seeming interested in you, asking for photos (me and my friend were asked countless times, despite being both very average looking and disheveled following weeks backpacking), etc.