Originally posted by Hanzo-:
Sometimes you use "jap" or "japs" , but these word are offensive at least most of the Japanese people feel disgusted.
This is a cultural thing. I found that Americans and (English-speaking-)Canadians are addicted to abreviations.
More than other cultures I encountered IMO.
Look at it this way:
Jap are the first 3 letters of "Japanese". Japanese shouldn't get offended about the use of it, because I don't think it's usually meant in a pejorative way in the AH environment.
After all, it seems to me to be a bit better than "redneck" or "frog" (I've been called the latter more times that I can count, even though I'm French only by ancestry, being a 12th generation Canadian, and the thought of eating frog legs disgusts me as much as it disgusts my English-speaking neighbours. Not saying I'm worse off, I'm not complaining. As they say, "Sticks and bones...", and besides my culture also has some not entirely kind words for describing people of other cultures, I am ashamed to admit).
I'm not saying I don't understand why it can be offensive, just suggesting another perspective. (After all, what word do your culture use to describe us Westerners? "Gaijin"? Is it always meant in a respectful way?)
That being said, I also have been using IJN/IJA (maybe because "Jap" has never been part of my cultural vocabulary), rifle's suggestion is a good one, though I never know which one to use when speaking of the Zero, the Niki, the Oscar, the Val or whatever, so I use IJN most of the time.
BTW back in WarBirds, during Pacific theater scenarios (or in the HA) I used to fly IJN/IJA. I love the Zeke, KI-61, KI-84.
Bring the Ki-84 to AH!! Banzaiski! 
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DrSoya
308 (Polish) Squadron "City of Cracow" RAF
Part of the
Northolt Wing (First Polish Fighter Wing)[This message has been edited by DrSoya (edited 09-09-2000).]
