Since that last set of threads about Yale and cultural appropriation, I've come to the conclusion that those who cry about appropriation are nothing more than racists.

I think the distinction here is that the Japanese people interviewed here do not regard the kimono as a sacred symbol, and consequently embrace it as part of the spread of culture to and from America. And of all the places that a symbol would be used respectfully, museums are at the top of that list (Especially the MFA, which the last time I went, had a gallery dedicated to the damage done by the 2011 tsunami).

I would say that racist is a harsh and unnecessary word in this context. Cultural respect has all sort of grey area, and in many cases (as I would say here) people get it wrong. I think the inverse is true as well as many people confuse accidentally insulting with purposefully discriminating, which in most cases appropriation is not.

But hey, it does makes for a funny headline: Japanese Americans counter-protest Asian Americans protesting use of Japanese symbol.