This is the first time I've ever heard someone using the word 'Bhote' to describe Japanese/Chinese. Anyway, here's my take. I am a Bhote - have been called so tauntingly in my younger age on the streets of Kathmandu - along with the Newari word for it 'Se' (sp?). But, i am not Bhote from Bhot, Tibet. But, I see it as okey for me to call it to myself. Here lies the problem. When one is called 'Bhote' by non-Bhotes, it is usually in a deragatory form. If one wants to identifye me by my caste, do it by that, but not by an implied deragatroy word. A perfect example, if I may try, would be like using the word 'Nigger' to African Americans, while they do it so among themsleves, seemingly without any hint of racism. So, the "N" word in the U.S. to me is quite comparable to the "B" word used in Nepal or among Neplaese. (What word to use then, you may ask. Although it's in a totally different language, "Tibetan" for people from Bhot has a normal tone equal to that of 'African American'. But again, it all depends on how people use it - as we know, Negros and Colored People were perfectly alright vocabularies at one time ). Just my two cents - for a healthy discussion only.