> and most commenters think all yellow faces look the same and thus can't differentiate between a Japanese, Chinese, or Vietnamese working behind the counter at a konbini let alone other services jobs where Westerners are most likely to interface with.

This seems quite presumptuous, and not all that different from the orientalism you're accusing OP of.

Presumptuous yes. Orientalism no.

Orientalism in the standard definition means the Western tendency to view non-Western societies in an "othered" or exotic gaze, be it in either a pedestaling or derogatory context.

Think yellow fever, weebs, ad nauseum conversations about Japan (and Asia in general) on HN and Reddit.