Walk up to an Asian-looking American sometime and say, "Hey, Jap," then get back to me.
In case you haven't noticed, we live in an age in which even neutral words are misconstrued by anyone who really wants to get their panties in a knot. Hell, even using the word "niggardly" gets people in hot water these days...even though that word, too, is not a racial slur.
So please...don't be so painfully naïve. It's embarrassing to watch.