Anyone ever seen anything on the origins of this phrase?
Don’t know the origin for a fact but I think it’s just a kids’ nonsense rhyme.
Or possibly an oriental variant on Hamburger Helper ?
In the UK we have the “Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy” variant, so it would seem that the words are not important, just the rhyme.
It’s a slur as soon as someone decides they are offended by it.
So if I were to be offended by the aforementioned “Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy” that would be a slur, too? That’s ridiculous.
RR
Well I’m Japanese and I’m offended!
Just because I’m Japanese doesn’t mean I’m easy, dammit!
[sub]It’s just the way I am.[/sub] 
I had always heard this “Easy Breezy Japaneezy” (used when something is smooth and easy to do)
I have never heard anyone under the age of seventy five say this. I had always assumed it was learned in ‘the war’
my two cents only…I don’ know nuffin.
The only person i’ve ever heard say anything even similar to this is Food Networks Jamie Oliver who often says “Easy Peasy”.
Interesting…
Searching IMDB.com, I found both variations:
http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?0295178
http://us.imdb.com/Quotes?0111161
I agree, but that’s how things become slurs.