What's it like for an American to live in Japan?

[cranks]

Originally Posted by GoNative

It is Hokkaido! They're all special up here on inaka island

OK. I admit, I've never been Hokkaido. It's good you guys at least have good seafood and snow.

Originally Posted by WellThatHurt

whoa. do black people really get death glares? if so that makes me nervous about visiting.

My friend and I visited a tiny Italian ski resort in the middle of nowhere where there was no Asian in the town. One time there was this kid like 10 years old in a bus STARING at my friend who has a face with very Asian features like he was seeing an Alien. He just stared and stared for 15 minutes straight until we got off the bus. I don't think he even blinked once. That was funny.

Now, you probably don't get this kind of death stares in Tokyo, but if you go to the places GoNative call Inaka land, you may...

[WellThatHurt]

I'm sure not all Japanese give black people death glares. I'll visit any way, because its always been a dream of mine. Well it has been for almost 10 years.

[GoNative]

Originally Posted by WellThatHurt

whoa. do black people really get death glares? if so that makes me nervous about visiting.

In my experience here most of the black people I've seen in Tokyo or Sapporo (they only seem to be in bigger cities) appear to be involved in fairly dodgy bars and clubs and to be honest you get the feeling other less than legal activities. This is just my own personal experience and I haven't spent much time in Tokyo and there are very few black people up here in Hokkaido but this image is one I think most Japanese see as well.

Also take into account that we whites are thought to be weird enough, black people here are just a complete unknown and there are heaps of somewhat ignorant stereotyes associated with them. Remember this is one of the most racially and culturally homogenous countries on the planet. Anyone not Japanese stands out like a sore thumb and black people even more than that.

[manganimefan227]

Would they think hispanics are weird?

[cranks]

Originally Posted by GoNative

Remember this is one of the most racially and culturally homogenous countries

I used to think this way too, but when I think about it, Japanese people from different regions sometimes can't even communicate in their own language. Even Spanish and Portuguese people can. So I'm now not too sure about it now.

I agree though. I don't know if it is "sore" thumbs, but African people really stand out, especially if they are not in Tokyo. People can't tell if you are from Africa or America or somewhere else, so if there have been some naughty ones in the area before, they might have some prejudices. I don't think it is something to worry about though, unless you are super duper sensitive. Japanese are nicer to foreigners in general than Americans (though I admit sometimes they are very inappropriate).

[GoNative]

Everyone who's not Japanese are weird!!

Non asian foreigners living in Japan make up a very, very small percentage of the population.

[WellThatHurt]

I guess I understand. I'll just have to ignore the looks. I'm sure if I just be myself then people would start to understand that I'm really a nice, laid back guy.

[GoNative]

Originally Posted by cranks

I used to think this way too, but when I think about it, Japanese people from different regions sometimes can't even communicate in their own language. Even Spanish and Portuguese people can. So I'm now not too sure about it now.

I agree though. I don't know if it is "sore" thumbs, but African people really stand out, especially if they are not in Tokyo. People can't tell if you are from Africa or America or somewhere else, so if there have been some naughty ones in the area before, they might have some prejudices. I don't think it is something to worry about though, unless you are super duper sensitive. Japanese are nicer to foreigners in general than Americans (though I admit sometimes they are very inappropriate).

I agree. Even if they stare and find you somewhat uncomfortably fascinating to look at I've never come across violent dislike of foreigners here. There are a very few ultra nationalists here and there who'd love to see all of us leave but it's not a place to fear for your safety purely because you are a foreigner. Even the most racist Japanese are usually pretty polite about it, at least to your face

Plenty of other countries where this is not the case.

[cranks]

Originally Posted by GoNative

Everyone who's not Japanese are weird!!

Non asian foreigners living in Japan make up a very, very small percentage of the population.

I was gonna write something to him/her but this pretty much summed it up. haha.

If you are not Asian, you'll stand out. That's a given. But most people are just very curious because they don't see people like you very often. There is nothing to worry about, but if you don't like people looking at you, it may annoy you...

[mousee09]

If you have a geniune interest of going to japan, then you should still go. I knew what to expect when I arrived here, but i did not let that stop me. Today I attended Jehovah Witness congregation in Kyoto. I was the ONLY gaijin there, yet I was approached and complimented by everyone in meeting. No one was afraid to look in my eyes or looked away from me. I felt truly welcome. Even though beforehand I feel like an outcase, there I did not there. Dont take this a if i trying to preach to you because I am not. But making a point that not all japanese people are like this, and you should come and visit anyway