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

[mousee09]

Originally Posted by WellThatHurt

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

sorry forgot to quote, my last post directed to you

[MMM]

Originally Posted by GoNative

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.

In my experience that is an overstatement, a little. Most of the black people I knew were English teachers, and they seemed to be doing just fine, for the most part, in the mid-90s. Roppongi is actually a nicer place than it was 15 years ago, and the people that experience those guys (generally not from Western countries) are people that are experienced with big city dive-bar hunting.

Originally Posted by manganimefan227

Would they think hispanics are weird?

Only as weird as anyone else.

Originally Posted by 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.

Do people still get "looks"? I have a feeling this thread has entered the wayback machine.

Originally Posted by GoNative

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.

You have as much chance of being directly approached by one of the extreme-right wingers as you do of meeting someone that wants to burn Qurans in the US. Yes they exist, but they are such a minority, it isn't worth mentioning. They are barely a blip on society's rear-end. Literally NOTHING to worry about.

Originally Posted by cranks

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...

Again, it depends where you are. In the city you WILL NOT stand out. People are NOT VERY CURIOUS. People see people like you VERY OFTEN. This might be true out in the country, but if you are in a city you have heard of before, you are not going to be looked at as anything special.

[edelweiss]

I saw black people in Tokyo and Osaka and they seemed to fall into two groups. One group were the English speaking Africans who worked in and around the adult entertainment districts hoping to make money by escorting tourists around and into places like strip joints, etc. The other group were American, Canadian, UK and European tourists/students roaming about looking just as out of place as the rest of us non-Japanese.

I am pasty white with curly blonde hair and I have had kids staring at me rather intensively even in Tokyo. I also had old ladies giving me dirty looks for sitting next to them on the subway. And there were the teenage boys making "hamburger" jokes about me and my friends because you know, we're fat Americans. I think they were shamed well enough when they realized they were not at all sly and I understood them. I also had a girl in a Coca-cola T-shirt, wearing a Micky Mouse ear headband sneer "Gaijin" at me in a Starbucks! Hows that for ironic? But for every single bad/odd experience I've had a dozen good ones.

[cranks]

Originally Posted by MMM

Again, it depends where you are. In the city you WILL NOT stand out. People are NOT VERY CURIOUS. People see people like you VERY OFTEN. This might be true out in the country, but if you are in a city you have heard of before, you are not going to be looked at as anything special.

Yes, it TOTALLY depends on where you are. That's for sure. But, even in Tokyo, only 0.5% of the population are non-Asian. I live in Colorado, where I think the percentage of Asian is a lot more than the percentage of non-Asian in Tokyo, and still people really remember me everywhere I go. I stand out because I'm an Asian who speak English with strong Japanese accent. I guess my point is that for any American, or non-Japanese, Japan will be very different from being in their home country. If you are non-Asian, you just stand out unless you are in a Gaijin bar in Roppongi, in which case, I agree you don't stand out AT ALL. But if you come to my home town which is just 20 minutes from Tokyo station, you will somewhat stand out. That doesn't mean anything too special will happen, but sometimes people complain that they are treated differently or get some stares, so I'm just trying to explain things more comprehensively.

[chiuchimu]

Originally Posted by DaisukeKigurou

Good advice, I am working on all 3 of those. And the last note, I am NOT going to Japan for the girls, I really can't see myself in a relationship. I am more of a loner and see myself grouped around a bunch of friends for support and encouragement, rather then being married and having to deal with a bunch of kids and a marriage that MIGHT fall apart in a few years.

The reason why I want to go to Japan is because of the, History, Culture, Government, Scenery, people, media, Religion ( I LOVE the shinto religion to death), and because I want to become a mangaka (writer).

I know it will be hard but, I will try and succeed. I am NOT going to be the minority of Gajins (stupid foreigners) that are there because of some business switch and think they're better then everyone else because "TEH ARE En AMRICEN!!!1111 En PPL NEDS TE BOU DEWN TEH EM!!1111".

I can sense when people are stressed, don't want to talk to me, or even when they're not in the mood to talk. I have developed a gift for this over the years.

I know it sounds crazy but, I can also sense a person spiritual pressure around me. This can tell me a lot about the person. So, yeah...

Sounds to me like you'll do just fine.

Since you understand the three tips I listed, I'll add one more: From a Japanese person/societies point of view, if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and looks like a duck, then it is a duck.

The Japanese are not used to foreigners so they don't have a preset way to react. They of course are startled a bit at first, but, If you walk Japanese ,talk Japanese and look Japanese, then they'll treat you Japanese. I mean this with some abstraction. To look Japanese I mean by how you stand, cloth you wear, expression on face. Basically, if you try your best to fit in, people will be understanding and forget your a foreigner and treat you like a fellow Japanese. It takes time effort and planning, but to experience real Japanese life "in" the society is well worth it.

Good luck and best wishes!

[MMM]

Originally Posted by cranks

Yes, it TOTALLY depends on where you are. That's for sure. But, even in Tokyo, only 0.5% of the population are non-Asian. I live in Colorado, where I think the percentage of Asian is a lot more than the percentage of non-Asian in Tokyo, and still people really remember me everywhere I go. I stand out because I'm an Asian who speak English with strong Japanese accent. I guess my point is that for any American, or non-Japanese, Japan will be very different from being in their home country. If you are non-Asian, you just stand out unless you are in a Gaijin bar in Roppongi, in which case, I agree you don't stand out AT ALL. But if you come to my home town which is just 20 minutes from Tokyo station, you will somewhat stand out. That doesn't mean anything too special will happen, but sometimes people complain that they are treated differently or get some stares, so I'm just trying to explain things more comprehensively.

You can be a gaijin in Tokyo with your hair on fire, and not get a second glance. No offence, but Colorado is not Toyko.

As a non-Asian you will not stand out in Shinjuku, Akasaka, Ginza, Roppongi, and most parts of Tokyo.

I think in 2010 people that complain of "getting stares" in Tokyo are being over sensitive. That's a little like white people getting stares in Hong Kong or black people getting stares in New York City.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by chiuchimu

Sounds to me like you'll do just fine.

Since you understand the three tips I listed, I'll add one more: From a Japanese person/societies point of view, if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and looks like a duck, then it is a duck.

The Japanese are not used to foreigners so they don't have a preset way to react. They of course are startled a bit at first, but, If you walk Japanese ,talk Japanese and look Japanese, then they'll treat you Japanese. I mean this with some abstraction. To look Japanese I mean by how you stand, cloth you wear, expression on face. Basically, if you try your best to fit in, people will be understanding and forget your a foreigner and treat you like a fellow Japanese. It takes time effort and planning, but to experience real Japanese life "in" the society is well worth it.

Good luck and best wishes!

Where are you from in Japan, chiuchimu? In 2010 do you really think Japanese are "startled at first" by foreigners?

How would you expect a foreigner to imitate the the clothing and facial expressions of Japanese? That seems like an odd expectation. Don't most Japanese wear shirts and pants like everyone else?

[cranks]

Originally Posted by edelweiss

I saw black people in Tokyo and Osaka and they seemed to fall into two groups. One group were the English speaking Africans who worked in and around the adult entertainment districts hoping to make money by escorting tourists around and into places like strip joints, etc. The other group were American, Canadian, UK and European tourists/students roaming about looking just as out of place as the rest of us non-Japanese.

I am pasty white with curly blonde hair and I have had kids staring at me rather intensively even in Tokyo. I also had old ladies giving me dirty looks for sitting next to them on the subway. And there were the teenage boys making "hamburger" jokes about me and my friends because you know, we're fat Americans. I think they were shamed well enough when they realized they were not at all sly and I understood them. I also had a girl in a Coca-cola T-shirt, wearing a Micky Mouse ear headband sneer "Gaijin" at me in a Starbucks! Hows that for ironic? But for every single bad/odd experience I've had a dozen good ones.

I can't really picture how "sneering Gaijin" was like so I can't comment on that one (Just in case. The word Gaijin itself isn't a slur, it usually just mean foreigner, especially the ones who look so), but when a foreigner complain like "I got a dirty look from a person who sit next to me" or "Nobody wanted to sit next to me", most of the times, they are breaking some rule. I'm not saying you were, but many foreigners are sitting really forward in the seat, with their knees wide open, hunched forward, intimidating people. If they sit exactly like a Japanese salary man, chances are, people will treat you just like other Japanese. That still doesn't guarantee nothing will happen, but there will be a LOT less.

[cranks]

Originally Posted by MMM

You can be a gaijin in Tokyo with your hair on fire, and not get a second glance. No offence, but Colorado is not Toyko.

As a non-Asian you will not stand out in Shinjuku, Akasaka, Ginza, Roppongi, and most parts of Tokyo.

I think in 2010 people that complain of "getting stares" in Tokyo are being over sensitive. That's a little like white people getting stares in Hong Kong or black people getting stares in New York City.

Hahaha, I know. Colorado is no Tokyo. I was born in Shinjuku. You will not stand out in Shinjuku, Akasaka, Ginza and Roppongi. But you will in Motoyawata which is just 20 minutes from Tokyo station. I agree though, it's not really "stares". But the "staring factor" a non-Asian guy can get is a lot more in Tokyo than in NY. There is like 0.2 percent of black people in Tokyo, and there is what? 30% in NY, so it will be different. Shinjuku, Akasaka, Roppongi are the exceptions. Ginza, mmm maybe.

[DaisukeKigurou]

Originally Posted by chiuchimu

Sounds to me like you'll do just fine.

Since you understand the three tips I listed, I'll add one more: From a Japanese person/societies point of view, if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and looks like a duck, then it is a duck.

The Japanese are not used to foreigners so they don't have a preset way to react. They of course are startled a bit at first, but, If you walk Japanese ,talk Japanese and look Japanese, then they'll treat you Japanese. I mean this with some abstraction. To look Japanese I mean by how you stand, cloth you wear, expression on face. Basically, if you try your best to fit in, people will be understanding and forget your a foreigner and treat you like a fellow Japanese. It takes time effort and planning, but to experience real Japanese life "in" the society is well worth it.

Good luck and best wishes!

People here think I am crazy, but I think I am more of an open-minded person then what people are used to here. I know how people in Japan are because I been around a few foreign exchange students from Japan before. I know what to say, and how to act around them.

Not to a T but enough, I am planning on learning more ways to act and stuff around people from Japan. I know this might be out of place in this paragraph, but I just have to get it out there. Not to brag or anything, I've had 3 friends that were from Japan, and one of them worked at a local game store here that is now closed. He taught me that, if I want to get to Japan and make friends. I'm going to have to learn more about Japan then it's pop-culture.


He said that, " People like that don't last that long, they only stay in Japan for about a week and then leave because it's more of a culture shock then they're used to."


This hit home for me, and for many years I've been trying to learn as much as I can about Japan as possible. I have learned one thing from my experience learning about another ones culture.


No matter what culture your learning about, americans don't like this sort of thing. They want you to be wrapped up and obsessed about your own country, because they think they're better than everything else. I have been called every name in the book. Even though, I tell them I have done my research and I don't say I know everything about Japan.

americans want you to act like this

1. You can learn about the culture, but you HAVE to be racist towards the country and the people. Oh, and you CANNOT move there because, " EW TEH GRATEST CONTRY EVAR!!!1111"

2. Don't even bother, be as closed-minded and racist as possible EW AER TEH CENTR FO TEH UNIVRESE!!!!1111

I know a lot of things, but I don't know EVERYTHING at the same time I am willing to learn more about the country I plan on living in soon.

So, that's my 2 cents on the subject