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Questions about discrimination & life in Japan -
10-16-2008, 04:42 AM
I am thinking of planning a vacation to Japan and experiencing a new environment but I have some questions. I dream of living there, from what I've heard it sounds amazing but I want to vacation there to experience it first hand.
I enjoy heavy body modification and I have a 21 visible piercings (some are stretched piercings), I have tattoos visible on my arms and I have my tongue bifurcated (split). How readily is this accepted in Japan, how would it affect me if I were to live there? I am quite a shy person but I'm always respectful and yet I am still discriminated against. I was well aware of the unfortunate consequences before I started modifying my body and I was/am prepared to deal with them. I'm just curious as to how Japan differs in their views body modification. Currently I am just a freelance writer but I have trade skills as well and I graduated from a 4 year online university, would this help me earn money/get a job in Japan if I were to live there? Is it harder to live in Japan being a gaijin? Is there much racial discrimination? Would it be possible to survive short-term in Japan with knowing only elementary level Japanese language/writing? How expensive is it to live in Japan? England is supposedly one of the most expensive places to live in the world, what about Japan? Sorry for so may questions, but I like to do my research. Any help that you can give would be greatly appreciated  
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10-16-2008, 08:49 AM
The impression I get, is that there really isn't much "racial discrimination", not in the sense of superiority like in say the US. If anything, it's mostly curiosity just because you're foreign.
As for the other things though, I'll let someone else tackle that, although, imho, I feel that it would scare some and you'd definitely receive a lot of stares.
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10-16-2008, 09:08 AM
Someone who has lived there might know a bit better than me, but tattoos carry a bit of stigma in Japan due to associations with the yakuza. I do know that an old boss of mine was told to cover up his tattoo while swimming in a hotel pool or not swim at all - he's English, and clearly not affiliated with yakuza, but it doesn't matter. I'm told you'll get similar reactions in public bath houses or hotsprings. Beyond that I'm not sure if there will be any more negative reactions what you'd get in your home country.
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10-16-2008, 09:55 AM
In Japan, standing out is not encouraged. Your tattoos and piercings will be noticed, though very few will react visibly or audibly to them (unless you are applying for a job).
Discrimination exists in Japan. There are places (bars, hotels, clubs) in Japan which allow "Japanese" only. This is an obvious form of discrimination which is technically illegal, but that hasn't stopped businesses from putting out "Japanese Only' signs next to their doors. The less obvious forms of discrimination you will never notice. Manners are a fine art in Japan, and many foreigners are not treated with the same respect as Japanese are. Being treated in such a way would be insulting to Japanese, but most foreigners would never be aware that they were treated any differently, or that they had been insulted. Your tattoos and piercings pretty much put you out of the market for the majority of jobs which foreigners work in Japan (teaching, finance, IT, etc.), but you would probably find ready work at a bar or night club. Working at a trade will require a fair amount of Japanese ability, both spoken and written. Your online degree will probably be enough to get you a work visa, provided it is from an accredited university. There are a few online universities which are not recognized as accredited, University of Phoenix being an example. The cost of living varies greatly in Japan. And where you live in Japan depends primarily on your job. If you aren't working as a teacher, most likely you'll be working in one of the larger metro areas, which can be quite expensive. But it's not all that bad. An apartment can be expensive (and cost a lot of money to get into), but there are many people looking to share large apartments and houses, and the rent for a single room is usually very reasonable. As for living in Japan, it's all a matter of opinion. Personally, I think Japan is a wonderful place to visit. On the other hand, there is nothing terribly special about living here.
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10-16-2008, 10:38 AM
I think you will be fine in Japan.
Don't think about it too much is my advice... if you get discriminated against then my advice would be to brush it off and dismiss whatever they have to say. However my impression is that you won't get openly discriminated against... and if what Sangetsu says is true (about people discriminating in private) then you won't know anyway so no need to dwell on it right?
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10-16-2008, 11:23 AM
well...I too don't know so much but it really is a good advice of hiding your tattoos.....if you search for advices on the web you'll find everywhere advices of hiding tattoos since they are associated with yakuza even if you're foregein.....
 If you ever want to die remember that you have a dream and you have to live on to make it come true!!   ~Member of the Hello kitty clan~ ~+MeMbEr Of ThE VaMpIrE cLan+~ ~+MeMbEr Of ThE ZeRo LuVeRs ClUb+~
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10-16-2008, 01:15 PM
Behave and you will be fine. "High class" jobs and teaching and stuff are probably out of the question, but whatever. Normal people here won't give you a hard time, especially not for standing out. They might be interested and think it's fun though!
Treat people good and with respect and they will treat you the same way.
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10-16-2008, 05:46 PM
Quote:
I always respect your opinions Sangetsu, but I don't want people to get the wrong impression. Visible and stretched piercings are fine for tourists, but you are going to have a hard time finding work. A bar or nightclub will be no problem, probably, but the problem will be your work visa. A bar owner has no need or desire to go through the headaches and redtape (and likely denial) of hiring a foreigner to tend his bar. Most foreign bartenders have "day jobs". (I did. And where I worked no body modification was allowed, including hair-dying.)
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10-16-2008, 08:50 PM
Quote:
More than anything, I think the difference is more likely to come in terms of the degree of politeness, like Sangetsu said. For the poster, I would imagine it will be pretty much impossible to get any sort of job that ever involves seeing customers. Even working at a bar may be a stretch. As for writing and such, you might have a shot, but without much japanese language ability your options could be pretty limited...
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10-16-2008, 09:50 PM
Quote:
 Abdc *Quest Crew & Beat Freaks* *Fan of the Cocky Guys & So real* *GACKT FAN CLUB ME & VAMPIRE CLAN* NARUTO FAN CLUB FAMILY Me(sakura), Narutoluvr(misa),zachart(Ichigo),ariana,Silveremperial(sora)kiyuga(nara),sm ilexfreak7( vampire princess),xrachellex (Miyuki),rukamency,lulu,totorono,Auran,Orihimegirl,katchan6 (mello),Sakurasan, KittyKyo,drummachick
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