A U.S. college student's views on Living in Japan

thomas · 5 Sep 2023

The Insider published an essay based on a conversation with Renee Marant, a 21-year-old college student attending Temple University in Japan. Living in Japan was something she dreamed of from a young age. She says living in Japan feels safer and is more convenient than living in America, where she's from. However, Marant has decided to move back to the US, citing low job prospects and experiences with racism as factors.

In Philly, I always had to look behind me to see if I was safe. Here, I've never had to worry about my safety. Everything is also incredibly clean here, and there are tons of fun things to do, like festivals, interactive art exhibits, cat cafés, and karaoke.

The customer service was another thing that surprised me. You go to a McDonald's and — unlike in America — they're smiling, getting your order done. They're very particular about how they come across to their customers. I think the differences arise because the rules here are for the community, whereas America is more self-focused. In Japan, for example, if you go on the train, you make sure you're quiet and don't have anything blasting on the speaker. There are a lot of different rules here, so things can go smoothly for other people.

One of the downsides of living in Japan as a Black woman is the fetishization that we face. I've observed that Japanese people often view Black women as being "sexually free," and I've encountered a lot of men who have harassed me because they think I'm that way. I think a lot of these ideas come from the way Black women are portrayed in the media. For example, I've had men come up to me and touch me, ask me if I like Megan Thee Stallion, and ask if I can twerk. It's really frustrating and dehumanizing to be treated this way, and it makes me feel like I'm not being seen as a person but just as a sexual object.

I'd always fantasized about living in Japan. But after nearly 3 years of living here as a Black woman, I'm ready to move back to the US.

Renee Marant is attending college in Japan, just like she dreamed of. But the realities of racism and low job prospects have made her disillusioned.

www.insider.com

mdchachi · 5 Sep 2023

The work culture here is very hierarchical. I plan to go into the finance industry, but the corporate environment here is very strict, where you have to listen to your superior. I'm very collaborative and thrive in a more horizontal environment, but here, seniority and title trump everything else.

If she can find a foreign corporation she might have a palatable experience.
I worked in finance in Japan and almost my entire workgroup was not Japanese. My boss was Indian.
Or perhaps she can find a position based in the U.S. that deals with Japan business.

Grandpa Frank · 6 Sep 2023

Being from Maine , I always though working at L.L.Beans in Japan would be cool.

johnnyG · 6 Sep 2023

This is what stood out to me:

One of the downsides of living in Japan as a Black woman is the fetishization that we face.

I guess I see this term in contrast to what in other places something similar might (too quickly) be called racism, or some version of that term.

True, fetishization might imply/include/assume racism. But it may not, or perhaps in some ways, it may not. At any rate, this gives me something to think about, maybe for discussion to see what others think.

Any comments here?

thomas · 6 Sep 2023

johnnyG said:
True, fetishization might imply/include/assume racism. But it may not, or perhaps in some ways, it may not. At any rate, this gives me something to think about, maybe for discussion to see what others think.

To me, racism and "fetishization" are two different things. While the first is based on antagonistic, hateful, race-based perceptions and opinions, the latter is more of an extreme fascination or obsession—just my 2 yen worth.

Does fetishization always have a sexual connotation?

ashleyclausen · 7 Dec 2023

thomas said:
The Insider published an essay based on a conversation with Renee Marant, a 21-year-old college student attending Temple University in Japan. Living in Japan was something she dreamed of from a young age. She says living in Japan feels safer and is more convenient than living in America, where she's from. However, Marant has decided to move back to the US, citing low job prospects and experiences with racism as factors.

I'd always fantasized about living in Japan. But after nearly 3 years of living here as a Black woman, I'm ready to move back to the US.

Renee Marant is attending college in Japan, just like she dreamed of. But the realities of racism and low job prospects have made her disillusioned.

www.insider.com

It was very interesting to read. But I think it's never a good idea to romanticize life somewhere. Life is hard, studying is always hard, and it's not that easy to find a job too. Especially if you're an expat. I have such an experience, I also had high hopes and thought my life in Europe would be perfect, but it's not true.
But I agree that living in Japan is safer, you can see more people smiling, but it also depends on the place, and on the person themself.

A U.S. college student's views on Living in Japan

thomas

Unswerving cyclist

I'd always fantasized about living in Japan. But after nearly 3 years of living here as a Black woman, I'm ready to move back to the US.

mdchachi

Moderator

Grandpa Frank

Sempai

johnnyG

Sempai

thomas

Unswerving cyclist

ashleyclausen

後輩

I'd always fantasized about living in Japan. But after nearly 3 years of living here as a Black woman, I'm ready to move back to the US.

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