how will i be seen as in japan?

Now i am 17 and live in the UK, how ever i love japan and am currently learning Japanese and would want to go to japan many times in my life, maybe even live there some day. but watching and reading videos about japan has kinda confused me about how you would be treated there, some saying they love people from Europe and other places, some saying they would be negative...does anyone know what it is like and would love for Non-Japanese people who live there now could help..thanks for reading!

Japan has hosted millions of people who look remarkably like you. By and large, they had a very nice time. So will you.

Don't ask , just visit Japan. That is cool place to stay for a week or two, especially if You knowledge of japanese limited by two words: "Hola amogos!"
There could not be video that good in feeling of visual depth and presence effect as Your own perception.

Hi!
I have a blog series called "A German Alien in Japan" where I write exactly about that.
While I'm not from the UK, your experience might be very similar - or maybe not.
Like ewww suggested, just go and visit and see for yourself. There's nothing to be afraid of, really! ^-^

Walked through Tokyo today, didn't even earn myself a second glance. I'm no longer special, it seems. Yesterday's news!

Really, don't worry about it, just come have your experiences and take it all in stride, the good and bad. You'll probably find more of the former than the latter ^^

Well anywhere is the same.
There are nice people and not so nice people.
From my experience, you will most probably meet nice people more often.
So dont worry so much. Just book your flight ticket and have a nice trip.

Looks like Alex may have been a drive-by poster.

My UK classmate said that he always gets attention from Japanese girls when he goes drinking, but he's already married. So he regrets it ... a bit... XD

kraystone said:

My UK classmate said that he always gets attention from Japanese girls when he goes drinking, but he's already married. So he regrets it ... a bit... XD

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Haha

Western guys always get a lot of attention from Japanese women - even if they don't look great at all.
My Japanese friends often squealed because of a guy that REALLY wasn't handsome at all ... being foreign was enough to make them all go "kyah kyah".

When my brother came to visit and we walked around together we got so many stares and I randomly heard:
"Kakkoi! Handsome!" and "Bijin" (guess they didn't totally ignore me).
While they do stare when I'm alone I usually don't get THAT much attention, but I guess my brother really stood out. *lol*


Although we all will have similar experiences everybody deals with it in a different way.
Some feel like they turned into a rockstar.
Others really hate all the attention.
And some just don't care.

My question to people like Alex is always: Does it really matter? In the grand scheme of things how people see you hardly matters. There is also the truth that the only thing people have any right to judge others on is how they treat you and others.

My question to people like Alex is: Why do you start threads and apparently abandon them without giving any indication that you even looked at the replies?

i don't know if your still hear to read this Alex but I shall post this anyway just in case you are

Though I havent been to Japan yet (I dont have enough money) I have done some research for when I do and I have had encounters with Japanese people, from what ive seen the majority of them are very nice and helpful, providing you respect their country and culture, if you can speak some Japanese that would really help, as they receive foreigners more strongly if they make an attempt to speak Japanese, if only a modest attempt, it shows theyve made the effort to try and learn their language, which many foreigners dont.

I'm probably pretty late to the party but ill break it down a bit, unfortunately most of japan is seen as Xenophobic by most of the general population, but as for any country, the collective opinion will vary depending on location.

Tokyo(for example) receives many visitors, they are used to foreigners and will often be more curious as opposed to guarded around them. you can expect warm receptions from Tokyo, but as with any capitol both good and bad people are attracted to it, so it is not impossible to have a couple bad encounters.

Okinawa (places further up or down, rural(i would think works here)) you'll most likely get fewer and fewer formalities, they will not be used to foreigners and judge based on stereotypes, and sadly negative stereotypes live longer and stronger than positive, though it doesn't mean that you will always get bad receptions, though there are places where that is so, as small as they may be.

It will also be determined by the generation gaps, youths of this generation around the world are far more tolerant and understanding than the adults/seniors of 40+ years ago.

Your nationality, skin tone, how you present yourself, how much understanding of Japanese culture you have and how you present your understanding, among others, are also factors here. But they are minor or major depending on where, again, your going.

You'll have an easier time than me, albeit I've yet to visit japan itself i have lived and interacted with enough Japanese resident/tourist since living in Hawaii to be able to confirm it first hand. I am both black and American, though as far as i can tell, they do not resent blacks, it seems to have a more fear based view of them(a view I've collected from a number of stereotypical Japanese entertainment, a massively buff current/ex-soldier, bald may/not where glasses/shades towering in height, though the only thing i have in common with that is height (6.2-.3 in height) i do know from experience how intimidating people have found me from my height alone) it doesn't help my landlord is is a ra... who keeps telling me to give up on japan, that they wont like me (emphasizing on there Xenophobic behavior) but i still want to go, being the fan that i am of Japanese(and Korean) media and games, i really want to get into the industry.

If you have the chance you might as well throw cation to the wind and go, take in both negative and positive as a learning experience, and learn how to make your place, from it, into japan. The positive always outweighs the negative and Japan is a place worth a bit a hardships(for me it is).

Pardon me, but if you've never been here then on what do you base your statements regarding Tokyo and Okinawa?

Are you aware of the decades-long huge presence of American troops on Okinawa?

People in Tokyo are some of the least curious people regarding foreigners I've encountered anywhere in Japan. Tokyo is full of country hicks who moved to the Big City and are desperate to do nothing that reveals to others their hick origins. Consequently you have to be a pretty extreme oddity before they will give the slightest sign of noticing you even exist.

bakasentai said:

Okinawa (places further up or down, rural(i would think works here)) you'll most likely get fewer and fewer formalities, they will not be used to foreigners and judge based on stereotypes, and sadly negative stereotypes live longer and stronger than positive, though it doesn't mean that you will always get bad receptions, though there are places where that is so, as small as they may be.

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On the contrary, people in Okinawa have been used to foreign people for generations, far more than those in Tokyo, since it used to be occupied by the US after the WW2 until 1972, and there still are many American people because 23.5 percent of United States Forces Japan are in Okinawa.
(Though the level of exposure to foreign people is not relevant to the perception of foreign people.)

undrentide said:

On the contrary, people in Okinawa have been used to foreign people for generations, far more than those in Tokyo, since it used to be occupied by the US after the WW2 until 1972, and there still are many American people because 23.5 percent of United States Forces Japan are in Okinawa.
(Though the level of exposure to foreign people is not relevant to the perception of foreign people.)

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From my understanding many Japanese do not like Americans for that reason(the war and current military presence), and some still do not forgive what America has done which i had always used as basis in my opinion of there long standing resentment of Americans (along with all the other stupid stuff America does on a daily basis to earn the rest of the worlds resent, but as for Japan it always felt... how do i put it... special... more... "randomly conjectured hate/ridicule mongering" might be close).

As for your "(...)" how does "misconceptions from media and mouth-to-mouth(in other words reading and hearing about)" not differ from actual contact and communication with(in other words, actual experience. By that context I could go with reading about japan creates the same perception of how it is to live there in equality to a perception of having actually lived there)? (which is false since everyone experiences things differently, the fact you have correct me is proof that it doesn't work)

Mike Cash said:

Pardon me, but if you've never been here then on what do you base your statements regarding Tokyo and Okinawa?

Are you aware of the decades-long huge presence of American troops on Okinawa?

People in Tokyo are some of the least curious people regarding foreigners I've encountered anywhere in Japan. Tokyo is full of country hicks who moved to the Big City and are desperate to do nothing that reveals to others their hick origins. Consequently you have to be a pretty extreme oddity before they will give the slightest sign of noticing you even exist.

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Some of what i said was assumption, that is why I stated I'd never been, that it was conjecture. Sorry I assumed as a Capitol, Tokyo connects Japan to the rest of the world through media and technology, that most people who would live in Tokyo would be doing so to immerse themselves in a more western type civilization. That those looking for career opportunities in Tokyo media would have some desire to move into world entertainment as well. Again sorry for assuming, i guess the Tokyo capitol is simply the figure head you seem to phrase(on the level of Hollywood).

I as well do not know very much about Okinawa, most of my understanding goes as far as, "Okinawan's hate to refer to themselves as Japanese, they would rather be called Okinawan", and to some extent resent belonging to Japan. These from the people themselves, and based on recent media it seem the consensus of japan feel the same way, Eureka 7 AO example, though then again i am basing it off a fictional show(with endorsing and a overseas audience though), and i have not bother with any research on that front. But if you want a reason as to why i came to that conclusion that is it, a collection of negative opinions sewn into my misconception's.

You've probably had way too much time to over think it. Please see my first post in this thread for a concise and accurate assessment of the situation.

At any rate, the OP is long gone anyway.

Mike Cash said:

You've probably had way too much time to over think it. Please see my first post in this thread for a concise and accurate assessment of the situation.

At any rate, the OP is long gone anyway.

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You know, I'm trying to provoke a more elaborate response of how it is. Example, the indirect insult and bump down of Tokyo. You haven't told me why japan hold western culture in such a high regard(in the localized location) attempting to build off it in many cases music, literature, clothing, ect. It seems stands in contrast to the idea that they are uninterested in foreigners or at least they only care about the creations and not the people. I am fully aware of Japans Narcissistic nature but i was also under the assumption that they do look outwards as well.

You haven't debunked my reply about Okinawa. If I'm misunderstanding Okinawan's mindset, the reason's of tension towards the US, what is Tokyo to the average Japanese citizen? It would help prevent misunderstandings and assumptions in the future for me if someone can better elaborate on where and how my statements were false, and answer my questions. (Though of course I could research it myself, but with as much stuff as I've piled up I suppose that will be awhile.)

Also i did not know "concise and accurate" was "redefined to vague" and misleading, or is it sarcasm?

Is it your intent to be contentious and combative?

Combative, probably I do like debates. Contentious, I could direct that right back at you, though was it my intention? I figured I was acting, to some extent, in humble manner by requesting assistance in what I don't understand and admitting I don't understand everything, though I can see how my response toward Tokyo can be contentious, I meant it as sarcasm, though I suppose theirs little difference in context... I guess I did then. Though of course I prioritized learning over debate and was not interested in an argument(web definition of contentious directing to argument not debate).

Let me ask you then, is your only intention to belittle me, one who seems to arrogantly flaunt his ignorance, but the second I ask something you can't answer to dodge my questions?

I dodged nothing. I paused to ascertain your intent. Sometimes people sound contentious without meaning to.

Mike Cash said:

I dodged nothing. I paused to ascertain your intent. Sometimes people sound contentious without meaning to.

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Too me at least, it felt dodgy. You engaged me, but when I presented my misinterpretation I got but "your thinking too much", neither your right/wrong about "blank", which simply leaves me where I was before these chats(with exception to the little bit I was taught about Okinawa). I'd be fine with, "I can't answer your questions" or "I can't say for sure" even "I don't know, never thought about it". If I had to sum it up it feels as though, your simply uninterested in talking to me anymore, hence the "attack unknown target, more than I can handle, retreat" feel I expressed in the last post.

(Doesn't help undrentide seem to have just simply did that, wish i could have that effect on the more crass users of the net.)

Well, you are over thinking it.

As I said, Japan has hosted millions of people who look remarkably like you. They're used to us. We're no longer a big deal. We like to think we're going to come here and cause some sort of sensation by our presence, but those days are long gone. You're just the latest in a string of gaijin who they see walking down the street. Ho-hum, big deal. They don't spend their lives being fascinated by "western" stuff the way western anime/manga nerds spend their lives being fascinated by Japanese stuff. Nor do they all move to Tokyo in search of it.

Nowhere have I belittled you or been the least bit discourteous to you, nor have I dodged you. I didn't give a bunch of long-winded explanations simply because there is no need for one. Any time you wish to have a calm and rational discussion I am glad to try to help you. But I have no inclination to trying to talk to anyone who gets in a fighting stance over something like being gently corrected.

In the same paragraph you claim to state that you do not belittle, you use "nerd" which is a derogatory remark("anti-social" and "disillusional" are carried by that word). There was, "you over think things", "contentious and combative" (accusing me of trying to start a fight). I wrote my view(opinion if you must) of japan, replied with your wrong because of lack of experience, I replied with why I view things that way to be replied with, "your just wrong", and now with "I didn't give a bunch of long-winded explanations simply because there is no need for one." because asking isn't enough. If this is not an example of "your not worth my time"...

I've been trying too get a discussion out of you, its what I asked for from "You know, I'm trying to provoke a more elaborate response of how it is." (though it just occurred to me maybe you see provoke as only negative word, regardless there was no negative intent). Again I've never once been in a fighting stance, if anything I've been in a "dog waiting for his master to get home" siting stance, waiting for the reply that answers some of my questions. At this point I'm anticipating a "not worth my time" or "this'll never end response", considering you've yet to break down into derogatory speeches, so I'm fairly certain you wont verbally abuse me. So at this point I'm more or less "digging a hole or two" stance (posting in other post to find people to chat with).

If you really think I came here to argue does my original post have any hint of intended controversy to you, did it really seem like I was trying to fight someone with my "it may be hard in some places but its still worth the trip", defined with more detail, (than your one line reply) "I know how you feel I'm honestly considering how you feel having been there myself". To the point I put myself up for ridicule(I feel like a narcissus(which I am, or at least want to be) but I feel like I have to spell it out). I admit, I'm most likely wrong, but I do try to find the errors in my ways(by bugging you for answers this time), sorry I got too excited with you, I thought that since you were willing to point out my error that you'd be willing to chat it out, as well sorry for my personality problem's, I know I have a debative character, I've had it since I started bible studies at six, not something I can easily control(my switch was flipped when you gave me the vague wrong).

Also, if I was offensively debating you, you'd be far more infuriated than I presume you are, I've spent years on my hobby of "piss off the troll/derogatory idiot" on youtube, and despite with as little effort as I put into it excelled in English. The only attack I've made is the accusation that your refusing to answer my questions.

"Excelled in English"???