Planning a Visit to The Fair Shores of Japan - I Have Some Questions.

[Bonny Scotsman]

Hello everyone.

My name is Craig and I hail from the bonny lands of Scotland, a small, but lush country with many mountains and rolling hills, not all that different from Japan I'm told.
Since I was but a wee boy growing up in the Highlands, I have always been interested in other cultures, but none have fascinated me more than the Japanese.

I recall a time, many years ago when I first laid eyes upon a young Japanese man visiting our small toon, and though he wore a kilt and tammy as sure as any man among us, he was not.
In fact his arrival was met with vacant stares and an eerie silence befell the town as the bagpipes fell silent and even the local tavern well known for it's mid-day revelry stood silent; It's patrons gathered out front to get a better look at the stranger.

It was Tam Wallace our local representative and owner of the Wallace Farm and Wallace & Sons Butchershop who walked up to meet him.
After they exchanged some words, old Tam raised his arms for all to see and cried aloud "It's okay" before escorting the newcomer up and into the tavern, as the patrons follwed them in pushing and shoving a little to get a better look.
The man only stayed one night and I never spoke to him, but he seemed inhuman, almost alien, he was quite short, even standing next to wee Adam who was only 5'11" the newcomer seemed almost dwarfish in every aspect of the word.

Many years later as I grew up, I asked others about the strange little man who visited us long ago, it is said that he had a great difficulty understanding us.
While the little man was no stranger to the English dialect, the Scottish tendancy to almost sing our words, coupled with the springy cheery delivery, left him a little bewildered and confused, though he couldn't help but smile as he asked the speaker to repeat what he said.
Of course he was ussually answered with roaring laughter by the patrons, as Tam did his best to translate, as words like wee (small) and toon (town) were lost on him.

When I was a great deal older and had moved far away from the lands I still hold close to my heart, I learned a great deal about other lands and their cultures and this realization and new found knowledge instilled in me a ravenous appetite for foreign cultures.
As I said before, near the top of what is looking to be a very long first post, none have fascinated me more than the Japanese.

I love their culture, their history, their legends, their traditions and more recently their animated films and television series.
I have currently been studying Kendo under (self-proclaimed) Master Christopher and am nearing the end of what he is able to teach me.
He suggests a trip down to England for further training and gave me several pamphlets for notable Kendo clubs and training groups.
However a fellow student is planning a trip to Japan to further her training under the proffesional tutelage of an established Dojo Master, and says she would be more than happy for the company, as she knows no one else in Japan, I would be her only friend for the first few weeks as we settle in.
She speaks a little Japanese, and apart from her Japanese tutor and love for all things Kendo, she knows even less about the Japanese culture and it's people.

Despite never having visited Japan themselves, there were more than a few Students who had taken an interest in our plan to visit Japan.
Dark were some of the stories, as foreigners who complained about their lodgings or didn't tip the waiters were reported to the Police and carted way to interrogated by grim spectres with sinister fates in mind for us.
Though such stories are likely made by those who are intent on trying to frighten away foreigners, or so I told myself.

One student (the one who refrenced this website to me) who moved here from Malasia, said that the Japanese are a very private people, and while a lot of their culture is refrenced in outside media and includes many nationalities and races, the Japanese people do not.
He stressed the point that most (though not all) Japanese arn't necessarily rude, their just a really well oiled and maintained machine and the foreigner is viewed as being the potential spanner that could bring everything grinding to a halt.

He also said that I would be treated to some role reffersal, refrencing the story of the little man I had told him some time ago when we first met (and you as well it would seem dear reader).
While he said that all foreigners are treated to a round of stare at the new flavour of the day, we or rather I would get more than quite a few long stares and not just because of my stunning good looks.
Standing at 6'9", a common height where I'm from, would apparently make me a rare sight in Japan and worthy of few lengthy stares as I would possibly be considered a giant by Japanese standards.
Also my heterochromia (one bright green, one bright blue) is rare enough to provoke curiosity in most local people and last my long shoulder length blond hair.
He jokingly said I would be to the Japanese, what the Giant Panda was for us at our Zoo.

So what do actual Japanese people think, am I going to be your Giant Panda? Will I get long lengthy stares and what kind of reception could I expect upon visiting Japan?

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Nice post !

I was lucky enough to have a Scottish father-in-law and a wife half Scottish wife. Sounds like you will need a shock proof helmet with your height. Hope you do make it to Japan. A trip there provides a lifetime of memories for many who do make it. Hope you do.

Welcome

Uncle Frank

 

[Half-n-Half]

Standing at 6'9", you will most certainly get stares and even some people asking you how tall you are. I knew a man from Denmark who was about your height and his standard greeting was his height in centimeters, because every Japanese person wanted to know and would come up and ask him! A lot of people also asked to have their picture taken with him. I kind of felt bad for him, but he seemed to take it pretty well.

Your story was interesting!

 

[Glenski]

All that just to ask if he would get stares for being tall?

 

[Mike Cash]

With the one green eye and one blue eye and the rambling chattiness I thought I was listening to a story from Gracie Allen.

Yes, people will stare at you and you will be an object of fascination.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Geeezzzz , I would hate to see JREF become like Twitter. I miss the family atmosphere and the chat room of the ol days. Must be an age/generation thing on my part I guess?

Uncle Frank

 

[Bonny Scotsman]

Hello again.

Yes, I had thought the post was maybe a little over the top in terms of length and bulk, but I thought it would be okay and it seemed a shame to delete it all after typing it out.
Though I guess that was a mistake on my part, I probably should have given more thought and consideration to people that actually have to read my post.
However, I am a man who learns from his mistakes and I shall endevour to keep my posts a great deal shorter, and not degenerate into the infamous rambling we Scottish are known for.

I do have more questions about the staring thing and how firm a grasp of the English language the average Japanese resident will have.

So, about the staring thing that the Japanese people are known for. Why exactly do they stare at people?
There have no doubt been a great many tourists to Japan in recent years, visiting it's fantastic futuristic cities of glass architecture.
Even the more rural areas of Japan are sure to attract foreign tourists comng to see their festivals and visit local landmarks.
Yet it seems that no matter how many visitors Japan gets, people always come back with tales of stares that pierce the body and look into your soul.

I know that visiting a foreign country and expecting them to speak your language (English or not) is exceptionally rude and offensive, but what level of English can I expect the average Japanese citizen to portray? I mean can I walk up to a Japanese man or woman, say good evening and ask them the time or for map directions, or is that maybe asking to much? I know from Japanese animation and media, that the Japanese are taught English, but just how many actually learn it?

One more thing, if I do need to ask questions from the locals would I be better of asking the locals who have taken an interest in me (the starers) or those who seem not to take any notice?

Oh and one more thing, is it better to approach a Japanese man or woman to ask such questions, or does it not really matter all that much?

 

[Mike Cash]

You needn't worry so much. Your reception from the Japanese won't be half so rude as the reception your fellow Scots gave that poor Japanese guy.

 

[Bonny Scotsman]

Thank you Mike Cash.

Your very kind to try and ease my worries, but I fear that they persist all the same and you're are right.
There have been many thousands of Scottish visitors to Japan over the past few decades, though I reckon the very first Scotsman got similiar treatment as our first Japanese visitor recieved.
Though saying that, old Tam did put him up for the night and served him up a traditional Scottish breakfast, courtesy of the Wallace family.
I don't reckon I'd recieve as equal treatment from the Japanese? Then again, Scottish hospitality is almost legendary, at least from what I've experianced.
Though every glen has it's own traditions and no two Scottish clans are ever the same, so we do very a little.

Would still like an answer to my previous questions, as I say, I'm very eager to learn more about the Japanese and their culture.

 

[Mike Cash]

I think you may have watched too many samurai movies. Japan has hosted several million foreigners over the years. Were it not for your height you would draw no special degree of notice.

You have to be careful not to fall into "You must be drunk; I see two of you" logic. Just because it will be your first time here and you'll be endlessly fascinated with everything doesn't mean that you will be the first foreigner the Japanese encounter and that they'll be endlessly fascinated with you. While this may be an Exciting Adventure in an Exotic Asian Country for you, for the people who live here it is just SSDD (Same Sh*t; Different Day) and you're just another stranger floating by. In any urban area, without your height you wouldn't get a second glance.

You'll deal with it. Or you'll get sick of it and go home.

There has never been an easier time to be a foreigner in Japan, do lighten up and don't worry about stuff so much.