Swedish girl going to Tokyo for 1 year

Vickiliciouz · 27 Jun 2014

Konnichiwa!
My name is Vicki and I'm a girl from Sweden who am going to Tokyo to live and study for a whole year. I'm leaving in late September and the school I've been accepted to is called Akamonkai. I have been studying japanese before (one year in high school) so I know the basics. My interests for Japan came when I was 8 and started to train martial arts (taekwondo and karate). Later I started to watch anime's and I began to really like the Gyaru style and fashion.

I'm new here and was hoping to find alot of info about Japan and the culture, people, traditions e.t.c there. And perhaps find friends who I can meet when I'm there ^.^

I have a quistion for people who are japanese, what do you think about swedish girls?
I am so afraid that people will look at me like I'm sort kind of alien or something haha

Hope this was a okey introduction about me and that I will get some answers too
Bye bye!
/Vickiliciouz

Mike Cash · 27 Jun 2014

Welcome, Vicki. You have nothing to worry about. Tokyo is full of foreigners and the people are used to seeing them. Unless you dress like a circus clown and walk around on stilts nobody will notice you.

nice gaijin · 27 Jun 2014

You'll fit right in, the novelty of being foreign is pretty passe in Tokyo these days

Vickiliciouz · 27 Jun 2014

Mike Cash said:
Welcome, Vicki. You have nothing to worry about. Tokyo is full of foreigners and the people are used to seeing them. Unless you dress like a circus clown and walk around on stilts nobody will notice you.

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nice gaijin said:
You'll fit right in, the novelty of being foreign is pretty passe in Tokyo these days

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Okey that sounds good to hear. Hahaha x) no that won't be a problem. I'm very short for being a swedish girl. Normal swedish girls are 170-175 cm tall, but I'm just 158 cm and weigh 50 kg so everyone here thinks I'm teeny tiny haha :')

Is it easy to get japanese friends in Tokyo? And does japanese boys flirt with western girls? I'm a little bit shy so I don't want to be the one that "take commands", but I do want to flirt a little when I'm there. How do I do that in the best way? Do I have to take "the first step" just because I'm a foreigner or do you think japanese boys are going to do that? And should I wear circle-lenses or have my real eye-color (blue)?

This is how I look like ^^
With circle-lenses.

Without lenses.

Mike Cash · 27 Jun 2014

If I were you, I would seriously look into doing some modeling work while here.

nahadef · 27 Jun 2014

Blue eyes will always go over far better than fake colours. I'm absolutely average looking and middle aged, and still get positive comments on it. As with my pasty British skin. I think the current standard of Japanese beauty favours north Europeans.

Japanese friends are a genuinely difficult thing. Myself, and a lot of foreign friends, as well as a lot of people I've known online, only really manage acquaintances. My ex-girlfriends are actual friends, but people without the sex relationship? I wouldn't consider any non-girlfriend I've known here as a proper friend, sad as it sounds. I don't want to speak for others, but it's a little depressing to me personally. To be fair, age is a factor, as I came near age 30, and people tend not to make deep friendships the longer life goes on.

Japanese men are less aggressive than Westerners on the whole, but I'm sure in Tokyo there will be many many alpha dudes who approach you there. I've seen them, and they creep me out way more than pick-up artists in the West, since they seem to prey on the politeness of Japanese (i.e., in N. America, it would simply be called harassment). They may not be the types you want to have a relationship with. I don't know what you are looking for in a partner. Go to good clubs, have a smile and a welcoming look, and say hi to people you find interesting, and you should do fine.

nice gaijin · 28 Jun 2014

The easiest way to make connections and friends is through shared experiences and interests. If you're going to school, try to join some club or circle, or look for some extracurricular activities that interest you. Some people are really into fashion as a way of expressing themselves, but I reckon a majority of their coordination happens electronically, so you're at a slight disadvantage if you aren't very literate. It's a good incentive to study hard!

I second Mike's suggestion of looking into modeling.

Mike Cash · 28 Jun 2014

And we're not just trying to flatter you.

Vickiliciouz · 28 Jun 2014

nahadef said:
Blue eyes will always go over far better than fake colours. I'm absolutely average looking and middle aged, and still get positive comments on it. As with my pasty British skin. I think the current standard of Japanese beauty favours north Europeans.

Japanese friends are a genuinely difficult thing. Myself, and a lot of foreign friends, as well as a lot of people I've known online, only really manage acquaintances. My ex-girlfriends are actual friends, but people without the sex relationship? I wouldn't consider any non-girlfriend I've known here as a proper friend, sad as it sounds. I don't want to speak for others, but it's a little depressing to me personally. To be fair, age is a factor, as I came near age 30, and people tend not to make deep friendships the longer life goes on.

Japanese men are less aggressive than Westerners on the whole, but I'm sure in Tokyo there will be many many alpha dudes who approach you there. I've seen them, and they creep me out way more than pick-up artists in the West, since they seem to prey on the politeness of Japanese (i.e., in N. America, it would simply be called harassment). They may not be the types you want to have a relationship with. I don't know what you are looking for in a partner. Go to good clubs, have a smile and a welcoming look, and say hi to people you find interesting, and you should do fine.

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I see, but lenses makes you more cute- and innocence looking. (a)
Hmm I guess it's because we in north europe is pale? Maybe I shouldn't sunbathe this summer then haha.. ;p

That's a little bit sad to hear, but I hope I will make some connection with japanese people. Maybe it's easier for me then, if I'm just 21 years old?

Hmm okey, well I'm pretty used to alpha douchebags in Sweden so the japanese alphas can't be any worse than them. But yeah, I guess I should be a little bit careful anyway?! Well, I'm not really intrested in a long-term relationship, I just want to have some fun and flirt a little.

Thank you for your answers and tips!

Vickiliciouz · 28 Jun 2014

Thank you for your tips too "nice gaijin".
And well, I can't see myself as a model haha. Ain't I way too short and curvy to do modeling in Japan?
Isn't the girl models in Japan really reaaaally skinny? I think I have too much boobs and booty to make it there as o model haha..

nice gaijin · 28 Jun 2014

don't sell yourself short. I have a very curvy friend in Korea who is in the final rounds of interviews to become a victoria's secret model. I'm not necessarily thinking runway fashion, which seems to favor unnatural body types, but I could see you in advertisements at the very least. You have a very good look and bone structure, and it looks like you have some versatility in the few photos we've seen.

Just look into it, is all we're suggesting.

Mike Cash · 28 Jun 2014

You have good looks and are obviously comfortable being photographed. You should be a natural for advertisements, catalogues, commercials, etc. There is a lot more to modeling work than just walking down a runway at fashion shows.

Vickiliciouz · 28 Jun 2014

Well the thing is, in Sweden you have to be over 175 cm to even be allowed to model so I haven't even consider it before.. Sounds like you don't have the same standards of a model in Japan compared to what we have in Sweden. Im really flattered that you "nice gaijin" & "Mike Cash" think that way about my looks. Well, I guess I can look into it while I'm in Tokyo and see what the people there say ^.^ Don't know who I should contact though, but perhaps it can be possible to find out while I'm there.

Anyway, it sounds really good to hear that all models aren't super skinny and I hope your friend will go far!

Swedish girl going to Tokyo for 1 year

Vickiliciouz

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Mike Cash

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nice gaijin

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Vickiliciouz

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Mike Cash

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nahadef

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nice gaijin

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Mike Cash

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Vickiliciouz

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Vickiliciouz

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nice gaijin

Resident Realist

Mike Cash

骨も命も皆此の土地に埋めよう

Vickiliciouz

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