How will I be treated as a foreigner in Japan?

Question

I will be traveling there next year, and I am taking lessons because I will be doing foreign exchange. I can read katakana and I am halfway through hiragana and I can speak a little bit but am learning more and more each day using online classes. I am 14 right now, will be 15 when I go. This is a picture of me http://s164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/heywassuppp/summer08/?action=view&current=IMG_1900-1.jpg I know it is an odd picture, but it is just so you have a basic understanding of how I look, it is the only one I currently have. I am 5 foot 7. How will people there treat me? I will be traveling to big cities like Tokyo, but also smaller regions as well.

Answer 1

If you are willing to accept that the most basic and important criteria for success in Japan is being native born and that you will never look native born or act native born you will be fine.

People that visit but do not live in Japan will not know what I mean. Those without knowledge of the true inner workings of Japanese society live in a world where a smile means friendship, a promise means a guarantee and people look out for one another. It is possible for a time to believe that Japan is like that. Once you scratch the veneer you will see a cold, unhappy lonely place. Not just for foreigners but for Japanese themselves.

Those foreigners that have learned the language and have lived in Japan for a long time learn to accept that integration is impossible. It is quite possible though to concentrate on the positives; personal safety, inexpensive health care, the promotion of health and exercise, clean and efficient public transportation etc.

You will be treated kindly and but held at a distance. You will think the Japanese are the kindest people in the world (while they think you are the strangest). You will feel at times like a celebrity. So wonderful that you can be treated so marvelously for having light colored eyes and hair...It seems superficial doesn't it?

Welcome to Japan.

Answer 2

I was over there last year for 3 weeks, and I'm a 17 year old american. I really stuck out in a crowd cause I'm 6'3", but no matter how tall you are you will be gawked at. I see you have blonde hair, and that is especially attracting of attention because very very few Japanese dye their hair blonde.

It all depends where you are. In places like Tokyo, people will probably treat you more nicely cause they are used to foreigners, but if you go farther out to the country you may encounter more resistance. I have heard stories about how the Japanese can be racist, and Japanese culture is very conservative and xenophobic (inward-looking), but it really is a test if you like the country. Most of the people are very warm and friendly (especially the children, you will be like an idol to them, it will be the older generations that might not respect you as much). If I were you, I would not only learn the language, but I would also learn about the customs because theres nothing worse than going to a foreign country and losing respect of the people around just because they portray you as a stupid ignorant American.

I loved my trip over there (so much that I want to major in Japanese in college), so I hope that your trip goes just as nicely!

Answer 3

They will love your blue (or gray eyes? Can't really tell). The Japanese people are quite tolerant to foreigners, so you should not have any problems. I've been to Japan 4 times and they have always been nice to me. Also you are considered to be tall to them so you may get some stares, but it will be good ones not bad ones.

Have fun :).

Answer 4

In Japan seventeen year old male average height is  5' 7.2" and female of the same age is 5' 2.1". So you are going to draw a lot of attention, especially if you are outside of Tokyo.

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I think you will be a big hit since you are trying to learn the language. Hardly anyone even tries to learn Japanese. From my few trips there I would say the teenage girls your age will be tough to get to know. From my trips there I see groups of them hanging around malls. They seem very tough, extremely concerned about clothing and very concerned with the latest trends.  Strong individual streaks are not particularly admirable. The groups that I have seen are dressed almost identically.  In addition they will not like the attention boys are giving you. My guess is you will have an easier time talking to boys.

Answer 5

the main thing is that you speak japanese.

If you do they will really treat you well. I know a few people who live in japan who are from india, and they said that japanese are very nice people, but they can speak fairly fluent japanese, not as good as a native speaker though.

so again, just learn japanese before you go, you need to speak some japanese that will make you actually understand the language, not just katakana.

btw the people that I know who live in japan live in oita, kyushu. So I dont know if it is different in other parts of japan.

Answer 6

I am a Japanese living in Tokyo.  Hard to anwer your question,  But generally speaking Japanese are vry kind to foreigner, but they do not speak English well.

I am sure you will fel very comfortable in Japan.