If I decided to visit Japan, how would I be accepted?

Question

I'm thinking of visiting Japan in the next few years years, but I hear all different sorts of things about how the Japanese feel about outsiders in their country. Some sources say that the people are friendly to visitors, and others say they are racist to anyone not Japanese, especially white people.

If I went, how would I be treated?

They people who say the Japanese feel negatively to American visitors often add that this stereotype is based off "American ignorance." I know a bit about Japanese culture, I enjoy the food, and I can eat with chopsticks as easily as I eat with a knife and fork. I'm currently enrolled in a Japanese class so I am learning the language and don't plan on going anywhere until I am fluent. I don't think I'd stand out TOO much physically. I have brown eyes, brown hair, am on the thinner side, and am only 5'4"-ish so I wouldn't be outrageously tall. (I'm a girl, by the way.) It's in my nature to be extremely polite to anyone I don't know well, and I'm not very vocal unless I have something important to say/ask or someone else starts the conversation.

From this information, would I still have a lot of trouble getting along with Japanese people and possibly making friends? I would love to go there, but not if I knew I would have a hard time socially.

Answers from REAL Japanese citizens with valid thoughts on this subject would be most useful, not just answers based off observations people made while visiting the country.

Thank you! Domo!

Answer 1

I am half Japanese and we visit my relatives twice a year. My husband is African American, so not at all Japanese-looking. He absolutely loves Japan and even wants to move there. He's never been treated poorly by any Japanese people (as opposed to experiencing lots of racism here in the US).

Politeness is a MUST in Japan. Everyone, for the most part, is polite. Even when people are not being polite by Japanese standards, by American standards, they're still polite. If you are being rude or simply obtuse (like the man we saw ordering a hamburger at a sushi restaurant), then the Japanese are still generally very polite and will do what they can to accommodate you. The Japanese see it as their duty to make sure that visitors to their country are treated well. That's part of the culture.

You should have no trouble making friends if you have something specific planned that will put you in the path of other people who have a reason to be your friends. It takes many Japanese people a long time (several years) to consider anyone a true friend, and people don't just randomly talk to strangers, like in the US, but if you have a legitimate reason (such as working on a project, taking a class, or going on a tour together) to befriend people, they will be less suspicious and more open, as opposed to you randomly going up to strangers to talk to them (as is acceptable in the US). That said, there are still people (just like here) who will hook up with you at clubs or other social places (like manga cafes) if you are open to meeting people.

Basically, the hardest thing for me in Japan is to sometimes be treated like an outsider. For example, while sitting on a crowded train, sometimes Japanese people don't want to "bother" foreigners, so they won't sit next to them, which comes across as racist. But as soon as I start talking in Japanese, to show that I'm not going to be offended if they invade my space, they relax and sit down. Most misunderstandings come from different cultural ideologies and expectations, and little to do with actual racism or malice on the part of others.

You will do wonderfully in Japan! You seem polite, confident, and sensitive to others' feelings and customs. Go for it and have the time of your life. It is such a beautiful country with such depth of tradition and culture that you will love it. I wouldn't wait until you're fluent to go. My husband speaks very little Japanese, yet manages to get along fine without me to translate. Most people are very eager to try their English out on you and will do what they can to help if you simply ask them for help. GO book your ticket NOW!

Answer 2

Always use the most polite form for the correct situation, for example don't use Domo more often use Aligato or Aligato Kuzuymas, or even Domo Aligato Kuzuymas, the most polite forms. You will be subject to questioning at the airport when you're going into the country, and even if they are rude to you, don't give them a reason to be, and if they don't think highly of you, then just forget it or you might come off as anoying.

Answer 3

They are very polite to women, so you have nothing to worry about. But I should warn you that you should watch out because you're such a rarity in Japan, and white women are often seen as attractive beings in Asian cultures (I'm Asian myself).

Answer 4

I am not a real Japanese citizen, but I think I know enough to answer some parts of your question.

I have been there twice, once on a homestay, and during my homestay experience I never felt threatened and only rarely did I feel looked down upon. It really is a mixed bag, the older generations may look down on you for "corrupting" their homogeneous population and their conservative society, but the children will probably LOVE you. When I went to my host sister's school for 2 weeks, I always had kids yelling my name in the hallways, no matter what grade they were in. With the modern wave of globalization, Americans (and Europeans too, Japanese people aren't very good at distinguishing the two) are seen as special by the children, and they will probably want to be your friend and practice their English on you (Japanese people have little chance to practice spoken English, so this is a BIG deal).

Thank you for learning about the culture and language before you go. That is a HUGE step, and you get much more respect from everyone you interact if you took the time to learn about their culture before you traveled to their homeland. Socially, it may be easiest if you got to know someone over there (a pen pal or someone), and he/she introduced you to his/her friends. It seems tough to just jump into the social culture (some people may completely avoid you), but if you built a friends group you will probably have more confidence and more contacts.

One thing about racism: the Japanese are sometimes weary of foreigners because 1) either they only like Japan because they think its all about manga and anime and they don't bother to learn anything about the culture and VERY little about the language (most are dissipointed to find it is not a "dreamland" like they might have expected) or 2) they are weary of soldiers. I have no issue with our armed forces, but the fact is that they can be very loud rowdy and very few of them know ANYTHING about Japan before they are stationed there. They have a bad reputation for causing bar fights and engaging in other behavior that is disturbing to native Japanese, and this is why you may see that some bars near Japanese military bases are "Japanese only."

You sound like me, and you have such an appreciation for the culture that you will enjoy yourself and fit in no matter where you go. I absolutely LOVED it there, and now I'm planning to double major in Japanese and International Business! Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Shinpai Shinaide ^_^

I just came back from a 2 week visit in Japan and made friends the same day I arrived there! The people there are really nice. Sure there will be a few who are still living in the past and will not be very open to outsiders but most are friendly. Especially if you show an interest in their country, language and culture (just like I did because I seriously love everything about Japan). They are also very keen on learning about other cultures too. They were very helpful when I wanted to know how to say something in Japanese (by the way, do not trust the phrasebooks as they are not always correct. My Japanese friend pointed out some translations that were not proper). If you are fluent it will be even better because most people do not speak English or speak just enough to say they can't speak English. They also love to know that you are trying to learn Japanese. Simply, they love their country and love it when they see a foreigner who is as passionate about Japan as they are. I think that you should not miss out on this awesome opportunity to visit what I like to call "Paradise on Earth". I love everything about Japan and can't wait until I can go again. However hopefully next time I will be fluent ^_^.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

You want opinions from REAL Japanese people?

How would that help you get a better understanding?

How about the opinions of fellow foreigners that live here in Japan?

Japanese people have no direct experience with life for foreigners here and  don't really understand why they should be concerned about it. This is Japan. If you don't like it please leave.

The comments you have received thus far are from people who have stayed in Japan for a short time and surrounded themselves with English speaking Japanese and other foreigners. Because of this they have isolated themselves from the real Japan.

Is the real Japan ugly? No, but it isn't this polite, friendly place they will have you believe it is. I think the claim that Japanese people are extremely polite is the most ludicrous. Understand please that all that bowing, nodding and programmed speech has no heart at all behind it. Old ladies stand on trains while people of all ages sit and stare at their phones on trains, opening a door for a woman is thought to be odd, smiling at someone you don't know well will make them very uncomfortable.

You will be smiled at when you are denied a job, an apartment, admittance to a club. The reason, (with a polite smile), you are a foreigner.

Yahoo Answers is full of idiots that have never lived here. Never went to (Japanese) school here. Never worked here. Never opened a business here. Never raised "half" children here.

So sad that I have to say negative things about my experience here. Like many of you I was "dying" to live in Japan not so very long ago. I know how it feels - sorry, your dream will collapse....

  

Answer 7

Having been to Japan, I can assure you that if you travel to any of the major cities that have some tourism industry (like Tokyo or Kyoto) you will not be treated badly in any way. Foreigners in large cities are so commonplace that you will hardly be noticed. Go to smaller towns and more outlying areas where foreign visitors are not as common will get you a bit of attention. I visited one onsen town where I was the only westerner in town, but at worst I was viewed with curiosity since so few Americans travel to this small town. The entire time that I was in Japan, I was never treated with anything less than great courtesy and respect.

Depending upon how long you will be Japan would have a direct bearing on what sort of relationships you will have an opportunity to develop. Most tourists don't remain long enough to form any kind of real relationship, and socializing tends to be with other westerners due to the language barrier. There certainly are ways to meet and socialize with Japanese people, but expect it to be in a limited basis. However, if you are going to school or will be working in Japan, there will be much greater opportunity to nurture close friendships and solid working relationships with your peers or coworkers.

At lot of misunderstandings about social customs are at the root of the concept that the Japanese hold negative views of all foreigners. This is really not the case. As a whole, you will probably find the average Japanese person reserved and reluctant to intrude upon you without invitation, so they might appear cold or even rude if you did not know to expect this. Yet if you ask for help or directions (especially if you are able to ask in Japanese), you will find most people to be warm and willing to go out of their way to help you. The Japanese society places a great deal of empathsis on respecting one's personal space, so if you are not approached directly or treated warmly at the start, please do not interpit this as rudeness. Don't be afraid to make the first overture for converstation.

You're physical appearance will not cause any issues for you. I'm 5' 7" and have dark red hair so I tend to stand out a bit, yet I had no issues. Being polite and having even a small grasp of the language will do a great deal to smooth the way for you, as the Japanese will greatly respect your attempts to meet them on their level. There are plenty of good books and websites on Japanese ettiquette that will help in avoiding the worst of social faux pas.

One thing you will need to remember is that you will alway be seen as a gaijin and may even be called one, but it's not necessarily an insult. I had one cab driver call me that when he was calling for directions to a store that I wanted to visit in Tokyo, but again it was simply saying that he had a foreigner who wished to shop at their establishment, not to insult me in any way. It's simply a statment of fact that you are not Japanese and will never be treated as if you were. As a vistior, that will very much work to your advantage as you will never be held to the same standards of social ettiquate that a Japanese person will and will be readily forgiven if you make a mistake. In fact, they will expect you to and will often be surprised that you know things (like how to eat with chopsticks or how to enter an onsen properly). Showing some effort into following their customs will only help to improve their impression of you.