Being Humble in Japan... Too many people to respond to!

[espn98]

Oh! I just found out it was actually "gomasuri" hahah... see? My Japanese is so poor! But making mistakes is no shame! I've learned something new today! =) Thanks for the info page LOL

[espn98]

Hahaha~~~ I really like the way you did the "gomoakase" at the end!! I'm so pleasantly surprised that I actually understand what you mean! :)) You area really funny (I mean it) and I can only imagine how much time you have to deal with frustration when you try to speak a foreign language in a foreign land. And the best part is, without a doubt, getting recognized and appreciated. :-) Look how much you've grown!! And I really wish I could just improve my Japanese like you! Must I go to Japan?

[Sohave]

Hi thanks for posting this!

I have watched a lot of "how to be humble in Japan" videos and wondered where to stop thanks for telling.

[mud636]

you are so right man..god bless you for this video!

[agrodolce69]

haha your right....i said sumimasen and after the sumi....the women allready start to say this.

[kawaiifluff]

See i just think when japanese sayin "omg thats amazing" i get in my head sarcasum you know " like wow thats so cool you know how to speak japanese wow you must watched alot of anime to speak that sentence but no clever you *pats you on the head* lol but recently my sensei told me thats not english accent in my japanese and its only the first lesson im so proud and i got sucked in >< i dunno if she was being honest but shes a lovely woman and i just get sucked up hahaha

[dongpaki]

you're hot~

[Oldenyouth]

This vid shed light to my mind. Thanks. ~ The Old Youth.

[manalb1005]

hi there ... I'm Moroccan and we have the same hand gesture expression but you use it when someone is ''grinding'' with jealousy (really jealous) don't know if it makes sense lol but I thought it would be funny to point it out. Love your videos and I was wondering if you have any tips for me too perfect the Japanese language. Choukran (thanks in Morroccan :D)

[solidiquis1]

Honestly, I think it's just a natural reaction. You see someone from another culture embrace your own and the only thing you can do is be surprised. Even someone may barely know Japanese, a Japanese person will praise them for their open mindedness and ability to explore their own culture. It also happens in the Video game community. Not many girl gamers out there but when guys see one they go crazy. Random example but it's true. blah blah blah I ran out of things to say.

[bobbyjudo]

@solidiquis1 Yeah, it definitely isn't a phenomenon that's unique to Japan.

[solidiquis1]

I understand that it may get annoying but can you blame them? I mean it even happens in America in certain cases. My school recently just got a foreign exchange student from Britain and now everyone's crazy about his accent. They keep wanting him to say certain words and phrases but it doesn't bother him. Even our teachers and students in my school praise our foreign exchange students from Korea on how well they know English.

[solidiquis1]

I think people are taking this whole issue a little too seriously. Like Bobby said, these are shruggable and it's really common not just in Japan but other Asian countries as well. My parents (who were born in Vietnam) often praise my white friends because of their ability to eat exotic foods and use chopsticks. Not many people embrace Asian cultures so when they see a foreigner take part in it, it's something strange and pleasant (regardless of the level of their cultural understanding.

[na0mina0mi]

so you are saying you got tired of hearing that "oh you speak really good japanese" "you are かっこいい" or whatever like that? I KNOW its not お世辞 or ゴマすり. Why do you think it is? btw I am Japanese.

[ProjectVanBand]

i tend to compliment them in the same way on their english. it's to compliment their efforts or desire to learn more than the actual skill. i feel happy that they would try to use english for me, because i know how embarassing and scary it can be to use a language that you:re not good with. and to encourage them. it:s just being nice i guess.

[yoshimaru12]

i get those comments all the time! at first i would tell them, "oh, i'm japanese" but then things get too complicating so i just learned to accept the fact that i'm a foreigner in their eyes.

[Cinlouxx]

Really good Japanese you got there. How long have you lived in Japan?

[sunnycloudsinthesky]

HEY! haha

so i'm in japan too. i think im about your age or younger (:

i like the way you talk, and what you say is the thing that alot of us feel. just one thing is different. i'm a Half, a girl

im at koukou right now.. and me being me, a half, i always get told how pretty i am. back in austrlia, i got told alot too.. but i didnt take it to the heart. i still dont.. and sometimes it kills.. you fit in, in your culture.. japanese fit in with them.. but i have never met another half like me..

[hdavid12]

I chuckled at the message in this video because I see it everyday. Just started doing research at a lab and learning Japanese here in Japan a month ago, and I'm trying to practice as much Japanese as possible whenever I can. So even though I know it's crap when they say "oh your Japanese is so good!", it's what gives me the energy to continue to nihongo o benkyo suru.

As an aside your Japanese sounds very authentic (accent-wise). Wish I'll be like that someday.

[bohongamat]

i think they compliment you for talking japanese even though you're just a beginner doesn't mean that they're not sincere with the compliment. u know, for us, the non english speakers, it's quite amazing that u, as english speakers, are willing to learn our language. since we have a stereotype thinking, that english speakers (esp. Americans) are too lazy (or too proud) to learn other language.

[takulla5]

Men your big problem is that you think about life too much, dude i´m a south american, do you know how doest it feel to be a shouth out side south america, people think you are a freaking drug dealer, stop crying and enjoy your life, japan ist a beautiful place.It´s not a foreigner issue is that you are puting obstacules were there are not.

Isay this to you cuz´i felt the same way, i felt segregated, but now my life it´s better and i enjoy living without making this invisible walls

[bobbyjudo]

@takulla5 how can you complain about how people think you're a drug dealer, and then say that I'm "making invisible walls?" I don't make them. Japan has real issues with foreigners. Read any book about Japan, it'll be in there. Or look up "Nihonjinron" or "Japanese nationalism" on wikipedia.

Anyway, that being said, I agree that I'd probably enjoy my life more if I just accepted things the way that they are. But I'm glad that I have the ability to think about life.

[japanbrats]

@bobbyjudo You've come a long way since you made this video. It wouldn't matter if you were in Tibet or Lithuania; you'd still be a foreigner. The same would hold true for a Japanese person in Appleton, Wisconsin. It's human nature. But I've noticed you've (more or less) adjusted to your circumstances and chilled a lot since you first went there. BTW, I'm so pissed... my mom is in Japan for a month!!! And I'm stuck here. WTF That really blows chunks. So wanna hang with you all xD

[GREYDE2]

dude i wish i never saw your videos now i feel really self conscious about going to japan if your experience was that foreigners are welcomed but more out of a sense of obligation bound by cultural norms i don't ill be able to trust anyone lol well its not like i do that amy way but it sound fake a horrible and you are caucasian i'm black i have some serious thinking to do b4 i move to japan in 6 years

[bobbyjudo]

I don't remember saying they only welcome foreigners out of obligation. Most people are interested in foreigners. Some people LOVE foreigners. Some people decidedly DON'T. There are a lot of downsides to living as a foreigner in Japan, and a lot of ups. Most of us who stay here do so because we like it. And if you're black, you might get more of the "WOW you're different" treatment, but don't let that make you afraid to come. You'll have your own unique experience here. And it'll be awesome.

[solidiquis1]

@GREYDE2 Read my comment, hopefully it changes the way you perceive how Japanese people view foreigners.

[Charestria]

i dunno if you think this is as spam posting,.. but u have cute face :D hehehehehe

good luck with your videos .. XD

ganbatte kudasai bobby-kun :D

[misspoba]

lol that reminds me of a few months ago when I had to read a speech in front of the Japanese ambassador here in Luxembourg..Yes , with my horrible japanese OMG! But the ambassador's assistant came to me after the ceremony and told me that my japanese was great (O_o) ... lier ("-_-) . lol. I laugh and told him that he must had been laughing all along on the inside and that I would get better. What an embarrassing yet wonderful evening （￣ー￣）haahaa..aaaah

[light80050]

But think this way. If you mastered Japanese and knew pretty well about Japanese culture and started living in Japan in a real way, you would be recognized as a Japanese citizen. It'd be hard for you. People expect you knw everything about Japan. If you don't know they right way to behave in this country, people can be really cold.

[light80050]

We japanese say that compliment just to be nice. Nothing is wrong with it.

When I was in Australia, people said "your English is good" which was not really. The same thing happens in everywhere.

[saphiredewdrop]

if they said your english is good they probably meant it. when my friends think their english is bad i still think its good. f you can communicate clearly then it's good. perfect is not the same as good.

[claytonian]

I am awsome at English.

[elvisdoctor]

You're a punk, if I saw you in real life I'd humiliate you.

[mountaincritter]

Yess! I noticed that these videos are concise and to the point. You don't always have to make *short* videos, but I like that you don't go off-topic (which I might be a tad guilty of in my vids, I'm afraid.)

[echomusiq]

bobby judo internet sensation

[qchome]

from your last vid on victors channel...what does high tension mean when it is said by a japanese person?

[bobbyjudo]

I'll make a vid to answer that question this week.

[qchome]

too late for any use.i guess i could of "fake subed",but i would of sent a pm.

good luck w/your channel?

[Haxxploits]

ごますり!

[urHAALP]

Hey. This was to the point and pretty helpful. I'll keep this in mind!

Keep posting! You're doing excellent. ...gotta check that link out.

[yumyumsesame]

I once had a lady applaud me at a dinner party for using chopsticks. "JYOZU JYOZU!!"

I wanted to stab her in the face with them.

[echomusiq]

when people compliment me in the streets of japan for being fluent, i grab a kitten and throw it at a baby. its painfully adorable.

....and then i laugh it off.

[mtspresents]

@yumyumsesame I think that she didn't have a intention to harm you. There is a word of "Oomono" in Japan. Its literal mean is "Big man". But its truly mean is a man who never takes care of little stuff. He is a "Big heart man". Alien culture sometimes arises troubles. Never mind.

[japanbrats]

@yumyumsesame Yeah, it's patronizing as hell. They sorta back off once they learn my mom is Japanese and I was born and raised there. Then they just call me henna gaijin LOL ^^

[Gimmeaflakeman]

Solid vid.

[wobina]

I LOOOOOVE your videos! You have such a good outlook on things and a great way of speaking. Please keep making videos :D

[markshmily]

Some very good info!

Thanks

When I get some bills paid off I want to come visit Japan. I watch alot of anime here in the states and I'd love to see Akihabara and some other things. So this'll help alot.

[crow6128]

You should put some more card flourishing into a video again sometime! Just subscribed to your daily yo-ji blog as well. Keep the videos coming, they are all entertaining and educational. Woo!

[Ciaela]

AHHH!! You have the magazine. Awkwaaard.

[Ciaela]

but I rated it 5 stars anyway.. ;)

[ImAlwaysR1ght]

First time seeing your Daily Yo-Ji blog and I subscribed to the RSS feed. Looks like a lot of effort goes into it.

Keep up the good work.

[TheLlcooljose]

great clip direct to the point..!! also all depends who and how,the complaments are coming for,in japan they like to give complaments all the time,sometimes people say thoses things just to kill time,hahaha.. looks like that,people get drunk for thoses empty complaments,

[BlkUnk]

so its kinda funny that this all happend like this..... we basically talkin the same shit..... people can say negative things or positive things to you.... what matters is your own opion of yourself and i would even advise that its best not to hear the compliments.... as you pointed out there is an ego trip to that shit.....back flip whilst playing guitar thats somthing i want to do though......

[PannaIka]

I'm really going to try the humble kanpai. :)

[bobbyjudo]

Please do! Sometimes if you get a good partner, you can get into some ridiculous "Who can kanpai lower?" contests.