Being Japanese-American in Japan #4: Fluency & Gaijin-ness

[haikousei]

nikkeijin have the chance to assimilate. if you can speak perfectly and do japanese cultural behavior, and use a japanese name, you can be japanese. many nikkei and other asians have done this in japan for decades and centuries.

[NikkeinJapan]

@haikousei Yeah, "if" I can speak perfectly and mimic Japanese cultural behavior. Unlikely, since I'm only here for a few years. True, many asian manage to assimilate into Japan. But I'm not one of them.

[cientita0725]

NikkeinJapan さん、

Your acquaintance mentions others that you're Nikkei to let them know that "He is one of us" They embrace your japanese heritage and perceive you as a Japanese.

[nordikkennels]

I am a Japanese language student. I find that with any language there really is no end to leaning. You can become fluent and yet still constantly discover new words. Thank you for sharing your experiences!

[nantinee9]

Hi! I'm a Thai-American and can totally relate to what you're saying. I lived in Thailand for a year during my mid-20's and while my Thai improved I consider myself far from fluent. I was really glad to have this opportunity to live abroad and learn more about my heritage. It's nice to see your interest in Japanese language and culture and I hope you have a great experience living in Japan. For me, living in Thailand for a year is a decision I'll never regret.

[kingdomofthenight]

I always wondered what it'd be like for a Japanese gaijin in Japan. It seems like you might have more trouble than the rest of us!

[NikkeinJapan]

@kingdomofthenight I'd say it has it's own dynamic. I don't know about more problems...but a unique set of issues, yes.

[dhthoa]

Gambatene. I don't know if i write in wrong in English pronounce but i have that Everything will be fined now I move to Video number 5

[ussprinceton2004]

I really enjoyed this video you made. I can totally relate. I am 100% Filipino, but I only know a little bit of the national language, tagalog. I spend a lot of my time here in North Carolina, U.S., so I really don't feel the need to invest a lot of time trying to be fluent in tagalog. However, when I am in the Philippines, people there assume that I can speak tagalog fluently. The good part, is that, most people in the Philippines know English, and therefore, I just speak English to them

[kittiliciousanime]

:O language fatigue! I hate that. Completely and utterly hate it. When I go back to my "home" country, I get really bad headaches from listening to Dutch all day, everyday. I feel yah, man. Good luck with your living!

[MrCassavius]

my fear with japan is to go there and be isolated because of my lack of knowledge of the language, and from afar, japanese people seem very cold and distant, compared to latinamericans. Particularly, as a virile hot blooded male, Im worried my dry spell would be epic, and probably never end til I become one of those zen monks

[NikkeinJapan]

@MrCassavius I'd say many Japanese (not all, but many) are unsure about how to interact with foreigners. Thus they can seem a bit distant. But they're like any other people on the planet, there are quiet ones, funny ones, outgoing ones, weird ones, etc. It also depends on where you are in Japan. Tokyo people probably have a much more lively social life than I do. Young people move to the cities, and I'm left out in the countryside with the grandpas & grandmas.

[MrCassavius]

@NikkeinJapan thanks for the answer. I know next to nothing about japan so Ive made some preliminary impressions about them for what Ive read and seen, that could very well be mistaken. Theres an aussie in YT who lives or lived in japan who discouraged me a bit about lack of social life in japan, even in big cities. Its a bit silly to form opinions at the drop of a hat like that, but it confirmed what Ive heard from other people. For the japanese work goes above anything else or so it seems

[LifeFirst]

@MrCassavius Which is why you should become fluent in Japanese BEFORE you go to Japan. Many people have done it, they even have videos on youtube.

[MrCassavius]

@LifeFirst Seems a tall order without getting the linguistic native immersion, or any real practice within Japan. Its also something very distant in the horizon giving the speed at which Im learning

[NikkeinJapan]

@MrCassavius Don't worry Cassavius. Japanese is not a fast language to learn. Even foreigners living in Japan don't become extremely fluent in it (in terms of reading, writing, & speaking) unless they live in Japan for like 10-15+ years and study it very diligently during that time. Do try to master the basics though, you'll go pretty far with that.

[steve4nlanguage]

Very honest and interesting. Thanks for posting this.

[TrobinT]

Maan I am soo scared to move to Japan. I wonder how I'd be treated since Im going to be a new foreigner there >__<

[NikkeinJapan]

@TrobinT While there is a certain amount of ethnocentrism to Japan, it doesn't bother me as much as other things. I've yet to meet a Japanese that is 100% xenophobic. Social and gender roles are fairly well-defined. Foreigners are foreigners. It's just one of those things. For the most part, people will be very considerate and respectful. Following their rules and customs will go a long way towards helping you assimilate. Best of luck!

[TrobinT]

@NikkeinJapan Thanks man. It's just I want to go there for my studies and to work there as a hotel manager, but I've done research and from what I came across it said not all foreigners who work there are treated right. Not to be rude or anything you look pure Japanese, so you can bland in, and yeah your still a foreigner, but I mean for example, if your a different color. Not to be racist or anti, but I hear the black people there don't get treated well. Or I could have done wrong research.

[novajoke]

@NikkeinJapan

At least you're Nikkei though... Just imagine if you're "Kikokushijo"(帰国子女) with extensive living at overseas>_>

No offense, but I am not a fan of mcEikaiwa Sensei Clowns (aka Parasite Gaijins with no respect for Japanese culture and customs) but I DO LIKE GENUINE GAIJINS WHO respects Japanese cultures and customs.

Best of luck to you in Japan!!!

[JackOnSkates]

Interesting to hear your perspective!

[GengoNoTabi]

My Japanese friend Hiroko introduced me to her daughter a while back. She said this is Wes, I told you about him. So her daughter looked at me and said "oh, you speak Japanese". So I responded "Hai, sukoshi". For days I thought "What the heck Wes you have studied Japanese for years and all you can say Is Hai, sukoshi. It's not easy to leap into speaking Japanese when you are not experienced at doing so.

[Roddyreta]

Interesting. I was actually born in Japan and was raised by a Japanese mother, but I've lived in America since I was ten months old. I have a lot of romantic ideas about Japan, but I suspect I would find it difficult to live there.

[shotamerican]

i can't jump into conversations in english! ahhh! well if it helps, it took me a year to actually SAY something. and after three years my japanese is no where near great, but we do keep a japanese-speaking household. i sometimes ask questions to my husband but he's always like, 'uh... we would never say that in japanese.' and i'm like, '.. i see. *sigh*' haha you are inspiring me to make a video response to this!

[stevelau1933]

When I was in Japan, it was pretty easy to get to a fluent speaking level, but I've watched hundreds of animes and jdramas growing up to the point where I recognized words before ever hearing them in person. I did feel like an idiot at the beginning when I didn't have the feel yet, and couldn't understand simple stuff, and I'm asian so I did not like to look stupid.

I still don't feel rusty after not actively learning it for 3 years maybe because I still watch this stuff once in a while.

[Roddyreta]

@stevelau1933 Good to know. I've often wondered whether I can learn Japanese by osmosis -- just by watching hundreds of animes, jdramas, and jpop concerts, LOL.

[hoosierhana]

hahaha!! it's so true!! old men are the worst to try to understand!!! and i have super beginner language ability, so it's so hard to understand!!

i often have those moments where i'm like "why do they do it like that? back home we do it such and such way" it's not that it's bad, like you said, it's just different and sometimes the different is just hard to get used to.

anyway, this was an interesting vid! thanks for sharing!