Being Japanese-American in Japan #6: The Foreigner Treatment

My thoughts on not fitting in and getting treated like an outsider.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• japan
• japanese
• culture
• japanese-american
• nikkei
• expatriate
• living
• abroad
• Fukushima
• vlog

[tempsfuit]

are you a english teacher in japan?

[NikkeinJapan]

@tempsfuit yes, I am. Since 2010.

[Roddyreta]

Your POV is interesting, because I've always assumed that the Japanese often base their anti-foreign attitudes on race. I never expected you to be accepted 100%, but I'd think you'd be more accepted than, whatsay, a native-born Korean of Filipino who speaks perfect Japanese.

[NikkeinJapan]

@Roddyreta That's an interesting observation. It's probably a case by case thing. But being able to communicate in Japanese goes a long way towards Japanese being more open to a person. Some of my coworkers (not all) still show some hesitancy when they try to communicate with me, even though they know I speak Japanese (sorta).

[FHomeBrew]

Why doesn't it bother you? Isn't this something japan should progress on a bit? I mean, imagine if this would occur in the west, at places where international relations are appreciated like colleges and universities or businesses (even national businesses can attract international employees). I mean, we're all so outspoken, it'd be just too hard to just shut up and take it. However polite it may be said. like the "you can go home early" comment.

I'd be freaked out.

[NikkeinJapan]

@FHomeBrew I agree Japan needs to work on this issue, but progress is unlikely to occur anytime soon. Japanese people don't like it when outsiders come in and critique them on social issues. I've met foreigners who are more vocal about such things, but ultimately, their complaints fall on deaf ears and Japanese people generally find them to be obnoxious. A bit of advice I was given b4 coming here was, "You're not going to change Japan, so keep you mouth shut". I'll elaborate in a video later.

[jukappa]

I am japanese american as well. Although I am only 23, my 4 experiences in japan have always been positive. I speak NO japanese and so many times it has been an "all hail the foreigner" type experience. However knowing the Japanese, and their values, I feel like I can see how you would get undermined in positions of power. They like their ways and they don't want to change it. It's both what makes Japan so great yet at times upsetting to me...

[waltermh111]

@acatinny Your view is hypocrtical.

Its foreigners who should learn there are other ways and values and stop pushing their own onto japan.

Its the way japanese are that I love. It affects what makes them so interesting.

People need to let them be and if you dotn like it, dont stay in japan. The country doesnt owe foreigners anything.

[smurashige]

@acatinny Thanks yeah, you have a point, but I don't think it's accurate to say that the Japanese are not really logically thinking people. All the Japanese I've worked with are quite logical, logical in North American terms, and you don't have the scientific achievement that Japan has achieved w/o that kind of logic. I think differences of gestalt are more the issue--different ways of how we and other cultures understand meaning, value, and the place of things like logic.

[ALXVid101]

You have an interesting point of view since your ethnically japanese, but american by nationality

[acatinny]

@NikkeinJapan Hahaha, I like your comment on that, and I agree with you. It is so hard to change them as Japanese are not really logical thinking people, and educated to follow the social orders to keep the peace rather than form their own opinions. They say "Go ni ireba Go ni shitagae(郷に入れば郷に従え)" which means that you should follow the rules of that place when you move into the village without any doubt. But I think at least they should learn there are some other ways and values.

[FHomeBrew]

@NikkeinJapan You could try and poke around a bit asking casually "what do you think of japanese/western culture/social interaction?". Very generic and open, although when it's coming from a foreigner, it may still fall on deaf ears. How do those people even have discussions and debates on, for example, moral issues or whatever?