Making Japanese Friends Part TWO!

Thanks to comments I've received from Japanese viewers and readers I am able to share with everyone what I've learned! (I think the volume on the video might be a little low so put up if you need to, sorry!)

And I'm thankful for the Japanese friends that I do have! You guys are great.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• friendship
• japanese
• study
• abroad
• experience
• intercultural
• communication
• cultural
• differences
• 外国人の友達
• 日本人の友達
• 友人
• 友情
• 文化
• 留学

[mostupdate]

Conclusion:

１．Perfect your Japanese language,

２．understand the importance of 空気を読む

３．Learn how to use 社交辞令 perperly

４．Wear something similar to the Japanese fashion

5. Go to 2ch and learn whatever you can from there

6. Think and Speak like Japanese

If you can master all the above, your chances of getting a Japanese friend will increase dramatically, I am speaking out of my own experiences. It isn't as hard as compare to some FOB trying to integrate into the mainstream American society !!

[ippikicoqui]

@mostupdate I can't tell if this genuine advice or sarcasm?

[mostupdate]

I am a 3rd generation Chinese born and raised in Japan and let me tell you two things:

1. As long as your not a Japanese they will treat you differently period and since I'm an ethnic minority I have no problem "blend in" to the group, as long as I speak the languages, understand the nuances, wear Japanese style clothes..etc etc Visible minority does plays a HUGE deciding factor whether they want to be your friend or not.

2. 相手の空気読める？most foreigners can't, but can you ?

[ippikicoqui]

@mostupdate

2. I'd like to think that after all this time I've learned. So I hope so! ;)

[Cinlouxx]

Wow! were you reading that in Japanese text? awesome your japanese is good.

[ippikicoqui]

@Cinlouxx thanks.. i still have a lot to learn though. lots and lots! : D

[QNotebook]

I just want to say I REALLY appreciate that you reviewed your previous "making friends in Japan" video, because your new conclusions were spot-on. Especially about making friends is difficult in any country.

[EienAii]

2:31 Your friend is soo true! In my japanese class we are learning (currently) just questions you can ask peope ( your job,hobby,favorite drink,like/dislikes ) You don't actually know how to make conversation besides common things which scare me a little haha

[Electricwind]

I just wanted to say that your videos are really helpful. I just graduated and I'm going to teach english in Japan. I'm a little nervous about the culture differences. The indiviudalism vs collectivism is a little daunting because it's hard to separate the idea from myself. I hope I have an easy time meeting people in Japan. I especially need to improve my Japanese.

[sweetarg]

So, I agree with what some of the Japanese people are saying, cs I guess when we come from being the majority to a place where we're minority, we tend to hope everyone will still treat us pretty much the same; but in reality the majority could be shy to approach us too! It kinda sucks sometimes though cs we really want them to include us... and get that feeling of being a part of that community - i guess? but really, its not jst japan- that's what i wanted to say! =) Thanks again 4 d videos!

[sweetarg]

Hey, your videos are really helpful because I'm currently studying at SRU in Pennsylvania and I really wanna go to Kansai Gaidai next year... =) But I do understand some of the stuff you mentioned in the first video about making friends since I'm not American (watashi wa Sri Lankan jin desu ^ ^ - I'm still taking my first Japanese class so don't know how good that was! lol ) and I've been going through pretty much the same things you've gone through in Japan, here in the States. to be continued!