The title is a bit misleading. Really it's lies that foreigners believe about Japan thanks to mostly miscellaneous forums and YouTubers.
If you're like me and spent more time researching ways of living in Japan, Japanese fashion, culture, or people more than you have studied the language then it is very possible that you've come across bad, unsure, wrong, outdated and fictional information from people who claim to live (or have lived) in Japan or be part Japanese (some of which who really do), and are misinformed or simply jealous hearted and would prefer not to share their beloved "new country" with you, thus lying to you to discourage and deter you away from your hopes and dreams of living in Japan or "becoming Japanese" (a citizen) yourself.
Now first let me tell you a few things about myself. I have been in Japan for almost a year at the time of this article. I am 21 year old, fat-ass, Afrcian-American female here on a student visa.
I won't lie and tell you that it was easy getting to Japan, but it definitely wasn't as hard or as scary as I read about and watched online which made me believe that it was.
Now that I given you my self-introduction I will tell you what you're doing wrong...
Now I personally do have a small YouTube channel and this blog here and I've probably subscribed to every J-Vlog channel and watched every video about Japan and read every book that you have too. However without throwing any extreme rooftop shade or making up conspiracies here, it's pretty clear that 90% of the non-Japanese YouTuber's who J-vlog (J-vloggers?) are married to Japanese people thus how they got to or are currently staying in Japan.
Others have college educations bachelors degrees (or higher) or even those who did a short term study abroad and later returned or stayed due to their marriage to a Japanese citizen are now in their late 20's-40+. A lot has changed since then even within the past few years. A lot of people aren't very honest on the internet either as I'm sure you have learned by now or soon will.
There's nothing wrong with having a Japanese spouse, or being older, but I don't think you should listen to people who don't fully know or understand your situation. In fact fuck me and my blog! Don't take my word for it! Come to Japan for 6 months-1 year go to some parties, meet some people, hang out with the locals in Ikebukro, Shinjuku and Shibuya go to the country side and see for yourself.
This terms meaning/definition varies depending on who you ask or talk to. Basically it's whatever keeps the speaker from belonging in that category. If the like cosplay they'll defend cosplay and say no it's yo fangirls looking for a sendai.
You generally get 3-4 different definitions and descriptions. The most common one is this one...
Other Debatable Definitions...
Notice how this weaboo controversy isn't an issue for half-black/half-Asians, or half-Asian females (both of these being a silent minority as I'm are some of them also are annoyed by so called "weaboos" too). The funniest thing is I was in Japan when this guy sent me this message! He called me a weak for having my profile picture on OKCupid set as my D.va cosplay which I wore to work for Halloween. I didn't know Japan made Overwtach, nor did I know that they invented Halloween or costume parties, but okay ugly guy who claims to be 1/4 Japanese yet certainly doesn't look or act like it and clearly has no knowledge of the people he wants to claim.
Basically according to these 3 definitions, EVERYONE who likes anything that's Japanese is a weaboo. This whole thing is seriously stupid!
If you're a weaboo, then what are the Japanese? Because if you lived here you'd see that they do EVERYTHING weaboos do except in reverse. They try to look white, dye their hair brown and blonde, bleach their skin, use circle lenses and colored contacts, fantasize about having a gaijin boyfriend/girlfriend, use broken English EVERYWHERE advertisements, makeup and food products, arcades, games etc.. I've never heard an Asian song that had no English lyrics, they give themselves American names when speaking to foreigners, and brag about being vegetarians or about how they LOVE hamburgers (fads and things that they assume Americans are and like) yum yum!
Awww and look at you! Pouting your filthy lips and rolling your crooked eyes, preparing to troll someone for wearing a costume or wearing anime inspired makeup. You don't even know what people actually think here.
Weaboo is a word that Japanese people don't know and never use, but if they did it would be a positive word here because they love people who know about their culture, traditional, cool , or weird (especially if you're a non-Asian female).
Weird how people who aren't even Japanese are arguing about this topic and have such strong opinions and so much time to waste devoted to cyber bullying people as I've NEVER seen anyone get harassed or called cruel names and or insults in public or even amongst my friends not even in my elementary or high school days in America or my college and work life in Japan...
Now for the fun and lengthy part!
THE BIGGEST LIE EVER! I have no clue why nobody else has exposed this lie. This is technically true. They don't like weaboos. They fucking love them (I will talk about this more in another post and video later)! I personally love Asian pop culture (specifically Japanese and Korean). I like anime ( not so much these days just a few titles to be honest), manga, J-pop & K-pop as well as both Japanese and Korean fashion.You were probably devastated to hear read or watch that your love for these cultures would be met with harsh words, shame and reject by Japanese people.
WRONG!!!!! Japanese people love foreigners who embrace their culture. Whether it be the weird, street, kawaii, gaming, and anime side , or the traditional yukata/kimono, chopsticks and sushi wielding side of Japan. BOTH are met with "Oh thank you!"
Every time I tell a Japanese person that I like their culture they ALWAYS thank me and act shocked and grateful as though they created Japan themselves. They may not physically wave the flag of Japan around like Americans do, but they carry great pride for their culture and land within their hearts. This isn't limited to just traditional REAL culture but even your interest in their animations and fashions.
Strangers both online and in person on the street and on trains always tell me how beautiful and kawaii I am. People often ask to take pictures with me and for my LINE and Instagram or even Snapchat (which I sadly don't have yet sorry guys)! In fact they usually ask if they can see more of my cosplays! I'm not even a real cosplayers. My costumes are whack and I usually don't wear wigs or the appropriate colored hair or lenses or even the right makeup.
The only people that don't like so called weaboos are Asian-Americans and other westerners who have been brainwashed into thinking that "being a weaboo" is such a bad thing thus they try to separate themselves by declaring the infamous "actually I'm half Asian", "I'm an otaku" or "I'm 1/4 Japanese so I can't be a weaboo" bullshit.
REAL (Japanese) Asians don't care about your love for anime or cosplay or traditional culture and fashion. They're pleased with your interest and knowledge of it and if you say you like it they will talk to you about it forever and even if you don't mention it (like I never do) or say you don't like it they will ask the infamous question "why did you come to Japan?". If you don't mention anime, video games, cosplay and J-pop, they will be shocked and say "oh you don't like anime/manga?".
That's like me trying to tell you about what Europeans think because I am 1/4 European and Asian ethnically. This is true, but I'm a black girl who grew up in America and I'd really just be reaching at this point to try and take ownership of a culture I don't know. There's nothing wrong with liking Asian culture. Asians practically worship America. I have never gone outside or watched TV without hearing or seeing "Amerika" and I'm not even talking about politics, Trump or crime being mentioned. Japanese people know as much about American music, movies and celebrities as I do. Even my Chinese and Malaysian friends. They know just as much about celebrities, movies, music and politics in America than I do. They fantasize about mixed kids, dating westerners and speaking English!
I think this is a matter of half-Asians and Asian-Americans trying to establish their identity (of course this is not everyone but often times most of these "critics" tend to be half-Asians (specifically non-Japanese half/mixed peoples, go figure) and white otaku's... interesting.....
YES! Of course there's so much more to Japan than anime and cosplay, but I would be a liar if I said that I don't enjoy the cosplay stores, arcades, and book stores here. I equally love and value both sides of their culture. However there's nothing wrong if you only like the pop side of things.
In all honesty that's why MOST people come to Japan (and Japanese people know this already) AND that's why most people even know where it is on a map!
There's no need to deny or be ashamed of your love for all things pop culture related or to down-play your interest in them.
Japanese people LOVE foreigners that cosplay, look kawaii, or like otaku culture. Even the "annoying" ones who REALLY do fit the true definition of a weaboo and basically try to talk and look like an anime school girl everyday and claim to be part Japanese. I can't tell you how many times people have complimented me or had a full nerdy conversation with me about video games and anime without me ever mentioning either (as I never do)! None of this is offensive to Japanese people. If you were a school uniform or traditional clothing yo will have people asking to take a picture with you and approaching you to tell you how "kawaii" you are. Anyone who tell you otherwise is a fucking liar. I'm not Japanese I live here and so do my friends both European and Asian (non-Japanese).
I always think about how weird it would be if a white person were aggressively trying to defend black culture for black people ( I know some people do but not like this). There's nothing wrong with trying to help, but just like black culture, there's nothing wrong with people who aren't of African descent being interested in it.
Weaboos aren't mocking Japanese people they're just in love with or have interest in Japanese or Asian "things". Black people a.k.a African-Americans (or as I call myself a mutt) have lost their history and their identities thus are protective over their "newfound" one in America. Black face and other depictions in advertisements and cartoons were only made to insult and actually mock black people who have felt ashamed for having large facial features and dark complexions. This isn't the same thing! Japanese people also aren't minorities this is their country... so m yeah STFU!
But hey don't take my word for it! Live here for yourself and you'll see and learn what people really think about this stuff. I'm not Japanese but my boyfriend friends, coworkers, boss, and professors are.
LIES!!! If you have a student visa all you have to do is go to immigration (Shinagawa, Tokyo) fill out a fake mini job like application explaining the kind of job you'll be doing and your basic information. This is not a long complicated process like obtaining a visa. You just have to wait about a month and once approved you'll go back and have your permit stamp on you card. You can work just about anywhere for up to 28 hours a week as long as it's not a night club or "soapland" and doesn't interfere with your attendance at your school. The government doesn't mind you working. They just don't want foreigners to abuse this system (which they still do) and to apply for the appropriate visa that suits their needs. Also they don't want you to get caught up in the wrong lifestyle with drugs, gangs, and the sex industry if you're claiming to be a student. Makes perfect sense to me!
I personally work at a maid cafe, 2 schools, I teach private English lessons, and I work at a restaurant all ode army student visa. Why? How? It's simple. I obtained permission to work.
Nope! Easiest way to come to Japan without having a rushed sham or scam wedding, or a degree is by getting a student visa if you're not European/A. If you have a bachelors degree or hire or have a finance or you're married to a Japanese national/citizen then congrats this is not a problem for you. It's pretty easy and straightforward to get a job or program to sponsor for visa or to have the "platinum-gaijin-card" a.k.a spouse status.
Whether you choose to be a language student or a university student is totally up to you!
I highly recommend KCP international (if you want to attend a language school) and Lakeland University Japan Campus (if you want to earn a degree). Lakeland currently only offers an Associates Degree but is considering having a 4 year program at the moment. Upon graduation you can finish your degree online with them OR transfer to Temple University (Japan Campus) or Sophia University (as well as any other Japanese school here).
Best Most Affordable Choices For Your Broke or Dumb Ass (sorry I'm just kidding I'm broke and dumb too :()
KCP is a Japanese language school that accepts financial aid through the University of Idaho.
Tuition, location and instructions to apply are clearly labeled on their website.
LUJ is a small American school (Wisconsin) that has a campus in Tokyo financial aid available
Both schools are minutes away from each other about 15 minutes or less from Shinjuku-Sanchome Station (Shinjuku, Tokyo). Tuition, location and instructions to apply are clearly labeled on their website.
If you plan to go to either school and trying to save money Sakura Housse Sendagaya 4-chome (the big pink house behind Kita-Sando Station which is a 3 minute walk from your front door) is the best housing choice/location for you as the school is just 1 stop away on the Fukutoshin Tokyo Metro Line)
If you're determined to live in Japan yo will find a way like me. I found very little information about both of these school and they're the absolute best and easiest way for an American or a broke ass individual to come to Japan and live outside of volunteer opportunities, missions trips etc. both of which are not easy to find or qualify for.
It's easy to get here you just need determination and a part-time job or 2. I come from a broke-ass family, with credit as low as some of your standards for life and dating. Everyone that I told I wanted to go to Japan laughed at me, called me a weaboo, or didn't believe in me with the exception of my favorite uncle. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Start a Go-Fund-Me on your Facebook page and Instagram ask all of your friends, family, coworkers, church, and neighbors to donate whatever they can whenever they can.
Try to get a job at one of thee places Walgreens, Starbucks, CVS, or Walmart. Why? Because the pay is generally good even although the customers suck (for retail) and you will always have hours which equals money. Raises are given quarterly and annually (specifically at Walgreens & Walmart). Starbucks gives yo weekly tips. I will make a post giving a full game plan on how to get to Japan in 1-2 years.
It's best to live with family or a nice friend (someone who won't be a scrooge and charge you rent or make you pay any bills). Save your money! Make small goals such as; buy your passport next month, a laptop for school in 3 months, your plane ticket in 7 months etc..
Consider getting 3-4 Secured Credit Cards. Take out a student or personal loan. Start an affordable babysitting or yard service in your neighborhood. Buy and sell sed items from dumpster dives, used stores, and your garage or closet on Ebay or Amazon.
All you need is money to get here. Once you've got your foot wedged in the door, finding work (especially as an American) is VERY easy. I would say you only need 1-2 months worth of salary to live off of before you arrive in Japan IF you aren't coming here on a work or spousal visa.I personally came here with less than $2,000 to spend after I paid my first months rent and taxi fare.
I highly recommend sing Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University"program. You can visit his website, purchase the kit and maybe even watch some of it on YouTube or borrow from a friend who has it already. It's a great class and program that I sadly didn't follow all the way through in it's entirety but just taking a bit of advice from his class can help you easily save money for Japan even if you think you have none like me!
LIE#5
You Can Come To Japan and Get/Have Your Student or Work Visa Sponsored Once You Arrive
Technically this is possible, but very unlikely to happen! PLEASE do not do this. I can tell you from personal experience. I had my COE back in Chicago but found a good ticket price only $450 from Chicago to Tokyo (with an overnight stop in between at Los Angeles). I asked my school several times and explained that I found a cheap ticket and wanted to have some free time to explore Japan form the holidays and my 21st birthday. My school assured me that I could obtain my visa with ease upon my arrival as they claimed to have done it many times in the past and my COE was already issued so basically immigration was already like "fuck yeah, welcome to Japan bitch!".
For whatever reason my application was rejected (my school and I assumed it was to avoid people abusing the system AND because it was unclear to them as to why I didn't just get my visa in my home country since I had my COE before I left THUS I knew I planned to stay in Japan for more than 90 days). Admission came to immigration with me and tried to negotiate and still he simply said "shouganai". Translation "bitch you need to take that up with Jesus!"
I was asked to take my COE back to Chicago to get my visa stamp in my passport in America BEFORE I come back. Thankfully my school took the blame and paid for my non-stop flight back to Chicago and Tokyo. They even let me choose the airline. Although I did miss class and had to catch up on work and paid a month's rent for 2 weeks that I wasn't there and instead was waiting for my visa approval in Chicago. I was glad to have gone back because I got to take more stuff from home that I couldn't initially bring and I could decide for myself what I wish Japan had such as seasonings and dishes and personal items and clothing i purchased and left behind.
The process was very stressful as I had to go back to Shinagawa (I didn't have a cellphone or portable wifi so i wasted about 6000 to take taxi as I always fear being/getting lost. I highly recommend that you arrive 10-15 minutes before they open so that yo can be in and to fast OR alternative come 1 for before they close. They will rush to get you in and out ASAP because they want to go home too. It's just like the DMV in America.
Again you can do it but this is risky and might cost you in the long run. My school took responsibility for their mistakes but yours might not! Be patient and handle this stuff before you arrive. It'll be a much easier less stressful process.
(I apologize for the ghetto blurry unloaded photo of my table money I'm too tired to reload it)
You can take your "wedding dress", English teaching books, How to Live and Work in Japan" books, large amounts of money (preferably in your carry on and your family photo album with you. There's no need too hide this or leave it at home. As always bags may be randomly searched but it's unlikely and they really don't care about this because they see thousands of foreigners everyday! Also they aren't usually fluent in English so they don't feel comfortable questioning you (even the police here fear speaking English to you and will typically try to avoid confronting you). I never spoke to anyone one. Nobody snatched my bags and asked about my belongings or why I was coming here. They simply quickly glanced at my passport and immigration form thingamabob and that was it.
No interview! Still don't bring drugs or any weapons as your bags do go through detectors and of course random selections do take place and if you bag appears suspicious or wreaks of illegal possessions you're definitely taking a chance buddy!
I've left and reentered Japan with and without a residence card and a visa and was NEVER questioned or spoken to in Japanese. I've also been to both Haneda & Narita Airports. FYI Narita is in Chiba even although it's called Tokyo International Airport or something Haneda is actually in Tokyo and is about 25-30 minutes away from Shinjuku.
I also came with over with medicines for colds and pain relief that aren't necessarily legal in Japan without a prescription. It's best to only take medicine you think you'll need OTC OR PRESCRIPTION ONLY!!!! I used a first aid kit preferably a brand new non-suspicious looking one that's still closed and sealed with clear packaging. I had 2 Johnson's & Johnson's kits. ALSO pain killers & Vicks medicines are available OTC in Japan just different brands, packaging and quantities.
This is not to encourage bad or illegal behavior I'm just stating the facts and telling you what I did. I personally recommend leaving your porn and exotic toy stash at home.... you'll have a lot more options to replace it with....
Nope! Immigration security at the airport sees tourists all day long. You're nothing new or special and won't be raising any flags. Whether this is your first time leaving your home country, or if you've been to 50 countries, even if you don't have your visa obtained already you'll be fine as long as you specified that you plan to stay for less than 90 days and mention nothing about work, marriage etc. UNLESS you have the appropriate visa to do such things. If you're here for study or tourism or to see your partner, family etc. you can be 100% honest and write that on your rectangular application that you were given on the plane. Don't worry if you lose it or make a mistake filling it out! They have more at the center once you arrive and prepare to receive your tourist visa stamp (lots of people will also fill there's out there at the counter too (similar to how banks have a counter to fill to checks and deposit forms in the U.S). This process is easy and faster to do on the plan where you can ask a fellow foreigner besides yo for help f needed. All of the questions are simple it will just ask for you name, contact, passport information, length and purpose of you stay and if love been to Japan before or if you have any items to declare (aka things you can't have or that will be taxed). I came with a blanket brand new Passport and I came back to Japan with a previous tourist stamp from a visit to Japan 2 weeks ago.
LIE#8
You Need To Know Japanese To Navigate The Airport and Answer Security Questions
NOPE! I Love Japanesepod101 (they taught me some very good key phrases and I learned katakana with Risa) but honestly some of their videos aren't practical or they're totally unnecessary. The staff will talk to you in good or broken English 99.9% of the time (even if you speak to them in perfect or good a.k.a understandable Japanese) at both tourist places and airports because they probably got that position because they're bilingual OR simply because they're seeing and dealing with tourists (and want to put their English skills to good use or simply assume you you;dat understand if they replied to you. If you want to be a show off then sure you can study this useless vocab but it's not really needed for now (if you're a beginner).
You won't be lost and dumbfounded if you don't know the script from that video you just hand them your passport, (residence card if you have one) and your immigration application thingy you filled out. They will then look at your previous stays in Japan, take your picture and finger prints (just like the currency exchange does if you ever had to cash a check there like me) and viola! You're all done! Welcome to Japan! FYI most of the agents have piss attitudes at the airport especially Haneda they don't care about your language skills just hand them your passport and keep the line moving just like immigration. Take a number. Shut up. Sit down. Turn in your application.
LIE! Japanese people aren't alone it's hard to find an Asian (non-western born and/or living who isn't crazy over blondes Japanes people like blondes as much as Americans have yellow fever and black people like light-skin and "good hair". There's an exception to every rule, sure but this is the general truth for MOST people. Being blonde (especially with blue eyes) will definitely turn heads and get you way more attention. This is true especially if you're a gaijin girl regardless of your nationality (as long as you're white or yellow) it doesn't matter whether you're considered ugly or attractive in your own country a lot of people will like you just because of this.
There's always that one unicorn that will say "I don't like white girls" or "I don't like blondes" but that's the exception and NOT the rule. Many Japanese guys and girls even dye their hair this color for attention too and its a definite statement look here. I noticed that Asian-Americans get really angry when people say this but it's true! Come to Japan if you're white dye your hair blonde or brown try both or wear a wig you'll notice a HUGE difference in the amount of men asking for your LINE or Instagram. Almost all of the European foreigners here that came to Japan with brown hair suddenly get the urge to go blonde after they arrived. I watched my British friend dye her hair blonde and try 4 different shades before messing up her hair and sticking to gray for a month. I'm not judging these girls but what I'm saying is that they clearly know that there's a difference in the way you're perceived here and it's not the same as in America. I know lots of guys who like blondes there too! Its the most popular color to dye your hair where I'm from. I worked at Wal-Mart, CVS, and Walgreens. I've sold more blonde hair dye and bleach kits than food I've eaten probably but I've never seen so many "fake blondes" both men and women (women attract more attention as always). Japanese people don't care and usually won't ask if you hair is natural or not and probably wouldn't care. Oh they also love blue eyes A LOT too!
LIE! I've seen plenty of African men (and a few black guys and girls) with Japanese partners. I've even met a few half-African half-Japanese adults and I saw about 9 kids. It's a small and rare number here NOT because they don't like black or African people but because it's rare to see a black person in Asia in general. MOST black people don't care about or have interest in Asian pop culture or Asia some nerdy suburban black people (*cough cough* Oreo's) like me love it, but most simply don't care about Asia and even if they do, they lack the time, or money to go there.
Also most "black"people here aren't diluted African-Americans but REAL Africans (Nigerians, South Africans etc.). Of course if you aren't black or from America you probably see and hear no difference between the two, but me and "my people" do haha! Just like Asian-Americans look and act differently than their Asian counterparts. It's rare to see a black woman with a Japanese man because they practically don't exist here! Most of the black/African women here are tourists not residents and are often married to white guys and already have families, they are dating a black man (sometimes married to one), or here with their European girls for vacation.
It's much more common to see pure African men or African-American (black) men specifically. Because they're everywhere in the red-light districts such as Harajuku, Kabukicho, Roppongi, and Shibuya trying to get you to eat a restaurant or enter a club or party etc. and black Americans are usually in the U.S military here.
I'm not going to lie to you and say Japanese people LOVE black people because that's not true but they don't dislike you either just because you're not white. Most don't have a real opinion about you. I must say that most of the black people living and touring here aren't attractive to begin with and I'll leave it at that. I may not be Beyonce or Rihanna but I get called both on a daily basis and I most certainly feel like it because of all the attention I receive from men here.
If you're 100% honest with yourself and are legitimately attractive, they will love you like crazy. I see girls online in forums and on YouTube warning people about the dangers of Japan for black women. I can count the attractive black women and men that I've seen here on 1 hand and that is all that I will say about that. Again everyone has their own taste and preferences. It can be hard to tell if people don't like you because you're black or if it's because you're fat or ugly etc.. Don't be so quick to make assumptions. I've been met with racial slurs only online by 1 Japanese guy 3 Chinese guys, 1 Half-Korean who lives in America, maybe about 10 European men (all tourists of course). So I think I'm doing pretty good here.
Again it's all subjective. You may think you're cute but are you really?
WRONG! There's so many articles and forums and even videos with gaijin guys telling foreign girls why Japanese men don't like them blah blah blah. That's not true. I'm fat tall and black and Japanese men here (Korean, Chinese, Thai, Sri Lankan? and European too) ALWAYS tell me both online and in person that they love my body and they like foreign women because they have womanly bodies and don't starve themselves. I've been called a "barbie doll", told that my body was "dynamite", that I have a" good body" and that I have "nice curves", I look like Rihanna, and that I'm exotic etc.. Japanese men often apologize to me for being what they think is too skinny or too fat for themselves! I've dated and talked to a lot of guys both as friends and romantically. I am not the best looking girl and I'm not your cookie-cutter blonde hair blue-eyed gaijin girl. I'm dark tall and fat and maybe even ugly to you haha!
Oh and the most commonly complimented thing IS NOT my boobs, but my lips! Japanese men always tell me that they like my lips, that they look so soft etc.. This was the most surprising thing to me even more so than the fact that there's soo many guys here that like my body even although I am not thin.
I've both read and seen that both men and women aspire to have what I call an anime mouth. That is a mouth that don't exist. Now not to make anyone feel bad about themselves but personally I think invisible and thin lips look weird. They don't feel good when kissing either!
If you've ever been in a relationship with me you can say that you hate me but you'll never find a better kisser. Now don't get me wrong! Not all full-lips are created equally, just like small and thin ones... I'll just be blunt. There is such thing as maybe too much lip. It's all a matter of proportion. That goes for facial symmetry and your body too. It's not just your lips! Every man has his own preference. I like normal lips not too small but not full like mines or bigger.
...Back on subject!
So to see white guys spending so much time trying to put down their fellow white sista's over being "obese" or too fat, demanding loud etc. It is a load of shit. Most of these trash talkers are western men and half-Asian men who can only get plastic pussy from their $14.99 Amazon & Spencers sex toys, went through 3 failed marriages in 5 years, are 5ft tall and have the hairline of King Neptune.
Of course every Japanese man has his own personal preference so this is not to say that ALL Japanese guys like fat, thick or curvy girls. I am simply saying that most men here don't care as long as you're cute and or foreign. Sane goes for foreign men! Being an exotic Ken doll is enough for most Asian women. My Japanese and Chinese friends gawk and ooh and ahh over men that would be average to hideous in America. It's a different culture people but ALL men love boobs and nowadays most like ass and a bit of softness to a girl. Being thin is fine too but don't be ashamed if you are not pale, your lips aren't invisible like an anime girls and you've got a tummy.
Don't take advice from forums on Gaijin Pot, JapanGuide, or that random Asian who wasn't born raised and currently living in Japan. If yo met Japan Guide is generally the best place for honest replies to questions (usually good answers) but again it's still a forum and info there is occasionally trollish and simply wrong/outdated information.
Japanese men LOVE foreign women specifically non-Asian foreign women of any kind or age. It doesn't matter how tall, dark, or fat you are theres plenty of men who will be into you for more than just sex or friendship.
Again each guy has his own tastes some guys don't like black girls some don't like girl over a specific pound or height.
Japanese guys here tell me all the time that they like foreign women because Japanese girls are basically "gold diggers, too thin, too flat, act childish/dumb" etc.. These are broad general statements from the men here themselves.
Foreigners are built differently than Japanese people so you get a "gaijin-pass". I've only had 2 guys comment on me being overweight 1 simply stating that he gained weight in America and told me id lose about 10-15lbs after living here for a while (he was right but still red in my culture haha) The other was a short ugly guy who kept asking me if I was still going for runs or walks and implied that I was being lazy for not going (basically what he was trying to say "I like you but you're fat please change that"). Most people here actually say I'm not fat at all. However I'm not blind and I know that I am but I'm simply stating the facts.
I have seen several men explicitly state the exact measurements that they want their girlfriend to be which is ridiculous to be coming from a short old and or ugly man BUT even 1 guy in particular who had measurements that I didn't meet besides my bra size he wasted a SuperLike on me :D
I have dated more guy here than I have in my 20 years of living in America. Men thank me for replying to their messages or simply meeting them in person. I have had no problems getting hit on or picked up at bars, clubs, train stations, school, work, or through dating apps. Regardless of my clothing! Trust me these are just Instagram pictures! I usually wear athletic wear or a dress with a long coat and black tights. I sweat year around, I can tan VERY dark and my hair is usually frizzy, sweaty and messy. Yet I've had 4 relationships been on countless dates with cute Japanese men and now I have the most perfect man in all of the world. I never feel self-concious or concerned about what people think of me here and you shouldn't either! Even if you aren't attractive someone will like you. You are more than just you good or bad looks! Your personality is what will keep a man. Your looks will only catch his eye.
I always ask my dates what they like about me and they always say something different and detailed. My current boyfriend likes that I am "pure" as he said. Because I like to keep little memorabilia like receipts, pictures of things we liked but couldn't afford yet etc.. No one has ever said that to me before. It was a simple answer to my question but when explained to me, I felt like "wow" someone actually noticed and understood what I was doing and why.
I'm a pretty cheesy, old fashioned and romantic but shy girl at heart.
Hmm this one's a bit tricky! Most clothing here for women especially is one size fits all and even clothing that has sizes is often cut larger as Japanese women tend to wear non-fitted and loose clothing (the average girl dresses modestly or occasionally skimpy in a modest way (compared to Americans) haha. I wear a U.S Large and occasionally a Medium depending on the cut. In general you can find clothing here if you wear an XL or under with ease IF you shop at big brands like Uniqlo and Forever21 (yes I know F21 is American but it's in Japan/Uniqlo is in America now too smart ass!). If you're REALLY fat even by U.S Standards or if your feet are big or wide No you will not be able to find clothing or shoes here. Uniqlo is your best bet as they go up to about a 2XL U.S your options of course will be very limited or nonexistent. If yo wear a XS-M U.S buying most clothing is simple only jeans and fitted pants or skirts are hard. Normal dresses, top, bottoms etc. will fit just fine if you go up a size or two or if you purchase a one-size-fits-all item. I can fit most one size fits all clothing here but jeans and fitted bottoms never! My hips are wide (even in America) and I'm a curvy gal. Of course you can always shop online and Japan does have plus size retailers and people too!
I am 162 cm and I thought that I'd feel like an out of place giant here amongst 150cm girls. Women wear heels every wear for starts and honestly It's not a big deal. My mom is 5'2 and my brother is 5'7 (in America). I'm 5'4 (about 2 inches above average height, however my mom and brother are the exact average heights for both Japanese women and men so I had a good personal idea a stop what it would feel like being surrounded by a country of people at this height.
These are just averages meaning some are over some are under. I see women way taller than me and I've seen men way shorter than me (and the reverse of that too). Not all Japanese people are short. I think 5'7 is a nice height for me when it comes to dating. Shortest guy I dated seriously was 165cm. I even went on a date with a Japanese guy who was only 157cm! You won't feel to of place because both men and women wear boots and heels and even when they don't those 2 heights are just averages so unless you 6ft tall you won't have to feel self-conscious and even if you are a tall girl there's plenty of guys who will still see how beautiful you are.
Now for my men! Don't think that being 5'7-5'8 makes you tall here. You're still short-avergae in the eyes of a Japanese girl! Women here aren't noticeable much shorter in my opinion and despite how tall or short a girl is ALL women prefer tall men. I'm talking 6ft here. Personally I really like over 5'9 and under 6ft haha.
However being a cute and charming foreign man is more than enough to win her over. Men commonly give their height in cm before meeting yo in person don't be surprised if someone randomly and obnoxiously has their height and weight plastered on their dating profile (Tinder & OKC etc.). I see lots of tall Japanese men and woman especially men 5'11-6'3 every day on the train and in Ikebukuro, Shibuya, and Shinjuku. Yes you will be a chicken magnet if you're a tall man anywhere in the world but don't get ahead of yourself yet because you have a fair share of competition too.
NOPE! I'm not encouraging you to be lazy like me ( I didn't), but don't stress over it (I will have another simple post later about words and phrases you need to know/learn or that you will learn upon moving here)!
I forgot how to say "thank you" in Japanese when I was getting to of my arranged taxi and resorted to a bow and English thank you very much! (which of corse was still understood).
There's no need to cram Japanese videos on YouTube, find 3 language exchange partners, have a boyfriend/girlfriend you never met from the internets, have a certificate in business English, and N5 certification under your belt. Will it be useful? Hell yeah! However all you need to know if you learn nothing else is the following words in Japanese use Google Translate and favorite the translations. Try to mimic the translators voice viola! Everything else you can learn later if you stay long-term or you simply will never need or use here.
Hello
Excuse Me/Sorry
Train Station
Toilet/Bathroom
Numbers 1-10
Left
Right
Toilet
Goodbye
Yes
No
Okay/I'm Fine/Good/It's Alright
Please
Thank you
What
Why
Say It again/ One more time/Repeat yourself please
What Time Is It
What is that/this
Like/ I like
Welcome
You can easily live her without ever saying anything even please, thank you or excuse me in Japanese. As long as you can say those words in English you'll be fine, but your stay will be much nicer if you attempt to study just a little beginners speech.
Unfortunately No! It's possible, but you will have to make a serious effort to learn it. Some things you'll catch onto because you hear certain words or phrases so much but the "gaijin bubble" is real people! Don't get stuck with foreigners try not to have a lot of foreign friends as you will find yourself behaving like a tourist and you'll never learn anything.
ALSO bilingual friends can be just as bad as gaijin. You'll find yourself resorting to English most of the time which is great for your nihonjin pals but bad for poor little you!
Try to venture out on your own so that you are forced to listen to, read and speak Japanese to get around and to get what you want at restaurants and stores as well as public transit. ALWAYS try your best to speak Japanese even if the staff reply to you in English. Insist that they use Japanese by being persistent! You don't have to be rude and say that ( please don't)! Just continue to talk in Japanese.
You have to be brave and try to speak Japanese with strangers, friends, and staff at random places.
Language exchanges can be great but make sure you buddy doesn't hog the time and you find yourself speaking English 90% of the time (it's easy to do as your partner probably know more English than yo know Japanese most of the time). I'm still not fluent and I've been living in Japan for almost a year! I have friends who have been her 6-8 months and can speak and write in Japanese fluently (I envy my Asian friends).
Yo can learn just by listening but it's not as easy to do as you think. Some people bash this method but I think self study on YouTube and textbooks is the best method. ALSO you should go to a language school over a university. Yo will learn better and faster. The best Japanese speakers here are people who studied at a language school NOT "university only" students who have never been to one. That is unless you taught yourself Japanese back at home.
Japanese people speak the third best English out of Asians in my opinion. I think Koreans speak the best Vietnamese take 2nd place and Japanese and China WOULD be tied for 3rd but most Chinese people have such strong thick accents that are too difficult to understand because unlike other Asians they spend too much time practicing speaking but not enough time on using a fake American accent thus their English is usually broken even although they have a big vocabulary (remember of corse this is a general statement most of the Chinese people I've met in Japan speak VERY good English at or near Native sounding just like my Chinese mom).
Other Asian countries like Japan focus on reading writing and grammar too much and not enough on speaking and with Japanese people generally being very shy and afraid to make mistakes they are often too shy to test out their English. Even fluent English speakers in Japan will claim to only know a little English or they will profusely apologize to you for having bad/broken English even although they sound just find to your native English ears.
This is because Japanese people are generally very humble and don't brag and like I said before they're really shy. A lot of people speak read and write some English many young people under 30 are very fluent and some are near native level. You can get by never speaking Japanese because everything thats important is written in english or also spoken in english signs, menus, options, rules, games 90% of stuff here in Tokyo has English available if you travel out into the country side theres significantly less but even there you will find English signs directions and speakers just not as easily.
They speak English just not confidently. It rare that you'll meet someone that doesn't speak read or write any English. As a foreigner yo will naturally;y attract and possibly seek bilingual Japanese people. You will be amazed at just how many people can speak English, Chinese and Japanese ( and sometimes even Spanish or French!).
They most certainly can be, but there's a few things that are culturally normal here than I simply can't get used to. There's soo much pushing and shoving here (in Tokyo specifically). People will run to get ahead of you on escalators, stairs, general lines and occasionally on or off of trains too (never on buses in my experience). It is understood that you should let these people get ahead of you as they're in more of a rush than you are and maybe its an emergency of some kind. However as an American it is very rude to me to put your bag besides you or in front of you to keep someone from getting past you because you want to be first, and running to cut you off is so rude to me. Japanese people don't usually talk to strangers or make small talk so they can seem cold. However when you do speak to them 90% of the time they will be very polite because it's culture not a matter of being sincere. I've had my fair shit of bad experiences with shit talkers and staff who didn't speak to me or offer me utensils or bag my stuff properly (I'll talk about this more in another post).
The best experience I've had with a stranger is an old Japanese man came up to me on the train and explained to me in English what the conductor had just announced that is that this was the trains last stop and that everyone had to get. He asked where I was going directed me to the appropriate track. I was on my way to Chiba and if not for him I wouldn't have gotten off until after the trainmen shooed me away and then would have still waited at the same (wrong) track for the next train. I am so thankful for him.
There's rude people in every culture, but in general they are NICE but not sincere and definitely not the friendly type just manner-able and well... "nice".
This is a tricky topic but I'd say this is not true. Japanese people like hafuu's who LOOK "western" and who LOOK cute. I see half or allegedly mixed Asians here all the time online and in person who brag about being mixed even although they either A.) look Asian or B.) Are actually pretty damn ugly even by Japanese standards. Also hafu is really just a term for Half-Japanese. I sometimes see Koreans and Chinese people use this term and some of my Japanese friends say anyone can use it but it's generally just used for Japanese people because the word itself is Japanese it's written in Katakana and is unofficial slang for mixed (being pure or 100% Japanese is taken seriously here people). I recently had a constructive argument with my Chinese guy friend about this haha. Some people even say that they only want to have foreign friends or only date foreigners and don't like hafu's.
In short yes they like Half-Japanese people along as you have western and non-Japanese features and aren't ugly.
Yes it is prized, but not as much as you may think. Most women don't wear all black from head to toe and carry umbrellas on sunny days. It happens and you will see it often, but I don't even think half of the people do this. Also men never do that! Usually it's old ladies and occasionally young women but most people don't seem to care about the sun and sport tans darker than my natural complexion during the summer days.
This is not to say that Japanese people don't like or prefer to have white skin, but they aren't doing as much to achieve it as you think they would or have been told that they do. I think it's on par with black African-Americans (specifically females). There are lots of products to whiten and lighten black/dark skin and most black people would prefer to be lighter or envy people with lighter complexions. There's sadly an ongoing war of "Team Light" vs. "Team Dark" to this day countless pages made promoting and putting the 2 groups up against each other. Anyway I'll write about all of that later in another post.
My Point is simply that yes MOST African-Americans want to be lighter more pale etc. just like Japanese people but it's not as noticeable or culturally accepted where I'm from. Here you can openly talk about your "whitening rituals" and routines. In America you'd get stoned and shaded to death by the black community however if you're white and want to tan it's acceptable.... interesting that we've made or own little rules.
The only real difference is the acceptance of bleaching and whitening your skin through creams surgeries and pills, whereas it's looked down upon to do so in African-American culture so women who do so have to be secretive about it.
Yes, they like white skin! No they won't faint because of how pale and "beautiful" your skin is. Being blonde is better than being pale whether you're a man or a woman here.
If you're dark skin, whether you're European, Asian, Hispanic or African it doesn't matter! All that matters here is being attractive. A cute face and hot body is what matters. You will not be held to the same standards as the Asian men and women are here. They know that westerns can be darker, they know about tanning, many people idolize celebrities like Rihanna, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.
WRONG! This is possibly true for people who aren't American but if you're from America don't bad because you can't get a working holiday visa. Your first in line when it comes to employment. SMART English speakers want an American English accent because America is the most powerful and richest country in the world. We practically control everything or so it seems and it makes other countries despise us because of how "conceited" we are accused of being. American English is preferred both for school and academic settings. British and Australian people can also get English jobs but you will usually be required to attempt to fake an American accent which is hard and sucks as my Aussie guy friends and 1 British gal has told me.
Japan has LOTS of English teaching jobs available everywhere especially within Tokyo, Chiba, and Yokohama. The pay isn't what it used to be because yes there's more competition and the economy is going through some tough stuff but you can comfortably live off of your salary and housing and sometimes even phone bills and transportation are covered by you employer making you monthly $2,500-$3,500 check pure pocket money.
the best part is yo don't need a degree, experience teaching or any TEFL or ESL certification but of course all of these things are a plus. Being from America especially if you don't look Asian is a HUGE "skill" you can market here. They will never have enough teachers because the turnover rate is high due to people getting married, becoming homesick, breaking company policies like dating students and deciding that teaching English isn't good for their thin skin. Most teachers here don't like teaching, children or even people for that matter it was just an easy way to get a visa to live here in Japan.
You don't need to speak a lick of Japanese and 95% of employers prefer to hire people who don't know any Japanese. Being bilingual won't help you get a job at most places UNLESS you aren't Americans and thus want to work at a convenience store, restaurant or retailer.
This is a complicated lie with a half-truth. Japan like any country consists of normal people. Three will always be both good and bad people. I have yet to see anyone openly and explicitly be racists toward me or anyone else here. However culturally there's well known shed racism against Chinese and Korean people (more so for the Chinese). Most of this is de to historical facts, and arguments about land and past wars but some is about cultural differences. All of my Japanese friends HATE and absolutely despise being mistaken for a Chinese person. They often complain about how rude and loud Chinese people are and will say that they have family that hates Koreans or Chinese. One of my best friends here has a sister who HATES Koreans.
Most complaints and talk about racism has nothing to do with white or black people and it more so over nationality and culture. Race isn't an argument about being a human being here in Japan. Instead it's a matter of pride, territory and identity. unfortunately this is a gray area topic and when I've accused my dates of being racist for saying "I don't like Chinese people", they always became defensive and would reassure me that it's not like that. "Hmm well what is it then?... pride you say? Okay...".
Of course there are Japanese people who don't like foreigners of any kind because they're loud, obnoxious, and come into their small quiet little island country destroying us all. Some people despise Americans because of the atomic bombings, other hate Europeans, I haven't heard anyone talk about Africans but (I'm are they do) even I'm annoyed with them soliciting people (although of course they're just doing their job.. I hope).
I have 2 friends here who were born and raised in Japan but are half Chinese thus had to keep this a secret when they'd leave home as their friends and coworkers often would talk badly about Chinese people. I can't imagine what that must feel like :(.
I met a guy in Ikebukuro whom I regret not getting his name and number to this very day who told me his first day teaching here the kids told him that he looked like the poop emoji (he's a dark brown complexion but not really dark skin I was upset and in shock but I also told him that I wasn't (and I'm still not) trying to make excuses for Asians but that racism here especially when it comes from children is due to pure blissful ignorance.
When Americans say racist stuff it's genuine and coming from their hearts. Their goal is to make you feel bad for being black and to make you feel as though you aren't human.
We only know better as Americans because we've been taught (and had it beaten into s repetitively) are who lives not to talk about people or say certain things. We are raised to be sensitive to people who come from different cultures or look different from us because of how mixed our country is. Japanese people don't have such experiences unless they're adults or travel or studied abroad. Honestly kids in America are way meaner and care way less about what you're trying to teach them.
Japan is like 97-98% PURE Japanese but they don't have TV and classes and commercials and events that celebrate and bring attention and awareness to/of and about bullying and racial slurs and racism.
Anyway as long as you are respectful humble, quiet and show interest in the culture and respect for their land even the grumpiest ojisan will smile in your presence.
I gave up my seat 2 times on the train. One of which I will never forget. I usually stand even when seats are available so that someone who really needs to sit can do sit. One time I gave up my seat to a group of old people and you will not believe how thankful they were that they could all enjoy the ride together. They continued to smile, bow, and thank me and even talk about how well mannered I was amongst themselves in Japanese. None of the men or young people around me gave up their seat to this kind group of oldies who were going to split up themselves amongst the car and were quietly discussing who would sit where (mind you we were all sitting in priority seating!). None of the Japanese people on the train cared and probably saw me as a schoomzer, ass wipe and teacher's pet".
I often see group of men and women and even boyfriends with their girlfriends get on the train and quickly grab a seat and let their lady stand in 5 inches heels and a mini skirt as they sit and scroll their phone while talking to her! This would be super rude and comical to do in America. I wish my boyfriend wold run for a seat and then not give it to me when the train is packed.
Of course it's a different culture! Chivalry doesn't exist and putting on a show or begging someone to sit is embarrassing and should be avoided at all costs. It's best to simply get up and they will get the hong that you doing this from them if you don't get off the train, or quietly say "dozo" and nod your head giving a slight bow.
I've experienced far less racism here than in America. Infant Ive never experienced any direct racism because I was black just from people who didn't like foreigners in general. My color/race is NEVER mentioned only one troll on a no-name dating app told me in Japanese that "Africa is full of AIDS". His statement is true there's a lot of people with various STD's there an AIDS and HIV is a huge part of that. However thats all he said to start the conversation and was clearly trying to make me feel bad, comfortable and be prejudice towards me.
I feel safer here too. I don't have to worry about crimes or violence for the most part. It's like being in heaven here.
I will say it. Just because someone doesn't like you DOES NOT make them racist. You can't force someone to like you! Everyone has their own preferences even racial, height, weight, complexion etc.. It sucks if you aren't what they're looking for, but you will find someone who thinks you're perfect for them! However just because yo don't mean to be racist doesn't stop it from being racist either!
Also in regards to sign like these. I have personally only seen 1 and I've only been turned away from 1 cafe that didn't allow foreigners it was in Roppongi !This is not an everyday occurrence and it's usually for 1 of 2 reasons (or both): #1 They fear that the language barrier will be problematic #2 they fear that you're a loud obnoxious ghetto foreigner with no home training. As I wrote about before, this is why I couldn't rent 90% of the apartments that I wanted. They just think that it's too hard to explain the rules and procedures to you because stereotypically most foreigners here are disrespectful and rude (like my neighbors for example). The Harajuku Police come here at least once a month due to noise complaints from this ghetto gaijin project late at night because they love to party here for some reason and ruin the peace.
Yes Japan is clean to the naked untrained eye. It's hard to find liter anywhere despite the lack of garbage cans whether you're inside or outside everything is free of trash. I am shocked when I see even a gum wrapper or a mask caught on an escalator. Shibuya & Ikebukuro Stations are the easiest places to find trash.
However germs are everywhere because hand washing is not done very often outside of the tub/shower, or the oshibori/wetnap you're handed at restaurants. I've worked at a few cafes and restaurants here and my coworkers have gone straight from handling and taking out garbage and sweeping floor to preparing food and beverages!
It is common for people to go straight from the toilet to picking their nose and eating food or putting their hands on shared items. Of course I'd be a liar if I said I've never skipped a wash before but I usually feel disgusted afterwards because I know that I have germs and bacteria on my hands. I would never prepare food (yet alone make someone else a plate) I didn't hate, food with toilet hands.
This isn't Japan specific. I live in a share hose with80% Chinese girls and they also never wash their hands. Only my Chinese mom and my best friend seems to. Everyone else only washes if they got a little fudge on their handzys from an aggressive booty wiping session.
I've been on dates with hot guys who flicked buggers to the side at the dinner table while we conversed. I've seen women shamelessly search for bats in their caves in front of everyone on the train.
I went on a date with one of my ex-boyfriend who picked his nose while we were talking at the table. I pulled out my mini hand-sanitizer and offered him some. He examined the bottle and refused to use it. This same guy also had a habit of coughing on me if we were talking while close to each other talk about ruining a cuddle session...
Yes they wear masks but it's often to make themselves look cuter (as only their eyes are being seen, yo'd be amazed at how ugly some people are when they take off their mask no pun intended), to be lazy and avoid wearing makeup etc. (I'm not joking both my Japanese and gaijin friends tell me that they're not sick just wearing the mask because they're too lazy for full face makeup). ALSO they don't cover their mouth or nose to cough and sneeze instead they just pull down their masks, and turn away from you or downwards to hack and shoot snot rockets out into the open air that your breathing. Just hope it doesn't land on you too! The difference here is that its accepted.
In America there are also nasty people who do this but its not common and you would feel embarrassed or obligated to wash your hands if there's someone in the restroom with you. That feeling doesn't exist. I have never really seen anyone thoroughly was their hands. Usually its just a 2 second spritz of soapless hand washing and off to the powder room she goes.
If you've ever had food poisoning here it probably wasn't from the sashimi, sushi, or ramen but from the germs your server or cook gave you!
I have only a handful of friends that wash their hands I'd say 70% of the people I know only wash their hands once or twice a day outside of taken their mandatory bath in the late evening.
If yo tried any of this in America you'd need to be prepared for looks of disgust and possibly some bad language thrown at yo for being rude and nasty.
I don't know what's worse, kids or adults?
HUGE LIE! Even the most outgoing loudest Japanese guys *cough cough* like my boyfriend my ex and a few of my friends. If you ask them to talk about love, feelings, hugging or holding hands they instantly become the most bashful people on earth. As always theres an exception to every rule. I know that someone is going to claim to have a friend, boyfriend cousin etc. who isn't like this and hats cute sweetheart so have I but its rare and unusual and he's probably just trying to make you happy. PDA is rude here. Every time I've kissed or hugged my boyfriend people around look at us as though I wear giving him a lap dance in sexy lingerie and twerking on the train tracks.
Both men and women are equally shy but it's more noticeable amongst men because in American culture we expect men to be direct and dominant. These 2 traits are looked down upon here as being direct and dominant is generally perceived as selfish and rude!
My American friend and I were talking on the train one day when a girl practically shoved and forced herself through the car door. My friend who spoke fluent Japanese began to ask her in a normal tone if she was okay and basically kept bringing up what she had just witnessed. This poor girl turned red and quickly became annoyed and irritated with my friend's annoying questions as it was clear that she hit herself getting on the train and having a gaijin talking"loudly"where everyone onboard can hear what just happened (if for some reason they didn't see or hear her forcing herself through the door) put the spotlight on her. I nudged my buddy to get her to stop talking. She meant well, but showing fake or even sincere concern is unwanted and embarrassing here. The girl quickly got off at the next stop and waited for the next train to come on the same track.
A few days ago I saw a Japanese woman running down the stairs (people here run for trains that come every 2-10 minutes like there's an open shooter at a mall everyday) at Ikebukuro Station. Like most women here she had on sky-high platform heels and fell down half of the stairs practically doing a split. At least she was wearing boots and a long skirt. She landed so badly she probably would have twisted her ankle, lost her shoe, or broke something otherwise. Some people giggled and everyone looked in silence but not a single soul asked her if she was "okay". Nobody tried to help her as she laid there at the bottom of the first set of stairs for a good 15 seconds to compose herself. Instead she quickly got up and ran away from her embarrassment.
Even trying to be a good young person or a gentleman can be embarrassing. If yo want to offer your seat to a woman with children or the elderly it's best to just get up and pretend to be exiting the trainer stand and give a slight nod say "dozo" or make a quiet gesture of some kind. They will appreciate you and get the hint just don't be loud or obvious as MOST people find this to be embarrassing. Of course not everyone does though.
I relate to them and feel the same way as I'm an introvert by force not because I want to be but thanks to my 2 best friends who've sick around throughout the years, anxiety and depression. I think its pointless to ask dumb and obvious questions if someone is hurt and they aren't dying or bleeding out and you're not capable of helping them why even bother to loud ask? I wold feel embarrassed to! I hate when I fall and people say "are yo okay?". I know it's ingrained into my culture bt I don't like it it just makes me feel more embarrassed. It's not like yo've never fallen before! Of course i'll be fine.
I also get embarrassed easily. I like attention but not when it deals with personal stuff that can be sensitive or embarrassing. My dad is REALLY low (no microphone needed) and so is a lot of my ghetto extended family. I always hate going to in public with them because nothing is off limits with them. People here always think about what other will say or how their actions may affect someone else. It's not because they care about you its because they've been taught to do this its a formality of some sort. Just like Americans saying "how are you" when they really don't care and if you tell me "not good" you're making me uncomfortable af because now I have to show fake empathy and offer emotional support.
Yes there are perverts and I've been a victim several times. However in general trains are only packed like how you see on the YouTube videos during rush hour (6:30AM-9:30AM is the worst 5:00-8:30PM). Women only cars are early mornings on weekdays only and it's just 1-2 train car out of 8-10 cars. It's not an everyday occurrence. If you get on the train outside of rush hour or use common sense and wait 3-10 minutes for next train it won't be crowded. "Chikan" are cowards. They usually aren't obvious. They're normally 40+ act and look like Master Roshi (however you spell his name). It's rare to have a young 20-30 something pervert normally these guys will smile, wink, or ask where you're from for your LINE Instagram etc.. Chikan know that they don't have a chance and thus will take pictures, videos, or try to touch or rub up against you.
Transit here is still much safer than Chicago where I have to pray that I don't get raped or peed on by a homeless psycho or that some gangbangers rape, stab, rob or shoot me to death (kill me). Yes they have signs warning yo about the dangers of the park and train but these are the same people that think its dangerous to walk outside at night because of perverts and Yakuza both of which are practically harmless.
I've met and spoken to Yakuza members they're relaxed and chill and don't really operate the way that American gangs do. This is a joke in comparison to Chicago gangs, streets and public transit.
I often go to late at night and early in the morning and I never fear being harmed because even the so called dangerous neighborhoods are safe its just dangerous because there's lost of Africans, Koreans, Yakuza members and obnoxious cat-callers. Kabukicho, Shibuya & Ropponggi are not dangerous. Nobody will try to rape, kill, or harm you they will just gawk or hit on you.
I have no idea who started this bullshit. Maybe the same one's who believe that cosplayers, otaku, gamers etc. a.k.a "weaboos" are offensive to Japanese people. Anyway that couldn't be further from the truth. The difference here is that people don't have sex as often as Americans do. Love Hotel's and Tinder are always full of guests and users. I've gone to hotels here countless times that my boyfriend and I were turned away from because they were full! I've met only a few virgins here. Most people prefer to only have sex with their wife, or girlfriend. Casually having sex with a friend is taboo here. Don't get me wrong! Cheating is still a huge problem here with soapland (and Tinder) and there are a lot of Japanese men AND women (shocker here) who just want to experience having sex with an easy golden-gaijin. Also a lot of people believe e that it's okay to visit a brothel because it's just releasing or satisfying a need as there is no emotional connection or real "love" between the man and his mystery chick. I don't agree with this but a good amount of Japanese men and women do.
I can't tell you how many people have told me that "I was strong" because I refused to hookup with them or that "they like foreign girls bodies" etc..
Men here are willing to pay big money for sex. I've hand hundreds of men ask me to have sex with them in exchange for money or gifts just by walking through or waiting near a station on friends and even while waiting for my boyfriend!
Basically they're fucking each other here BUT they are usually more careful about avoiding wanted pregnancies. Friends with benefits exists but one night stands are much more common. Usually only "gaijin-haters" ugly or old men are interested in casual sex here because they are obsessed with foreigners and/or are too unattractive by Asian standards to score with a Japanese girl.
Japanese men LOVE sex! Some don't, but like most men, of course they do! Men don't walk around with waifu pillows, blow up dolls, Miku holograms, and plastic pussies.
They watch porn, they got to brothels, they hook-up, they date & have sex just like any other man around the world does. It's just not done as often or as carelessly as the STD ridden western side of the world.
Yes the population is on a decline but that's because the population only boomed for a short while just like America because their men were finished with the war and everyone was ready to fuck! This country is very crowded and overpopulated. It needs to decline. There's so many people here. I'd say 90% of stores and restaurants don't even have their own store front, building, parking lot, or a garage to themselves. Everyone is stacked up in tiny "ghetto" outdated apartments that look like American "projects".
The population does not need to increase here it's over crowded. Everyone doesn't want to be America. They take pride in being almost 100% homogenous here. America is only "fake proud" of being multi-racial/ethnic because it was forced into it due to morality issues and reasons.
Again this is a half truth. Yes they are physically at their jobs for long hours everyday BUT they're not actually working. The average work day for a man or a woman with a degree and a career is 9:00AM-6:00PM (an extra hour for us Americans). However to show respect and dedication to your boss, and senpai within the company it's an unwritten rule that you're expected to stay at work until you boss and or colleagues leave first. Sometimes you might even stay afterwards.
My ex-boyfriend worked as a Civil Engineer and sadly only went home 2-3 nights a week because his jobs was about 2 hours away by train. He'd often stay late to finish work and to show how good of an employee he was. Doing this puts you first in line for promotions, raises and builds a "bond" between you and your employer.
One time he stayed at his job literally for 2 weeks without ever going home! He was actually Face Timing me every night from his company and even gave me a tour one time. They have a washer, dryer, full kitchen, and shower and he has his own company car which he used to come see me and go on a road trip a few times. He lived in Tokyo too but was about 2 hours away from me by train as well haha.
It's common for salarymen to hangout in the bathroom, scroll through LINE, Facebook and Instagram or even watch YouTube and text YOU near the end of their work day. Most men have a nice lengthy 1 hour lunch break even at retailers like cafe shops.
So these men aren't actually working. The huge downside is that of course like anyway as long as you not at home and forced to be at work or school you still feel like you're working! You probably just want to go home and sleep, see your kids, eat dinner, walk the dog, watch TV (or porn) but NOPE!
You're stuck at your job against your will.
Often times men are required to join their colleagues and boss for a night out at a host club, snack bar, or izakaya (Japanese style bar). It's another unwritten rule but you basically have to go. To decline their invite/offer is frowned upon even if you have a wife or a girlfriend. Usually your boss will cover the fees or at least most of it but other times he won't and you'll be expected to shell out some cash that you may or may not have (this is not common from what I've seen and heard).
One of my ex's told me a story about a time his boss made him waste $500 at a host club because he is boss wanted to stay longer!
This is culturally ingrained into men here in particular. Work will always come first. It is more important than your family, girlfriend, wife, kids, pets, and personal wants and ambitions. It is better to be a part of the group and belong rather than to be independent, solo, and basically "selfish".
My point is yes they technically work all day but it's not really. Playing in the bathroom and partying at night may feel like work because you're forced to (technically) but it's not and ultimately it's your choice. You won't get fired for not doing this but you can forget about being first in line for promotion or being buddies with the coworkers or boss.
Now this is going to contradict what I've said earlier a bit but women here do dress skimpy just in a different way ad it's not as common or as acceptable as it is for women ti do in America. I see girls year around wearing mini skirts, belly shirts, short-shorts, mini dresses, both with and without tights or pantyhose. However because you're the "hot" gaijin girl if you do the sea thing you'll be met with way more stares and even looks of disapproval. On my way home from Ikebukuro with my friend, 2 Japanese men were talking about how "short foreign girls dresses are. Mind you I was wearing black sheer tight, booties, a mini dress AND a long overcoat that was slight undone because I was hot. He was whispering to his fat friend besides him BUT they were loud enough were everyone near us in the car could hear what he was saying about me. I was so angry because I just saw a "street styled" Japanese girl wearing a crop-top with her pierced navel showing in booty shorts and stilettos with a hat on and 3 guys pressed against her. Not a single soul spoke one word to or about her no-one even looked!
As a foreigner everything you do is seen as "sexy" and inappropriate even if it's the same as the women around you. Your held to a higher standard and this is the ONLY time that you will be here as people think you know magic if you can properly hold chopsticks or introduce yourself in Japanese.
In general most women do wear long balloon skirts, pants and blouses. There's a big and very heavy influence of American 80's-90's looking outfits and fashions here which is kinda cute and well... interesting.
The only thing that's entirely true about fashion here is that no one shows cleavage! I've only met and seen maybe 3-5 women in total showing off their breasts and all of these women were busty and curvy like me. They were clearly trying to get attention because they weren't attractive facially but their tits were their selling point. In my country it's not a matter of being a whore it's just fashion. Most women clothing is a bit revealing in America.
I've never seen anyone talk about this problem but actually I think when I dress conservatively or modestly it makes my breasts look waaaay bigger. In that picture above I'm wearing a turtleneck dress. My boobs look like I have a watermelon in each individual cup! Sometimes I feel a bit uncomfortable when I'm in public especially around me. I know men like breasts, but I feel like a walking talking blow up doll at times because of my breast size. In America having a nice bit is very common in my opinion and men are desensitized to it so they don't make a big deal about seeing a woman in a V-neck. Really V-necks make my ta-ta's look smaller.
So yes women generally just both fashionably and conservative but wearing slutter-wear isn't as taboo as you think. As long as it's just legs, back and arms being shown it's normal. Cleavage is the only real no-no but women still do it sometimes anyway. I personally wear leggings and cut-out clothing occasionally. Is it appropriate here? Of course not! Do people care? Sometimes. This is a tricky one to answer and basically a half truth. If you want to fit in and be respectful as you should be, I would definitely dress modestly! My point is simply that you can dress in your normal clothing because most tourist here do and even some Japanese people dress like Americans especially during the summer!
Despite what you may have seen or heard in America this is simply false. There are hundreds of kimono rental shops aimed and marketed towards English speaking foreigners in Japan. Airports have costume rental shops wear you can dress up as a ninja or a geisha and have a professional photo taken. If you go outside wearing traditional Japanese clothing Japanese people will compliment you and call you handsome or beautiful and either ask for you permission or go ahead and snap a picture. Nobody gets mad over this stuff! They don't mind. They appreciate the fact that you are interested in their culture. They want to share it with you!
Keep in mind that it's because unlike America Japan is almost 100% Japanese! There is no history of white people oppressing, enslaving, and dehumanizing them for having their natural hair, features or clothing styles and religions. Even Japanese people come form Tokyo to Kyoto to wear a geisha costume with groups of girls while drinking Starbucks and playing Space Invaders at Round One. You know things that would be considered disrespectful and inappropriate behavior for a REAL geisha to partake in.
So that's it! These are all "Lies That Weaboos Believe". I will update this post in the future and I'm sure people in the comments will add some more "lies" that they too believed or add some more points and "lies" that I forgot to mention. There's obviously much more than just what I wrote here. These are just the things I found most surprising as the opposite is commonly believed in America and maybe other places too.
Please share your experiences with everyone in the comments below too!
Don't just take my word for it! Come to Japan and make some real, authentic, native friends here and ask them what they think about you, your country and my post.
Everyone will have a different experience here so please feel free to share yours as well.
I also can't wait to read your angry comments because I'm sure this offended everyone. I will elaborate more on this in a video and make individual posts later that talk about more these lies in more detail.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you learned something valuable here. Stay encouraged you'll be just fine here in Japan! Please don't worry about what people think of you!
Please share this post with your friends and family and subscribe to my blog!
If you're like me and spent more time researching ways of living in Japan, Japanese fashion, culture, or people more than you have studied the language then it is very possible that you've come across bad, unsure, wrong, outdated and fictional information from people who claim to live (or have lived) in Japan or be part Japanese (some of which who really do), and are misinformed or simply jealous hearted and would prefer not to share their beloved "new country" with you, thus lying to you to discourage and deter you away from your hopes and dreams of living in Japan or "becoming Japanese" (a citizen) yourself.
Now first let me tell you a few things about myself. I have been in Japan for almost a year at the time of this article. I am 21 year old, fat-ass, Afrcian-American female here on a student visa.
I won't lie and tell you that it was easy getting to Japan, but it definitely wasn't as hard or as scary as I read about and watched online which made me believe that it was.
Now that I given you my self-introduction I will tell you what you're doing wrong...
Watching YouTube Videos
Now I personally do have a small YouTube channel and this blog here and I've probably subscribed to every J-Vlog channel and watched every video about Japan and read every book that you have too. However without throwing any extreme rooftop shade or making up conspiracies here, it's pretty clear that 90% of the non-Japanese YouTuber's who J-vlog (J-vloggers?) are married to Japanese people thus how they got to or are currently staying in Japan.
Others have college educations bachelors degrees (or higher) or even those who did a short term study abroad and later returned or stayed due to their marriage to a Japanese citizen are now in their late 20's-40+. A lot has changed since then even within the past few years. A lot of people aren't very honest on the internet either as I'm sure you have learned by now or soon will.
There's nothing wrong with having a Japanese spouse, or being older, but I don't think you should listen to people who don't fully know or understand your situation. In fact fuck me and my blog! Don't take my word for it! Come to Japan for 6 months-1 year go to some parties, meet some people, hang out with the locals in Ikebukro, Shinjuku and Shibuya go to the country side and see for yourself.
What Is A Weaboo?
This terms meaning/definition varies depending on who you ask or talk to. Basically it's whatever keeps the speaker from belonging in that category. If the like cosplay they'll defend cosplay and say no it's yo fangirls looking for a sendai.
You generally get 3-4 different definitions and descriptions. The most common one is this one...
Weaboo: a non-Japanese person who likes Japanese pop-culture thus is instantly labeled and assumed to be out of touch with reality and is told that they must want to be a Japanese person and are an embarrassment to both their home country and Japan.
Other Debatable Definitions...
1.) Original meaning
A person who loves Japanese/Asian pop culture so much that they believe and convince themselves that they are Japanese. Neglect and talk down on their home country and try to learn to read and write and speak Japanese often incorporating Japanese slang, sound effects or simple words into their writings and work, they might lie or exaggerate about having Japanese blood or heritage. Attempt to wear Japanese school uniforms or traditional clothing, tries to look Asian in pictures and sometimes real life too.2.) Otaku Aren't Weaboos Cult
Gamers, anime, maga lovers and sometimes cosplayers who love Japanese media but don't want to be associated with weaboos. Even although they love Japan just as much and would probably live there if they could. Very defensive weaboos.3.) I'm Half-Asian So I Can't Be a Weaboo And Must Protect My 1/4 Japanese Blood From Silly Westerners Cult
Ahhh, my favorite people. These are the most annoying to me. Often ugly, undatable, know-it-alls who don't live in Asia and have lived their entire sad and miserable lives being bullied for being ugly, belonging neither with the white kids or the Asian kids... They insist that Asians can't stand "you people" and that you're being disrespectful to Japanese culture and then they will have their story about how they go to Japan and Korea every year and how they're 2/3rd's Korean blah blah blah thus they know what Japanese people think (makes sense to me right?).Notice how this weaboo controversy isn't an issue for half-black/half-Asians, or half-Asian females (both of these being a silent minority as I'm are some of them also are annoyed by so called "weaboos" too). The funniest thing is I was in Japan when this guy sent me this message! He called me a weak for having my profile picture on OKCupid set as my D.va cosplay which I wore to work for Halloween. I didn't know Japan made Overwtach, nor did I know that they invented Halloween or costume parties, but okay ugly guy who claims to be 1/4 Japanese yet certainly doesn't look or act like it and clearly has no knowledge of the people he wants to claim.
Basically according to these 3 definitions, EVERYONE who likes anything that's Japanese is a weaboo. This whole thing is seriously stupid!
If you're a weaboo, then what are the Japanese? Because if you lived here you'd see that they do EVERYTHING weaboos do except in reverse. They try to look white, dye their hair brown and blonde, bleach their skin, use circle lenses and colored contacts, fantasize about having a gaijin boyfriend/girlfriend, use broken English EVERYWHERE advertisements, makeup and food products, arcades, games etc.. I've never heard an Asian song that had no English lyrics, they give themselves American names when speaking to foreigners, and brag about being vegetarians or about how they LOVE hamburgers (fads and things that they assume Americans are and like) yum yum!
Awww and look at you! Pouting your filthy lips and rolling your crooked eyes, preparing to troll someone for wearing a costume or wearing anime inspired makeup. You don't even know what people actually think here.
Weaboo is a word that Japanese people don't know and never use, but if they did it would be a positive word here because they love people who know about their culture, traditional, cool , or weird (especially if you're a non-Asian female).
Weird how people who aren't even Japanese are arguing about this topic and have such strong opinions and so much time to waste devoted to cyber bullying people as I've NEVER seen anyone get harassed or called cruel names and or insults in public or even amongst my friends not even in my elementary or high school days in America or my college and work life in Japan...
Now for the fun and lengthy part!
The Lies
LIE #1Japanese People Don't Like Weaboos
THE BIGGEST LIE EVER! I have no clue why nobody else has exposed this lie. This is technically true. They don't like weaboos. They fucking love them (I will talk about this more in another post and video later)! I personally love Asian pop culture (specifically Japanese and Korean). I like anime ( not so much these days just a few titles to be honest), manga, J-pop & K-pop as well as both Japanese and Korean fashion.You were probably devastated to hear read or watch that your love for these cultures would be met with harsh words, shame and reject by Japanese people.
WRONG!!!!! Japanese people love foreigners who embrace their culture. Whether it be the weird, street, kawaii, gaming, and anime side , or the traditional yukata/kimono, chopsticks and sushi wielding side of Japan. BOTH are met with "Oh thank you!"
Every time I tell a Japanese person that I like their culture they ALWAYS thank me and act shocked and grateful as though they created Japan themselves. They may not physically wave the flag of Japan around like Americans do, but they carry great pride for their culture and land within their hearts. This isn't limited to just traditional REAL culture but even your interest in their animations and fashions.
Strangers both online and in person on the street and on trains always tell me how beautiful and kawaii I am. People often ask to take pictures with me and for my LINE and Instagram or even Snapchat (which I sadly don't have yet sorry guys)! In fact they usually ask if they can see more of my cosplays! I'm not even a real cosplayers. My costumes are whack and I usually don't wear wigs or the appropriate colored hair or lenses or even the right makeup.
The only people that don't like so called weaboos are Asian-Americans and other westerners who have been brainwashed into thinking that "being a weaboo" is such a bad thing thus they try to separate themselves by declaring the infamous "actually I'm half Asian", "I'm an otaku" or "I'm 1/4 Japanese so I can't be a weaboo" bullshit.
REAL (Japanese) Asians don't care about your love for anime or cosplay or traditional culture and fashion. They're pleased with your interest and knowledge of it and if you say you like it they will talk to you about it forever and even if you don't mention it (like I never do) or say you don't like it they will ask the infamous question "why did you come to Japan?". If you don't mention anime, video games, cosplay and J-pop, they will be shocked and say "oh you don't like anime/manga?".
That's like me trying to tell you about what Europeans think because I am 1/4 European and Asian ethnically. This is true, but I'm a black girl who grew up in America and I'd really just be reaching at this point to try and take ownership of a culture I don't know. There's nothing wrong with liking Asian culture. Asians practically worship America. I have never gone outside or watched TV without hearing or seeing "Amerika" and I'm not even talking about politics, Trump or crime being mentioned. Japanese people know as much about American music, movies and celebrities as I do. Even my Chinese and Malaysian friends. They know just as much about celebrities, movies, music and politics in America than I do. They fantasize about mixed kids, dating westerners and speaking English!
I think this is a matter of half-Asians and Asian-Americans trying to establish their identity (of course this is not everyone but often times most of these "critics" tend to be half-Asians (specifically non-Japanese half/mixed peoples, go figure) and white otaku's... interesting.....
YES! Of course there's so much more to Japan than anime and cosplay, but I would be a liar if I said that I don't enjoy the cosplay stores, arcades, and book stores here. I equally love and value both sides of their culture. However there's nothing wrong if you only like the pop side of things.
In all honesty that's why MOST people come to Japan (and Japanese people know this already) AND that's why most people even know where it is on a map!
There's no need to deny or be ashamed of your love for all things pop culture related or to down-play your interest in them.
Japanese people LOVE foreigners that cosplay, look kawaii, or like otaku culture. Even the "annoying" ones who REALLY do fit the true definition of a weaboo and basically try to talk and look like an anime school girl everyday and claim to be part Japanese. I can't tell you how many times people have complimented me or had a full nerdy conversation with me about video games and anime without me ever mentioning either (as I never do)! None of this is offensive to Japanese people. If you were a school uniform or traditional clothing yo will have people asking to take a picture with you and approaching you to tell you how "kawaii" you are. Anyone who tell you otherwise is a fucking liar. I'm not Japanese I live here and so do my friends both European and Asian (non-Japanese).
I always think about how weird it would be if a white person were aggressively trying to defend black culture for black people ( I know some people do but not like this). There's nothing wrong with trying to help, but just like black culture, there's nothing wrong with people who aren't of African descent being interested in it.
Weaboos aren't mocking Japanese people they're just in love with or have interest in Japanese or Asian "things". Black people a.k.a African-Americans (or as I call myself a mutt) have lost their history and their identities thus are protective over their "newfound" one in America. Black face and other depictions in advertisements and cartoons were only made to insult and actually mock black people who have felt ashamed for having large facial features and dark complexions. This isn't the same thing! Japanese people also aren't minorities this is their country... so m yeah STFU!
But hey don't take my word for it! Live here for yourself and you'll see and learn what people really think about this stuff. I'm not Japanese but my boyfriend friends, coworkers, boss, and professors are.
LIE#2You can't Work Here On a Student Visa Japanese Government Is Cracking Down On You!
LIES!!! If you have a student visa all you have to do is go to immigration (Shinagawa, Tokyo) fill out a fake mini job like application explaining the kind of job you'll be doing and your basic information. This is not a long complicated process like obtaining a visa. You just have to wait about a month and once approved you'll go back and have your permit stamp on you card. You can work just about anywhere for up to 28 hours a week as long as it's not a night club or "soapland" and doesn't interfere with your attendance at your school. The government doesn't mind you working. They just don't want foreigners to abuse this system (which they still do) and to apply for the appropriate visa that suits their needs. Also they don't want you to get caught up in the wrong lifestyle with drugs, gangs, and the sex industry if you're claiming to be a student. Makes perfect sense to me!
I personally work at a maid cafe, 2 schools, I teach private English lessons, and I work at a restaurant all ode army student visa. Why? How? It's simple. I obtained permission to work.
LIE#3It's Hard To Get A Visa
Nope! Easiest way to come to Japan without having a rushed sham or scam wedding, or a degree is by getting a student visa if you're not European/A. If you have a bachelors degree or hire or have a finance or you're married to a Japanese national/citizen then congrats this is not a problem for you. It's pretty easy and straightforward to get a job or program to sponsor for visa or to have the "platinum-gaijin-card" a.k.a spouse status.
Whether you choose to be a language student or a university student is totally up to you!
I highly recommend KCP international (if you want to attend a language school) and Lakeland University Japan Campus (if you want to earn a degree). Lakeland currently only offers an Associates Degree but is considering having a 4 year program at the moment. Upon graduation you can finish your degree online with them OR transfer to Temple University (Japan Campus) or Sophia University (as well as any other Japanese school here).
Best Most Affordable Choices For Your Broke or Dumb Ass (sorry I'm just kidding I'm broke and dumb too :()
KCP is a Japanese language school that accepts financial aid through the University of Idaho.
Tuition, location and instructions to apply are clearly labeled on their website.
LUJ is a small American school (Wisconsin) that has a campus in Tokyo financial aid available
Both schools are minutes away from each other about 15 minutes or less from Shinjuku-Sanchome Station (Shinjuku, Tokyo). Tuition, location and instructions to apply are clearly labeled on their website.
If you plan to go to either school and trying to save money Sakura Housse Sendagaya 4-chome (the big pink house behind Kita-Sando Station which is a 3 minute walk from your front door) is the best housing choice/location for you as the school is just 1 stop away on the Fukutoshin Tokyo Metro Line)
If you're determined to live in Japan yo will find a way like me. I found very little information about both of these school and they're the absolute best and easiest way for an American or a broke ass individual to come to Japan and live outside of volunteer opportunities, missions trips etc. both of which are not easy to find or qualify for.
LIE#4You Don't Have Enough Money
It's easy to get here you just need determination and a part-time job or 2. I come from a broke-ass family, with credit as low as some of your standards for life and dating. Everyone that I told I wanted to go to Japan laughed at me, called me a weaboo, or didn't believe in me with the exception of my favorite uncle. YOU CAN DO IT!!!
Start a Go-Fund-Me on your Facebook page and Instagram ask all of your friends, family, coworkers, church, and neighbors to donate whatever they can whenever they can.
Try to get a job at one of thee places Walgreens, Starbucks, CVS, or Walmart. Why? Because the pay is generally good even although the customers suck (for retail) and you will always have hours which equals money. Raises are given quarterly and annually (specifically at Walgreens & Walmart). Starbucks gives yo weekly tips. I will make a post giving a full game plan on how to get to Japan in 1-2 years.
It's best to live with family or a nice friend (someone who won't be a scrooge and charge you rent or make you pay any bills). Save your money! Make small goals such as; buy your passport next month, a laptop for school in 3 months, your plane ticket in 7 months etc..
Consider getting 3-4 Secured Credit Cards. Take out a student or personal loan. Start an affordable babysitting or yard service in your neighborhood. Buy and sell sed items from dumpster dives, used stores, and your garage or closet on Ebay or Amazon.
All you need is money to get here. Once you've got your foot wedged in the door, finding work (especially as an American) is VERY easy. I would say you only need 1-2 months worth of salary to live off of before you arrive in Japan IF you aren't coming here on a work or spousal visa.I personally came here with less than $2,000 to spend after I paid my first months rent and taxi fare.
I highly recommend sing Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University"program. You can visit his website, purchase the kit and maybe even watch some of it on YouTube or borrow from a friend who has it already. It's a great class and program that I sadly didn't follow all the way through in it's entirety but just taking a bit of advice from his class can help you easily save money for Japan even if you think you have none like me!
LIE#5
You Can Come To Japan and Get/Have Your Student or Work Visa Sponsored Once You Arrive
Technically this is possible, but very unlikely to happen! PLEASE do not do this. I can tell you from personal experience. I had my COE back in Chicago but found a good ticket price only $450 from Chicago to Tokyo (with an overnight stop in between at Los Angeles). I asked my school several times and explained that I found a cheap ticket and wanted to have some free time to explore Japan form the holidays and my 21st birthday. My school assured me that I could obtain my visa with ease upon my arrival as they claimed to have done it many times in the past and my COE was already issued so basically immigration was already like "fuck yeah, welcome to Japan bitch!".
For whatever reason my application was rejected (my school and I assumed it was to avoid people abusing the system AND because it was unclear to them as to why I didn't just get my visa in my home country since I had my COE before I left THUS I knew I planned to stay in Japan for more than 90 days). Admission came to immigration with me and tried to negotiate and still he simply said "shouganai". Translation "bitch you need to take that up with Jesus!"
I was asked to take my COE back to Chicago to get my visa stamp in my passport in America BEFORE I come back. Thankfully my school took the blame and paid for my non-stop flight back to Chicago and Tokyo. They even let me choose the airline. Although I did miss class and had to catch up on work and paid a month's rent for 2 weeks that I wasn't there and instead was waiting for my visa approval in Chicago. I was glad to have gone back because I got to take more stuff from home that I couldn't initially bring and I could decide for myself what I wish Japan had such as seasonings and dishes and personal items and clothing i purchased and left behind.
The process was very stressful as I had to go back to Shinagawa (I didn't have a cellphone or portable wifi so i wasted about 6000 to take taxi as I always fear being/getting lost. I highly recommend that you arrive 10-15 minutes before they open so that yo can be in and to fast OR alternative come 1 for before they close. They will rush to get you in and out ASAP because they want to go home too. It's just like the DMV in America.
Again you can do it but this is risky and might cost you in the long run. My school took responsibility for their mistakes but yours might not! Be patient and handle this stuff before you arrive. It'll be a much easier less stressful process.
(I apologize for the ghetto blurry unloaded photo of my table money I'm too tired to reload it)
LIE#6Immigration Will Check Your bags and Turn You Around If You Have a Wedding Dress Illegal Movies, Porn or Suspicious Items That Show You Have Other Intentions Such as Working or Getting Married Here/Immigration Will Question You
You can take your "wedding dress", English teaching books, How to Live and Work in Japan" books, large amounts of money (preferably in your carry on and your family photo album with you. There's no need too hide this or leave it at home. As always bags may be randomly searched but it's unlikely and they really don't care about this because they see thousands of foreigners everyday! Also they aren't usually fluent in English so they don't feel comfortable questioning you (even the police here fear speaking English to you and will typically try to avoid confronting you). I never spoke to anyone one. Nobody snatched my bags and asked about my belongings or why I was coming here. They simply quickly glanced at my passport and immigration form thingamabob and that was it.
No interview! Still don't bring drugs or any weapons as your bags do go through detectors and of course random selections do take place and if you bag appears suspicious or wreaks of illegal possessions you're definitely taking a chance buddy!
I've left and reentered Japan with and without a residence card and a visa and was NEVER questioned or spoken to in Japanese. I've also been to both Haneda & Narita Airports. FYI Narita is in Chiba even although it's called Tokyo International Airport or something Haneda is actually in Tokyo and is about 25-30 minutes away from Shinjuku.
I also came with over with medicines for colds and pain relief that aren't necessarily legal in Japan without a prescription. It's best to only take medicine you think you'll need OTC OR PRESCRIPTION ONLY!!!! I used a first aid kit preferably a brand new non-suspicious looking one that's still closed and sealed with clear packaging. I had 2 Johnson's & Johnson's kits. ALSO pain killers & Vicks medicines are available OTC in Japan just different brands, packaging and quantities.
This is not to encourage bad or illegal behavior I'm just stating the facts and telling you what I did. I personally recommend leaving your porn and exotic toy stash at home.... you'll have a lot more options to replace it with....
LIE#7No Passport Stamps/ New Passport Makes You Look Suspicious
Nope! Immigration security at the airport sees tourists all day long. You're nothing new or special and won't be raising any flags. Whether this is your first time leaving your home country, or if you've been to 50 countries, even if you don't have your visa obtained already you'll be fine as long as you specified that you plan to stay for less than 90 days and mention nothing about work, marriage etc. UNLESS you have the appropriate visa to do such things. If you're here for study or tourism or to see your partner, family etc. you can be 100% honest and write that on your rectangular application that you were given on the plane. Don't worry if you lose it or make a mistake filling it out! They have more at the center once you arrive and prepare to receive your tourist visa stamp (lots of people will also fill there's out there at the counter too (similar to how banks have a counter to fill to checks and deposit forms in the U.S). This process is easy and faster to do on the plan where you can ask a fellow foreigner besides yo for help f needed. All of the questions are simple it will just ask for you name, contact, passport information, length and purpose of you stay and if love been to Japan before or if you have any items to declare (aka things you can't have or that will be taxed). I came with a blanket brand new Passport and I came back to Japan with a previous tourist stamp from a visit to Japan 2 weeks ago.
LIE#8
You Need To Know Japanese To Navigate The Airport and Answer Security Questions
NOPE! I Love Japanesepod101 (they taught me some very good key phrases and I learned katakana with Risa) but honestly some of their videos aren't practical or they're totally unnecessary. The staff will talk to you in good or broken English 99.9% of the time (even if you speak to them in perfect or good a.k.a understandable Japanese) at both tourist places and airports because they probably got that position because they're bilingual OR simply because they're seeing and dealing with tourists (and want to put their English skills to good use or simply assume you you;dat understand if they replied to you. If you want to be a show off then sure you can study this useless vocab but it's not really needed for now (if you're a beginner).
You won't be lost and dumbfounded if you don't know the script from that video you just hand them your passport, (residence card if you have one) and your immigration application thingy you filled out. They will then look at your previous stays in Japan, take your picture and finger prints (just like the currency exchange does if you ever had to cash a check there like me) and viola! You're all done! Welcome to Japan! FYI most of the agents have piss attitudes at the airport especially Haneda they don't care about your language skills just hand them your passport and keep the line moving just like immigration. Take a number. Shut up. Sit down. Turn in your application.
LIE#9Japanese Men/Women Aren't Crazy Over/For Blondes
LIE! Japanese people aren't alone it's hard to find an Asian (non-western born and/or living who isn't crazy over blondes Japanes people like blondes as much as Americans have yellow fever and black people like light-skin and "good hair". There's an exception to every rule, sure but this is the general truth for MOST people. Being blonde (especially with blue eyes) will definitely turn heads and get you way more attention. This is true especially if you're a gaijin girl regardless of your nationality (as long as you're white or yellow) it doesn't matter whether you're considered ugly or attractive in your own country a lot of people will like you just because of this.
There's always that one unicorn that will say "I don't like white girls" or "I don't like blondes" but that's the exception and NOT the rule. Many Japanese guys and girls even dye their hair this color for attention too and its a definite statement look here. I noticed that Asian-Americans get really angry when people say this but it's true! Come to Japan if you're white dye your hair blonde or brown try both or wear a wig you'll notice a HUGE difference in the amount of men asking for your LINE or Instagram. Almost all of the European foreigners here that came to Japan with brown hair suddenly get the urge to go blonde after they arrived. I watched my British friend dye her hair blonde and try 4 different shades before messing up her hair and sticking to gray for a month. I'm not judging these girls but what I'm saying is that they clearly know that there's a difference in the way you're perceived here and it's not the same as in America. I know lots of guys who like blondes there too! Its the most popular color to dye your hair where I'm from. I worked at Wal-Mart, CVS, and Walgreens. I've sold more blonde hair dye and bleach kits than food I've eaten probably but I've never seen so many "fake blondes" both men and women (women attract more attention as always). Japanese people don't care and usually won't ask if you hair is natural or not and probably wouldn't care. Oh they also love blue eyes A LOT too!
LIE#10Japanese Men/Women Don't Like Black Men/Women
LIE! I've seen plenty of African men (and a few black guys and girls) with Japanese partners. I've even met a few half-African half-Japanese adults and I saw about 9 kids. It's a small and rare number here NOT because they don't like black or African people but because it's rare to see a black person in Asia in general. MOST black people don't care about or have interest in Asian pop culture or Asia some nerdy suburban black people (*cough cough* Oreo's) like me love it, but most simply don't care about Asia and even if they do, they lack the time, or money to go there.
Also most "black"people here aren't diluted African-Americans but REAL Africans (Nigerians, South Africans etc.). Of course if you aren't black or from America you probably see and hear no difference between the two, but me and "my people" do haha! Just like Asian-Americans look and act differently than their Asian counterparts. It's rare to see a black woman with a Japanese man because they practically don't exist here! Most of the black/African women here are tourists not residents and are often married to white guys and already have families, they are dating a black man (sometimes married to one), or here with their European girls for vacation.
It's much more common to see pure African men or African-American (black) men specifically. Because they're everywhere in the red-light districts such as Harajuku, Kabukicho, Roppongi, and Shibuya trying to get you to eat a restaurant or enter a club or party etc. and black Americans are usually in the U.S military here.
I'm not going to lie to you and say Japanese people LOVE black people because that's not true but they don't dislike you either just because you're not white. Most don't have a real opinion about you. I must say that most of the black people living and touring here aren't attractive to begin with and I'll leave it at that. I may not be Beyonce or Rihanna but I get called both on a daily basis and I most certainly feel like it because of all the attention I receive from men here.
If you're 100% honest with yourself and are legitimately attractive, they will love you like crazy. I see girls online in forums and on YouTube warning people about the dangers of Japan for black women. I can count the attractive black women and men that I've seen here on 1 hand and that is all that I will say about that. Again everyone has their own taste and preferences. It can be hard to tell if people don't like you because you're black or if it's because you're fat or ugly etc.. Don't be so quick to make assumptions. I've been met with racial slurs only online by 1 Japanese guy 3 Chinese guys, 1 Half-Korean who lives in America, maybe about 10 European men (all tourists of course). So I think I'm doing pretty good here.
Again it's all subjective. You may think you're cute but are you really?
LIE#11Japanese Men/Women Don't Like Fat/Curvy Men/Women
WRONG! There's so many articles and forums and even videos with gaijin guys telling foreign girls why Japanese men don't like them blah blah blah. That's not true. I'm fat tall and black and Japanese men here (Korean, Chinese, Thai, Sri Lankan? and European too) ALWAYS tell me both online and in person that they love my body and they like foreign women because they have womanly bodies and don't starve themselves. I've been called a "barbie doll", told that my body was "dynamite", that I have a" good body" and that I have "nice curves", I look like Rihanna, and that I'm exotic etc.. Japanese men often apologize to me for being what they think is too skinny or too fat for themselves! I've dated and talked to a lot of guys both as friends and romantically. I am not the best looking girl and I'm not your cookie-cutter blonde hair blue-eyed gaijin girl. I'm dark tall and fat and maybe even ugly to you haha!
Oh and the most commonly complimented thing IS NOT my boobs, but my lips! Japanese men always tell me that they like my lips, that they look so soft etc.. This was the most surprising thing to me even more so than the fact that there's soo many guys here that like my body even although I am not thin.
I've both read and seen that both men and women aspire to have what I call an anime mouth. That is a mouth that don't exist. Now not to make anyone feel bad about themselves but personally I think invisible and thin lips look weird. They don't feel good when kissing either!
If you've ever been in a relationship with me you can say that you hate me but you'll never find a better kisser. Now don't get me wrong! Not all full-lips are created equally, just like small and thin ones... I'll just be blunt. There is such thing as maybe too much lip. It's all a matter of proportion. That goes for facial symmetry and your body too. It's not just your lips! Every man has his own preference. I like normal lips not too small but not full like mines or bigger.
...Back on subject!
So to see white guys spending so much time trying to put down their fellow white sista's over being "obese" or too fat, demanding loud etc. It is a load of shit. Most of these trash talkers are western men and half-Asian men who can only get plastic pussy from their $14.99 Amazon & Spencers sex toys, went through 3 failed marriages in 5 years, are 5ft tall and have the hairline of King Neptune.
Of course every Japanese man has his own personal preference so this is not to say that ALL Japanese guys like fat, thick or curvy girls. I am simply saying that most men here don't care as long as you're cute and or foreign. Sane goes for foreign men! Being an exotic Ken doll is enough for most Asian women. My Japanese and Chinese friends gawk and ooh and ahh over men that would be average to hideous in America. It's a different culture people but ALL men love boobs and nowadays most like ass and a bit of softness to a girl. Being thin is fine too but don't be ashamed if you are not pale, your lips aren't invisible like an anime girls and you've got a tummy.
Don't take advice from forums on Gaijin Pot, JapanGuide, or that random Asian who wasn't born raised and currently living in Japan. If yo met Japan Guide is generally the best place for honest replies to questions (usually good answers) but again it's still a forum and info there is occasionally trollish and simply wrong/outdated information.
Japanese men LOVE foreign women specifically non-Asian foreign women of any kind or age. It doesn't matter how tall, dark, or fat you are theres plenty of men who will be into you for more than just sex or friendship.
Again each guy has his own tastes some guys don't like black girls some don't like girl over a specific pound or height.
Japanese guys here tell me all the time that they like foreign women because Japanese girls are basically "gold diggers, too thin, too flat, act childish/dumb" etc.. These are broad general statements from the men here themselves.
Foreigners are built differently than Japanese people so you get a "gaijin-pass". I've only had 2 guys comment on me being overweight 1 simply stating that he gained weight in America and told me id lose about 10-15lbs after living here for a while (he was right but still red in my culture haha) The other was a short ugly guy who kept asking me if I was still going for runs or walks and implied that I was being lazy for not going (basically what he was trying to say "I like you but you're fat please change that"). Most people here actually say I'm not fat at all. However I'm not blind and I know that I am but I'm simply stating the facts.
I have seen several men explicitly state the exact measurements that they want their girlfriend to be which is ridiculous to be coming from a short old and or ugly man BUT even 1 guy in particular who had measurements that I didn't meet besides my bra size he wasted a SuperLike on me :D
I have dated more guy here than I have in my 20 years of living in America. Men thank me for replying to their messages or simply meeting them in person. I have had no problems getting hit on or picked up at bars, clubs, train stations, school, work, or through dating apps. Regardless of my clothing! Trust me these are just Instagram pictures! I usually wear athletic wear or a dress with a long coat and black tights. I sweat year around, I can tan VERY dark and my hair is usually frizzy, sweaty and messy. Yet I've had 4 relationships been on countless dates with cute Japanese men and now I have the most perfect man in all of the world. I never feel self-concious or concerned about what people think of me here and you shouldn't either! Even if you aren't attractive someone will like you. You are more than just you good or bad looks! Your personality is what will keep a man. Your looks will only catch his eye.
I always ask my dates what they like about me and they always say something different and detailed. My current boyfriend likes that I am "pure" as he said. Because I like to keep little memorabilia like receipts, pictures of things we liked but couldn't afford yet etc.. No one has ever said that to me before. It was a simple answer to my question but when explained to me, I felt like "wow" someone actually noticed and understood what I was doing and why.
I'm a pretty cheesy, old fashioned and romantic but shy girl at heart.
LIE#12You Can't Buy Clothes In Japan
Hmm this one's a bit tricky! Most clothing here for women especially is one size fits all and even clothing that has sizes is often cut larger as Japanese women tend to wear non-fitted and loose clothing (the average girl dresses modestly or occasionally skimpy in a modest way (compared to Americans) haha. I wear a U.S Large and occasionally a Medium depending on the cut. In general you can find clothing here if you wear an XL or under with ease IF you shop at big brands like Uniqlo and Forever21 (yes I know F21 is American but it's in Japan/Uniqlo is in America now too smart ass!). If you're REALLY fat even by U.S Standards or if your feet are big or wide No you will not be able to find clothing or shoes here. Uniqlo is your best bet as they go up to about a 2XL U.S your options of course will be very limited or nonexistent. If yo wear a XS-M U.S buying most clothing is simple only jeans and fitted pants or skirts are hard. Normal dresses, top, bottoms etc. will fit just fine if you go up a size or two or if you purchase a one-size-fits-all item. I can fit most one size fits all clothing here but jeans and fitted bottoms never! My hips are wide (even in America) and I'm a curvy gal. Of course you can always shop online and Japan does have plus size retailers and people too!
LIE#13You're A Giant in Japan
I am 162 cm and I thought that I'd feel like an out of place giant here amongst 150cm girls. Women wear heels every wear for starts and honestly It's not a big deal. My mom is 5'2 and my brother is 5'7 (in America). I'm 5'4 (about 2 inches above average height, however my mom and brother are the exact average heights for both Japanese women and men so I had a good personal idea a stop what it would feel like being surrounded by a country of people at this height.
These are just averages meaning some are over some are under. I see women way taller than me and I've seen men way shorter than me (and the reverse of that too). Not all Japanese people are short. I think 5'7 is a nice height for me when it comes to dating. Shortest guy I dated seriously was 165cm. I even went on a date with a Japanese guy who was only 157cm! You won't feel to of place because both men and women wear boots and heels and even when they don't those 2 heights are just averages so unless you 6ft tall you won't have to feel self-conscious and even if you are a tall girl there's plenty of guys who will still see how beautiful you are.
Now for my men! Don't think that being 5'7-5'8 makes you tall here. You're still short-avergae in the eyes of a Japanese girl! Women here aren't noticeable much shorter in my opinion and despite how tall or short a girl is ALL women prefer tall men. I'm talking 6ft here. Personally I really like over 5'9 and under 6ft haha.
However being a cute and charming foreign man is more than enough to win her over. Men commonly give their height in cm before meeting yo in person don't be surprised if someone randomly and obnoxiously has their height and weight plastered on their dating profile (Tinder & OKC etc.). I see lots of tall Japanese men and woman especially men 5'11-6'3 every day on the train and in Ikebukuro, Shibuya, and Shinjuku. Yes you will be a chicken magnet if you're a tall man anywhere in the world but don't get ahead of yourself yet because you have a fair share of competition too.
LIE#14You Need To Learn Japanese Before Moving To Japan
NOPE! I'm not encouraging you to be lazy like me ( I didn't), but don't stress over it (I will have another simple post later about words and phrases you need to know/learn or that you will learn upon moving here)!
I forgot how to say "thank you" in Japanese when I was getting to of my arranged taxi and resorted to a bow and English thank you very much! (which of corse was still understood).
There's no need to cram Japanese videos on YouTube, find 3 language exchange partners, have a boyfriend/girlfriend you never met from the internets, have a certificate in business English, and N5 certification under your belt. Will it be useful? Hell yeah! However all you need to know if you learn nothing else is the following words in Japanese use Google Translate and favorite the translations. Try to mimic the translators voice viola! Everything else you can learn later if you stay long-term or you simply will never need or use here.
Hello
Excuse Me/Sorry
Train Station
Toilet/Bathroom
Numbers 1-10
Left
Right
Toilet
Goodbye
Yes
No
Okay/I'm Fine/Good/It's Alright
Please
Thank you
What
Why
Say It again/ One more time/Repeat yourself please
What Time Is It
What is that/this
Like/ I like
Welcome
You can easily live her without ever saying anything even please, thank you or excuse me in Japanese. As long as you can say those words in English you'll be fine, but your stay will be much nicer if you attempt to study just a little beginners speech.
LIE#15You Will Learn Japanese Once You Move To Japan
Unfortunately No! It's possible, but you will have to make a serious effort to learn it. Some things you'll catch onto because you hear certain words or phrases so much but the "gaijin bubble" is real people! Don't get stuck with foreigners try not to have a lot of foreign friends as you will find yourself behaving like a tourist and you'll never learn anything.
ALSO bilingual friends can be just as bad as gaijin. You'll find yourself resorting to English most of the time which is great for your nihonjin pals but bad for poor little you!
Try to venture out on your own so that you are forced to listen to, read and speak Japanese to get around and to get what you want at restaurants and stores as well as public transit. ALWAYS try your best to speak Japanese even if the staff reply to you in English. Insist that they use Japanese by being persistent! You don't have to be rude and say that ( please don't)! Just continue to talk in Japanese.
You have to be brave and try to speak Japanese with strangers, friends, and staff at random places.
Language exchanges can be great but make sure you buddy doesn't hog the time and you find yourself speaking English 90% of the time (it's easy to do as your partner probably know more English than yo know Japanese most of the time). I'm still not fluent and I've been living in Japan for almost a year! I have friends who have been her 6-8 months and can speak and write in Japanese fluently (I envy my Asian friends).
Yo can learn just by listening but it's not as easy to do as you think. Some people bash this method but I think self study on YouTube and textbooks is the best method. ALSO you should go to a language school over a university. Yo will learn better and faster. The best Japanese speakers here are people who studied at a language school NOT "university only" students who have never been to one. That is unless you taught yourself Japanese back at home.
LIE#16Nobody Speaks English
Japanese people speak the third best English out of Asians in my opinion. I think Koreans speak the best Vietnamese take 2nd place and Japanese and China WOULD be tied for 3rd but most Chinese people have such strong thick accents that are too difficult to understand because unlike other Asians they spend too much time practicing speaking but not enough time on using a fake American accent thus their English is usually broken even although they have a big vocabulary (remember of corse this is a general statement most of the Chinese people I've met in Japan speak VERY good English at or near Native sounding just like my Chinese mom).
Other Asian countries like Japan focus on reading writing and grammar too much and not enough on speaking and with Japanese people generally being very shy and afraid to make mistakes they are often too shy to test out their English. Even fluent English speakers in Japan will claim to only know a little English or they will profusely apologize to you for having bad/broken English even although they sound just find to your native English ears.
This is because Japanese people are generally very humble and don't brag and like I said before they're really shy. A lot of people speak read and write some English many young people under 30 are very fluent and some are near native level. You can get by never speaking Japanese because everything thats important is written in english or also spoken in english signs, menus, options, rules, games 90% of stuff here in Tokyo has English available if you travel out into the country side theres significantly less but even there you will find English signs directions and speakers just not as easily.
They speak English just not confidently. It rare that you'll meet someone that doesn't speak read or write any English. As a foreigner yo will naturally;y attract and possibly seek bilingual Japanese people. You will be amazed at just how many people can speak English, Chinese and Japanese ( and sometimes even Spanish or French!).
LIE#17Japanese People Are Friendly
They most certainly can be, but there's a few things that are culturally normal here than I simply can't get used to. There's soo much pushing and shoving here (in Tokyo specifically). People will run to get ahead of you on escalators, stairs, general lines and occasionally on or off of trains too (never on buses in my experience). It is understood that you should let these people get ahead of you as they're in more of a rush than you are and maybe its an emergency of some kind. However as an American it is very rude to me to put your bag besides you or in front of you to keep someone from getting past you because you want to be first, and running to cut you off is so rude to me. Japanese people don't usually talk to strangers or make small talk so they can seem cold. However when you do speak to them 90% of the time they will be very polite because it's culture not a matter of being sincere. I've had my fair shit of bad experiences with shit talkers and staff who didn't speak to me or offer me utensils or bag my stuff properly (I'll talk about this more in another post).
The best experience I've had with a stranger is an old Japanese man came up to me on the train and explained to me in English what the conductor had just announced that is that this was the trains last stop and that everyone had to get. He asked where I was going directed me to the appropriate track. I was on my way to Chiba and if not for him I wouldn't have gotten off until after the trainmen shooed me away and then would have still waited at the same (wrong) track for the next train. I am so thankful for him.
There's rude people in every culture, but in general they are NICE but not sincere and definitely not the friendly type just manner-able and well... "nice".
LIE#18Japanese People Love Hafu's
This is a tricky topic but I'd say this is not true. Japanese people like hafuu's who LOOK "western" and who LOOK cute. I see half or allegedly mixed Asians here all the time online and in person who brag about being mixed even although they either A.) look Asian or B.) Are actually pretty damn ugly even by Japanese standards. Also hafu is really just a term for Half-Japanese. I sometimes see Koreans and Chinese people use this term and some of my Japanese friends say anyone can use it but it's generally just used for Japanese people because the word itself is Japanese it's written in Katakana and is unofficial slang for mixed (being pure or 100% Japanese is taken seriously here people). I recently had a constructive argument with my Chinese guy friend about this haha. Some people even say that they only want to have foreign friends or only date foreigners and don't like hafu's.
In short yes they like Half-Japanese people along as you have western and non-Japanese features and aren't ugly.
LIE#19Japanese People Are Obsessed With White Paper Pale Skin
Yes it is prized, but not as much as you may think. Most women don't wear all black from head to toe and carry umbrellas on sunny days. It happens and you will see it often, but I don't even think half of the people do this. Also men never do that! Usually it's old ladies and occasionally young women but most people don't seem to care about the sun and sport tans darker than my natural complexion during the summer days.
This is not to say that Japanese people don't like or prefer to have white skin, but they aren't doing as much to achieve it as you think they would or have been told that they do. I think it's on par with black African-Americans (specifically females). There are lots of products to whiten and lighten black/dark skin and most black people would prefer to be lighter or envy people with lighter complexions. There's sadly an ongoing war of "Team Light" vs. "Team Dark" to this day countless pages made promoting and putting the 2 groups up against each other. Anyway I'll write about all of that later in another post.
My Point is simply that yes MOST African-Americans want to be lighter more pale etc. just like Japanese people but it's not as noticeable or culturally accepted where I'm from. Here you can openly talk about your "whitening rituals" and routines. In America you'd get stoned and shaded to death by the black community however if you're white and want to tan it's acceptable.... interesting that we've made or own little rules.
The only real difference is the acceptance of bleaching and whitening your skin through creams surgeries and pills, whereas it's looked down upon to do so in African-American culture so women who do so have to be secretive about it.
Yes, they like white skin! No they won't faint because of how pale and "beautiful" your skin is. Being blonde is better than being pale whether you're a man or a woman here.
If you're dark skin, whether you're European, Asian, Hispanic or African it doesn't matter! All that matters here is being attractive. A cute face and hot body is what matters. You will not be held to the same standards as the Asian men and women are here. They know that westerns can be darker, they know about tanning, many people idolize celebrities like Rihanna, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.
LIE#20There's No More English Teaching Jobs Available Too Many Foreigners/Applicants
WRONG! This is possibly true for people who aren't American but if you're from America don't bad because you can't get a working holiday visa. Your first in line when it comes to employment. SMART English speakers want an American English accent because America is the most powerful and richest country in the world. We practically control everything or so it seems and it makes other countries despise us because of how "conceited" we are accused of being. American English is preferred both for school and academic settings. British and Australian people can also get English jobs but you will usually be required to attempt to fake an American accent which is hard and sucks as my Aussie guy friends and 1 British gal has told me.
Japan has LOTS of English teaching jobs available everywhere especially within Tokyo, Chiba, and Yokohama. The pay isn't what it used to be because yes there's more competition and the economy is going through some tough stuff but you can comfortably live off of your salary and housing and sometimes even phone bills and transportation are covered by you employer making you monthly $2,500-$3,500 check pure pocket money.
the best part is yo don't need a degree, experience teaching or any TEFL or ESL certification but of course all of these things are a plus. Being from America especially if you don't look Asian is a HUGE "skill" you can market here. They will never have enough teachers because the turnover rate is high due to people getting married, becoming homesick, breaking company policies like dating students and deciding that teaching English isn't good for their thin skin. Most teachers here don't like teaching, children or even people for that matter it was just an easy way to get a visa to live here in Japan.
You don't need to speak a lick of Japanese and 95% of employers prefer to hire people who don't know any Japanese. Being bilingual won't help you get a job at most places UNLESS you aren't Americans and thus want to work at a convenience store, restaurant or retailer.
LIE#21Japanese People Hate Foreigners/Racist
This is a complicated lie with a half-truth. Japan like any country consists of normal people. Three will always be both good and bad people. I have yet to see anyone openly and explicitly be racists toward me or anyone else here. However culturally there's well known shed racism against Chinese and Korean people (more so for the Chinese). Most of this is de to historical facts, and arguments about land and past wars but some is about cultural differences. All of my Japanese friends HATE and absolutely despise being mistaken for a Chinese person. They often complain about how rude and loud Chinese people are and will say that they have family that hates Koreans or Chinese. One of my best friends here has a sister who HATES Koreans.
Most complaints and talk about racism has nothing to do with white or black people and it more so over nationality and culture. Race isn't an argument about being a human being here in Japan. Instead it's a matter of pride, territory and identity. unfortunately this is a gray area topic and when I've accused my dates of being racist for saying "I don't like Chinese people", they always became defensive and would reassure me that it's not like that. "Hmm well what is it then?... pride you say? Okay...".
Of course there are Japanese people who don't like foreigners of any kind because they're loud, obnoxious, and come into their small quiet little island country destroying us all. Some people despise Americans because of the atomic bombings, other hate Europeans, I haven't heard anyone talk about Africans but (I'm are they do) even I'm annoyed with them soliciting people (although of course they're just doing their job.. I hope).
I have 2 friends here who were born and raised in Japan but are half Chinese thus had to keep this a secret when they'd leave home as their friends and coworkers often would talk badly about Chinese people. I can't imagine what that must feel like :(.
I met a guy in Ikebukuro whom I regret not getting his name and number to this very day who told me his first day teaching here the kids told him that he looked like the poop emoji (he's a dark brown complexion but not really dark skin I was upset and in shock but I also told him that I wasn't (and I'm still not) trying to make excuses for Asians but that racism here especially when it comes from children is due to pure blissful ignorance.
When Americans say racist stuff it's genuine and coming from their hearts. Their goal is to make you feel bad for being black and to make you feel as though you aren't human.
We only know better as Americans because we've been taught (and had it beaten into s repetitively) are who lives not to talk about people or say certain things. We are raised to be sensitive to people who come from different cultures or look different from us because of how mixed our country is. Japanese people don't have such experiences unless they're adults or travel or studied abroad. Honestly kids in America are way meaner and care way less about what you're trying to teach them.
Japan is like 97-98% PURE Japanese but they don't have TV and classes and commercials and events that celebrate and bring attention and awareness to/of and about bullying and racial slurs and racism.
Anyway as long as you are respectful humble, quiet and show interest in the culture and respect for their land even the grumpiest ojisan will smile in your presence.
I gave up my seat 2 times on the train. One of which I will never forget. I usually stand even when seats are available so that someone who really needs to sit can do sit. One time I gave up my seat to a group of old people and you will not believe how thankful they were that they could all enjoy the ride together. They continued to smile, bow, and thank me and even talk about how well mannered I was amongst themselves in Japanese. None of the men or young people around me gave up their seat to this kind group of oldies who were going to split up themselves amongst the car and were quietly discussing who would sit where (mind you we were all sitting in priority seating!). None of the Japanese people on the train cared and probably saw me as a schoomzer, ass wipe and teacher's pet".
I often see group of men and women and even boyfriends with their girlfriends get on the train and quickly grab a seat and let their lady stand in 5 inches heels and a mini skirt as they sit and scroll their phone while talking to her! This would be super rude and comical to do in America. I wish my boyfriend wold run for a seat and then not give it to me when the train is packed.
Of course it's a different culture! Chivalry doesn't exist and putting on a show or begging someone to sit is embarrassing and should be avoided at all costs. It's best to simply get up and they will get the hong that you doing this from them if you don't get off the train, or quietly say "dozo" and nod your head giving a slight bow.
I've experienced far less racism here than in America. Infant Ive never experienced any direct racism because I was black just from people who didn't like foreigners in general. My color/race is NEVER mentioned only one troll on a no-name dating app told me in Japanese that "Africa is full of AIDS". His statement is true there's a lot of people with various STD's there an AIDS and HIV is a huge part of that. However thats all he said to start the conversation and was clearly trying to make me feel bad, comfortable and be prejudice towards me.
I feel safer here too. I don't have to worry about crimes or violence for the most part. It's like being in heaven here.
I will say it. Just because someone doesn't like you DOES NOT make them racist. You can't force someone to like you! Everyone has their own preferences even racial, height, weight, complexion etc.. It sucks if you aren't what they're looking for, but you will find someone who thinks you're perfect for them! However just because yo don't mean to be racist doesn't stop it from being racist either!
Also in regards to sign like these. I have personally only seen 1 and I've only been turned away from 1 cafe that didn't allow foreigners it was in Roppongi !This is not an everyday occurrence and it's usually for 1 of 2 reasons (or both): #1 They fear that the language barrier will be problematic #2 they fear that you're a loud obnoxious ghetto foreigner with no home training. As I wrote about before, this is why I couldn't rent 90% of the apartments that I wanted. They just think that it's too hard to explain the rules and procedures to you because stereotypically most foreigners here are disrespectful and rude (like my neighbors for example). The Harajuku Police come here at least once a month due to noise complaints from this ghetto gaijin project late at night because they love to party here for some reason and ruin the peace.
LIE#22Japan Is Clean
Yes Japan is clean to the naked untrained eye. It's hard to find liter anywhere despite the lack of garbage cans whether you're inside or outside everything is free of trash. I am shocked when I see even a gum wrapper or a mask caught on an escalator. Shibuya & Ikebukuro Stations are the easiest places to find trash.
However germs are everywhere because hand washing is not done very often outside of the tub/shower, or the oshibori/wetnap you're handed at restaurants. I've worked at a few cafes and restaurants here and my coworkers have gone straight from handling and taking out garbage and sweeping floor to preparing food and beverages!
It is common for people to go straight from the toilet to picking their nose and eating food or putting their hands on shared items. Of course I'd be a liar if I said I've never skipped a wash before but I usually feel disgusted afterwards because I know that I have germs and bacteria on my hands. I would never prepare food (yet alone make someone else a plate) I didn't hate, food with toilet hands.
This isn't Japan specific. I live in a share hose with80% Chinese girls and they also never wash their hands. Only my Chinese mom and my best friend seems to. Everyone else only washes if they got a little fudge on their handzys from an aggressive booty wiping session.
I've been on dates with hot guys who flicked buggers to the side at the dinner table while we conversed. I've seen women shamelessly search for bats in their caves in front of everyone on the train.
I went on a date with one of my ex-boyfriend who picked his nose while we were talking at the table. I pulled out my mini hand-sanitizer and offered him some. He examined the bottle and refused to use it. This same guy also had a habit of coughing on me if we were talking while close to each other talk about ruining a cuddle session...
Yes they wear masks but it's often to make themselves look cuter (as only their eyes are being seen, yo'd be amazed at how ugly some people are when they take off their mask no pun intended), to be lazy and avoid wearing makeup etc. (I'm not joking both my Japanese and gaijin friends tell me that they're not sick just wearing the mask because they're too lazy for full face makeup). ALSO they don't cover their mouth or nose to cough and sneeze instead they just pull down their masks, and turn away from you or downwards to hack and shoot snot rockets out into the open air that your breathing. Just hope it doesn't land on you too! The difference here is that its accepted.
In America there are also nasty people who do this but its not common and you would feel embarrassed or obligated to wash your hands if there's someone in the restroom with you. That feeling doesn't exist. I have never really seen anyone thoroughly was their hands. Usually its just a 2 second spritz of soapless hand washing and off to the powder room she goes.
If you've ever had food poisoning here it probably wasn't from the sashimi, sushi, or ramen but from the germs your server or cook gave you!
I have only a handful of friends that wash their hands I'd say 70% of the people I know only wash their hands once or twice a day outside of taken their mandatory bath in the late evening.
If yo tried any of this in America you'd need to be prepared for looks of disgust and possibly some bad language thrown at yo for being rude and nasty.
I don't know what's worse, kids or adults?
LIE #23Japanese People Aren't Shy
HUGE LIE! Even the most outgoing loudest Japanese guys *cough cough* like my boyfriend my ex and a few of my friends. If you ask them to talk about love, feelings, hugging or holding hands they instantly become the most bashful people on earth. As always theres an exception to every rule. I know that someone is going to claim to have a friend, boyfriend cousin etc. who isn't like this and hats cute sweetheart so have I but its rare and unusual and he's probably just trying to make you happy. PDA is rude here. Every time I've kissed or hugged my boyfriend people around look at us as though I wear giving him a lap dance in sexy lingerie and twerking on the train tracks.
Both men and women are equally shy but it's more noticeable amongst men because in American culture we expect men to be direct and dominant. These 2 traits are looked down upon here as being direct and dominant is generally perceived as selfish and rude!
My American friend and I were talking on the train one day when a girl practically shoved and forced herself through the car door. My friend who spoke fluent Japanese began to ask her in a normal tone if she was okay and basically kept bringing up what she had just witnessed. This poor girl turned red and quickly became annoyed and irritated with my friend's annoying questions as it was clear that she hit herself getting on the train and having a gaijin talking"loudly"where everyone onboard can hear what just happened (if for some reason they didn't see or hear her forcing herself through the door) put the spotlight on her. I nudged my buddy to get her to stop talking. She meant well, but showing fake or even sincere concern is unwanted and embarrassing here. The girl quickly got off at the next stop and waited for the next train to come on the same track.
A few days ago I saw a Japanese woman running down the stairs (people here run for trains that come every 2-10 minutes like there's an open shooter at a mall everyday) at Ikebukuro Station. Like most women here she had on sky-high platform heels and fell down half of the stairs practically doing a split. At least she was wearing boots and a long skirt. She landed so badly she probably would have twisted her ankle, lost her shoe, or broke something otherwise. Some people giggled and everyone looked in silence but not a single soul asked her if she was "okay". Nobody tried to help her as she laid there at the bottom of the first set of stairs for a good 15 seconds to compose herself. Instead she quickly got up and ran away from her embarrassment.
Even trying to be a good young person or a gentleman can be embarrassing. If yo want to offer your seat to a woman with children or the elderly it's best to just get up and pretend to be exiting the trainer stand and give a slight nod say "dozo" or make a quiet gesture of some kind. They will appreciate you and get the hint just don't be loud or obvious as MOST people find this to be embarrassing. Of course not everyone does though.
I relate to them and feel the same way as I'm an introvert by force not because I want to be but thanks to my 2 best friends who've sick around throughout the years, anxiety and depression. I think its pointless to ask dumb and obvious questions if someone is hurt and they aren't dying or bleeding out and you're not capable of helping them why even bother to loud ask? I wold feel embarrassed to! I hate when I fall and people say "are yo okay?". I know it's ingrained into my culture bt I don't like it it just makes me feel more embarrassed. It's not like yo've never fallen before! Of course i'll be fine.
I also get embarrassed easily. I like attention but not when it deals with personal stuff that can be sensitive or embarrassing. My dad is REALLY low (no microphone needed) and so is a lot of my ghetto extended family. I always hate going to in public with them because nothing is off limits with them. People here always think about what other will say or how their actions may affect someone else. It's not because they care about you its because they've been taught to do this its a formality of some sort. Just like Americans saying "how are you" when they really don't care and if you tell me "not good" you're making me uncomfortable af because now I have to show fake empathy and offer emotional support.
LIE#24Public Transit Is Dangerous/Crowded
Yes there are perverts and I've been a victim several times. However in general trains are only packed like how you see on the YouTube videos during rush hour (6:30AM-9:30AM is the worst 5:00-8:30PM). Women only cars are early mornings on weekdays only and it's just 1-2 train car out of 8-10 cars. It's not an everyday occurrence. If you get on the train outside of rush hour or use common sense and wait 3-10 minutes for next train it won't be crowded. "Chikan" are cowards. They usually aren't obvious. They're normally 40+ act and look like Master Roshi (however you spell his name). It's rare to have a young 20-30 something pervert normally these guys will smile, wink, or ask where you're from for your LINE Instagram etc.. Chikan know that they don't have a chance and thus will take pictures, videos, or try to touch or rub up against you.
Transit here is still much safer than Chicago where I have to pray that I don't get raped or peed on by a homeless psycho or that some gangbangers rape, stab, rob or shoot me to death (kill me). Yes they have signs warning yo about the dangers of the park and train but these are the same people that think its dangerous to walk outside at night because of perverts and Yakuza both of which are practically harmless.
I've met and spoken to Yakuza members they're relaxed and chill and don't really operate the way that American gangs do. This is a joke in comparison to Chicago gangs, streets and public transit.
I often go to late at night and early in the morning and I never fear being harmed because even the so called dangerous neighborhoods are safe its just dangerous because there's lost of Africans, Koreans, Yakuza members and obnoxious cat-callers. Kabukicho, Shibuya & Ropponggi are not dangerous. Nobody will try to rape, kill, or harm you they will just gawk or hit on you.
LIE#25Japanese Men/Women Are Sexless Don't Have or Like Sex
I have no idea who started this bullshit. Maybe the same one's who believe that cosplayers, otaku, gamers etc. a.k.a "weaboos" are offensive to Japanese people. Anyway that couldn't be further from the truth. The difference here is that people don't have sex as often as Americans do. Love Hotel's and Tinder are always full of guests and users. I've gone to hotels here countless times that my boyfriend and I were turned away from because they were full! I've met only a few virgins here. Most people prefer to only have sex with their wife, or girlfriend. Casually having sex with a friend is taboo here. Don't get me wrong! Cheating is still a huge problem here with soapland (and Tinder) and there are a lot of Japanese men AND women (shocker here) who just want to experience having sex with an easy golden-gaijin. Also a lot of people believe e that it's okay to visit a brothel because it's just releasing or satisfying a need as there is no emotional connection or real "love" between the man and his mystery chick. I don't agree with this but a good amount of Japanese men and women do.
I can't tell you how many people have told me that "I was strong" because I refused to hookup with them or that "they like foreign girls bodies" etc..
Men here are willing to pay big money for sex. I've hand hundreds of men ask me to have sex with them in exchange for money or gifts just by walking through or waiting near a station on friends and even while waiting for my boyfriend!
Basically they're fucking each other here BUT they are usually more careful about avoiding wanted pregnancies. Friends with benefits exists but one night stands are much more common. Usually only "gaijin-haters" ugly or old men are interested in casual sex here because they are obsessed with foreigners and/or are too unattractive by Asian standards to score with a Japanese girl.
Japanese men LOVE sex! Some don't, but like most men, of course they do! Men don't walk around with waifu pillows, blow up dolls, Miku holograms, and plastic pussies.
They watch porn, they got to brothels, they hook-up, they date & have sex just like any other man around the world does. It's just not done as often or as carelessly as the STD ridden western side of the world.
Yes the population is on a decline but that's because the population only boomed for a short while just like America because their men were finished with the war and everyone was ready to fuck! This country is very crowded and overpopulated. It needs to decline. There's so many people here. I'd say 90% of stores and restaurants don't even have their own store front, building, parking lot, or a garage to themselves. Everyone is stacked up in tiny "ghetto" outdated apartments that look like American "projects".
The population does not need to increase here it's over crowded. Everyone doesn't want to be America. They take pride in being almost 100% homogenous here. America is only "fake proud" of being multi-racial/ethnic because it was forced into it due to morality issues and reasons.
LIE#26Japanese Salarymen Are Workaholics They Work For So Long/So Hard
Again this is a half truth. Yes they are physically at their jobs for long hours everyday BUT they're not actually working. The average work day for a man or a woman with a degree and a career is 9:00AM-6:00PM (an extra hour for us Americans). However to show respect and dedication to your boss, and senpai within the company it's an unwritten rule that you're expected to stay at work until you boss and or colleagues leave first. Sometimes you might even stay afterwards.
My ex-boyfriend worked as a Civil Engineer and sadly only went home 2-3 nights a week because his jobs was about 2 hours away by train. He'd often stay late to finish work and to show how good of an employee he was. Doing this puts you first in line for promotions, raises and builds a "bond" between you and your employer.
One time he stayed at his job literally for 2 weeks without ever going home! He was actually Face Timing me every night from his company and even gave me a tour one time. They have a washer, dryer, full kitchen, and shower and he has his own company car which he used to come see me and go on a road trip a few times. He lived in Tokyo too but was about 2 hours away from me by train as well haha.
It's common for salarymen to hangout in the bathroom, scroll through LINE, Facebook and Instagram or even watch YouTube and text YOU near the end of their work day. Most men have a nice lengthy 1 hour lunch break even at retailers like cafe shops.
So these men aren't actually working. The huge downside is that of course like anyway as long as you not at home and forced to be at work or school you still feel like you're working! You probably just want to go home and sleep, see your kids, eat dinner, walk the dog, watch TV (or porn) but NOPE!
You're stuck at your job against your will.
Often times men are required to join their colleagues and boss for a night out at a host club, snack bar, or izakaya (Japanese style bar). It's another unwritten rule but you basically have to go. To decline their invite/offer is frowned upon even if you have a wife or a girlfriend. Usually your boss will cover the fees or at least most of it but other times he won't and you'll be expected to shell out some cash that you may or may not have (this is not common from what I've seen and heard).
One of my ex's told me a story about a time his boss made him waste $500 at a host club because he is boss wanted to stay longer!
This is culturally ingrained into men here in particular. Work will always come first. It is more important than your family, girlfriend, wife, kids, pets, and personal wants and ambitions. It is better to be a part of the group and belong rather than to be independent, solo, and basically "selfish".
My point is yes they technically work all day but it's not really. Playing in the bathroom and partying at night may feel like work because you're forced to (technically) but it's not and ultimately it's your choice. You won't get fired for not doing this but you can forget about being first in line for promotion or being buddies with the coworkers or boss.
LIE#27Japanese Women Dress Modestly
Now this is going to contradict what I've said earlier a bit but women here do dress skimpy just in a different way ad it's not as common or as acceptable as it is for women ti do in America. I see girls year around wearing mini skirts, belly shirts, short-shorts, mini dresses, both with and without tights or pantyhose. However because you're the "hot" gaijin girl if you do the sea thing you'll be met with way more stares and even looks of disapproval. On my way home from Ikebukuro with my friend, 2 Japanese men were talking about how "short foreign girls dresses are. Mind you I was wearing black sheer tight, booties, a mini dress AND a long overcoat that was slight undone because I was hot. He was whispering to his fat friend besides him BUT they were loud enough were everyone near us in the car could hear what he was saying about me. I was so angry because I just saw a "street styled" Japanese girl wearing a crop-top with her pierced navel showing in booty shorts and stilettos with a hat on and 3 guys pressed against her. Not a single soul spoke one word to or about her no-one even looked!
As a foreigner everything you do is seen as "sexy" and inappropriate even if it's the same as the women around you. Your held to a higher standard and this is the ONLY time that you will be here as people think you know magic if you can properly hold chopsticks or introduce yourself in Japanese.
In general most women do wear long balloon skirts, pants and blouses. There's a big and very heavy influence of American 80's-90's looking outfits and fashions here which is kinda cute and well... interesting.
The only thing that's entirely true about fashion here is that no one shows cleavage! I've only met and seen maybe 3-5 women in total showing off their breasts and all of these women were busty and curvy like me. They were clearly trying to get attention because they weren't attractive facially but their tits were their selling point. In my country it's not a matter of being a whore it's just fashion. Most women clothing is a bit revealing in America.
I've never seen anyone talk about this problem but actually I think when I dress conservatively or modestly it makes my breasts look waaaay bigger. In that picture above I'm wearing a turtleneck dress. My boobs look like I have a watermelon in each individual cup! Sometimes I feel a bit uncomfortable when I'm in public especially around me. I know men like breasts, but I feel like a walking talking blow up doll at times because of my breast size. In America having a nice bit is very common in my opinion and men are desensitized to it so they don't make a big deal about seeing a woman in a V-neck. Really V-necks make my ta-ta's look smaller.
So yes women generally just both fashionably and conservative but wearing slutter-wear isn't as taboo as you think. As long as it's just legs, back and arms being shown it's normal. Cleavage is the only real no-no but women still do it sometimes anyway. I personally wear leggings and cut-out clothing occasionally. Is it appropriate here? Of course not! Do people care? Sometimes. This is a tricky one to answer and basically a half truth. If you want to fit in and be respectful as you should be, I would definitely dress modestly! My point is simply that you can dress in your normal clothing because most tourist here do and even some Japanese people dress like Americans especially during the summer!
LIE#28
It's Offensive to Wear a Kimono, Yukawa, or to Dress Up As a Geisha
Despite what you may have seen or heard in America this is simply false. There are hundreds of kimono rental shops aimed and marketed towards English speaking foreigners in Japan. Airports have costume rental shops wear you can dress up as a ninja or a geisha and have a professional photo taken. If you go outside wearing traditional Japanese clothing Japanese people will compliment you and call you handsome or beautiful and either ask for you permission or go ahead and snap a picture. Nobody gets mad over this stuff! They don't mind. They appreciate the fact that you are interested in their culture. They want to share it with you!
Keep in mind that it's because unlike America Japan is almost 100% Japanese! There is no history of white people oppressing, enslaving, and dehumanizing them for having their natural hair, features or clothing styles and religions. Even Japanese people come form Tokyo to Kyoto to wear a geisha costume with groups of girls while drinking Starbucks and playing Space Invaders at Round One. You know things that would be considered disrespectful and inappropriate behavior for a REAL geisha to partake in.
So that's it! These are all "Lies That Weaboos Believe". I will update this post in the future and I'm sure people in the comments will add some more "lies" that they too believed or add some more points and "lies" that I forgot to mention. There's obviously much more than just what I wrote here. These are just the things I found most surprising as the opposite is commonly believed in America and maybe other places too.
Please share your experiences with everyone in the comments below too!
Don't just take my word for it! Come to Japan and make some real, authentic, native friends here and ask them what they think about you, your country and my post.
Everyone will have a different experience here so please feel free to share yours as well.
I also can't wait to read your angry comments because I'm sure this offended everyone. I will elaborate more on this in a video and make individual posts later that talk about more these lies in more detail.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you learned something valuable here. Stay encouraged you'll be just fine here in Japan! Please don't worry about what people think of you!
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