How Japanese see Foreigners Part 1 – #japan #japanlife #japaneseculture #japanese #japantravel
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25 Comments
Nice, just waiting for my sat morning education ,and it popped up! , hope the typhoon doesn't hammer Yokohama to much, stay safe! 🙂
excellent points. I will add something. I think broadcasting the news on how great japan is asking foreigners is actually not so bad. If you compare it with how toxic divided and conflicted America is at the moment, where people do not feel proud and are literally throwing the baby with the bath water, we could learn form Japan in that sense. Because where attention goes energy flows, what you practice and choose to feed grows. This is no different than Manga and anime reinforcing Japanese cultural and societal values as well as critiquing what needs to be critiqued.
I kind of got tire to see TV programs in Japan which show expressing "Japanese Pride" to foreigners who visit Japan. I'd like to know how such the thing come from. By the way I love to see the last 10 seconds of this video.
Another interesting video! I wonder whether the collectivist nature of Japanese society is a driving factor in the layered pride/inferiority attitude? On one hand, the individual wants to do their part in making Japan perceived as successful and positive – the 'pride' aspect. On the other hand, the individual also seeks affirmation that those efforts are successful – the 'inferiority' aspect. Maybe the long-term foreign resident doesn't receive the same level of 'attention' as a new-comer/visitor is because it is perceived by the Japanese that the 'PR campaign' has already been won?
Early on (after three or five years) when I began to have a reasonable grasp of the culture, suddenly it was an entirely different type of Japanese person who was interested in being in my orbit. Initially people seemed to enjoy the intrigue/novelty/transgression of spending time with a foreigner and relish the opportunity to translate the culture for me as they wanted me to perceive it. The narrative was not always congruent and differed quite a bit from person to person depending on which part of the country they were from their generation, socio economic status.. Equal parts, endearing, amusing, and annoying. There was definitely an imbalanced power dynamic going on there. After many years, my current relationships with Japanese are definitely more based on genuine human appreciation with little or none of the lay-ambassador role-play. I’ve noticed some Japanese are very intimidated by foreigners who are comfortable in their own skin and successfully navigating life here longterm. Which is kind of a shame. But ultimately, we should be grateful for having been adopted as “pet gaijin” in the early years. Annoying at times, but it came with a lot of sweet interactions, valuable information and (a few) longterm connections.
the biggest question might be in the very definition of a "foreigner", and consequently of a "japanese"
although that would greatly complicate my ability to go to and be in the country of my origin, sometimes i have this devious idea of actually getting naturalized, and then pulling a japanese passport at every instance of being referred to as a ”外国人”
Sweet, time to make some tea and enjoy this video 🙌🙏
Really love these videos, the environments you walk in help keep the attention and your voice is very clear.
On the topic, I think this is an element that some people may find this pride to speak to "fresh" foreigners as sort of 'selfish' hospitality. They're not asking questions or showing you around because they deeply care, they really enjoy that affirmation for themselves and their national identity. It's sort of like when someone's new to your city and you're like "you HAVE to go to xyz restaurant and see abc monument!" – because you like those things and it would make you feel better if more people liked those things.
About suggesting topics, could you talk about safety? I live in Canada and apparently Toronto is in the top 10 on a lot of lists which, as someone who lives here, baffles me. So I wonder just how safe is a place like Tokyo or even somewhat smaller cities like Kobe or Kagoshima? And what makes them safe? What elements do you as a resident factor into safety?
Hi Paul great video as always, I was reading the other users comment about the last 10 seconds of the video and almost missed it! Got me thinking… your videos are very well spoken and longer format, perhaps it could benefit from adding some interesting and funny clips at the start of the video and throughout during transitions (not too many, but just a few to break things up, ie drinking water at konbini etc.) cheers!
I feel they're very similar to Romanians in this sense.
I have no illusions of being treated as anything but a foreigner in Japan only because [wait for it]….I'm a foreigner! I have no problem with that and actually enjoy being foreigner here. I know some people leave because they feel they didn't or couldn't "fit in". Culturally, socially, economically Japan has it's pluses and minuses and I appreciate both. I will say, personally, I have an overall greater sense of relief living here rather than back in the U.S.
Japanese 'exceptionalism' and the foreigner aspect to propagating this idea is a really interesting topic. When I was living in Fukuoka I was taken to see a 30 storey building and was expected to marvel at it. Coming from a city with a skyline filled with buildings 2 to 3 times taller I have to say, I had to fake it 😂
The topic tells me you have become one of us already.
I like the format of walking and talking. I feel like I just got a nice lecture on Japanese culture. Thumbs up.
As a Japanese, I totally agree with you. If I can add something, it might be about an appearance. We Japanese have been wanting to become Westerners, especially white person, who has beautiful blue eyes, blonde hair, longer arms/legs and attractive body shape(feminine or muscular). In other words, we tend to have a strong inferiority for those aspects, which probably causes the fact that most of us really like to watch the interviews where the beautiful Westerners are making a compliment to Japan/Japanese.
English is a global language. Hence, it is taught all over the world. If Japan teaches English in universities, why do you think Japanese people learn English to show their pride.
So Vegeta from Dragonball Z encapsulates the general Japanese mindset 😅 Pride vs Inferiority.
From an Australian perspective, Japan seems like one large magical theme park! You can't take 10 steps in any direction without seeing something amazing! And I mean that in the most respectful way possible.
Everybody and their brother are making videos on Japan. Geesh.
Generally agree with your viewpoint and also would say that yes, Japan is very unique and special. However, when talking to a Japanese person about this topic I also make it clear that all countries and cultures are unique and special, so Japan in this sense is the same as everywhere else. Once heard that one sign of maturity is to show interest in the other person and ask questions and learn about their background, experiences and viewpoint…. after over 30 years here,I rarely find a person like this in Japan as they seem more determined to talk about Japan than have curiosity beyond their personal borders.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience
I moved here 4 months ago, for me the best thing here is the customer service. the biggest challenge is the language.
Man… I really love Japan, but it’s also a world of contrasts. Promoting the cultivation of goodwill towards Japan as much at home as abroad… is a huge red flag for me. As a person from a country that has hardcore small-country syndrome who grew up internationally, I can be personally proud of what my country has done to build a great society; but at the same time I don’t care at all what anyone thinks about Denmark.
To go straight to my biggest contention with Japan, I don’t think you can be proud of your history if you don’t learn about the darkest parts. Personally, I with we would address the Danish colonial rule in Greenland more in schools. That have truly been our darkest moments. Let us reckon with them.
Of course there will always be some dipshit Conservative party who believes that nationalism demands disregarding a sordid period of one’s history, despite being past it, and attempt to shoot down honest teaching about it on schools. But at least in Denmark we don’t elected those parties to a majority in the government.
Sounds like imperialism,
Even I came here because I fell for the 建前 (tatemae) 😅
I can't hear what exactly is being spoken…but I do recall back in college, my teacher of philosophy 101 asked us: how many people do you actually know or have met? So, grain of salt, folks… unless I say something like: every time someone spots me driving my car they …
Or every time I cross a lady at the store entrance, her expression is….or often I have observed this same bleedin' reaction to my presence..I hate to draw conclusions that are judgemental
1:09 From another new perspective.
When you ask an introduction from another Japanese person, usually Japanese people will definitely say like "私は日本人です。"
But I noticed in Europe (living here), they don't really say their nationality… Like who cares if I'm from this country. It's a very interesting observation.
Side note: I also used to say I'm Japanese when I'm introducing myself before because I thought it's important (proud of it too). But I stopped because the other person doesn't say where they're from. So i thought it's irrelevant.😊