Job Discussion Forums

blackguy-n-Asia · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 201

Would a person with darker complexion have trouble dating, working, being out on the town, or with the authorities?

Please be very honest and very informative with your experiences and ideas. You cannot offend on this topic, as honesty (no B.S.) is sought.

Generasian X · Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 50

"Does the color is skin matter in Japan?"

Do you want to know what matters???...ENGLISH SKILLS...
get hooked on phonics, then get a job...easy as that....

JohnDoe · Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 31

I don't understand why you have a problem with his English skills? I read it and re-read it and the only errors I got were 'Blande' and a run-on sentence involving colons. Not to nitpick but your post had dangling participles and sentence fragments. This is the Internet. If people fully spell words and include punctuation, it's a miracle.

It's not like he said 'plz tell me if u can if its bad to b blck in japan lol ty'.

Oh, and I've never been to Japan so I'm not sure what the answer is. Wink

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

I don't think one's skin color plays too important a role in Japan. There are only two types of people in Japan: the Japanese and everybody else.

madeira · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 182 Location: Oppama

Homer Simpson has it right, but I`d add one more thing...

I think it`s the `thickness` of your skin that matters here, not so much the colour. Everyone from other countries here will experience some negative stuff, and we all hear ridiculous nonsense from Gov. Ishihara...

Some folks can brush it off, some can`t. Some notice the public staring even after a few years; I dont. Some are bothered by hostess bars not letting them in, I couldn`t care less.

(Not Japan, but in Victoria, my brother`s girlfriend got fed up with the public staring, and left for Toronto. She said "There`s more Black people there, I feel more comfortable. This town is racist." Well, I guess TO is great if you happen to be a 5'11" drop-dead gorgeous girl who doesn`t want to be noticed...)

blackguy-n-Asia · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 201

Thanks for the info and sorry for the punctuation.....typing while eating and watching tv? Not recommended Laughing

Japan doesn't sound bad at all, just wanted to know from the people living there before I go in 2005. Thanx, and any more info/stories are appreciated.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Arlis · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 24 Location: Qingdao, China

I can only add in regards to work. If you're worried about it, start applying to see how far you will get. If you're worried about racism, start by sending everything all documents they ask except for the photo. After you send it, see how fast they drop you or stop speaking to you.

I say this only as I've experienced this on more than one occassion (no messages AFTER photo was sent). I've also discussed it at length with another English Language Teacher who taught in Japan. After being asked to find an additional part-time English tutor, she suggested her husband who was currently taking a breather from his work overseas (they were both in Japan at the time). This was met with enthusiasm, until they saw him. He was Chinese (she was white - oops they must have thought). And yes, he spoke fluent english (10+ years in an native english school, MA in Finance -or some business subject forgot which). But they dropped him like a hot potato.

It's not bleak though, there are success stories that posters have & will (hopefully put up). But I *am* with madeira and homer - how thick's your skin? It's hard on things that you can't control (what people feel), but if you can at least keep going regardless of opposition, well hey- that's half the battle won. Good luck!

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

I have worked with a black American before and I helped to interview one not long ago. He got the job. He used to be in the military and has a Japanese wife.

I think what schools want are teachers that are reliable, and get along with their students. They want native speakers, whatever the color.

I have to wonder if the teachers who have the toughest time are Japanese-Americans, who may be expected to act Japanese.

The G-stringed Avenger · Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:39 am Post subject:

Black Guy n' Asia, good question. Any foreigner is going to cop a bit of hassle, whether it's just stares or insults or even police harassment, but yes, I think black people get it worse than whites or Asians. If you're white you're going to be top of the heap in Japanese eyes, while non-Japanese Asians come second and blacks a distant third. No matter what your skin colour, though, if you're not Japanese you're something a little less to them. As for blacks, most of it is fear, I think, which may come from cultural stereotypes or even just being physically bigger. There's always exceptions and it's not impossible to make good friends in Japan, just look out for the users and you'll be fine.