Job Discussion Forums

[blackguy-n-Asia]

I've read many posts and heard many stories on this, and since I'm going to Japan in the summer, I'd like to know your opinion.

How are black people treated in Japan?

I've heard that older folks are racist. That girls love black men. That black people are stared at on the steets.

What is the real story?

[khmerhit]

I had an African friend in Cambodia. He was really into Japanese women, and they were quite into him. He married one and settled down there, now he works as a DJ.

I'd say he was having more fun than I was.

The word I heard was that Japanese woman do like their African guys. Only hearsay, but it was good enuff for me.

[Synne]

I think it all depends on the individual. My girlfriend is Japanese and her perception is that she doesnt mind black men, but enjoys white men more. I've also heard from her friend -who is also Japanese- that she enjoys black men more then white.

I believe it depends entirely on the girl.

[kaimana]

Funny you post this. I met a Japanese guy yesterday and told him that I was going to Japan in August. The first thing he said what "Wow, I hope you like a lot of attention." Told me that in the bigger cities, being black isn't such a big deal, but that I should be prepared to be "very popular" in a small city.

My dad lived in Japan for 8 years and he never had a problem being black. Of course he lived in Tokyo (Roppungi), so that probably had something to do with it. I remember my mom getting a lot of stares though. I talked to her about it the other day and she told me that she'd constantly get hit on by dirty old men.

I don't know how much this information helps you. In my personal opinion, when I was there it didn't seem like black people were perceived differently than other foreigners. Of course, you're not going to be treated as if you were Japanese, but you probably already knew that.

I'm totally looking forward to being black in Japan. Not that I'm trying to make a statement about my blackness, because I'm SOOOO not, but I think being different creates great opportunity for intercultural interaction. In my experience abroad, when people stare, or do other weird things curious people do, that's a great time to start up a conversation....but that's just me.

[Gordon]

Well they stare at you all the time if you are white, so I think it will be compounded even more being black. There is a big K-1 boxer here named Bob Sapp who is black and advertises everything here and is really popular. I'm sure you'll hear all about him.

[joncharles]

When I first went to Japan it didn't seem to be that big of a deal. I saw many black/Japanese couples. There were many ex-military guys who married Japanese women and stayed in Japan. There is also a huge Nigerian population... They seemed to own all the Hip Hop Clothing shops around my area. With the recent upsurge in the popularity of Hip Hop and Gangsta it has become trendy for many young girls in Japan to have a black boyfriend regardless if you are American, Canadian, Jamaican, Nigerian. That is the ultimate status amoung many of the Hip Hop scene in Japan, having a black boyfriend. Of course the guys are beginning to act and dress like their favorite American rapsters. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it is any different than in some places in the states or Canada. So I don't think you will have too many problems associating with some of the younger crowd. Be careful... in the smaller cities they tend to be more marriage minded than the girls in the larger cities.

[Dr.J]

Older people are more racist everywhere.

In Japan you will probably encounter some kind of 'racism', though it is usually just childlike ignorance. People will expect you to like hip-hop etc. You will be asked silly questions like, I don't know, "Why are you black?". But it's mostly harmless.

Girls will pay you more attention, but many of them will find it hard to see beyond the fact that you are a foreigner and a status symbol as someone already said.

That's as bad as it gets! Otherwise peoply are friendly and helpful and just normal, as far as I have seen.

[Zzonkmiles]

Interesting. Seems like everyone knows Japanese women like Black men except for the Japanese women themselves!

As a Black American in Japan, I've found Japanese (men and women) to fall into one of several categories:

1. Those who don't like foreigners at all, regardless of their race.

2. Those who are open to meeting foreigners, but only if they're White.

3. Those who are open to meeting everyone, regardless of their race.

4. Those who are open to meeting foreigners, but only if they're Black.

5. Those who are open to meeting foreigners, including Blacks, so long as they're not African.

Granted, there are some J-women here who LOVE Black guys, but I think this subset is much smaller than the amount of J-women who only like White guys, or would at least prefer to be with a White guy if they could choose between the two races.

I think this "preference" is based more on familiarity and fear than on some type of racial prejudice. I've found many Japanese to be quite curious about me, and many of my J-friends tell me they've never had a Black foreigner friend before. Most of the English-speaking foreigners in Japan are White, so the Japanese are likely to be more comfortable with them. So in a sense, being Black in Japan is almost like being a "double foreigner."

Also, some Japanese women have told me they are afraid of Blacks because they are "more aggressive" (read "scary"). I think they are usually referring to some of the Black Africans who approach them on the street and aggressively try to get them to buy hip hop gear from their shops. Or it could be media influence.

Personally, I wouldn't be attracted to any J-woman who liked me primarily because I was Black. And if I were White, I'd feel the same way if that was her only reason for liking me. Of course, this is likely going to be a part of the equation with most cross-cultural relationships here, but some people are more superficial about it than others.

Being Black in Japan is interesting. It's probably easier being Black here than back in the West because the type of discrimination is different. The treatment and stares you receive are usually based more on curiosity than on resentment or disgust like back home. One thing I'll warn you about from a dating/friendship standpoint, however, is that it's admittedly tricky if you try to make friends via online penpal/dating sites or local community friendship bulletin boards. (I've had a few instances where the people I'd correspond with would say many good things about me, my Japanese ability, etc. And then they'd stop writing altogether after the first picture was sent. Exchange pictures quick so that you don't waste your time. But I guess that holds true everywhere with this.)

My final verdict: Yes, Blacks are popular in Japan. But then again, so are all foreigners. Regardless of which types of foreigners are most "in demand," if you find a few legit friends or one decent man/woman who accepts you for who you are and respects you, it shouldn't really matter if you're not the right "type" for what seems to be 99% of the rest of the population.

[joncharles]

Zzonkmiles..... nobody could have said it better. Thanks for the insights which have changed my perceptions I spoke on earier.

[Sheep-Goats]

A friend of mine, who's done business in most Asian countries (barring mainland China) says that the Japanese treat black people the best of any of the Asians.

I've been in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and China. The Japanese people I meet here in Bangkok are by far the least racist (unless we're talking about other asians...) of any of those countries.

[nowled]

I have also lived or vacationed in every asian country, and I found Japan to be the least racist. Bangkok Thailand, in my opion was just as racist, or more racist then most places in America. It almost reminded me of mississippi in the 50s.

Ironically the majority of the Racism I felt in Japan, came from other gaijins, or, Japanese people who worked in close vicinity to/or were married to gaijins.

[Mark-O]

Zzonkmiles, full credit for the balanced views in your posts. The status symbol, token black/white partner was eloquently put and I couldn't agree more.

My sister is living in a smaller city/town in Yamanashi prefecture and she has a small black community there who mainly run the hip-hop shops and scene there. Her perceptions are mixed. She gets on well enough with these guys to talk to, and they never seem to have trouble finding a girl on their arm. They're friendly, personable, laid-back and game for a laugh, it sounds.

However, my sister's observations of the general japanese reaction to these guys is that of 'threat' or 'fear'. She sees both men and women (young and old) literally jump out of their way in social situations and will desperately avoid all looks and eye contact with them.

As I said, this is second-hand information and from within a smaller city, so I couldn't possibly comment on what it is like elsewhere.

[nowled]

I love the balanced views on this sight the only thing that bothers me is the way blacks get lumped into a pile.

What do I mean? You would never see people looking at white motorcycle gang members, and lumping all white people with them. But, everyone watches rap videos and lumps all black people with them. If you look at black people from the 50s you would see a wide range of black folk, now in the 21st century we have been labled and bogarded into a small corner of thugs or hip hop.

My question is: Have people gotten dumber?

I would say no! I would say that the public relations officer for black people is doing a terrible job.

For the most part the majority of the people who I have come across in Japan as a black person are decent people.

But, as black people who teach english in Japan, we have to work harder and be more intelligent then the average person. We have to, according to W.E.B dubious, have a double idenity conscious. That is, seeing ourselves as black people and at the same time seeing ourselves through the eyes of people who dislike you. People out here are innocent I feel, they don't know anything about black people, and when they do want to know something they go ask westerns or watch those three African coons on: ka la kuri T.V. who give them misleading information, so in turn, they tend to be afraid.
(I know some people are asking do people believe everything they see on T. V? Yes they do!)
I am an African American, who is a graduate of of a highly respectable college, and a former writer of saturday night live; My pants don't sag I dont' wear a lot of jewlery; I don't curse everytime I talk; but some people in Japan, and other Asian countries which I will not name, still approach me and "beat box or do a little rap jingle when they walk up to me.

I used to sit back and laugh and say to myself no one would ever believe everything they see on T.V. But it seems I overestimated that conscious leve of the public. I don't watch old karate movies and think, the Japanese are like that, so why would they believe the stereotypes about me?
Who knows. Ironically I would say that I don't experience half the racism here that I experience in America. For the most part the people here are wonderful.

I love my western friends also. But I do find Europeans, especailly those from Australia to be very kind and almost nonchalant about my being black. American and Canadians seem to me, for the most part the most racist.

[guest of Japan]

I have a few questions for you Nowled.

1. Why would you give up a job as a writer for "Saturday Night Love" to become an English teacher in Japan?

2. Can you be absolutely positive that the racism you felt in the US wasn't actually resentment over the last 20 years of SNL being a tad not funny?

3. How long have you been in Japan? Have you ever tried to do a job hunt within Japan or looked for your own apartment? Have you met the families of any previous or current Japanese girlfriends? These are the areas where racism can most clearly be seen in Japan. It exists for white people and I believe even more so for those with darker skin.

4. Which part of Europe is Australia in? My maps are a little outdated.