Job Discussion Forums

[Clairebear07]

Hi,

Well, a week today and i will be on my way to Osaka!

I've been using the search here but just wanted to get some more info on the above; how do you cope with being a vege' in Japan?

I feel fine about buying food etc to cook at home. But (hopefully!) when i make some friends and if we go out.. i'm pretty worried. I thought i could get away with boiled rice.. noodles etc. But it says they are all cooked in meat/fish broth etc. Is this true for it all? I don't eat any meat/meat by products or fish... I would feel so rude going out and not being able to eat anything but at the same time i've been vege for about 12yrs now and i really don't think (and hope) that Japan is going to be changing any of my beliefs/views.

Are there any other vege's and how do you cope?

I know Japan is a relatively safe country. However, i've read that female travellers have to be a bit more careful. I know all countries etc carry risks and you just have to be careful. But does anyone ever have any problems with male (unwanted) interest? How do you cope with this? My friend keeps telling me to be careful as a friend of theirs had worked in Japan and had a stalker and had to be moved.. (i have blonde hair if that makes any difference?!) (also... the 'chikan'.. is this common and what should you do if this happens to you?) Is it safe walking at night. i.e; home from the train station?

I don't mean to be cheeky or disrespectful and i know everywhere carries risks these days but i'm just interested to hear from any females on this?

Many thanks for any replies!

Claire ;0

[furiousmilksheikali]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=46303&highlight=vegetarian

[JimDunlop2]

http://www.being-a-broad.com/

[Sherri]

Hi Claire
I lived in Japan for a number of years in Tokyo, for part of that time I was single. Overall, it is a safe place to live and I felt safer than I did when I was living in London (which is where I lived before coming to Tokyo).

Still, you have to be careful. Try to get an apartment off the ground floor so that it is not so easy to access from the street level. Avoid hanging your underwear on the line--they get stolen! Yes, it is all too true. Be careful walking home after dark. I have been followed a couple of times and at least 2 times a week I would get propositioned--they thought I was a prostitute and some Japanese guys spoke to me in Russian (I have blonde hair too) asking skolko stoit (how much). I lived near Ikebukero Station, so that kind of thing happens in a big city center.

Also be careful on crowded trains, just use the same radar that you would anywhere else. The more Japanese you can understand, the worse it is since you can understand what people are saying about you. Not so nice sometimes.

Anyway, do not stress about it. It really is a safe place overall. Just watch yourself just like you would anywhere else on this planet.

Sherri

[Chris_Travel_the_world]

Welcome to Japan,

Many of my friends are strict vegetarians here in Japan and it can be difficult at times. You really have to stress that you won't eat meat in restaurants. Be firm and polite and you shouldn't have too many problems. The waiter will say things like 'don't worry there is no meat in it, only fish' or 'there's only a little meat' . I have seen waiters act like it is the biggest inconvience in the world to not add meat to something, but all the same they complied. So learn how to say that you are vegetarian in Japanese (it's really easy to say) and a few more phrases and you should be set.

About being a girl here in Japan, well I can't say too much as I am not a girl. I have heard stories from my friends about a few crazy things that have happened to them. Be careful and always mindful, but not paranoid. Most Japanese people just mind their business, but like in every country there are some crazy people.

Good luck in Japan, hope you have fun

[Gypsy Rose Kim]

As for being a vegetarian, the difficult part will be making people understand just what you won't eat. They're not going to judge you at all, but they're also likely to give you something to eat just because they can't get their heads around it. Try to be clear upfront before people go to the trouble of preparing/ordering something special. It's hard to anticipate sometimes, and will take some learning on everyone's part.

Being a chick in Japan is fine. People making a big deal cuz you've got blonde hair? Uh, maybe 50 years ago. I think it's one of those things like, "Oh! You can use chopsticks?" They don't really think it's special, but they think you want to hear it. Well, not YOU, but blonde chicks in general.

Maybe sometimes guys will hassle you, but it is NOT a Japanese-are-pervs type thing (well, they are, but usually in a good way, and hopefully you'll have a chance to learn about that stuff on your own). Think about an Asian chick in a Western country. Of COURSE some guys are gonna be curious. Some are gonna think they can get away with a bit more than they can with the local women. It's human nature.

Don't fall into the trap of making sweeping statements about Japanese men, Asian men in general, or any other group of men based on the actions of the lowest common denominator. Not that you have. Just, it's easy to think that way at first.

I've dated some OUTSTANDING Japanese guys, and I hope you'll do the same. You're going to love Japan. Seriously. Nothing to worry about.

[ndorfn]

like chris said above, you have to be firm about it coz most people have no notion of vegetarianism. it's tough going out, but let your friends and co-workers know beforehand. I've had some great spreads laid out specifically to cater for me when restaraounts want a big group of workers to go there.

[sallycat]

i felt much safer in japan than i have in many other countries. possibly the biggest problem is the fact that it often feels so incredibly safe that it can lull you into not taking any of the precautions you would in any other country. if someone seems to you to be behaving suspiciously (eg. displaying stalkerish behaviour), treat it as seriously as you would at home.