Job Discussion Forums

[km618]

I've been thinking about going to Japan to teach but I don't know how I would get along with the Japanese people...I don't really remember reading anything good about them on this board...as far as relationships with foreigners go, anyway. The impression that I get is that they look at us as second class citizens and, at the same time, use us as status symbols...and that the girls are either hardcore sluts, super conservative, or gold diggers. It seems kind of like China, being that there is a lot of "using" going on. It's a different culture and I'm not trying to bash Japanese people in any way, so please don't come in here saying "oh blah blah you *beep*. you don't know anything about Japan"...I don't know anything, because I've never been there. I know that there's a lot more to it than that, so feel free to educate me...

[flyingkiwi]

Where to start educating you? Most of your perceptions are wrong, and only true in some cases. Never stereotype, that's the main thing. I have had a good time in Japan and met some great people.

[Shimmeringstar]

You'll find people like what you described all over the world. However, I have met very few of those sorts in Japan so far. The people I have met have been very friendly and helpful. They have been very respectful towards me and very curious to learn about my home country and culture. Most of the Japanese people I've met will completely go out of their way to help me, and are excited to have me here.

The way you are treated could depend on where you are in Japan as well. However, I have found a smile and a welcome everywhere I've gone in Japan thus far.

[gonzarelli]

Don't expect the girls to be flopping down at your feet begging for a piece of your Western dog. I found that the vast majority of the girls couldn't care less about dating foreigners. They're more curious than anything. Girls here are just like girls anywhere else in the world. There are some hard core sluts , gold diggers, super conservative types everywhere in the world! Get the stereotypes out of your head.

In Japan, it helps to expect the unexpected.

[Glenski]

[JimDunlop2]

[markle]

[Wasabi Bomb]

Japanese people are generally great, and better than the people in my home country. I hear gaijin complaining about racism and whatnot, but there is so much less of that here than there is towards minorities in my country. I've been called "gaijin" in a malicious way maybe 5 times in almost 5 years.

I think what throws some foreigners off is that they expect Japan to be a multicultural country like their own, but Japanese have a distinct sense of themselves being Japanese and us being non-Japanese. I don't take offense to it, because it's true, I'm not Japanese. They're not looking down on foreigners, they're just drawing a distinction between themselves and others. You'll hear a lot of questions and comments about inherent cultural differences, etc. but as long as you know that it's not coming from a place of maliciousness but rather curiosity and interest, then you should be fine.

One other thing that throws foreigners off is that a lot of Japanese people act like awkard people act in your home country. They often are uncomfortable with anything unexpected, so often you see that they feel uncomfortable being in the presence of a foreigner. A lot of foreigners mistake this for racism but it really is the opposite -- they perceive your status as higher than theirs so they can't act natural. Rather than getting offended, I just say hello and smile, they relax, and then you can either chat for a bit or go about your business. The gaijin who respond to this negatively just end up creating a lot more negativity for themselves and the people around them.

Japanese people are awesome.