Hello, I'm the first guy in the video and I'm a bit shocked to see how popular this channel became. I got caught by surprise while I was running errands so my answers are a bit messy, with a bit of prep time I could have done better. I'm living for myself and not seeking outside validations , but it's really nice to see the support in comments. They will help me when I feel down so thank you. And Takeshii, congrats for your success keep the good work
@@ProvencaLeGaulois Prof d'anglais, je suis bien payé 240 000 yen net par mois. J'ai un loyer de 100 000, avec deux pièces, 40m² en centre ville. Pour une grande ville je trouve ça peu cher
i'm using wanikani for learing kanji and i personally think it is great. it's not free though. BUT... u can try it out for free quite a while (if i remember correctly until level 4, which covers 120ish kanji)
I have a hate-love relationship with kanji. There are too many to memorize, but it helps break up hiragana chains. I get confused since there are no spaces 😅😅😅😭😭😭 #NoWinSituation
great interview. I am a foreigner in Japan.but not that foreigner, I am a south East Asian foreigner. And I think, foreigners like me are the ones who experience a lot of racism. foreigners like the one's you have interview are mostly adored by Japanese people because of how they look. just saying though, but next time I would want you to interview south East Asians, africans, black Americans, and Indians, and even Chinese people.
Like the interview. But I also agreed that for south East Asians, Africans, black Americans, Indians, and even Chinese people the cases are different. I am also a foreigner living in Japan and have seen so much racism. Please make a video on those people to get a clear idea. Thank you again for the video
I agree. Foreigners from south east asian, middle europe, central asia, are treated differently, almost like second or even third class people. Even in the university. Some of the professor flat out refused to help students coming from those countries but went all out to help and assist white students (from australia and such). So there are an obvious differences. (Im currently studying in Japan)
I am white like in the video and experience quite some racism though. Plus they always asume you are American, which I am not and none of my friends where. Some people have resentment against americans and thus they shout at you in the streets. They refused entry to a restaurant or they did not want to seat next to you in the train at rush hour... I think Indians have it worse than us, but other Asians have it easier than us.
When I was signing my contract, for the place I was moving into, we were sitting in the lobby, and an older resident walked past us and said, in japanese, probably thinking I dont understand her, "Another disgusting foreigner". When I worked as a cashier in Family Mart, some older people also asked for "someone who can speak japanese", when I was speaking Japanese to them. Haven't had any negative experience with younger people, but the older generation has a lot of racists, for sure.
I don't know why any foreigner would want to live in Japan unless they have income from abroad or online, and even then, to deal with that? It's fine to visit, but why do you have to live there? Living out some anime fantasy or something...
@@FSVR54 agreed. While many ppl including myself love their culture both, the anime/entertainment side as well as their nature side, I feel like going to Japan for jobs rather than a vacation would be a nightmare. And it's not just about racism.
I’m Eastern European (female) and studied in Tokyo for a few years some time ago. I shared my lodging with two other girls, one from Sri Lanka (quite dark skinned) and one from Vietnam. We were all treated like foreigners (we all spoke Japanese btw) but I always felt like I was treated far better than them, to the point that sometimes I felt embarrassed. Even by the senpai and the administration at the dormitory, but also outside student life (I remember the Sri Lankan girl complaining about her boss being a bit rude to her). I don’t know if it’s true, but since we all lived together and went out a lot i got to see things which I otherwise wouldn’t have noticed. They were also a lot more interested in my country and culture but that’s probably because the further away and the more different a country is, the more interesting it becomes. So in the end I don’t really know…
@@takashiifromjapan So, what are the most common reasons for Japanese to complain about Koreans? I heard Japanese people think that Chinese are too noisy.
There's racism in every country. I'm a third generation Japanese Canadian and have experienced racism here since I was young. Now that I am an adult, there is less but I'm sure my kid's still experience it at school etc occasionally. Thanks for the video Takahashi! From Toronto Canada.
that holds me back from going to japan. im turkish living in germany. besides berlin you will have racism here as well. in turkey they see me as a foreigner. but in this world human is just a traveller. so i take it easy. i hope your kids will not feel that way like you. next generations will be different i think
It depends on where you live, but I think with Korean movies/kpop and anime becoming so popular, at least in cities, there should be less racism. Of course I don’t know for sure though
I live an hour outside of Toronto and I was just wondering if their are many Japanese people living in Canada or near me because I’ve never met any. I figured that Japan is pretty nice so not many Japanese people feel a need to come here but I guess there are some, that’s interesting to learn, thanks for sharing. I’m from guelph :)
@@freedomisbrightestindungeons Not really though... the US isn't an easy country to become a citizen. Also language wise it's none comparable since most people, especially the ones that want to move to a different country, know English.
It makes me sad that Japan being an Asian country have racist opinions about fellow Asians. Its extremely visible but Japanese choose to defend it by saying we are shy or we are conservative communities.. However, your video contents are amazing Takasi San!! I hope these facts reaches to more people.
@@h3nry_t122 There is a big difference in talking about past events and a modern situation. If you go backa hundred years most societies were extremely racist and xenophobic with very few exeptions. While I agree with you that to an exterior observator Japan seems to be more xenophobic than racist, it isn't any better in my opinion. Overall it still represents a minority of individuals, but things are commonly accepted in Japan that would lead to an automatic condamation in other countries (a good exemple would be the restaurants or bars closed to foreigners)
@@h3nry_t122 You're talking about institutional racism or racism / hatred by an authoritarian or elected government, not by common people. Europeans did go to war with each other, not for how they look, but for ideological, economic and political reasons. If a German hates a Spanish, will you call it racism?
I think you shouldn't focus only the Western people, you should focus on the foreigners which is the largest community in Japan right now : Vietnamese or Chinese and Nepal too. You can meet them in every combini or shops and colleges (senmon gakkou). The people who are learning in Universities or working as a seishain is just a few number of foreigners. Most of foreigners are doing Arubaito or working as a Jisshusei until the late of the night.
Spent 9 months in South Korea and locals there wanted no part to do with me or my buddies. We were quiet and respectful yet people would move away from us on trains, cabs would drive past us to pick up Koreans first, old people would shout at us angrily for no reason late at night. Seems about right peoples experiences line up in Japan. No matter how much Japanese you speak or becoming naturalized you will never be considered Japanese. At least in America once you become a citizen everyone considers you American no matter where you came from.
Not every country is like America, and I'm really glad about that. There are countries where you can't be "who you are" and can't become everything you want to be, that's the first thing you should really internalize if you plan to live in an East Asian country. Don't get me wrong, people especially in Japan are usually very friendly and polite no matter where you come from, but it's a different kind of friendliness than in America. I'd describe it either as extreme hierarchy thinking or the relationship of a host to his guest. They'll accept you as a tourist or foreigner living "temporarily" in Japan, but never as one of their own. Better never set the main goal of trying to become one, you'll only end up disillusioned or very disappointed. Use the 'foreigner card' and meet other foreigners if you find it difficult to get in touch with Japanese people privately. Maybe something will come along with time, but don't try to force yourself to fit in too much and you'll have a good time in Japan.
nice video bro.. try asking asians nextime. like veitnams, filipinos or chinese. especially the one's who are working in the factory.. im a filipino by the way.. ive been living japan for more than 10 years..
You started well a couple of years ago, getting better, got good and still improving. It is great that you are discovering better questions and the power of making pertinent remarks outside of the primary conversation. Remarks about yourself, insider remarks about deep Japanese culture, your opinions are particularly interesting. Thanks for all your efforts.
I lived in Japan about 30 years ago and it is depressing to see how little has changed. I agree with the many comments saying you should ask Asian or African American/ African foreigners as their experience is definitely much tougher. When I lived in Japan I had the whole range of experiences that all the people described but also was attacked twice. Once simply walking down the street near my apartment a young guy on a bike coming towards me - whom I had never seen before - swerved close and then slapped me across the face. Why should he do that if not because I was a gaijin? Many Japanese people cannot see gaijin as simply people. Yes, there are cultural differences but these can be overcome if people want to understand each other. I love Japan and have some really close Japanese friends but Japanese society finds it really hard to deal with diversity. In this case its cohesion is both a strength and a weakness. There is a saying in Japan 'The nail that sticks up will be hammered down'. Many Japanese people have difficulty with certain repressive aspects of social pressure and suffer mentally. I think only artists find a way to live a more individual life.
I'm so sorry you had this experience. I remember seeing another girl (who was a foreigner visiting Japan) on one of his videos who said she had a similar experience on the bus. A random Japanese woman hit her in the face, while nobody else on the bus intervened or said a word to help her. This happened to her within the last few years, I believe.
Wow that saying, sounds like a post communist vibe that’s the feeling I had from Japan when I was there a few days ago, i lived in berlin for 7 years and spent some time in Ukraine so I know what the fall of the Soviet Union has on the society, Japan is the country where I felt the most rigidity which I really felt comes from these times. Not to mention beauocracy paperwork and fax - still how they do it in berlin too in 2023 lol
About people being attacked, I believe it’s to cause you to defend yourself so that they can try and get you deported. They want you to defend yourself so that they would lie saying you attacked first or whatever and of course there is a much higher chance that they will believe the Japanese over the gaijin.
I'm US Black American. Both my Grandfather and Father lived in Japan for several years. Both USMC. Their experiences were great (off base). However, that was also decades ago. Nevertheless, there's a channel that I follow. It's about the Black experiences in Japan. I was surprised by a couple of the Blacks interviewed. One guy's interview is so inspiring, I watch it over and over, for encouragement. As I would like to live my midlife-end of life days, in another Country. Just not Japan.
@@forrest_ation That was exactly my thinking! I'm from post communist country and visited Japan in 2017. The biggest cultural shock for me actually was how close is Japan mentally to my country. If you exclude tech, food and architecture you feel like you are in country that was just recently taken from pawns of Dictator.
oh, Takashii-san, this is an amazing interview for the Foreigners who lives in Japan, like we us people, we sometimes encounter some of like racist people, and yeah, the questions are great, it's amazing, thank you for this kind of interview, Takashii-san💖✨
I am also very glad he interviewed all white people, actually. Its good to see this because, at least it seems usually portrayed, that only black people have issues like this over in these countries. I knew that wasn't the case. ANYONE foreign, specifically not e.asian looking, is going to get looked at and talked to in weird odd ways over there.
@@marlak4203 the thing is that white ppl usually have "desired skin" since the east Asian beauty standard is super light, double eyelids,etc. but black ppl literally oppose these standards by usually having darker skin. it also seems a bit weird saying ur glad he interviewed ALL white ppl? like damn just bc whites get a little oppressed in these countries doesnt mean others shouldnt be in it -a half black half white person
Heya Takashi, Japanese people have categories for foreigners. White, Brown and Black lol. Me being a Brown Foreigner experienced a lot of racism here. You can start asking different foreigners for that.
I have never heard Japanese people use the word brown to refer to a race. I think most people don't know what the word brown means. In Japanese, black people are called "kokujin" and white people are called "hakujin".What is the word for brown?
Brother you are on fire right now! That was brilliant, You picked really good people Australian guy was hilarious. l will definitely want to do a sit down with you when l get there. I will be your first Scottish interview 🤣😂
Ohhhh thank you so much !!!! Yeah there’re sooooo kind and to be honest interview with Australian guy , it was take 2 lol I forgot recording at first and while he answers I noticed I didn’t , and he did it again for me 😂
He should have interviewed people with a dark complexion (black, Indian, Latin people ). They're the ones to tell you about that sort of thing because they generally experience it. How can a white person experience racism In Japan when their skin is regarded as more attractive and beautiful ?
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I lived in Japan for over 6 years. Yes, racism exists in Japan - both personal and structural. I can't tell you how many times I have been sitting on the train and listen to the people across from me saying "Dirty foreigners, why don't they all go home. I wish he'd die." or something like that. Then we have no legal rights. I can be denied jobs or housing or basic services like phone service because of my nationality. Friends of mine were physically attacked or mugged and the police ignored them. I recognize that the legal prejudice is even harder for Asian foreginers in Japan, but that doesn't make any of it OK.
Did you notice any gender and age bias when receiving such aggressive comments? I would feel pretty scared if a group of men were talking like that about me on the train...
@@stillfangirlingtoday1468 It was definitely worse coming from men, but there wasn't any major difference between young men old old men - both groups were equally likely to do/say something. For some reason it was always pairs of men instead of individuals or larger groups. For women it was less overt much closer to micro-aggressions: Pulling her purse protectively close even though we're sitting 2m/6ft apart on a train bench, crossing the street to avoid me then crossing back, that sort of thing.
@@drewthompson6614Wow, If white man like you experienced racism like this then i can't imagin what will happen to black, south asians and South east asians in Japan
It’s kinda strange because when I was in Japan, people always sat next to me in trains. I sometimes even felt like they did that so that I wouldn’t feel discriminated against. So I don’t know why I had this experience so different from others. Maybe anyone else had a similar experience to mine?
Probably how you look. Some Japanese avoid getting close to tourist looking people because they are incapable of speaking English and feel they are incompetent if tourist ask for help. Also those with big body/wearing backpack/speaking in loud voice/sitting with legs open, Japanese unconsciously feel "this person wants space" and leave the seat next to them. Most Japanese don't know what gaijin sheet is so I don't think people intentionally sat next to you.
Love your work Taka, it's really interesting, I hope one day you'll be able to visit other countries and why not, do some interviews there. It's nice to see people have the guts to move to Japan and some of them speaking the language. The first french guy seemed to be really a cool person. I hope he'll have a great time in your country (of course same for the other people). The Australian one seemed really talkative also, it was fun to watch.
It's quite typical for Australian men who live in Asian countries. Especially ones who live in cities with a lot of other foreigners. The cultures are so different they tend to not have any local friends and have gfs or wives to do the work in the local language for them. I know Aussies who have lived in Thailand for 25 years and can't even say hello or Thankyou in Thai properly, it's quite embarrassing. The upside is it makes me seem like a genius because I've put in the work to learn proper pronunciation and grammer 😂.
To be honest usually native English speakers don't feel the necessity of learning foreign languages. It is really comfy for them that most of the world understand English or put effort to learn it. It makes native speakers less enthusiastic or eager towards learning. It is my experience. I used to live in Indonesia with lots of other foreigners and only british girls could not speak any other languages.
Living in Germany I met plenty of people from UK, Ireland, New zealand, Australia, Canada and USA. Around 30 people at least. Only 2 girls from Florida tried to learn german. 1 Irish woman after 17 years had no clue about german language. Meanwhile the rest of us ( From France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Korea and many others nationalities) we all spoke very good english and decent german while trying to learn more and more. Native english speakers (generally) never show respect for other's people language. Sad...
You should have asked the first guy to teach you French. 😂 A lot of learnings from different foreigners. I guess it's important to learn the language of the country where you want to move to. Very cool content, man.
@@takashiifromjapan i agree. I have relative in Paris and have been many times when in my teens and twenties. It is overrated, dirty and people are very rude.
@@wardiya3arbiya it’s nice if you stay in the white areas . If you go to African areas it starts looking super dirty. 18e arrondissement is very ghetto and infested . People always recommend to stay away from there .
The girl at @4:53 is really cool! I follow her on TikTok and she makes a lot of videos about the struggles of not being accepted as Japanese. She’s really sweet.
that girl's funny, she was playing the gaijin card more until you talked to her further...i think everyone was as surprised as takashi when she said she lived in japan for 16 years..i think she must have been bullied or something, that she wants to distance herself from japan. I can sympathize, every foreigner says no one wants to sit next to them..That's so bad manners in my opinion. Japanese people should feel ashamed.
Thank you so much TAKASHii! I'm Ukrainian who's trying to learn English and uses your fantastic brilliant videos! I've already watched first video and now I'm finishing the second really enjoying it! All your interviewee are so fascinating people and I wrote so many incredibly useful things from their speeches! It's your great job and my great experience! I'll proceed with wathcing your interview till last modern one! Arigato
Thank you TAKAshi for this. I had some minor misunderstandings before and those were- miscommunication and misinterpretation of jokes and the way I said things. I find it funny sometimes but well, we should extend our patience and be more understanding with each other. But here in Philippines, you can integrate well because most of us are accommodating and we very much love to talk with foreigners.
Nice vlog! What amazes me is that not much, if anything, has changed since the time I lived in Japan. It looked like my generation, I am talking about my Japanese friends, would have made some long-lasting changes, because they were those who were actually changing Japan at that time in the sense of quitting jobs and changing companies, moving abroad, etc. apparently they haven't. Speaking about public transport, also, nothing has changed :-) The only 'racism' I experienced in Japan was "Hana ga takai :-) But, Man! I love and miss Japan so much Japan. Thank you for bringing back good memories!!
I’d say the racism is selective after over 10 years in Japan. The treatment of other Asians is rough here. Generally in other ways it’s institutionalized. Home loans, job opportunities, promotions, and other little and big things are clearly restricted because you are not Japanese. Even folks with high levels of Japanese ability are treated this way. But on an individual level I find folk get used to you relatively quickly and in many ways you become like their pet, unless if you are some other Asian then it’s just rough it seems.
Which is why I plan to finish American college first and work telehealth as a psychologist as I live in japan. (To put it short, finish college, move to japan, work telehealth) I will convert my earnings to yen.
@@NewCanadianTurtle It is a very traditional culture and very very mono-ethnic. The bias is ingrained so they cant really see they're being biased. But yes, I know folk with 1kyu level of JPLT routinely passed over at promotion time year after year. I know folk who are naturalized Japanese but lets be honest that is a huge waste of time. No one in Japan will consider you Japanese even then. Around here you have to be ethnically Japanese to be Japanese. One close friend even told me that some Japanese loathe when foreigners speak Japanese better than they do, as the language is also their identity and they dislike non-ethnic Japanese mastering it better than they do. Again though it is easy as dirt to live here if you are not another Asian. But dont kid yourself about your opportunities here, they will be sparse unless you are god levels of genius.
Enjoyed your topic, but you could have interviewed foreigners of different races to have more diverse examples about racism in Japan. Just a suggestion.
He interviewed people from all over the world. How do you think he finds these people? Obviously he approaches them on the street, so he is taking what he can get…
Great interview, i had to LOL'z with the Australian guy, just typically saying how it is & of course Aussie Slang culture swears haha. I thought you'd be uncomfortable Takashii but you aced it, too funny. Racism is a whole other level in other countries, can't imagine it being like that in Japan.
I'll never forget the day that an old guy spat on my ex boyfriend for no reason at all. I used to work in Ginza, in a Brazilian restaurant. During my break my ex bf came to see me so we could have lunch together somewhere else. We were walking, not holding hands and not talking, definitely not kissing, just trying to find a place to eat as fast as possible because I still had to go back to work. Than an old guy, around his 50 I think, just spat on my ex and walked away really fast. Was really shocking.
I saw some comments that are like the one that I am going to write but this is from my point of view. Like all of them said they don’t experience the type of racism that most people imagine because they are mostly from western countries, the first guy said that he uses his gaijin pass which means he can get away with some things not considered normal in Japan, the second person they interviewed said she gets called pretty or beautiful because or her more western features, the third person said exactly my point about Japan’s subtle racism that he doesn’t experience it because he looks like a westerner or (i don’t wanna say this but ) white person, he also explained that Japanese people are more likely to show racism towards other Asian people rather than them, lastly, the girls said that she only experiences very little inconveniences and not a big deal kind of situation. So I guess my point is that Japanese people are the absolute most polite people you could ever meet but it’s not always rainbows and sunshine here and I think Takashi should interview more people from other asian countries and not just “westerners”. This is a really good video though and I really enjoyed it but this is just my point of view. Sorry for the long post.
I understand and agree with what you are saying. I'm Korean but I can pass for Japanese unless I speak. I noticed when I was with my Malaysian friend that the way we were treated was VERY different from how I'm treated if I'm alone, with Japanese friends or white friends. I couldn't believe it. Of course I know these people are a small minority but they do exist. Oh and my boss actually told me he hates Koreans and Americans. I couldn't believe he actually said it.
@@soju81 exactly!!! I am a Filipino/Japanese half but I look more Japanese and even then I have been told that I was wild or that I should go back to my country or that I was dirty. This was in school by the way, when I told the teachers they told that I might have just misunderstood them.
I see your point, and for that matter I have no interest in visiting Japan (sorry). But racism, xenophobia, exclusion based on appearance is unacceptable and should be planet wide. I cannot change that you try to make excuses for your country men's bad manners, but they are bad manners and ignorance. 'Japanese only' is racism and sadly nothing else. Letting it slide is not okay. But, I can't change it, I'll be sure not to visit such silently rude and externally 'polite' country. :( Sorry
@@CaribouOrange Well, I actually agree with most of your points but for me “Japanese/(insert country name) only” stores should not be considered racism. Yes it does make you feel like an outcast/outsider(whatever I forgot the right term), but if I’m an owner of a store and I’m uncomfortable serving foreigners because I don’t know how to communicate or I’m shy around them, then you can’t force me. Why is it an issue when a store in a certain country ban foreigners, but not when a store bans a local? Why not go find another place? If someone has to really force me, then I’m fine with being called a racist.
I get the impression that most of these people want to say "of course!" but are too polite to say so. Australians swear so much! but it sounds harmless, not angry.
before covid, my family had visited Japan several times and the people were really nice. a student went out of his way to show us the street to our rbnb (our map didn't work for some reason). he even apologized for not being able to walk us there since he'd be late for an orientation event. dude was an angel i swear T_T oh and we got lost a lot (lol), so we had many experiences being helped by the japanese. some even took their time before work to help us out... we were so touched. we're Chinese indonesians btw and none of us speaks japanese.
That is mostly likely because you were a short-term tourist, and the Japanese were treating you like a "guest" in their country. However, if they think you are a "foreign resident" there is a chance that your experience would be "different".
I’ve said for years that I am treated better as a third-class citizen in Japan than I am as a white male in the USA (and yes, I am aware of ALL the privilege I have there, and I still stand by what I say). The Japanese are just THAT friendly, that even if they consider you a sub-human monkey, they’re still going to smile and thank you and help you get where you’re going.
@@wishinkansai Not really. I lived there a couple years and my best friend still lives there. 99% of interactions are positive, and he speaks and hears fluent Japanese. Your experience won't be much different on a daily basis.
People who go to other countries without any plans and just roam around and work for each meal and lodging are another breed. My anxiety and ocd could never. But its fascinating.
I lived in Japan for 7 years. Unfortunately they are big racists but try to hide it under smile and kind behaviour. Several times when I sit near Japanese person in metro, they look at me and later changed the place. The same situation happened with my foreign friends in Japan so...
Wow, I couldn’t imagine people would not sit next to a foreigner in Japan. I live in Korea and people love sitting right next to me even if the entire bench is empty. I’d love some space instead lol!
Really like the way you give proper eye contact while talking to the other person and you wait and listen to what they say .. good and short interviews..I like the content and gives me more interesting details..
Your questions are so interesting 😭😭✨!! I mean,I was smiling while watching this video.Thank you so much for the information and all the basic things. ありがとうございます！🙇🏻♀️✨
3:23 Lol sharing a culture is a strange thing. I'm french myself and I thought exactly the same thing when I heard about people not sitting besides you on the train. Whereas in Paris, we are literally fighting over the place on trains
It's sad Prejudice/racism is everywhere. I have experienced it when I travel and where I live. Still I hope to one day visit Japan. Thank you for sharing this information. It helps to know a little bit of what to expect. Can you do video on some tips that would help not to offend when we visit? Every country has different manners and ideas that often is not what we see in movies. The people seem to expect visitors or foreigners to automatically know. If these tips will help make a pleasant experience please share.
I experienced loads of racism in Japan, from walking into estate agents and being told they didn’t have a single property available, even though they had pics of all the properties on the wall that were available. I’ve been spat on by a salaryman, I’ve been pushed by a salaryman, I’ve been talked about (racially) on the train by some lads, I’ve all sorts of racist encounters. I’ve also seen signs for no foreigners etc. which wouldn’t happen in my country. But I imagine if I wasn’t white and living in my country, I’d experience similar. So basically, there are racists everywhere, but I’ve met more nice Japanese people than racists, so in a country of hundreds of millions of people, having about 20 instances of racism isn’t massive.
It's mostly like rivalry feeling. Not the discrimination toward chinese or koreans. as the japanese usually looking down or hate on brown race or blacks or eastern europeans
I was wandering why ppl in Hokkaido speak English so well. When I was in Hokkaido 2019 I got an emergency health issue and I went to the hospital by myself. Every staff I met in the hospital are so fluent in English. That was really comforted me a lot since I’ve already messed up so much then that I didn’t need to worry about the communication problem
This is an excellent series. Thanks. The part about people not sitting next to a foreigner on a train really worries me though. Ive heard about that many times. and it puts me off visiting. :-(
I am a Taiwanese met my Japanese husband in US and currently live in Tokyo.I had both lived in US and Japan and my English is fluently but Japanese isn’t、what I had experienced was during my stay in US some people around me will looked down on me until I spoke the language then the attitude will change while in Japan the Japanese will be very nice to me until the moment they realized I am not Japanese by my language since my appearance is not different from them and I had also experienced very cruel and humiliated words from the elder Japanese women that why I started to learn how to scold people in Japanese and you have to do that as to defend yourself if people went to far no matter their age or race. The Americans had dropped two nukes on Japan but we Taiwanese had been occupied by Japan in the past so we’re in different situations.
The question of this video should be: have you ever experienced xenophobia in Japan? The xenophobia word is related to being a foreigner, meanwhile racism is among races
I really found your video interviews interesting. I'm born and raised in England, but visited Japan 20 years ago to stay with a friend who lives in Shinjuku Tokyo. I hope you visit Japan again in the near future. Thanks for the great video content!! 🙏
Takashi San! I really really love your work!! Speaking in English so all your RUclips viewers can understand is such a nice gesture! You could have spoken in japanese and use subtitles but you speaking in English makes it so much more special! Arigatou gozaimasu ❤️🥰
First video I’ve ever seen you interview someone from Virginia, that’s where I live! It’s not that common to hear about Virginia in Japan videos, or any videos abroad for that matter 😅
I lived in Japan and experienced racism as a white person. People not wanting to seat next to you in the train or being refused entry into a restaurant. Once a guy shouted at me in Japanese out of the blue... I was lucky I could not understand what he was saying at the time.
It's true, being white can give you some advantages, but it colours every interaction you have with people in Asia, you're always treated as a foreigner.
If you speak Japanese you will notice the xenophobia and racism much more. I'm white (female) and I've gotten attacked by xenophobic old Japanese men in public several times a year since the pandemic started, 5 times in the past two months...... Japanese people are very complacent so of course no one called any of those old men out. Never happened in the 7 years I lived here before the pandemic.
Yes racism exists there, like anywhere in the world, i experienced racism quiet often in japan but i wish i hadn't experienced it because i love the country but really started to hate the people because of my encounters but i know there good ones out there.
I can remember not being waited on in one place because I was white, this would have been circa 1988 and the people were a bit older. A few years later I was visiting a park and was approached by a Chinese gent from Hong Kong. He asked me for directions because the information booth refused to answer him in either Japanese or English. When I went to the booth, the attendant spoke quite good English. I spent the day touring with the guy from Hong Kong and he told me that he found prejudice against Chinese to be much greater than against whites.
It’s funny because as a foreigner in Japan, I never sit on the train. I always stand by the doors because whenever I sit down, people crowd all around me. Like uncomfortably close when there is plenty of space. I am clearly a foreigner with blonde hair and blue eyes, so I’m not sure why they don’t give me the space that other foreigners seem to get lol.
I've been really wanting to visit Japan but I've also got blonde hair and blue eyes as well lol. I just know I would stick out like a sore thumb, I still really want to visit though. Train thing aside have your experiences in Japan with the people there been good for the most part?
When I came to Japan as a tourist, many locals I met were friendly. But, since I moved to here for work, and now have been living in Japan for years. I already have experienced discrimination many times, especially when I try to look for new jobs. I do speak Japanese though. Usually, Japanese people are more friendly to white, but not to other Asians.
Dear TAKASHii-san, thank you for the interesting video series. Key question is, "What is Racism" ? Or what do you and the interviewed define as "Racism" ?
if he interview people who actually work in factories in japan, where lot of asians, latino and black people work ,i think it would be a interesting interview .
I just want to say, that i like your videos, I am able to practice english and sometimes japanes, at the same time I learn the point of view of foreigners or japanese about interesting topics, good channel, greetings from Bolivia!, Hope someday go to Japan. ^^
ANYWHERE in Asia, if you're anything BUT Asian (indian and middle-eastern included), you're gonna get discriminated upon. I think it's mainly because there aren't that much diversity in races in Asian countries. And people are too used to seeing they're own race than seeing others.
Such a quintessential Australian guy haha. The casual swearing, honesty, laid back personality (as I perceive them to be at least). Love it. Such an interesting contrast to when Takashi interviews Japanese people too. Edit: Wrote the above before finishing the video - honestly the empty seat next to you wouldn't bother me at all. As a Swede (though I suspect it applies to more countries) I'm overjoyed if I have a spot open next to me on public transport. Unless I'm traveling with other people I know I much prefer to sit by myself. Personal space and all that.
I'm an Australian, and even to me he would be considered "a bit much". Casual swearing is an Australian thing but generally around people you know, friends etc. Casual swearing with a stranger would still be considered a little too much.
I’m a black American who stayed in Togane for a month. There’s definitely racism, buts it’s more subtle than it is in America and other places. Like for example, a bunch of high school students walked up to me and my friends and just started saying “GUCCI GANG GUCCI GANG GUCCI GANG GUCCI GANG” while throwing up hand signs. It’s was racism bred of ignorance, not hatred.
As a South American, I went to Tokyo and was not treated well. My Japanese friend said people thought I was Indian and would look at me odd (I’m native South American and black)
I found the French guy had an open mind to experience Japan as a farm worker, Also the Japanese Irish girl had found the outdoor life in Ireland. it is interesting to see this swap. I found the Ozzie guy was a bit stuck up and fake - not learning the language in 5 years.
Not every thing is for everyone, a lot of people find it really hard to learn a new language just like people who can't learn math. It doesn't mean that they are stuck up.
@@stuartsilvagomez6495 if you live in a country where the language is Japanese and most things are written in Japanese and you have been there fives years you should at least know how to speak simple sentences. Common phrases. He very much is pompous and pretentious. Australians are just kinda like that.
Another good one! Like they all said, it is not intentional. Australian guy was the best! Haha. I am an expat too and the only way to keep your spirits up is to consistently learn the language. If you are in Japan, learn Japanese. You will get a reward from your hard work because all your bad memories will go away after that one nice interaction with a Japanese person. Like the French guy said, he likes being himself so it’s alright to be labeled a foreigner. I live in Jeju South Korea. Much less English here like Hokkaido, so I need to learn Korean because my life is harder since I left the city of Busan where English is spoken more frequently.
I’m South East asian. I went to Japan and people were polite. I liked it because I am an introvert and people gives me space also unlike in other countries wherein some random stranger will approach you and will talk to you casually. When I went there I went out with 3 Japanese guys and they were nice and polite. They all treated me in a nice restaurants. They were respectful and even picked me up from my hotel lobby and went back to drop me off at my hotel lobby again because I was having a difficult time with the signs that I might get lost going back to my hotel.😅
I brought a $300 backpack because of unique status in Japan. I take it everywhere with me because it start conversation with the local. It a Ransell school bag. It perfect for my need and it fully leather hand made with extended shoulders straps. These conversations always happen at lining up at the train platform. They seem very surprised that I know it a small children school bag and I still use it.
There are definitely racist Japanese people like in any country. I am Asian/ European. When I was growing up I lived in South East Asia and was bullied because my mother was white. The kids called my mum "a white monkey '. They often pointed out my nose was different, my eyes, my skin. When I am in Europe people see me as Asian, when I am in Japan they see me as European. In the U.K. I had a racist comment from an old English man because I am Japanese. It's hard to belong when you are mixed race at times. But I learned to use my assets from both cultures and to accept and love both.
I can relate to the Irish/Japanese girl. I am from Germany and living in Kanto area for 8 years now, I really miss nature. I want to move to Kyoto, but unfortunately at the moment, my job keeps me in Tokyo. As a white female, you get a lot of compliments, which was nice in the beginning but can be tiring after a while, bc people idealize you in a way that I find disturbing. I can't relate to the empty seat thing. People always sit next to me on the train. I think tall, big guys are more of a target to this, bc people are scared/not used to foreigners.
I'm really liking these videos. I'm hoping you can make mote videos of the experiences of more black people living in Japan. Or the experiences of half black half Japanese raised and living in Japan.
I lived in Japan for 2 years and I never experienced the not sitting next to me on a train thing. The only thing that comes to mind is an elderly lady walking down the street saw me and said under her breath ‘Americans.. tsk tsk’ (I’m Australian 😅)
9 years in Japan here. Haven't experienced it either. I think a lot of it is your weight and/or height. All my friends who complain about the "gaijin seat" are all overweight or very tall and intimidating. I wish no one would sit next to me on the train tbh, especially these days.
@@endingxtheme a lot of what is perceived as racism in japan is simply Japanese people showing their conservative values and cultural traditions. In Japanese media big guys are always portrayed as intimidating and a Lil scary even the ones that are portrayed as joyous.
@@endingxtheme hello what is your nationality? I read your comment on how you were pushed by japanese men and would like to know if it was by the old men or young men. Also have you stopped experiencing it?
@@sakyichristine927 I'm Polish-American. I've been pushed by both young and old Japanese men, but the old men tend to go further because they know they're less likely to get arrested for assault than if they were younger. And no I haven't stopped experiencing it. Japanese men are extremely chauvinistic, misogynistic, and sexist, so this happens to Japanese women, too. As a foreigner in Japan during the pandemic I'm a bigger target, though, since many people here seem to think it's now ok to be openly racist.
When I was living in Taiwan, I was asked by a friend of mine to apply for an English teacher's job. I went to the school and the head teacher took me aside and told me that she can't offer me the job because the parents and kids will not be comfortable being taught by someone like me. I'm brown. So there you go.
It's sad but racism is everywhere. I haven't personally got too bad forms of racism from Japanese. Unlike in my home country in Europe where I got spit on, harassed, stalked, sexually asaulted, mugged, being refused service from official authorities, ignored or harassed by police, and the list goes on. Surely that happens to people in Japan too but just saying it sadly happens everywhere, there is no country without racism. But comparing it to other countries, I personally haven't gotten too strong forms of it from Japanese. But do interview people with other skin tones so people can get really different kinds of opinions.
I really hate it when foreigners say "a little bit" (in Japanese) when asked about if they speak Japanese, then proceed to give excuses in English as to why they can't answer a simple question of "How much do you know?" or "Where did you learn?"... And the cherry on top of the cake is when they pronounce "chotto" wrong. Like... No. Just say "No, I don't. I know a few words, but I don't speak the language" instead of saying "Yeah, I speak a little bit".
When i was in Japan visiting, i was with my parents. We were in the train, an old man stood up and spit toward our shoes and stormed off. That was the only time i felt rejected by a Japanese person.
@@SI.COYG6 no worries... I know one person doesn't represent the whole Japanese society. Maybe is because we didn't understand that we couldn't talk in the train... I mean, I am not justifying him. But it might be the reason he was triggered that way
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Hello, I'm the first guy in the video and I'm a bit shocked to see how popular this channel became. I got caught by surprise while I was running errands so my answers are a bit messy, with a bit of prep time I could have done better.
I'm living for myself and not seeking outside validations , but it's really nice to see the support in comments. They will help me when I feel down so thank you. And Takeshii, congrats for your success keep the good work
You did great. You have very natural/chill way of speaking. I wish you all the best !
Rolalala mais ce Chad
@@ProvencaLeGaulois merci. Ça va, je suis "rentré dans les clous" pour l'instant. De retour à Osaka en tant que prof pour mettre de l'argent de côté
@@le_dude5912 prof de français ? Ça paye bien à Osaka ? Le loyer est pas exorbitant ?
Je suis très curieux :)
@@ProvencaLeGaulois Prof d'anglais, je suis bien payé 240 000 yen net par mois. J'ai un loyer de 100 000, avec deux pièces, 40m² en centre ville. Pour une grande ville je trouve ça peu cher
I agree with the first guy. Learning hiragana and katakana is fairly easy, but kanji is difficult!
Yeah it’s like totally different language lol
i'm using wanikani for learing kanji and i personally think it is great. it's not free though. BUT... u can try it out for free quite a while (if i remember correctly until level 4, which covers 120ish kanji)
I have a hate-love relationship with kanji. There are too many to memorize, but it helps break up hiragana chains. I get confused since there are no spaces 😅😅😅😭😭😭 #NoWinSituation
I agree bro
@@takashiifromjapan It's different...It's Chinese
great interview. I am a foreigner in Japan.but not that foreigner, I am a south East Asian foreigner. And I think, foreigners like me are the ones who experience a lot of racism. foreigners like the one's you have interview are mostly adored by Japanese people because of how they look. just saying though, but next time I would want you to interview south East Asians, africans, black Americans, and Indians, and even Chinese people.
If you live in Tokyo, let me interview !
Yeah please do interviews with other south east asians!
Like the interview. But I also agreed that for south East Asians, Africans, black Americans, Indians, and even Chinese people the cases are different. I am also a foreigner living in Japan and have seen so much racism. Please make a video on those people to get a clear idea. Thank you again for the video
I agree. Foreigners from south east asian, middle europe, central asia, are treated differently, almost like second or even third class people. Even in the university. Some of the professor flat out refused to help students coming from those countries but went all out to help and assist white students (from australia and such). So there are an obvious differences. (Im currently studying in Japan)
I am white like in the video and experience quite some racism though. Plus they always asume you are American, which I am not and none of my friends where. Some people have resentment against americans and thus they shout at you in the streets. They refused entry to a restaurant or they did not want to seat next to you in the train at rush hour... I think Indians have it worse than us, but other Asians have it easier than us.
When I was signing my contract, for the place I was moving into, we were sitting in the lobby, and an older resident walked past us and said, in japanese, probably thinking I dont understand her, "Another disgusting foreigner". When I worked as a cashier in Family Mart, some older people also asked for "someone who can speak japanese", when I was speaking Japanese to them. Haven't had any negative experience with younger people, but the older generation has a lot of racists, for sure.
Shit yo, bad
Thats sad.
Bruh, your experience scares me.
I don't know why any foreigner would want to live in Japan unless they have income from abroad or online, and even then, to deal with that? It's fine to visit, but why do you have to live there? Living out some anime fantasy or something...
@@FSVR54 agreed. While many ppl including myself love their culture both, the anime/entertainment side as well as their nature side, I feel like going to Japan for jobs rather than a vacation would be a nightmare. And it's not just about racism.
I agree with the Australian!
It racism in Asian countries is always about other Asians.
Try interviewing other Asians next time.
Yeah that’s true.
Like especially between Japan , Korea and China
Yes. I saw a lot of bad comments about China coming from Korea. I imagine being reciprocal
I’m Eastern European (female) and studied in Tokyo for a few years some time ago. I shared my lodging with two other girls, one from Sri Lanka (quite dark skinned) and one from Vietnam. We were all treated like foreigners (we all spoke Japanese btw) but I always felt like I was treated far better than them, to the point that sometimes I felt embarrassed. Even by the senpai and the administration at the dormitory, but also outside student life (I remember the Sri Lankan girl complaining about her boss being a bit rude to her). I don’t know if it’s true, but since we all lived together and went out a lot i got to see things which I otherwise wouldn’t have noticed. They were also a lot more interested in my country and culture but that’s probably because the further away and the more different a country is, the more interesting it becomes. So in the end I don’t really know…
@@takashiifromjapan So, what are the most common reasons for Japanese to complain about Koreans? I heard Japanese people think that Chinese are too noisy.
Not true, they had racism towards me and I am a white person
There's racism in every country. I'm a third generation Japanese Canadian and have experienced racism here since I was young. Now that I am an adult, there is less but I'm sure my kid's still experience it at school etc occasionally. Thanks for the video Takahashi! From Toronto Canada.
that holds me back from going to japan. im turkish living in germany. besides berlin you will have racism here as well. in turkey they see me as a foreigner.
but in this world human is just a traveller. so i take it easy. i hope your kids will not feel that way like you. next generations will be different i think
It depends on where you live, but I think with Korean movies/kpop and anime becoming so popular, at least in cities, there should be less racism. Of course I don’t know for sure though
I live an hour outside of Toronto and I was just wondering if their are many Japanese people living in Canada or near me because I’ve never met any. I figured that Japan is pretty nice so not many Japanese people feel a need to come here but I guess there are some, that’s interesting to learn, thanks for sharing. I’m from guelph :)
@@fuzzyx2face I grew up in Alberta and there are some Japanese but more Chinese.
Oh really, where in Canada?
I really applaud the people learning the language, it's a sign of respect, especially moving to said country.
@@freedomisbrightestindungeons Not really though... the US isn't an easy country to become a citizen. Also language wise it's none comparable since most people, especially the ones that want to move to a different country, know English.
It makes me sad that Japan being an Asian country have racist opinions about fellow Asians. Its extremely visible but Japanese choose to defend it by saying we are shy or we are conservative communities.. However, your video contents are amazing Takasi San!!
I hope these facts reaches to more people.
@@h3nry_t122 Tribalism is the common theme here. Everyone does it.
@@h3nry_t122 There is a big difference in talking about past events and a modern situation. If you go backa hundred years most societies were extremely racist and xenophobic with very few exeptions.
While I agree with you that to an exterior observator Japan seems to be more xenophobic than racist, it isn't any better in my opinion. Overall it still represents a minority of individuals, but things are commonly accepted in Japan that would lead to an automatic condamation in other countries (a good exemple would be the restaurants or bars closed to foreigners)
@@h3nry_t122 You're talking about institutional racism or racism / hatred by an authoritarian or elected government, not by common people. Europeans did go to war with each other, not for how they look, but for ideological, economic and political reasons. If a German hates a Spanish, will you call it racism?
@@h3nry_t122 You need to what racism is
@@h3nry_t122 jews are not european
I think you shouldn't focus only the Western people, you should focus on the foreigners which is the largest community in Japan right now : Vietnamese or Chinese and Nepal too. You can meet them in every combini or shops and colleges (senmon gakkou).
The people who are learning in Universities or working as a seishain is just a few number of foreigners. Most of foreigners are doing Arubaito or working as a Jisshusei until the late of the night.
Spent 9 months in South Korea and locals there wanted no part to do with me or my buddies. We were quiet and respectful yet people would move away from us on trains, cabs would drive past us to pick up Koreans first, old people would shout at us angrily for no reason late at night. Seems about right peoples experiences line up in Japan. No matter how much Japanese you speak or becoming naturalized you will never be considered Japanese. At least in America once you become a citizen everyone considers you American no matter where you came from.
What is yournnationality?
That’s true, Japan is a lot worse place than America
Not every country is like America, and I'm really glad about that.
There are countries where you can't be "who you are" and can't become everything you want to be, that's the first thing you should really internalize if you plan to live in an East Asian country.
Don't get me wrong, people especially in Japan are usually very friendly and polite no matter where you come from, but it's a different kind of friendliness than in America.
I'd describe it either as extreme hierarchy thinking or the relationship of a host to his guest.
They'll accept you as a tourist or foreigner living "temporarily" in Japan, but never as one of their own. Better never set the main goal of trying to become one, you'll only end up disillusioned or very disappointed.
Use the 'foreigner card' and meet other foreigners if you find it difficult to get in touch with Japanese people privately. Maybe something will come along with time, but don't try to force yourself to fit in too much and you'll have a good time in Japan.
@@HojoOgawa2600I think it’s stupid to expect to be welcomed as a japanese person if you’re 100% a foreigner
nice video bro.. try asking asians nextime. like veitnams, filipinos or chinese. especially the one's who are working in the factory.. im a filipino by the way.. ive been living japan for more than 10 years..
You started well a couple of years ago, getting better, got good and still improving. It is great that you are discovering better questions and the power of making pertinent remarks outside of the primary conversation. Remarks about yourself, insider remarks about deep Japanese culture, your opinions are particularly interesting. Thanks for all your efforts.
i studied in a normal elementary school on japan until now
and i can confirm that racism exist in japan.Especially young ones
I lived in Japan about 30 years ago and it is depressing to see how little has changed. I agree with the many comments saying you should ask Asian or African American/ African foreigners as their experience is definitely much tougher.
When I lived in Japan I had the whole range of experiences that all the people described but also was attacked twice. Once simply walking down the street near my apartment a young guy on a bike coming towards me - whom I had never seen before - swerved close and then slapped me across the face. Why should he do that if not because I was a gaijin?
Many Japanese people cannot see gaijin as simply people. Yes, there are cultural differences but these can be overcome if people want to understand each other.
I love Japan and have some really close Japanese friends but Japanese society finds it really hard to deal with diversity. In this case its cohesion is both a strength and a weakness.
There is a saying in Japan 'The nail that sticks up will be hammered down'. Many Japanese people have difficulty with certain repressive aspects of social pressure and suffer mentally.
I think only artists find a way to live a more individual life.
I'm so sorry you had this experience. I remember seeing another girl (who was a foreigner visiting Japan) on one of his videos who said she had a similar experience on the bus. A random Japanese woman hit her in the face, while nobody else on the bus intervened or said a word to help her. This happened to her within the last few years, I believe.
Wow that saying, sounds like a post communist vibe that’s the feeling I had from Japan when I was there a few days ago, i lived in berlin for 7 years and spent some time in Ukraine so I know what the fall of the Soviet Union has on the society, Japan is the country where I felt the most rigidity which I really felt comes from these times. Not to mention beauocracy paperwork and fax - still how they do it in berlin too in 2023 lol
About people being attacked, I believe it’s to cause you to defend yourself so that they can try and get you deported. They want you to defend yourself so that they would lie saying you attacked first or whatever and of course there is a much higher chance that they will believe the Japanese over the gaijin.
I'm US Black American. Both my Grandfather and Father lived in Japan for several years. Both USMC. Their experiences were great (off base). However, that was also decades ago.
Nevertheless, there's a channel that I follow. It's about the Black experiences in Japan. I was surprised by a couple of the Blacks interviewed. One guy's interview is so inspiring, I watch it over and over, for encouragement. As I would like to live my midlife-end of life days, in another Country. Just not Japan.
@@forrest_ation That was exactly my thinking! I'm from post communist country and visited Japan in 2017. The biggest cultural shock for me actually was how close is Japan mentally to my country. If you exclude tech, food and architecture you feel like you are in country that was just recently taken from pawns of Dictator.
oh, Takashii-san, this is an amazing interview for the Foreigners who lives in Japan, like we us people, we sometimes encounter some of like racist people, and yeah, the questions are great, it's amazing, thank you for this kind of interview, Takashii-san💖✨
Ohhhh thank you so much !!!
I am also very glad he interviewed all white people, actually. Its good to see this because, at least it seems usually portrayed, that only black people have issues like this over in these countries. I knew that wasn't the case. ANYONE foreign, specifically not e.asian looking, is going to get looked at and talked to in weird odd ways over there.
@@marlak4203 the thing is that white ppl usually have "desired skin" since the east Asian beauty standard is super light, double eyelids,etc. but black ppl literally oppose these standards by usually having darker skin. it also seems a bit weird saying ur glad he interviewed ALL white ppl? like damn just bc whites get a little oppressed in these countries doesnt mean others shouldnt be in it -a half black half white person
Heya Takashi, Japanese people have categories for foreigners. White, Brown and Black lol. Me being a Brown Foreigner experienced a lot of racism here. You can start asking different foreigners for that.
I’m interested to hear! What type and if you don’t mind giving different examples of what you’ve been through.
😂
I have never heard Japanese people use the word brown to refer to a race.
I think most people don't know what the word brown means. In Japanese, black people are called "kokujin" and white people are called "hakujin".What is the word for brown?
Brother you are on fire right now! That was brilliant, You picked really good people Australian guy was hilarious. l will definitely want to do a sit down with you when l get there. I will be your first Scottish interview 🤣😂
Ohhhh thank you so much !!!!
Yeah there’re sooooo kind and to be honest interview with Australian guy , it was take 2 lol
I forgot recording at first and while he answers I noticed I didn’t , and he did it again for me 😂
@@takashiifromjapan hahaha what a funny story
He should have interviewed people with a dark complexion (black, Indian, Latin people ). They're the ones to tell you about that sort of thing because they generally experience it. How can a white person experience racism In Japan when their skin is regarded as more attractive and beautiful ?
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Next time you can try interview some Asians like Chinese, Philippines, Vietnamese,etc who are working in Japan, I think you can find the answers
How they get treated?
Can they even tell difference from each other?
I lived in Japan for over 6 years. Yes, racism exists in Japan - both personal and structural. I can't tell you how many times I have been sitting on the train and listen to the people across from me saying "Dirty foreigners, why don't they all go home. I wish he'd die." or something like that. Then we have no legal rights. I can be denied jobs or housing or basic services like phone service because of my nationality. Friends of mine were physically attacked or mugged and the police ignored them. I recognize that the legal prejudice is even harder for Asian foreginers in Japan, but that doesn't make any of it OK.
Wow, have you ever thought of making a video about your experience?
This is 100% true . I dont get why nobody on youtube talk about this.
Did you notice any gender and age bias when receiving such aggressive comments? I would feel pretty scared if a group of men were talking like that about me on the train...
@@stillfangirlingtoday1468 It was definitely worse coming from men, but there wasn't any major difference between young men old old men - both groups were equally likely to do/say something. For some reason it was always pairs of men instead of individuals or larger groups. For women it was less overt much closer to micro-aggressions: Pulling her purse protectively close even though we're sitting 2m/6ft apart on a train bench, crossing the street to avoid me then crossing back, that sort of thing.
@@drewthompson6614Wow, If white man like you experienced racism like this then i can't imagin what will happen to black, south asians and South east asians in Japan
It’s kinda strange because when I was in Japan, people always sat next to me in trains. I sometimes even felt like they did that so that I wouldn’t feel discriminated against. So I don’t know why I had this experience so different from others. Maybe anyone else had a similar experience to mine?
Probably how you look. Some Japanese avoid getting close to tourist looking people because they are incapable of speaking English and feel they are incompetent if tourist ask for help. Also those with big body/wearing backpack/speaking in loud voice/sitting with legs open, Japanese unconsciously feel "this person wants space" and leave the seat next to them. Most Japanese don't know what gaijin sheet is so I don't think people intentionally sat next to you.
@@Nyugen-eu6rh I don’t know what gaijin sheet is either. But I do think that some Japanese people are aware of discrimination if that’s what you mean.
Love your work Taka, it's really interesting, I hope one day you'll be able to visit other countries and why not, do some interviews there. It's nice to see people have the guts to move to Japan and some of them speaking the language. The first french guy seemed to be really a cool person. I hope he'll have a great time in your country (of course same for the other people). The Australian one seemed really talkative also, it was fun to watch.
That Australian guy - 5 years in Japan and did not learn the language? What a wasted opportunity.
It's quite typical for Australian men who live in Asian countries. Especially ones who live in cities with a lot of other foreigners. The cultures are so different they tend to not have any local friends and have gfs or wives to do the work in the local language for them. I know Aussies who have lived in Thailand for 25 years and can't even say hello or Thankyou in Thai properly, it's quite embarrassing. The upside is it makes me seem like a genius because I've put in the work to learn proper pronunciation and grammer 😂.
To be honest usually native English speakers don't feel the necessity of learning foreign languages. It is really comfy for them that most of the world understand English or put effort to learn it. It makes native speakers less enthusiastic or eager towards learning. It is my experience. I used to live in Indonesia with lots of other foreigners and only british girls could not speak any other languages.
It sounds like he drinks a lot and curses a lot.
@@jmulvey371 he is Aussie, that's what we are known for 😂
Living in Germany I met plenty of people from UK, Ireland, New zealand, Australia, Canada and USA. Around 30 people at least. Only 2 girls from Florida tried to learn german. 1 Irish woman after 17 years had no clue about german language. Meanwhile the rest of us ( From France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Korea and many others nationalities) we all spoke very good english and decent german while trying to learn more and more.
Native english speakers (generally) never show respect for other's people language. Sad...
You should have asked the first guy to teach you French. 😂
A lot of learnings from different foreigners. I guess it's important to learn the language of the country where you want to move to.
Very cool content, man.
Oh right lol
Behind the camera , he recommended not going to Paris lol
@@takashiifromjapan Can confirm, Paris is extremely over rated
@@takashiifromjapan i agree. I have relative in Paris and have been many times when in my teens and twenties. It is overrated, dirty and people are very rude.
@@wardiya3arbiya it’s nice if you stay in the white areas . If you go to African areas it starts looking super dirty. 18e arrondissement is very ghetto and infested . People always recommend to stay away from there .
@@takashiifromjapan i am French, and there are other interesting places in France...
Provence , Bretagne , etc
The girl at @4:53 is really cool! I follow her on TikTok and she makes a lot of videos about the struggles of not being accepted as Japanese. She’s really sweet.
Yeah right she’s huge
I came here to say the same thing! I think she's so adorable, and I love her content. So cool that you got to meet her, Takashi!
What is her @ on tiktok?
@@TheGmusy lunanabanana
that girl's funny, she was playing the gaijin card more until you talked to her further...i think everyone was as surprised as takashi when she said she lived in japan for 16 years..i think she must have been bullied or something, that she wants to distance herself from japan. I can sympathize, every foreigner says no one wants to sit next to them..That's so bad manners in my opinion. Japanese people should feel ashamed.
These people you interviewed are really cool & your questioning is on point.
I was in Japan for two years and I found several restaurants had signs at their doors that said, "Japanese Only". This is racism to the max.
Things like these are forbidden in all of European countries.
I think it’s mean they only can speak Japanese “日本語だけ“
Most of japanese can't speak english. They're nervous if their english is wrong people will laugh at them. Maybe that's why
The first thought when they talk about the sign is they hate loud people in their restaurant some tourist like from China talks really loud.
I think they mean Japanese "speaking" people only
Thank you so much TAKASHii! I'm Ukrainian who's trying to learn English and uses your fantastic brilliant videos!
I've already watched first video and now I'm finishing the second really enjoying it! All your interviewee are so fascinating people and I wrote so many incredibly useful things from their speeches! It's your great job and my great experience! I'll proceed with wathcing your interview till last modern one! Arigato
Thank you TAKAshi for this. I had some minor misunderstandings before and those were- miscommunication and misinterpretation of jokes and the way I said things. I find it funny sometimes but well, we should extend our patience and be more understanding with each other. But here in Philippines, you can integrate well because most of us are accommodating and we very much love to talk with foreigners.
Ohhh I see
I want to go to Philippines one day !
Nice vlog! What amazes me is that not much, if anything, has changed since the time I lived in Japan. It looked like my generation, I am talking about my Japanese friends, would have made some long-lasting changes, because they were those who were actually changing Japan at that time in the sense of quitting jobs and changing companies, moving abroad, etc. apparently they haven't. Speaking about public transport, also, nothing has changed :-) The only 'racism' I experienced in Japan was "Hana ga takai :-)
But, Man! I love and miss Japan so much Japan. Thank you for bringing back good memories!!
I’d say the racism is selective after over 10 years in Japan. The treatment of other Asians is rough here. Generally in other ways it’s institutionalized. Home loans, job opportunities, promotions, and other little and big things are clearly restricted because you are not Japanese. Even folks with high levels of Japanese ability are treated this way. But on an individual level I find folk get used to you relatively quickly and in many ways you become like their pet, unless if you are some other Asian then it’s just rough it seems.
Even foreigners with high level of Japanese are treated like this too? Man, that's sad.
Which is why I plan to finish American college first and work telehealth as a psychologist as I live in japan. (To put it short, finish college, move to japan, work telehealth) I will convert my earnings to yen.
@@NewCanadianTurtle True, they took their time to learn the language
@@NewCanadianTurtle It is a very traditional culture and very very mono-ethnic. The bias is ingrained so they cant really see they're being biased. But yes, I know folk with 1kyu level of JPLT routinely passed over at promotion time year after year. I know folk who are naturalized Japanese but lets be honest that is a huge waste of time. No one in Japan will consider you Japanese even then. Around here you have to be ethnically Japanese to be Japanese. One close friend even told me that some Japanese loathe when foreigners speak Japanese better than they do, as the language is also their identity and they dislike non-ethnic Japanese mastering it better than they do. Again though it is easy as dirt to live here if you are not another Asian. But dont kid yourself about your opportunities here, they will be sparse unless you are god levels of genius.
@@MrTomemac thanks for these informations man. Really learning more about this country. Safe to say every country has their own issues.
Enjoyed your topic, but you could have interviewed foreigners of different races to have more diverse examples about racism in Japan. Just a suggestion.
Well these might've been the only foreigners he met that day so
Yes. I’m curious how black people fare in Japan
He interviewed people from all over the world. How do you think he finds these people? Obviously he approaches them on the street, so he is taking what he can get…
Great interview, i had to LOL'z with the Australian guy, just typically saying how it is & of course Aussie Slang culture swears haha. I thought you'd be uncomfortable Takashii but you aced it, too funny. Racism is a whole other level in other countries, can't imagine it being like that in Japan.
I'll never forget the day that an old guy spat on my ex boyfriend for no reason at all.
I used to work in Ginza, in a Brazilian restaurant. During my break my ex bf came to see me so we could have lunch together somewhere else. We were walking, not holding hands and not talking, definitely not kissing, just trying to find a place to eat as fast as possible because I still had to go back to work.
Than an old guy, around his 50 I think, just spat on my ex and walked away really fast.
Was really shocking.
I saw some comments that are like the one that I am going to write but this is from my point of view. Like all of them said they don’t experience the type of racism that most people imagine because they are mostly from western countries, the first guy said that he uses his gaijin pass which means he can get away with some things not considered normal in Japan, the second person they interviewed said she gets called pretty or beautiful because or her more western features, the third person said exactly my point about Japan’s subtle racism that he doesn’t experience it because he looks like a westerner or (i don’t wanna say this but ) white person, he also explained that Japanese people are more likely to show racism towards other Asian people rather than them, lastly, the girls said that she only experiences very little inconveniences and not a big deal kind of situation. So I guess my point is that Japanese people are the absolute most polite people you could ever meet but it’s not always rainbows and sunshine here and I think Takashi should interview more people from other asian countries and not just “westerners”. This is a really good video though and I really enjoyed it but this is just my point of view. Sorry for the long post.
I understand and agree with what you are saying. I'm Korean but I can pass for Japanese unless I speak. I noticed when I was with my Malaysian friend that the way we were treated was VERY different from how I'm treated if I'm alone, with Japanese friends or white friends. I couldn't believe it. Of course I know these people are a small minority but they do exist. Oh and my boss actually told me he hates Koreans and Americans. I couldn't believe he actually said it.
@@soju81 exactly!!! I am a Filipino/Japanese half but I look more Japanese and even then I have been told that I was wild or that I should go back to my country or that I was dirty. This was in school by the way, when I told the teachers they told that I might have just misunderstood them.
同意です。
I see your point, and for that matter I have no interest in visiting Japan (sorry). But racism, xenophobia, exclusion based on appearance is unacceptable and should be planet wide. I cannot change that you try to make excuses for your country men's bad manners, but they are bad manners and ignorance. 'Japanese only' is racism and sadly nothing else.
Letting it slide is not okay.
But, I can't change it, I'll be sure not to visit such silently rude and externally 'polite' country.
:( Sorry
@@CaribouOrange Well, I actually agree with most of your points but for me “Japanese/(insert country name) only” stores should not be considered racism. Yes it does make you feel like an outcast/outsider(whatever I forgot the right term), but if I’m an owner of a store and I’m uncomfortable serving foreigners because I don’t know how to communicate or I’m shy around them, then you can’t force me. Why is it an issue when a store in a certain country ban foreigners, but not when a store bans a local? Why not go find another place? If someone has to really force me, then I’m fine with being called a racist.
I get the impression that most of these people want to say "of course!" but are too polite to say so. Australians swear so much! but it sounds harmless, not angry.
before covid, my family had visited Japan several times and the people were really nice. a student went out of his way to show us the street to our rbnb (our map didn't work for some reason). he even apologized for not being able to walk us there since he'd be late for an orientation event. dude was an angel i swear T_T
oh and we got lost a lot (lol), so we had many experiences being helped by the japanese. some even took their time before work to help us out... we were so touched.
we're Chinese indonesians btw and none of us speaks japanese.
That is mostly likely because you were a short-term tourist, and the Japanese were treating you like a "guest" in their country. However, if they think you are a "foreign resident" there is a chance that your experience would be "different".
I’ve said for years that I am treated better as a third-class citizen in Japan than I am as a white male in the USA (and yes, I am aware of ALL the privilege I have there, and I still stand by what I say). The Japanese are just THAT friendly, that even if they consider you a sub-human monkey, they’re still going to smile and thank you and help you get where you’re going.
@@wishinkansai exactly
@@wishinkansai Not really. I lived there a couple years and my best friend still lives there. 99% of interactions are positive, and he speaks and hears fluent Japanese. Your experience won't be much different on a daily basis.
ntabs ci. wkwk
People who go to other countries without any plans and just roam around and work for each meal and lodging are another breed. My anxiety and ocd could never. But its fascinating.
I lived in Japan for 7 years. Unfortunately they are big racists but try to hide it under smile and kind behaviour. Several times when I sit near Japanese person in metro, they look at me and later changed the place. The same situation happened with my foreign friends in Japan so...
Coming from a Japanese person, I’m very sorry that u experienced that.
Wow, I couldn’t imagine people would not sit next to a foreigner in Japan. I live in Korea and people love sitting right next to me even if the entire bench is empty. I’d love some space instead lol!
Ppl like to sit next to you because you’re so cute, I bet they also want to pet you….
Korea is very different to Japan. In so many ways.
Dude great video...love the entrance with different opinions 👏👏👏
Thank you so much !!!
I’m enjoying making videos
Really like the way you give proper eye contact while talking to the other person and you wait and listen to what they say .. good and short interviews..I like the content and gives me more interesting details..
Enjoyed watching as always. Thanks for sharing some more foreigner impressions.
Thank you for watching as always 😊
Takashi is my cultural guide to Japan. Listen to channel every night while on my trip in Japan!
Your questions are so interesting 😭😭✨!!
I mean,I was smiling while watching this video.Thank you so much for the information and all the basic things. ありがとうございます！🙇🏻♀️✨
Ohhhhh thank you so much !!!!
Their answers are interesting too !
3:23 Lol sharing a culture is a strange thing. I'm french myself and I thought exactly the same thing when I heard about people not sitting besides you on the train. Whereas in Paris, we are literally fighting over the place on trains
It's sad Prejudice/racism is everywhere. I have experienced it when I travel and where I live. Still I hope to one day visit Japan. Thank you for sharing this information. It helps to know a little bit of what to expect. Can you do video on some tips that would help not to offend when we visit? Every country has different manners and ideas that often is not what we see in movies. The people seem to expect visitors or foreigners to automatically know. If these tips will help make a pleasant experience please share.
I respect how friendly and sincere he is, not just asking his interview questions but asking a lot of personal questions as well
Loving your content! The half-irish half-japanese girl and the last girl were so sweet! ✨
Yeah !
They’re sooo nice and cute !!
I experienced loads of racism in Japan, from walking into estate agents and being told they didn’t have a single property available, even though they had pics of all the properties on the wall that were available. I’ve been spat on by a salaryman, I’ve been pushed by a salaryman, I’ve been talked about (racially) on the train by some lads, I’ve all sorts of racist encounters. I’ve also seen signs for no foreigners etc. which wouldn’t happen in my country. But I imagine if I wasn’t white and living in my country, I’d experience similar. So basically, there are racists everywhere, but I’ve met more nice Japanese people than racists, so in a country of hundreds of millions of people, having about 20 instances of racism isn’t massive.
You should interview Korean or Chinese. They will definitely talk about racism in Japan seriously.
its like the holy triangle those 3 countries looks like really hate eachother lol
@@Rin-sj8ii But why?
@@grandspringdale1564 because of history
@@Rin-sj8ii wonder what those three thought of Mongolians lol
It's mostly like rivalry feeling. Not the discrimination toward chinese or koreans. as the japanese usually looking down or hate on brown race or blacks or eastern europeans
I was wandering why ppl in Hokkaido speak English so well. When I was in Hokkaido 2019 I got an emergency health issue and I went to the hospital by myself. Every staff I met in the hospital are so fluent in English. That was really comforted me a lot since I’ve already messed up so much then that I didn’t need to worry about the communication problem
This is an excellent series. Thanks. The part about people not sitting next to a foreigner on a train really worries me though. Ive heard about that many times. and it puts me off visiting. :-(
I am a Taiwanese met my Japanese husband in US and currently live in Tokyo.I had both lived in US and Japan and my English is fluently but Japanese isn’t、what I had experienced was during my stay in US some people around me will looked down on me until I spoke the language then the attitude will change while in Japan the Japanese will be very nice to me until the moment they realized I am not Japanese by my language since my appearance is not different from them and I had also experienced very cruel and humiliated words from the elder Japanese women that why I started to learn how to scold people in Japanese and you have to do that as to defend yourself if people went to far no matter their age or race. The Americans had dropped two nukes on Japan but we Taiwanese had been occupied by Japan in the past so we’re in different situations.
Excellent interviews !
I feel that you're getting along just fine with foreigners and let them feel at ease with you.
Free Palestine
Really enjoy your interviews - thankyou
The question of this video should be: have you ever experienced xenophobia in Japan? The xenophobia word is related to being a foreigner, meanwhile racism is among races
I really found your video interviews interesting. I'm born and raised in England, but visited Japan 20 years ago to stay with a friend who lives in Shinjuku Tokyo. I hope you visit Japan again in the near future. Thanks for the great video content!! 🙏
Takashi San! I really really love your work!! Speaking in English so all your RUclips viewers can understand is such a nice gesture! You could have spoken in japanese and use subtitles but you speaking in English makes it so much more special!
Arigatou gozaimasu ❤️🥰
First video I’ve ever seen you interview someone from Virginia, that’s where I live! It’s not that common to hear about Virginia in Japan videos, or any videos abroad for that matter 😅
I lived in Japan and experienced racism as a white person. People not wanting to seat next to you in the train or being refused entry into a restaurant. Once a guy shouted at me in Japanese out of the blue... I was lucky I could not understand what he was saying at the time.
They would probably stare at me and frown coz I'm black, they are racist period
It's true, being white can give you some advantages, but it colours every interaction you have with people in Asia, you're always treated as a foreigner.
If you speak Japanese you will notice the xenophobia and racism much more.
I'm white (female) and I've gotten attacked by xenophobic old Japanese men in public several times a year since the pandemic started, 5 times in the past two months...... Japanese people are very complacent so of course no one called any of those old men out. Never happened in the 7 years I lived here before the pandemic.
I was yelled at for using the wrong shop's bin in Osaka, but that was my fault 😬
@@endingxtheme exactly
your videos are helping me alot with my anxiousness about travel
Yes racism exists there, like anywhere in the world, i experienced racism quiet often in japan but i wish i hadn't experienced it because i love the country but really started to hate the people because of my encounters but i know there good ones out there.
I can remember not being waited on in one place because I was white, this would have been circa 1988 and the people were a bit older. A few years later I was visiting a park and was approached by a Chinese gent from Hong Kong. He asked me for directions because the information booth refused to answer him in either Japanese or English. When I went to the booth, the attendant spoke quite good English. I spent the day touring with the guy from Hong Kong and he told me that he found prejudice against Chinese to be much greater than against whites.
It’s funny because as a foreigner in Japan, I never sit on the train. I always stand by the doors because whenever I sit down, people crowd all around me. Like uncomfortably close when there is plenty of space. I am clearly a foreigner with blonde hair and blue eyes, so I’m not sure why they don’t give me the space that other foreigners seem to get lol.
Cause you are a foreigner with BLONDE HAIR AND BLUE eyes.
Ahahah, yeah, they want to smell you probably
I've been really wanting to visit Japan but I've also got blonde hair and blue eyes as well lol. I just know I would stick out like a sore thumb, I still really want to visit though. Train thing aside have your experiences in Japan with the people there been good for the most part?
2人目の子かわいい🥺日本語しゃべれないのかと思ったら後半普通にしゃべってて面白かった
When I came to Japan as a tourist, many locals I met were friendly.
But, since I moved to here for work, and now have been living in Japan for years.
I already have experienced discrimination many times, especially when I try to look for new jobs. I do speak Japanese though.
Usually, Japanese people are more friendly to white, but not to other Asians.
It’s true
But for whites all Asians are same
Your videos ara really intersting and infomative, thanks for sharing this with us!
Dear TAKASHii-san, thank you for the interesting video series. Key question is, "What is Racism" ? Or what do you and the interviewed define as "Racism" ?
Ohhh right I should’ve talked about it!!
if he interview people who actually work in factories in japan, where lot of asians, latino and black people work ,i think it would be a interesting interview .
Dang this video is next level. I see your channel blowing up at this rate
Oh thank you so much !!!!
I hope so !
I just want to say, that i like your videos, I am able to practice english and sometimes japanes, at the same time I learn the point of view of foreigners or japanese about interesting topics, good channel, greetings from Bolivia!, Hope someday go to Japan. ^^
ANYWHERE in Asia, if you're anything BUT Asian (indian and middle-eastern included), you're gonna get discriminated upon. I think it's mainly because there aren't that much diversity in races in Asian countries. And people are too used to seeing they're own race than seeing others.
I think this is accurate.
This content is so fascinating. Thank you for sharing!
Takashi fighting ♥️♥️♥️♥️ from hello talk💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Hi thank you so much !!!!
The random Star Wars theme at 0:40 :D Very good Video!
Yeah there’s Disney + advertisement there lol
Such a quintessential Australian guy haha.
The casual swearing, honesty, laid back personality (as I perceive them to be at least).
Love it. Such an interesting contrast to when Takashi interviews Japanese people too.
Edit: Wrote the above before finishing the video - honestly the empty seat next to you wouldn't bother me at all. As a Swede (though I suspect it applies to more countries) I'm overjoyed if I have a spot open next to me on public transport. Unless I'm traveling with other people I know I much prefer to sit by myself. Personal space and all that.
No you're right, that's exactly how most Aussie males are, laid back, will swear a lot, speak their mind. Simply put they give zero fucks.
I'm an Australian, and even to me he would be considered "a bit much". Casual swearing is an Australian thing but generally around people you know, friends etc. Casual swearing with a stranger would still be considered a little too much.
So interesting. Thank you for taking us on this journey. It’s enlightening to see Japan through your lens.
I’m a black American who stayed in Togane for a month. There’s definitely racism, buts it’s more subtle than it is in America and other places. Like for example, a bunch of high school students walked up to me and my friends and just started saying “GUCCI GANG GUCCI GANG GUCCI GANG GUCCI GANG” while throwing up hand signs. It’s was racism bred of ignorance, not hatred.
definitely that wasn't racism
As a South American, I went to Tokyo and was not treated well. My Japanese friend said people thought I was Indian and would look at me odd (I’m native South American and black)
I found the French guy had an open mind to experience Japan as a farm worker, Also the Japanese Irish girl had found the outdoor life in Ireland. it is interesting to see this swap. I found the Ozzie guy was a bit stuck up and fake - not learning the language in 5 years.
Fake? In what sense?
He said he had lots of international Japanese friends in his circle so...
Not every thing is for everyone, a lot of people find it really hard to learn a new language just like people who can't learn math. It doesn't mean that they are stuck up.
The ozzie guy was trying to hit every cliche
@@stuartsilvagomez6495 if you live in a country where the language is Japanese and most things are written in Japanese and you have been there fives years you should at least know how to speak simple sentences. Common phrases. He very much is pompous and pretentious. Australians are just kinda like that.
Another good one! Like they all said, it is not intentional. Australian guy was the best! Haha. I am an expat too and the only way to keep your spirits up is to consistently learn the language. If you are in Japan, learn Japanese. You will get a reward from your hard work because all your bad memories will go away after that one nice interaction with a Japanese person. Like the French guy said, he likes being himself so it’s alright to be labeled a foreigner. I live in Jeju South Korea. Much less English here like Hokkaido, so I need to learn Korean because my life is harder since I left the city of Busan where English is spoken more frequently.
I’m South East asian. I went to Japan and people were polite. I liked it because I am an introvert and people gives me space also unlike in other countries wherein some random stranger will approach you and will talk to you casually. When I went there I went out with 3 Japanese guys and they were nice and polite. They all treated me in a nice restaurants. They were respectful and even picked me up from my hotel lobby and went back to drop me off at my hotel lobby again because I was having a difficult time with the signs that I might get lost going back to my hotel.😅
Happy to hear that!😌
Japanese is kind,humble and polite.
It's different if you LIVE in Japan Vs just visiting lang
@@難攻不落-d4f ilan taon kna dto sa Japan?
your english is great specially for someone who ahsnt been to a english spekaing country
I brought a $300 backpack because of unique status in Japan. I take it everywhere with me because it start conversation with the local. It a Ransell school bag. It perfect for my need and it fully leather hand made with extended shoulders straps. These conversations always happen at lining up at the train platform. They seem very surprised that I know it a small children school bag and I still use it.
It just so happens that I live in Setagaya as well; near Temple University.
I've certainly experienced racism in Japan.
There are definitely racist Japanese people like in any country. I am Asian/ European. When I was growing up I lived in South East Asia and was bullied because my mother was white. The kids called my mum "a white monkey '. They often pointed out my nose was different, my eyes, my skin. When I am in Europe people see me as Asian, when I am in Japan they see me as European. In the U.K. I had a racist comment from an old English man because I am Japanese. It's hard to belong when you are mixed race at times. But I learned to use my assets from both cultures and to accept and love both.
I can relate to the Irish/Japanese girl. I am from Germany and living in Kanto area for 8 years now, I really miss nature. I want to move to Kyoto, but unfortunately at the moment, my job keeps me in Tokyo. As a white female, you get a lot of compliments, which was nice in the beginning but can be tiring after a while, bc people idealize you in a way that I find disturbing. I can't relate to the empty seat thing. People always sit next to me on the train. I think tall, big guys are more of a target to this, bc people are scared/not used to foreigners.
I'm really liking these videos. I'm hoping you can make mote videos of the experiences of more black people living in Japan. Or the experiences of half black half Japanese raised and living in Japan.
I lived in Japan for 2 years and I never experienced the not sitting next to me on a train thing. The only thing that comes to mind is an elderly lady walking down the street saw me and said under her breath ‘Americans.. tsk tsk’ (I’m Australian 😅)
Nope, she did the name magic thing. Your passport is coming in the mail.
9 years in Japan here. Haven't experienced it either. I think a lot of it is your weight and/or height. All my friends who complain about the "gaijin seat" are all overweight or very tall and intimidating. I wish no one would sit next to me on the train tbh, especially these days.
@@endingxtheme a lot of what is perceived as racism in japan is simply Japanese people showing their conservative values and cultural traditions. In Japanese media big guys are always portrayed as intimidating and a Lil scary even the ones that are portrayed as joyous.
@@endingxtheme hello what is your nationality? I read your comment on how you were pushed by japanese men and would like to know if it was by the old men or young men. Also have you stopped experiencing it?
@@sakyichristine927 I'm Polish-American. I've been pushed by both young and old Japanese men, but the old men tend to go further because they know they're less likely to get arrested for assault than if they were younger.
And no I haven't stopped experiencing it. Japanese men are extremely chauvinistic, misogynistic, and sexist, so this happens to Japanese women, too. As a foreigner in Japan during the pandemic I'm a bigger target, though, since many people here seem to think it's now ok to be openly racist.
喋らなければ外国人であることがバレないのは自分にとって1番助かった点ですね。外国人だと気づいたら態度が変わった人もいます。そこまですごく悪い態度をされるほどではないですけど、1番ムカついたのは、敬語（〜です、〜ます）から平常語（タメ口みたいな）に変えたことです。こっちがずっと敬語使ってるのに、タメ口で返されたって本当にムカつきます。
今度は東南アジア係の人にもインタビューしてみてほしいです（発信してほしいです）。違う方向の答えが聞けるんじゃないかと思います。
外国人は敬語＝良い、タメ口＝悪い、と単純に考えていますが、実際にはそうではありません。日本人は敬語で話し続けられることが必ずしも良いこととは思っていません。嫌いな人にずっと敬語を使い続けることも日本では珍しくないからです。その辺のニュアンスを理解することは外国人には非常に難しいでしょう。日本人は「敬語かタメ口か」よりもむしろ「敵対的か友好的か」を重視しています。
@@hastamanana8696 ご意見ありがとうございます〜もちろん行きつけのラーメン店や商店街のおばさんには普通にタメ口で話しかけられています。それは親しく接してくれていることがわかっているので、嫌な気持ちはなく、逆にとてもうれしいです。嫌な場合は言ってた通り、最初は敬語なのに、外国人だと知ってタメ口になった場合と、声のトーンと言い方が悪い場合です。前の日本人のお客さんにはすごく丁寧に話してたのに、自分の番になると態度も言い方も変わりました。こういう人は多くはないけど、たまにいますね。
I’ve lived here for over 11 years. I speak Japanese. I have experienced racism. Most recently just a couple weeks ago. And it wasn’t the first time.
I love your videos. They give great insight
When I was living in Taiwan, I was asked by a friend of mine to apply for an English teacher's job. I went to the school and the head teacher took me aside and told me that she can't offer me the job because the parents and kids will not be comfortable being taught by someone like me. I'm brown. So there you go.
It's sad but racism is everywhere. I haven't personally got too bad forms of racism from Japanese. Unlike in my home country in Europe where I got spit on, harassed, stalked, sexually asaulted, mugged, being refused service from official authorities, ignored or harassed by police, and the list goes on. Surely that happens to people in Japan too but just saying it sadly happens everywhere, there is no country without racism. But comparing it to other countries, I personally haven't gotten too strong forms of it from Japanese. But do interview people with other skin tones so people can get really different kinds of opinions.
That Australian guy talking about the KFC Christmas experience in Japan had me cracking up. I never knew that
Ditto - read my comment above, haha!
LOL, Jewish people in the U.S. order Chinese on Christmas. I also laughed when he said that, but I understand.
No? The Chinese on Christmas thing comes from the 1980s Christmas story film. Jews literally try to take whatever they can eh?
I really hate it when foreigners say "a little bit" (in Japanese) when asked about if they speak Japanese, then proceed to give excuses in English as to why they can't answer a simple question of "How much do you know?" or "Where did you learn?"...
And the cherry on top of the cake is when they pronounce "chotto" wrong.
Like... No. Just say "No, I don't. I know a few words, but I don't speak the language" instead of saying "Yeah, I speak a little bit".
Or don't worry about pointless shit like that.
When i was in Japan visiting, i was with my parents. We were in the train, an old man stood up and spit toward our shoes and stormed off. That was the only time i felt rejected by a Japanese person.
Commenting as a Japanese person, that is unforgivable behaviour. Really sorry u experienced that.
That's pretty nasty. What is your ethnicity?
@@SI.COYG6 no worries... I know one person doesn't represent the whole Japanese society.
Maybe is because we didn't understand that we couldn't talk in the train... I mean, I am not justifying him. But it might be the reason he was triggered that way
Spitting is vile. What a dirty old man.
I love all your videos. It's so interesting to hear all these thoughts, opinions, and cultural insights.
Very interesting video! 💯
Thank you so much !!
@@takashiifromjapan You're very much welcome!!