Comments on: Stop Thinking that Japanese People Have Never Seen Anyone From a Different Country

By: ジェフ

ジェフ — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:52:22 +0000

Er… Something nobody is mentioning is that Japanese people often overstate things.

When you talk and they tell you your Japanese is excellent, it almost certainly isn’t. But by attempting to speak the language at all, you’re doing something that the average Westerner doesn’t even try, and so they’re being nice.

Similarly, as the previous commenter pointed out, they may be impressed that you can use chopsticks. And, honestly, if you believe that *most* Westerners can use chopsticks, you’re probably wrong. A Caucasian using them proficiently is, most likely, a reasonably rare occurrence. Either way, they’re happy to see you being culturally open, so they’ll say they’re impressed.

By: Kawasaki

Kawasaki — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:54:09 +0000

Very interesting article and comments. I agree with Don Edwards that Japan is not just Tokyo. Many of Japanese may not have interacted with foreigners before. It is true that people would stare at you if you go to county side of Japan. In my opinion, it’s the same everywhere where tourists do not often visit. Wouldn’t it be weird if a minority family moved into an upper middle class White neighborhood? It’s all prejudice. Don Edwards also said “Japan really has no influential role in world affairs.” I must disagree with that. Yes, Japan sells products all over the world. That is not it. They built companies, factories, and jobs for native residents. Japan is contributing to the economy of the world. What if they pull all factories out of America? Japan does need America to talk to foreign nations. Japanese Constitution prohibits wars. They cannot fight even if they wanted to. It is also what America does the best; getting involved in foreign affairs. Look back to the WW II, Vietnam, Israel and Iraq. America likes doing it. I am not complaining though. We need somebody like that. I don’t think lack of communication skill is holding Japan back from doing business with foreign nations. If that’s true, Japan’s economy wouldn’t be better than the U.S.

By: Annord

Annord — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:13:06 +0000

I really want to know if Japanese are racist like other Asian Countries especially Singapore and Malaysia. They hate Black to the extent that they can share a bus with a black person. I think the world should do something about this because a black person never polished him self black but he was born black, so it is not his fault. I wonder why Singapore and Malaysia is like that

By: Mirror

Mirror — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:23:08 +0000

“The articles always use the word always”

By: Don Edwards

Don Edwards — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:20:16 +0000

Sorry, but as someone who has lived here for 19 years, the degree of insularity and clannishness of Japanese society compared to other countries is still quite noticeable.
Japan really has no influential role in world affairs. They need the Americans to help them talk to their neighbors. Yes, they sell products overseas but their difficulty communicating with others holds them back. Last year someone commented on my use of chopsticks and when I assured them that most foreigners can use them they did not believe me. Many Japanese cling to stereotypes of foreigners, cliches whose main purpose is to reassure Japanese of their own superiority. When making new friends you will inevitably be forced to listen to predictable comparisons of Japanese vs. foreigners which come close to political dogma in that they are identically memorized and believed without question. News programs constantly subconsciously portray the world outside Japan as a dangerous and scary place. Xenophobia is one of the glues used to hold Japanese society together.

By: polysyllabist

polysyllabist — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 09:26:44 +0000

Very true.
But consider that Japan is more than just Tokyo.
And I do want to reiterate that your most important point, that of absolutivity, goes both ways. Not every Japanese person you meet will have met a foreigner and (given the right social situation) will lack genuine curiosity about you… nor will they always be unimpressed or unsurprised with, say, your ability to use chopsticks.