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| *Travel Tips>>>Japan Travel Tips |
Will a black guy stand out in tokyo? |
Travel Info Is it bad to stand out in tokyo? What do the japanese ladies think of african americans Travel Tips To answer your 1st question: Yes, Japan is a very homogenous society, as 98.1% of people in the country are of Japanese decent. 2nd question: Its not necessarily bad to stand out, but a black/white/non-east-Asian will easily stand out and will most likely have a positive/negative bias against him/her. I'm not Japanese and get looks all the time, but put a positive spin on in, smile to people that look at you, and it should be alright. But, beware, there are stereotypes for blacks/whites etc.. that you should try not to slip into. Basically, dont dress like a "gansta" and you should be able to avoid the common stereotype. 3rd question: Black people get a bad rap in Japan. I dont know why exactly, but generally Japanese people here think, White, Japanese, Black, Asian, Chinese/Korean.... in that order but no one will ever tell you that. There was a famous case about 2 years ago about a "black" man (thats what japanese refer to African-Americans) being denied entry to a glasses shop based on his skin colour. His white friend was allowed in. He sued but I dont know whether he won or not. In Tokyo, there are alot of Nigerians and Ghanians working in the Roppongi night club district so you may have that label put on you as well... Just be kind and courtious and you'll have no problem breaking the stereotype. Good luck and enjoy Tokyo. Source(s): lifetime of experience living in Japan.... Other Travel Tips The only thing that may worry you is that they may ask you if you have a gun. Apparently that's all they get in the media. Black people knocking over stores or some other low class crime. Frankly, hardly anyone outside of America has any idea what Americans are truly like. It's all about media portrayals. Think about it, there are countries that believe Paris Hilton is American royalty. That should make you sick. This blog (http://www.gaijinsmash.net/) is written by an American black guy in Japan. Although he doesn't stay in Tokyo, you'll probably get a better idea of his life in Japan. The blog is pretty entertaining. Apparently, he'd a japanese gf before. :) Tokyo is an international city, so they are used to visitors of all races. That being said, anyone not Japanese will stand out in Tokyo just because of the fact it is a major city in a country that has one basic genetic and ethnic community. Blending is nearly impossible. Is it bad to stand out...no, because you can't avoid it. However, it is bad to draw more attention to yourself because you behave like an American. Japanese society is, as a rule, very aware of how their actions and behaviors effect others. This is especially true in urban areas where people are packed in tight. Americans tend to be louder, use lots of large arm and body movements and are very "touchy" when meeting new people. If you are planning to visit, take time to get to know what is socially acceptable as far as behavior in public. While the Japanese know you may not get all the "rules", following the basics will go a long way in letting you get to know Japanese people and to enjoying yourself in areas where there are few Westerners. Keep in mind however, that many bars and nightclubs do not allow anyone who is not Japanese in. This is allowed and making a scene will do nothing to alter it (actually making a scene may find you on the end of some serious bouncer action and/or a visit to the local police station) so if you try to go someplace and they refuse you, simply walk away. As for how Japanese ladies feel about African Americans, it will depend...just like here in the states. Younger women are going to be more open, as are girls who may have travelled or are fascinated with American culture. Keep in mind that very few Japanese girls are used to the agressive approaches most Americans use and that going out on dates is a very different thing in Japan than here. Again, take some time and do some reading first. The more you know, the more you demonstrate a willingness and interest in understanding their culture, the more you will be welcomed. The Japanese are fun and wonderul. Any westerner will stand out in Tokyo. I'm a pretty normal looking woman, but I have red hair and I'm taller than the average Japanese man. When I was in Japan, I stood out like a sore thumb. It's not a bad thing to stand out. Being non-Japanese, you will immediately be marked as a foreigner but I've found that most Japanese people will go out of their way to be polite and acommodating. As a foreigner, you will be able to get away with certain behaviors that would be frowned upon by the Japanese but if you show good manners and an attempt to understand their particular mode of etiquette, you will be treated well. As for the ladies, yes there are many young Japanese women who have some interest in foreigners, but might be reluctant to date and will probably expect rude behavior by American men. They will expect to be directly propositioned and hit on. Again, respectful behavior will work well in social settings. It isn't bad to stand out. Foreigners are 2% of the population in Japan. It doesn't matter if you are Black, White or Asian, you will stand out. |
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