Dealing with the ‘attitude shift’ when the foreigner is talking
So i’ve been in Japan for around 10 years, and currently working in a Japanese-only speaking environment marketing here in Tokyo.
I think my written Japanese is very good, but I feel like depending on the day, or even hour, my spoken Japanese level has taken a hot since covid. I’ve mostly been working through emails until changing jobs recently,hence my written Japanese being better.
I’m noticing this dynamic in meetings, and i’ve felt this many times before, where people will give you that “oh god, the foreigner is talking” look, and just really flippantly ignore every idea or opinion you have. Every proposal I give to the group is misunderstood as me trying to clarify whats being said. Every question is taken as an insult or an accusation that I wasn’t listening.
It usually isn’t like this, but I have noticed this dynamic across different Japanese-only groups where it feels like, at certain times, i’ll be patronized and shut down, even when i’m doing favors and jobs for other people that they don’t know how to do. (Graphic design work, videography, etc)
Anyone else dealing with this?
There’s just a general feeling in the room where people shut down and become snippy when I try to add any input or my opinion on everything. Then 10 minutes later everything is friendly and open. It feels very Japanese somehow haha
by ImpressionNecessary2