Hello, I’m interested to move into Japan, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to fit in. I’m Persian and grew up in America, and I don’t have clear skin and I’m very hairy compared to Japanese people. I have body dysmorphia and I don’t want it to be even worse at Japan, it’s a side effect along with my depression. I was wondering on how the Japanese would view me as a foreigner coming in.
8 comments
At the risk of sounding facetious, I think you’ll fit in with the crowd of many visitors.
While I understand Persian is on another level of hairy, the stereotype is already most foreigners are. Also we’re not judged along terms of other Japanese. You are foreign and are expected to be different and not judged by Japanese norms.
I’m a white male with hairy arms. For a Japanese guy that might be seen as unkempt. For me, I’m just a foreigner.
+10 years in Japan here.
I assure you you’ll get ignored a lot.
The Japanese are very good at it.
I’m pretty hairy as well
When I attended high school here I felt shy about my arm and leg hair but not anymore.
My guess is that Most people here wouldn’t want to be hairy but they don’t stare at hairy people or anything (but depending on the city that you’re at people will stare you if you don’t look east asian or have very visible and big tattoos)
Don’t worry about being Persian or hairy, you’re just another foreigner to Japanese people.
I’d worry more about the depression and body image issues. Japan is not great for mental health.
Lots of insecure people posting on here today, probably should do your best to work through your personal problems before you uproot your life and move to a foreign country, regardless of where that is
Yeah, I’d say I fit right in with the wookie crowd in this thread. I just put my white Gandalf mane together to something like a pony tale, before I hit the city, and all is well.
If you have mental health issues, though, then that’s much more worrying. Please make sure that you will get the help you need, before you weigh anchor and sail to Japan.
It will help keep you warm in winter. Perspective is everything.
I would strong suggest you fix your depression before coming to Japan.
Many people think that by moving to Japan all their sadness and depression will simply vanish, but it’s far from the truth. Most of the time it gets worse.