In Japan, it’s pretty common for people to comment on someone’s weight—barring those who are really obese, which would be seen as cruel. To those who have never lived in Japan, are not Japanese, and especially to Americans, it might be difficult for you to accept this as normal behavior, but in my experience, it’s not *necessarily* meant to be critical or mean; it’s at the most a very light kind of ribbing maybe? but sometimes it’s not even that.
From people who are practically strangers—a mother-in-law’s friend who had never previously met me but knows what I looked like 7 years ago in wedding pictures exclaiming “Wow! You’ve gained weight!” immediately after exchanging hellos, to people I’ve met regularly over many years—a restaurant owner where my family celebrates nearly every birthday telling me I’ve gotten quite fat…
Despite that I’m perhaps barely even chubby compared to my family and friends in the Midwestern United States, in Japan I’m in that special range of fatness where people are (apparently very) comfortable commenting on it. I’m working on it, it is what it is, but regardless, I have no idea what to say back.
I have N2 level Japanese, but the test doesn’t prepare you for this social situation.
What are some different ways that I might reply to someone commenting on my weight? I’d like to have a few ideas ready, maybe something polite to reply to people I’ve just met, maybe something slightly humorous to reply to friendly teasing. Much appreciated, thank you for reading!