Got offered a job in Tokyo, it’s not a Japanese company. Working hours wise, I think it’s not held to Japanese standards. I’m a non-Japanese Asian, and have only been to Japan once, a few years ago. When I was a tourist there, I did not experience any xenophobia. But now that I might live there, how bad is the xenophobia really? I don’t know if it’s a thing but I think appearance wise I pass as Japanese, whenever people talk to me it’s always started in Japanese, including flight attendants who switches between English and Japanese to different passengers.
Is it recommended to accept the offer? Salary wise it’s less than what I’m currently making but it’s also more affordable in Tokyo so my living standards will likely remain the same. Worried about the social aspect of it.
Edit: I think I was looking at Japan from a tourist bubble because I didn’t feel discriminated years ago. Would hospitals, doctors, rental properties, basically services that are not frequented by tourists, discriminate based on citizenship? I know it happens in another asian country i used to live in. I get that it differs from place to place but would like some experience that you might have!
12 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
—
**Is Japan as Xenophobic as what the media says?**
Got offered a job in Tokyo, it’s not a Japanese company. Working hours wise, I think it’s not held to Japanese standards. I’m a non-Japanese Asian, and have only been to Japan once, a few years ago. When I was a tourist there, I did not experience any xenophobia. But now that I might live there, how bad is the xenophobia really? I don’t know if it’s a thing but I think appearance wise I pass as Japanese, whenever people talk to me it’s always started in Japanese, including flight attendants who switches between English and Japanese to different passengers.
Is it recommended to accept the offer? Salary wise it’s less than what I’m currently making but it’s also more affordable in Tokyo so my living standards will likely remain the same. Worried about the social aspect of it.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/movingtojapan) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Don’t believe everything you read in the media. So many expats from different backgrounds that are here and thriving. Just make sure you at least learn the language, it opens you up to more great experiences with the locals.
The possibility of being discriminated or attacked because of a foreigner identity is rare these days,particularly in Tokyo. But say in a systematic perspective a foreigner could never be considered as native JAPANESE however fluent are you in Japanese language or familiar with its culture. This applies when you want to marry a native, advance your career in a more crucial role in a corporation or devote in Japanese politics. Xenophobia is not a proper term, but even though you have fully integrated into Japan and make some amicable friends, the first impression and the most important trait in people’s minds will permanently be FOREIGNER.
It’s a stereotype rooted in truth that it way overhyped on reddit. Tokyo is a nice place to live and it’s not like you’re going to get bashed for being foreign or anything.
I think the most important thing is to know japanese
If anything I’m treated like a demi-god
Yen is super weak now and may stay that way for a while, so if you’re getting paid in Yen and thinking like saving up some, this may not be a good time. As far as xenophobia goes, I would say it’s all pure luck. It seems so random. You may be lucky one day and maybe not so some other days.
The language barrier is the biggest hurdle to consider, especially if you plan to socialize. You can still go through your day and live a normal life, you get used to it. I think the rumors of xenophobia is rooted from their unwillingness to learn a foreign language (English). Not all of them, but most of them.
I want to point out that despite the language barrier, they are very hospitable, warm, helpful, and understanding. The difficulty of communicating (for a foreigner who do not speak Japanese) is undeniable still, and will prove to be a challenge
I think it’s not as bad as a lot of people make it out to be, but it is there.
More than anything, the main issue is that Japan as a whole is still not ready to fully accept foreigners as integrated parts of their society. Most Japanese just think it is impossible for a foreigner to ever truly integrate here.
It’s important to keep in mind that most of it is not malicious, it’s just that many Japanese people have seriously warped understandings of what the world is like outside Japan.
There are good people and bad people everywhere in the world. If the package is good and you’re interested in living in Tokyo, then give it a try. If it’s not for you, find a job somewhere else and move on. If you like it, stay for a while. For most people, foreigners included, Japan is a great place to live.
(non-Japanese Asian speaking here…)
It depends, honestly. Your experience will be very different from that of white foreigners here, who honestly in my experience are always the ones complaining about xenophobia.
As an Asian who seems to pass (from your comments about getting spoken to in Japanese first), you might find it as freeing as I do to finally not be a visible minority. The caveat there is that the moment you open your mouth the jig might be up – but how much you decide to study and change this is entirely up to oneself, which I also found empowering.
When it comes to dating, I think if you’re in your 20s or 30s you won’t have problems.
Across most spheres, IMO by and large the main thing will be how respectful and eager you are perceived to be to do the right thing (read: the Japanese thing). As an Asian, you will be expected to just kind of get it – there is often a, “look, I know we can’t expect Mr. Smith to understand why we do things this way, but you should be capable on some level as a fellow Asian” kind of thing that you might experience.
In short, I think you’ll be fine. Hope you can make the most of it.
The most tangible examples I can think of is housing and credit. The majority of landlords will outright refuse any foreigners for no reason other than they’re foreign, even if you speak Japanese, are a permanent resident and have a good income and stable job. You’ll still be able to find a place but it still sucks not being able to live in the majority of rentals here.
As for credit, many banks will refuse to give you a credit card if you’re a foreigner as well your first few years here. Maybe it’s gotten better but that was my experience in the past.
Smaller forms of xenophobia I notice day to day are the lack of accomodation for non Japanese names in daily services and forms and just general bewilderment when asked for any flexibility or changes to systems that don’t fit you. Not even my tax office has enough characters for me to put in my name and this creates paper work headaches every year.
That being said you forget about most this stuff in your day to day and I think you can still have a good time here.