I’m in a AMA kind of mood. In the past I’ve done AMA’s like “I speak Japanese, ask me anything” where I got a TON of questions, but now I want to see if anyone has some questions they want to ask about life in Okinawa or what it was like growing up halfie in Japan. Maybe even questions for my expat husband. If it’s anything related to Japan/Okinawa/living here/moving here/our perspective ask away!
No answers are too dumb. Some context:
* My husband is American and I’m half-Japanese/half-American.
* I grew up in Japan until I was 20 and lived in California for 10 years where I met him.
* We’ve been together for 11 years and moved back to my home of Okinawa in the beginning for 2020 before COVID went down.
* My dad was in the US military stationed in Okinawa and my mom is an Okinawan local.
* I do speak both languages, but my English is stronger.
I love answering questions so I’ll do my best to answer as much as I can. If I don’t answer for a while though, I may just be busy, so give me time. (Helpful questions and fun questions may get used in some of our SM content 🤣)
25 comments
Hello, I’m looking for efficient methods of learning Japanese,but I’m a bit unorganized and I’m also kind of lazy to make a study plan.
When I was learning English,things were different.I managed to immerse myself into the language and everything came naturally,but as for the Japanese language….
Would you consider there is more discrimination for multicultural people versus Honshuu, or less? It’s not good here in the Kantou area, but I cannot figure if it is better due to the diversity already built into Okinawa, or worse due to American base friction and the overall concept of Sakoku that causes challenges for Japan in general?
Hi! I’m currently living in Okinawa with my partner too! I only just moved about a month ago but he has been here about 8 months since he got stationed here from the military. If you or your husband have any advice on not constantly feeling like an outsider, if that’s possible, that would be greatly welcome, or honestly any advice on our situation in general would be super helpful!! We are trying to learn the language and of course know the pure basics needed for daily life but it’s a long process!
I’m also really curious about your perspective of living here as a half Japanese half American person too. I’ve heard that Japanese people don’t even consider Okinawa properly Japan, is that true?
Is he military?
We don’t need help from a halfu!
/s
This sounds very similar to a friend of mine’s story 🤔
Have you heard of anyone in real life who claims to have seen a yokai?
How often do you eat out in comparison to cooking at home, and if/when you cook at home, what do you usually make?
Are you Ryukyuan? Do you personally have an opinion on the circumstances surrounding the Ryukyuan people in modern Japan? And living in Okinawa, do you ever hear the Ryukyuan language, and can you yourself understand any of it?
How ridiculous compared to real life the animes sound to You. You know, what makes them weird if someone talked like that in real life? Apart of obvious stuff like extremely weird tone used by some characters etc. And what is actually pretty well done in resemblance. What parts are realistic and what are not?
Also what food do You find weird from Japan and from USA. Since You got both perspectives. Cuisines of those countries are very very different.
What do You think about some weird translations of Japenese terms? Both from fiction (like anime) and from folklore. For example bakemono is often translated as monster, but it’s not exactly monster, right? I heard youko or youkai being translated as demon (or demon fox in the former’s case). Kaibutsu means more like monster, right? I know youkai and kaibutsu have the same “kai”. You is something like a spirit, like youkai are spirits. I also heard that bakemono means type of youkai that can shapeshift. Is that true? Or isn’t it exactly that? Anyway, what do You think about these translations?
Do you have centenarians in your family?
How do they treat you?
Is there actually a large chinese tourist industry or presence in Okinawa and if so do you feel any prejudice from them or is it pretty live and let live?
Are there any good music programs for teens in Oki? My 14 y/o is transferring out of a performance arts school in Los Angeles next year and will be finishing HS in Kubasaki.
Do I need a guide if I visit Japan or can I get around okay without knowing the language?
As someone who grew up in Japan but has spent a lot of time in America, what’s your opinion on root beer? It seems very polarizing for non-Americans
What are some of the things that you see on Okinawa that remind you of the WW2 battle?
Here I thought for a second you were an ama taking questions.
All the same: How is the diving in Okinawa? Is there a culture for it outside of the tourist industry?
i know this is a generic question but how popular is katsu curry in your region? it’s my favourite japanese dish lol, how often do you eat it?
Do you speak the Okinawan language?
What is it like to swim in Okinawa? The beaches look so beautiful, but there seems to be SO MUCH dangerous wildlife that swimming nearly seems impossible?
Not just jellyfish etc, but things like stonefish.
I’d love to visit Okinawa to enjoy the beaches, especially the smaller, less frequented ones. But I’m concerned! (And I’m Australian, no stranger to ocean dangers…. Just know where to swim and where not to swim!)
I was in Okinawa in the late 90s and did a several day exercise on iashima.
I remember pitch black nights and stars from horizon to horizon and I someone wonder if I imagined that. There was a small resort on the island… is that still there?
Also I remember going up into the haunted hotel (nakagusuku) is that still there?
I remember driving along the coast and the tunnels that cut through the mountains along the coastline. It was half a lifetime ago for me but I left a bit of my heart on that island.
Are the roads still so slippery when it rains?
If I wanted to do an AMA and not actually respond to anyone what is the best subreddit to do that?
what’s cool about Okinawa?, I have only read about it in a manga. and it looks pretty chill.
What was it like growing up as half-Japanese in Okinawa?