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Short Americans in Japan...
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by frozen_frogurt
on 2006-06-03 16:29:13
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Hello! I have a qestion that's pretty stupid, but if somebody could answer, I'd appreciate it. I'm not sure this is true, but there seems to be a stereotype among the Japanese that all Americans are tall. The typical foreigner represented in media seems to be a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, tall person. I'm 5'2" and dark-haired, with brown eyes. Would this in any way affect how the Japanese treat me? |
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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| Well...as long as you dont look asian you will be fine. |
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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by wisteria 「藤ã€
on 2006-06-03 17:53:55
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They don't really care about height.. I'm American, but I'm dark and not too tall.. in fact, I was mistaken for Italian by both Japanese and foreigners, and I have even been mistaken for half Japanese!!! While they do have the most stereo-typed views of foriengers out of any country in the world.. a gaijin is a gaijin. o_o They are gonna stare at you for either your big prominent nose (the envy gaijin noses), your big "pacchiri" eyes (they envy that too), your curves and big breasts (if you are a woman)... and if you are like bleach blond, they will stare at that too. A lot of staring goes on, but other than that it's not too bad. Usually they are most stereotyped and racists about very dark people and other asians. |
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So what you are saying, they love foreigners, who are "western" really? I ahve blues eyes, dirty blondish hair, and am average height
woot
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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by wisteria 「藤ã€
on 2006-06-04 19:19:17
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I wouldn't say love.. more like admire or aspire to.. because to them, especially the young, Western and non-Japanese is "hip" or "cool". Why are there so many youths with bleached hair? And b-boy/girls also try to look black. Why are so many celebs getting eye-opening surgery? It seems that the younger generations seem to have no Japanese identity whatsoever, and imitate all other pop cultural images... mostly American pop culture. Even African natives who come to Japan, they dress in American hip-hop style clothing, in order to be accepted more easily by the Japanese, who think it's "cool"... In short, no one wants to be "Japanese" anymore. They have totally destroyed their own culture in the course of a century.. it's sad but true. But I think that subject is too big to delve into.. |
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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by
on 2006-06-13 06:47:19 |
Eye-opening surgery? Oh my God that's creepy. People think my mom is from Japan and people don't know what the heck I am. I've been called every race except black and just plain "what are you?" It's so strange. We want to be like them and they want to be like us. 
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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| I L B O N S H E K K I |
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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holy crap that's just weird. japenese who dont want to be japanese? wow that's just sad. I wanna be japanese, they got all the anime, and sushi, and what not. 
wooo maplestory |
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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by goldiceman56
on 2006-09-15 16:15:25
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| So would the Japanese be insulted by a white american gaijin (me), who would go to their country in 4-5 years to teach english and take in the Japanese culture as a whole? |
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Disregarding one's own culture is just... silly. I mean, why try to be a part of someone else's culture and not be proud of your own? Sure, you can embrace whatever culture you like but to completely transform into someone completely new sort of disembodies you from your roots... Sad, huh?
Enlightened Darkness and Shadowed Light
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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by goldiceman56
on 2006-09-15 19:15:46
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| @Keihatsu, who is your comment referring? |
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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@wisteria Harajuku is not the entirety of Japanese culture or lack thereof. @goldiceman56 The short answer is no, they will think you are the bomb... generally. And everyone will ask you for English lessons, no matter their age or social standing. See this link for a true experience of an American (black) teaching English in Japan http://outpostnine.com/editorials/teacher.html Re: "eye opening surgery" Very common, minor, plastic surgery procedure to give people double eyelids instead of single ones. Double eyelids are considered more attractive and are not exclusive of asians. Some have it, some don't. Some prefer it, others don't care. It's not a new phenomenon, it's been going on for decades, since the procedure was invented, and has nothing to do with Japanese not wanting to be Japanese. I am Japanese, and I was born with double eyelids, I have Japanese friends with single eyelids and don't care. re: disregarding one's culture can you say teenage rebellion? |
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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| It isn't that the Japanese expect Americans to be tall, since the term "melting pot" is one of the (non-volatile) terms used to describe our country, but the tall non-Asian folks are usually expected to be American or French. Generally French or Swedish up on in Hokkaido. |
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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by goldiceman56
on 2006-09-20 13:08:54
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@Eiko Thanks for the info, and the link to the website. Some very interesting and illuminating stories, can't wait. |
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Re: Short Americans in Japan...
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by Blonde Gal!
on 2006-10-19 15:30:03
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Are there alot of blonde hair blue eyed people in Japan at all? I know in anime and manga people can have all kinds of hair and eye color, but i always though EVERYONE in real Japan had black hair and small eyes (no offense).
A day with out sunshine is like, you know, night.
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