What do Japanese people think of foreigners?

Question

I mean the ones IN Japan;natives. In manga/entertainment, they seem to glorify foreigners; but when I Googled it, they really don't like foreigners. So - what is the truth? they like foreigners, hate them, or do they don't mind too much?

Answer 1

You will get a hard answer because you cannot gauge the minds of 125+ million people all in one lump.



Some like, some don't like, other's might have no opinion on the matter.



If hundreds of people show up at the airport to say hello to Johnny Depp, you can't really say they HATE foreigners can you? Why would hundreds show up then? Just to tell him to NOT come to Japan?



This is really an individualist question. I LIVE IN japan, I can tell you most people I interact with have no problems with foreigners, some of the Japanese people I know like foreigners better then other Japanese. You might meet someone else who doesn't live in Japan or does live in Japan and say something completely opposite of what I just said.



So who is to be believed?



Another example, Ft. Bragg and Otsuchi Japan are sister cities, both cities have close ties with each other. One is an American city and one is a Japanese city, they have had excellent exchanges which each other for the last 10 years. Am I to say the Japanese HATE foreigners so they are sister cities and have friendly ties with an American city? Doesn't make any sense if they "Hate" foreigners is it? Otsuchi was recently destroyed by the Tsunami and the citizens of Ft. Bragg have been working very hard to assist their sister city that was destroyed in Japan. There are many stories being told of how their sister city has always been welcoming of the visitors.



The answer is, there is no wide opinion one way or the other. You have pockets here and there and then you have people who don't care whichway whatsoever.



I live in Japan and I really don't have any problems, so I highly disagree with Maybe?? who says they will be hostile to people who attempt to learn the culture and speak the language. In fact, I find it downright ridiculous comment, especially for someone who MAYBE has traveled to Japan but who doesn't in fact live there. I can tell you it's opposite. You'll get more respect for attempting to learn the language and culture.



I don't know what country you are from, but everyone in your country likes foreigners? Can you speak for your entire country that they either like or hate foreigners? I'm sure you have people who think one way or the other about it, and you have people who don't mind either way.



I find these questions that pop up every once and a while just plain silly.

Answer 2

Key words, when a foreigner becomes a Japanese citizen/national. --------------------------------------..... If you wanted to legally change your name, you can legally change your name in your home country, therefore it would legally be your valid name if/when you visit Japan. You would still need to use Katakana Spelling if you were a non-Japanese. Of course many people might be baffled as to why a seemingly foreign guy is named Watanane Ryou or have an otherwise "japanese" name. Imagine if you met an Asian person named "George Washington" or "Winston Churchill" wouldn't you be kind of baffled? -------------------------- I wouldn't be so worried about the spelling. There are a lot of other problems just being a foreigner in Japan. Katakana is easier to read, even for Japanese. Then become Yumiko with a Katakana Spelling, but your name would have to be registered as Yumio. Kanji spelling is when you become a Japanese national. You can name yourself Hillary Clinton if you wanted to. Just make sure its all legal and registered properly. You'll still need to use the Katakana spelling. Yumiko is ユミコ in Katakana. If you wanted to legally change your name in the United States you can change it to whatever you want as long as it isn't profane. For example you can't name yourself the "F" word but you can name yourself Jesus Christ if you wanted to. Normally you'd have to fill out court documents etc and go to court to change your name. I don't think you're parents will like that too much either. ----------------------- Why are you so worried about changing your name or what people think. Especially if you haven't visited Japan yet, or even lived there for a while yet? Whatever floats your boat, Athena could be アテーナー thats how they spell the greek goddess Athena's name.

Answer 3

When I went to Japan...(I am Japanese but born in Canada)

Some of them didn't know their geography very well (and they are all older than me).

They thought America was part of Europe...

Or thought Canada was part of America or something. And other things like that.



Anyways.

The people I met were very accepting. They were just very shy.

And the high schoolers called me a "foreigner". To ask questions about where I come from, they would start their questions with, "In foreign countries do they...."

(Which I could not answer because I am not the representative of the whole world outside of Japan!)

Answer 4

the thing is that japan i still opening his doors to the foreigners what i mean by this is, that...japan doesn´t have alot of foreigners like other people countries have. they are very traditional people, they love their culture and they love themselves. i´m not trying to say they are racist, but is not that they don´t like foreigners is because some of them (foreigners) do not behave well when they are in japan. japanese people are very respectful and well mannered people. but i don´t think we have the exact answer to your question. maybe they are just not so used to foreigners.

Answer 5

Manga is nothing like the real world.

The truth is that the Japanese are incredibly hospitable toward foreigners if these foreigners display even a measly attempt at the Japanese language, abide by the Japanese customs and traditions, and try to understand the unique Japanese culture.

They can be rude and condescending when foreigners refuse to abide by the customs and laws of Japan and if these foreigners behave like pigs.

Answer 6

Looking at Japan on the whole, some words come to my mind, as homogeneous society, xenophobia, unwritten rules, an nonverbal communication.



According to Japan's laws, "Japanese citizen" is Japanese national holders only.

Answer 7

as a brasilian japanese living in japan i think they don't mind or like not white south americans that much... but they love europeans and americans, if you do not speak japanese is going to be really hard to make friends.

Answer 8

It depends on each person. There is no truth for the entire Japan.

Answer 9

If you do not intend to break Japanese cultures, you might be accepted.

If you are willing to break Japanese cultures, you will be disliked.

Answer 10

they afraid of foreigners basically because japanese not able to speak english (only a few of them that could speak perfectly) i think you might studying japanese to be able speak through the people, and they might like you just because you able speaking japanese.

anyway, the life between city and village is practicably different! the foreigners who live in villages will so much difficult to get a job than who lives in city like tokyo or osaka.

Answer 11

we japanese love some foreigners we like american but we dislike brazilians

Answer 12

Yeah. They hate everybody, pretty much. They think they are better than everybody (of course, this is the generalization).