Hi folks, first of all is there any International japanese people out there who can answere this question? OR anyone who has visited/lived in japan? because i live in japan with my japanese husband, i am a white female, green eyes strawberry blonde hair, i admit folk are curious to see this white woman with a japanese man and 2 kids. Thing is people stare at me, this makes me so paranoid, i cant fathom out why someone has to look so long, i could stand in a queue and by chance the young woman infront of me would turn around and see me,then she would whisper to her friend then her friend would turn and get a good look at me,i totally hate it, i told my husband that this bothers me but he acted as if i was fishing for a compliment or something?? until one day i cried to him and he said perhaps its cos they are curious to me but WHY?? japanese woman look perfect. i cant tell whether the men here stare at me cos i am alien to them or whether they like white woman or not.Mostly woman stare.
2007-01-07 00:50:52 · 9 answers · asked by ? 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
excuse me but i never said japanese people are STUPID,,my husband is japanese ya know. i just dunno why they stare at foreigners thats all,,not just me,,,i have foreign friends here who complain of the same thing,,,white people think staring is rude ya know but here in japan it seems normal i just wanna know why thats all.
2007-01-07 00:59:47 · update #1
Hello, I've been in Japan for over eleven years, (white male) and people stare at me regularly. While it is impossible to tell exactly why each individual will stare at us (non-Japanese), I can give you a partial list of reasons why they stare. (In no particular order)
#1) They are curious about us because we are different.
#2) They want to speak English with us, but often lack the courage to strike up a conversation.
#3) They are attracted to us.
#4) They are disgusted by us.
#5) They are comparing us to other Japanese people.
I hear the following comments on a regular basis.
#1) Hana ga takai ne. (Your nose is sharp and is pointed.)
#2) Me ga ookii. (Your eyes are big.)
#3) Ashi ga nagai ne. (Your legs are long.)
#4) Atama ga chiisai. (Your head is small)
#5) Kao ga chiisai. (Your face is small.)
#6) Te ga ookii ne. (Your hands are big.)
#7) Yubi ga nagai ne. (Your fingers are long.)
#8) Ha no narabi ga kirei da ne. (Your teeth are straight.)
Most of these do not bother me, however, I feel that the Japanese should be very careful when mentioning these kinds of things because if someone is sensitive about themselves, they could easily be offended. However, they will just say these things to everyone as if it were perfectly normal. They will also ask your age as if they somehow have the right to know - despite the fact that they wouldn't ask a Japanese person they just met the same question!
However, if you want to be happy living in Japan, and you have no plans to leave, then you will HAVE TO change your internal thought processes so that you can co-exist with them without getting angry at them. This will take a long time and it will be hard, so you should get to work on it right away.
They are not going to change, but you can.
I know exactly what you are going through, and you have every right to feel frustrated and angry, but it will not help. Only by controlling your own REACTIONS to the negative feelings produced by the cultural differences can you prevail - and prevail you must, if you are going to stay here.
Good luck!!!!!
2007-01-07 01:27:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Actually, it's very rare someone would see a Green-eyed, Strawberry Blonde woman in Japan of all places. I think they love your Eyes, I was told Japanese people like our eyes. That's why they're so BIG in Anime Comics and Cartoons. And your's, being Green!!! That's a mindblower!!! So take it as a compliment, I'm sure if they didn't like you, they'll throw rocks or something. Take care and don't stress out about it.
2007-01-07 09:03:07 · answer #2 · answered by Bygtree 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Get over it, I got dark skin and black hair but I have light blue eyes and I live in a small town full of white folks and I get stared at too. I guess u have to get used to that kind of atmosphere.
2007-01-07 09:00:46 · answer #3 · answered by Mini 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How many other "white" women do you see? You are a foreigner and you look different. Probably surprising so. You are out of place.
Face it, you are a stranger with a strange look. From your eyes, you see Japaneses; from their eyes, they see Japaneses and a "white" women (probably a very beautiful one at that). They see American movies, and guess what, they see the America movie image in you.
If you saw one blank peril on a white peril necklace, would you stare? Try to be comfortable in your own skin and move on.
2007-01-07 09:02:16 · answer #4 · answered by J. 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
You are a stranger, an oddity. It is something you need to deal with. Rise above the indifferences, or move back home.
2007-01-07 08:57:42 · answer #5 · answered by LifeRyder 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Japanese have long thought themselves a superior race and were at one time planning genocide against all races other than theirs. They are actually the last "pure" race to last in modern mankind's history. You are probably experiencing these deep seeded feelings that all "pure bloods" possess and portray.
2007-01-07 09:03:25 · answer #6 · answered by bill g 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
it's either your height or your hair..............they're jealous or envious of both..........
2007-01-07 08:54:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Japanese people are not stupid. You are just full of yourself, or paranoid.
2007-01-07 08:53:17 · answer #8 · answered by INDRAG? 6 · 0⤊ 9⤋
you are sytaring at them ... of course they are wondering ...WHY IS SHE STARING AT ME ???
2007-01-07 08:59:06 · answer #9 · answered by klunk 4 · 1⤊ 6⤋