Many times I’ve heard stories about how hostile foreigners are to fellow tourists or foreign workers in Japan. People have told me that I’ll be ignored, and that they won’t offer me any help. Though I myself have never confirmed nor denied this theory, I have to wonder if it is the mono-culture of Japan that pushes people to become hyper-aware of… foreigners. That’s a topic for another day.

Personally, I hold nothing against fellow visitors to the country – Wednesday found me chatting with a lovely pair of kids from England – however there are definitely a few people that have made a negative impact.

Kaho and I were on our way to Shibuya when a group of kids boarded the train. They had clearly been living here for a while and felt comfortable in the environment. They then proceeded to cuss and critique others around them. I will tell you this now: JAPANESE PEOPLE KNOW THE WORD F***!!! I guess what annoyed me most was their complete disregard for the place and time at which they were speaking. You wouldn’t do that in your own country, so why someone else’s?

The next thing that really unsettled me was that they would stare and whisper about other foreigners on the train. Now I’m not perfect, and I do have a habit of voicing my guesses on where other foreigners are from based on accent {e.g. I think she’s from Ireland, etc.} but I wouldn’t dream of blatantly staring at and talking about them!

I think the final thing that this group of people did was behave in a superior manner. Please! Just because you have been living here for longer, does not make you a higher class citizen. Of course I’m not going to go around spouting about how great I am at Japanese if I have stayed here for less time than you, so no need to worry about that! I know that it sounds like I am complaining, but it was a really rude way to behave, and I could see others in the carriage becoming uncomfortable.

I guess my main message is, maybe sometimes foreigners ARE hostile to other foreigners, especially if they’ve stayed in Japan for a prolonged period of time. But, perhaps it is people like those I witnessed on the train who create this divide. This post sounds incredibly ‘us vs them’, and I am in no way trying to create a divide between Japanese people and foreigners, but the fact remains that there is a difference – whether it be in language, looks or cultural awareness. I am not saying that you need to love everyone, but perhaps when you are a visitor, behave in a respectful manner, so that those who have walked in your shoes are more eager to help out. Do this first, before declaring that foreigners hate other foreigners.

Rant over. J

-H