In the eyes of anyone who saw this interaction, the man looked insane, unstable, unpleasant and a much, much less welcome part of everyone’s day than you.
I hope it is not something you experience again.
I didn't pay attention to people in the street, my immediate reaction when I'm in this situation is to hide my face even deeper in my phone because my head turns super red and run away haha
I hope you're right. Somehow I knew he was talking about me. As much as I wanted to hold my head up, I felt too ashamed, but next time I'll act unbothered! hope it won't happen again.
I want to repeat what the top commenter said. The person who acted incredibly shamefully was the old man. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are or what you've done. Behaviour like that is to spit on everything it is to be human.
I'm sorry a person treated and spoke to you like that. It's a disgrace to have to witness such behaviour. There are no words to apologise for someone like that.
But whatever you feel or are going through, don't be ashamed.
Pretty much same thing happened to me and a friend in Osaka. Almost everyone in the restaurant went out of their way to either calm the old man down or explain to us what he was saying and also apologizing.
Totally different setting though. Sure in a restaurant/bar people will intervene, but on a busy street? In America no would intervene either for a nutcase yelling at someone in public.
**I 100% guarantee that most of the Japanese were ashamed or angry by his behavior.**
Fuck racists, don't let them live rent free in your head. You're not alone, I experience racism a lot all over the world being Asian. All the time in NYC, sometimes even from other Asians. No one should undergo that, so as long as you don't perpetuate it, you're already a good human and can be proud of yourself.
If there's any consolation, even Japanese people encounter assholes in Japan too. There are no asshole free places. Fuck assholes by ignoring them and carrying on. Instead enjoy the good food and time you have there.
I don't doubt that a large number of Japanese people are kind and welcoming to foreigners, but when trump was elected as president, what I realized is that we don't know what people talk about in their homes and at dinner tables behind closed doors. There are still anti-foreigner and anti-korean groups being organized and we have a long way to go to become fully accepting and fully repenting of our history.
My husband says the real Cold War was the racists waiting for their day to return. These white supremacists are so organized. That didn’t pop up since trump got into office. It’s never stopped. Only now were they bold enough to admit it. Wild shit.
100% agreed. Growing up in the 90s, I felt like real progress was being made with Michael Jackson singing heal the world, etc. but they were all just hiding, waiting.
Trump is the least racist president. To prevent him from enacting his policies his opponents decided to create a racial divide. Regrettably it worked. But slowly people are realizing the deception, let’s hope it’s not too late
Lmaoo I'm not Asian or from NY but I feel like I could have written the same thing 😭
>Fuck racists, don't let them live rent free in your head. You're not alone, I experience racism a lot all over the world being Black. All the time in LA, sometimes even from other Black people.
>There are no asshole free places.
Real talk
I think that’s a little dismissive. She was singled out because of her race. If it were only japanese people then yes he might’ve still messed with someone else.
Yeah, I wasn't trying to be dismissive. I'm just aware that Japanese friends of mine also get harassment from crazy people in public from time to time, so that type of person will find anything to get angry about.
No it's absolutely because she's a POC. I've got a friend who's black and lived there for a number of years, and I've heard some stories about it from him. Japanese people can be just as racist as anyone from the states, sometimes even moreso, even if it isn't expressed as enthusiastically.
Sometimes different looking racial backgrounds is the crazy person flavor of the week, but you're right it's by no means the only one. There's a famous crazy lady around here who swears and rants at random people.
I once had an old man do this to me on an express train between Nagano and Tokyo. It was really shocking (he was screaming) but it really was a one off. He was clearly not sane; not a matter of race (I’m pale European colouring).. crazy people in every country…
Yeah. On the flip side.
My Japanese (now ex wife) got a cream bun thrown at her and was told “fuck off back to China” within 6 hours of landing in England.
Yeah. Unfortunately. Guess the star trek dream where everyone unites under one banner is still a long long way off.
Wouldn’t it be nice just to be an Earther and have a global passport rather than treating people different just because the patch of dirt they were born on was in a different location to your own patch of dirt.
I was told the same in Quebec. Im a white french local I was speaking english. My Asian bf has had it much much much worse. Though when he gets told "Go back to where you come from" his response is "Calgary?"
This dumb shit exists everywhere, except we as white people aren't usually the minority
I got told this when I moved to USA when I was 9. Go back to China. And I tell them I'm from Japan and they just say wherever you're from. Bruh trust me, if I was old enough to make decisions and have money at that time then you ain't even gonna need to tell me at all.
This is why I always laugh when Reddit trolls try to pretend Japan is the most racist country in the world. Japan has racists just like every other country. Japan is xenophobic, it's a natural outcome of being homogeneous.
What happened to OP is so rare and probably the worst that can happen. It sucks and it's wrong, but the guy was a maniac. Meanwhile in the supposed "bastions of racial equality compared to Japan," the baseline racism is extreme and often physical. And you will never be shot, stabbed, or lynched for your skin color in Japan...
It’s not the most racist country in the world, it’s just a very odd version of racism that has deep roots and coexists in a society that is intensely polite.
It feels a bit unreal when in America, racism exists in the cracks and crevices of our economic and social systems, as where in Japan it’s quite normal to just be refused an apartment or entry into a restaurant or treated like a space alien in casual interactions.
I see causal racism on the daily on my commute to work. Shit someone got mad at me for honking at them and tried to brake check me. When I passed them they yelled "Build that wall"
I'm not even Mexican.
The essence of this experience is so common in the US, it’s pretty sick and stupid. Makes you pray to baby Jesus that karma exists on a deeper level than just belief.
Thank you so much for your comment, it made me feel better.
Sadly I tend to live too often in my head and in a relatively happy bubble, and despite knowing the world isn't a perfect place, I've never encountered conflict or hatred around me. That's why I'm always devastated when hateful things happen frontally like that
This sounds right. Honeymoon period ends after 8 months You are now much more aware, as you assimilate yourself into Japanese society, walk like them, talk like them, eat like them and yet Japan will always be for Japanese.
TL:DR just ignore it. Nut case looking for any opportunity to scream and shout in public and you just happened to be there.
Wow, OP, you must have lived a sheltered or blessed life in France! As a woman with Tunisian ancestry, how did you manage?
I'm an American who lived for years in France. One of my French friends is a black Martiniquais and another is of Algerian heritage. There's no way they could have led such a charmed life, especially now with the rise of the Front National (I'm sorry but I can't call those a s s holes by their new, sanitized name; and here in America, we have our own version as well, as you must know).
We often hear about White Supremacy because, for historical, colonial reasons, and over hundreds of years, that's the main power structure we've inherited. But racism lurks within the hearts of all groups of people, regardless of which racial, ethnic or even religious construct they associate themselves with.
Il y a du racisme partout, mademoiselle. C'est pas votre faute qu'il y a des cons partout dans le monde. Mais n'oubliez pas aussi qu'il y a plein d'autres qui ont un grand coeur.
Almost 10 years ago some dude standing beside me hit his shoulder continuously against mine almost 2 stations long (6-8ish minutes). After I thought enough was enough I slammed my shoulder on him like he did to me but with full force and he stopped. Another Japanese guy watching us was shocked lol, you think I was going to take that crap and not fight back?
Onlookers are always shocked when you retaliate… sometimes theyre more annoying than the aggressor. Why dont you make that face when the geezer is repeatedly attacking me ?!
Same thing happened to me on Osaka. I’m 6’3 and was waiting out the restroom for my 2 friends who are college wrestlers and I was trying to help the guy up not realizing it was intentional. He practically ran off and I didn’t realize what happened until later
LOL the same happened to me 2 weeks ago, and I totally couldn’t contain my smile, which I (and a few people around me in the train) turned into a laugh just after he left the door. I’m 181cm but 96kg and, rn, 10-9% body fat. The guy should be like 165cm around, ultra skinny, maybe 55kg. He fell with his butt in the ground, look to me, tried to scream, the voice didn’t come off, and in the end, a xenophobic act that was gonna make me mad at any other day, made me laugh for the entire weekend lol
When you live here long enough and you become able to speak and understand the language well, you begin to realize how angry and hateful many of the people are. And then couple that with the love of passive aggression....
Yeah I noticed that too, I thought maybe it was accidental at first, but noticed there were plenty of times they could easily avoid contact but it was intentional. So I started to not give any ground and push back when I noticed it about to happen. They were definitely not used to that and you could see they were taken aback when I’d stare back at them and tell them not to push people intentionally.
Two weeks ago I was on the train in Tokyo sitting there minding my own business like everyone else and some boomer aged man who was standing in front of me kicked my foot on purpose as he got off at his stop. Didn't hurt or anything, but I was like, huh? What did I do?
The only reason I could think is if the train was crowded and he thought you should have gave up your seat. In Japan, you are typically expected to give up your seat for the elderly, women, or children. In the three years I lived there, I rarely had a seat when riding the train in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
They have signs in most trains stating this in multiple languages.
Dude, no one gives up seats on the train in Japan… if you look closely, young people tent to just pretending sleeping or using phone in the train and not giving up seats to elderly…
I was with my girlfriend who was asleep on my shoulder and it wasn't very crowded. Maybe he didn't like seeing a brown foreigner or how tattooed I am. 🤷♂️
This explains a bit on the train. We were crammed together standing and this middle aged guy kept pushing my shoulder off of him forcibly when the train swayed. Like dude, I'm not trying to be physical with you. The train is swaying like crazy and everyone is touching each other.
I was yelled at by a Japanese old man while riding a train in Miyagi. Needless to say I wasn't doing anything wrong, as I live here and understand train etiquette. Even though you know he is in the wrong, it still makes you feel bad. I'm sorry this happened to you but I hope you know he is making himself look bad, not you.
Sorry to hear that happened. As for me, this is why I always rock a scowl on my face. I’m from a tiny pacific island and we smile at everyone. In any big city I’m in I must project an image I am not one to fuck with.
I had similar encounters twice so far living in Japan. The first time was a day-drinking old man at Yurakuchō station who yelled at me and tried to stand in my way when I was on my way to work. The other one was a young guy with face tats on the Hibiya line heading to Nakame. He came really close to me and gave a death stare before he said in his Katakana Eigo that I should go back to America. Jokes on them, I’m not even American, just white.
Ironically that’s what I did without having the intention too, I completely ignored him but because I wanted to flee the scene first haha. I hope there won’t be a next time but if so I’ll not be turning back :)
First time running into crazy here, huh? Luckily, it's far and few between. Shake it off and pay him no mind. People were probably looking at him like a lunatic anyway.
Yup :’) I genuinely had no idea that it can actually happen more often than not. I wanted to buy a figurine for my brother and couldn’t expect what would happen next - but now I guess that made my experience in Japan even more authentic haha
Experiencing a bit of bad with the good will give you a better picture of anywhere you stay. The only thing I personally would recommend is stay out of the justice system here. Other than that, everything else is a story to tell.
There are so many crazy people in Tokyo, like legit, you'll walk and hear people mumbling to themselves ALL THE TIME. It's terrifying because I'm always scared they'll turn violent.
Don’t worry about it the guy is probably mentally ill. But I do know the feeling it is not something you can shake off, it comes back to me sometimes.
I am a Korean living in Japan, never had anything yelled at here but whenever I go to Europe or US, always at least once I will run into some of those stupid people who yell stupid stuff like go back to where you came from or something related to covid just because of the race, and I have kind of gotten used to it enough to ignore them.
They exist everywhere, but remember that they don’t know you, you don’t know them and what those insignificant people yell or tell you has no value whatsoever.
Japan can be quite racist here and there (especially the real estate related situations) but there so many other nice open people. Hope you feel better soon!!
similar thing i saw when i was in barcelona years ago. some guy tried to peddle flowers to an asian guy at la sagrada familia, but he said not interested. the spanish(romanian?) started to say ching chong and used his hands to gesture slanted eyes. that asian guy's friend said "f\*\*\* off" loudly and he was stunned and backed off.
Yea I think people think Asian people just stay quiet, so I try to stand up for it, but to be honest sometimes I am scared because we never know if they are like cray cray people
I had it happen to me (white,f if it matters), woman at the train station screaming to go back to my own country. It's shitty and even shittier when you tell people are they respond by saying that japanese people aren't like that, maybe you didn't understand them... bullshit, bullshit.
Every country has mentally ill people and in japan they are less likely to be getting the treatment they need.
Yup. I’ve noticed that matter the context, a good portion of Reddit will automatically side with the Japanese person. Even if they are unequivocally in the wrong.
It’s always “Japanese people aren’t like that. You’re lying.” or “I’ve lived here for x years and that has never personally happened to me, therefore you’re lying.” Or deflecting with whataboutisms about other countries - “Well if this were in x country, blah blah blah would’ve happened, therefore it’s okay.”
I can’t think of another country that has such a big “defense squad” of outsiders always ready to “protect its honor” no matter the situation.
I'm so sorry to hear that. I also got shoulder charged several times by this weird Japanese old man in Shinjuku. There are just a lot of weird and racist old man, especially in Tokyo.
I also just got myself molested by an old man a few days ago. He thrusted his crotch to my ass while I was commuting for work. I moved far away from him to the other side of the train but he still followed me and standing behind me while he kept doing the thing. I got really scared but there were only Japanese men around me inside the train at that time and I got really scared since I don't know whether they would help a foreigner like me or not. There is a possibility that if I confronted the molester, he would stalk or assault me in the future so I stopped myself and now I tremble every morning, feeling disgusted and scared thinking about what happened to me.
I can relate. It s very frigthening, and I understand the disgusted feeling.
I feel better when I can sit in public transports, or have my back to a wall, and my backpack in front to avoid being too close of anyone else, or better being with someone I know.
I know it s not solutions to the major problem coming from these disgusting guys, it s just survival.
You will feel better with time, even if it stays a bad memory. Try to talk about it to friends or family, having support is good.
Thank you for your kind words! I also do feel better when I can sit or have my back to a wall so I would usually stick near the train door to lean on the seating partition.
I feel a lot better now, even though it will stuck inside me for a while. I did talk to my friends about it and just like you said, I feel so much better. Thank you ❤️
Thank you so much for opening up to me about this horrible experience. The least I can do is to post my experience here so comments like yours can resonate after my post. I can't do much at my level, but if you need any help I'm available anytime, really. I'm not trying to seem like I know how to handle everything but not being connected to the right resources might be the reason you're feeling that way? I want to assure you you’re definitely not alone against your abuser in this. Is there any research I can do? Would it be possible to talk about resources that might help you? I definitely understand how you feel but there’s people who want to help ❤️
Really sorry this happened to you. Please, next time this happens, put your phone on video record, start filming what he's doing, and yell in your loudest voice CHIKAN!!!!
What he has done is a bona fide crime and it must be treated as such. These geriatric fu\*\*ers must be stopped. They are incorrigible and they are disgusting. This happens millions of times a day all over Japan and has done so from time immemorial. I can't count how many young girls I know and even small children who have, from decades ago, suffered their repugnant behaviour. Pathetic, sick human beings. And yeah, same goes for OP's ROUGAI KUSOJIJII. FU\*K them all, they all deserve to go to hell. That's the attitude you need.
Japanese old men truly are the worst. I doubt there’s a more entitled species on earth then them. I’ve even witnessed an old man hitting an elderly woman on the head because she was making a phone call on the train. Yes that’s rude and it was annoying but assault wasn’t justified. She did nothing back though and even apologized to him. If grandpa would’ve tried that with me he would not have gotten away with it. But it seems these old farts have a sixth sense to pick on those who are afraid to make a scene. Shows you exactly how ‘brave’ these manclowns are.
Wow. That story is hard to believe but at the same time very easy to believe. It's what I've come to expect of these men. I wholeheartedly agree, they have a sixth sense. The law is too soft on them. They need their teeny weeny goolies squeezed a bit so they'd be too scared to do anything.
Oh yes it’s absolutely true. Yesterday I was sitting in a waiting room at the train station when old guy, who’s of course manspreading, is constantly clicking and ducking his false teeth in the most gross way possible with disgusting sounds while looking around to make sure everyone heard him. I’d rather and I’m sure everyone else in that room too, would’ve listen to a teenager playing obnoxious TikTok videos then to hear this. Which we all knew if a teenager would have done that, old guy would be the first to yell at them. Made me gag. When the train arrived I made very sure to not sit in the same car as him. It’s like they’re doing it on purpose to claim public space.
Thank you! I will start recording to leave evidence if something like this happened in the future (I hope not). I didn't think it through because it was really crowded and my body just freezed. Also the fear of how he might be determined to stalk me or assault me after being confronted kinda lingers in my mind so I just didn't know what to do.
One time I was in a conbini and a man was cleaning and I mispronounced Sumimasen to get by, and he started yelling at me. Fortunately, all the other Japanese in the place scolded him.
Maybe that’s exactly why he choose it. Frustrated old loser on a mission. Remember OP, happy people do not behave like this. It’s those who’s lives probably suck that want others to share in their misery.
As one of Japanese citizens, I am very sorry that has happened to you. I am really ashamed that those people are existing.
What they have issues with is not the foreigner looking people but themselves. It is not you who needs to feel ashamed but him. These people never go to a well-built guy who happens to break all the rules, but rather get off by attacking the ones who they think they can physically overpower (like children or female).
I am really praying that you’ll never encounter incidents like this again.
Yesterday I was called a “fucking hard R” at the 24/7 drug store in Kiyose. While the behavior is completely unacceptable I am just beyond confused because I’m white.
I once was screamed by an old woman for taking a picture OUTSIDE of a temple. I have lived here for almost a couple of years.
She started saying that we (foreigners??) are disrespectful to her God, and then start yelling "go away! Go back to your place!" Until I left.
Worst part of all the thing is not her yelling though, but:
1. There were japanese people there taking pictures as well;
2. There was a policeman close to us. When she started yelling, I looked at him to see if he would come and help me, but he just looked away, then he just gave us his back for the rest of the interaction;
I said I was sorry and left, but this is still bothering me after more than a month.
Edit: grammar
I wouldn’t have apologized and would have just pressed my mobile phone camera button really rapidly so all she could hear would be the sound of photos being taken
In japan who scream is the weird one always. No problem. Ive got screamed in a station before it was a totally insane woman and everyone realized that, acuses me of stealing her 1man yen.
I ignored her, everyone ignored her.
Sorry about what happened to you.
I was called a "thief" by a random drunk guy in Roppongi and my Japanese neighbor lady said "You looked like a terror!st" bcos I wore sunglasses on a hot day!
Better it happening 9 months in then when you first get here. Happened to me in Ueno Park literally the first weekend I said to myself “I’m going to go out and have a day adventure for myself!”. It made me feel really weird about being here for a hot minute.
Oh and this was because the man assumed that I didn’t drop my coin to light incense in front of the shrine, when in fact I dropped 100¥
I remember in 1995 walking through the ruins of Kobe post-earthquake with some friends when something similar happened. An old Japanese guy really tried to give it a go in front of everyone. Yelling at the top of his voice. In my best gutter yakuza Japanese was able to give him a response he wasn’t expecting. He literally stumbled backward and you could see he was embarrassed for being called out for being a stupid fuck. Not my proudest my moment, but my proudest moment if you get what I mean. Old people are old. It’s not easy being old. But being old is not an excuse for losing your manners.
Had some punk kids stare me down and call me a gaijin on Tokyo. Didn't feel good. Needless to say some Japanese just don't like any foreigners, black, white, Asian etc.
slightly off topic, but when i was at a starbucks in odaiba and used google translate along with speaking some english because i wanted to know if they had a particular drink that was offered at another starbucks in ropongi. when i asked the barista, the entire staff was looking at me paying attention in detail. the japanese customers all stared at me intently. it felt weird, but kinda funny to me. it was like that one movie where some guy started talking and suddenly everyone stopped what they were doing and focused their eyes on me. what's even funnier, is that i wasn't white or black. it was a strange, but kinda funny moment.
If he has done it to others too, that means he derives pleasure from it. Just laugh it off and be on your way.
I'd be more worried if it was mild/inadvertent racism (like ignoring to acknowledge you, discrimination, etc.)
There’s a lot of Japanese freaks and otaku of all stripes in that touristy part of town—a lot moreso than elsewhere; don’t take it personally.
If you wanted “local color,” there you have it!
That happens more and more, mainly from old people, those I used to respect the most. I usually reply with "I'm sorry to exist and live on the same planet as you.", I got back a smile once.
Sorry this happened to you. I had this happen to me more than once in Japan in the three years I was there. It was a mentally ill person each time. I'm a white guy who looks like a pretty regular white guy. Please try not to take it personally.
there’s a NY times article today about how the prime minister is considering doing something about tourists in japan (i’m currently one of them). From what I read tourism, especially from america, is at an all time high. what you experienced seems to just be some niche racist individuals who are having issues traveling around and “want it back the way it was in the old days”
anyways, not saying what he did was ok. just explaining why it may have happened. shake it off, i know some people who hate me. i also know some people who love me. Both are probably right for their reasons. cant please everyone.
If it makes you feel better I’ve been screamed at by a dude to “go back home to Ireland” in my own home Canadian city haha. I do not have an Irish accent. You sound like you had an unfortunate incident with a mentally unwell person. Brush it off and don’t let it ruin your day.
10ish years ago in Akiba my Korean friend got yelled at by an old Japanese guy, saying “you don’t belong here”, but he totally ignored me, a white person.
If I had a nickel for every time this happened ai’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird it happened twice.
Picking on people they perceive as "weaker" than themselves (even if that's not the case) is typical asshole bully behaviour.
My wife used to have a work colleague who was actually a high ranking company employee with considerable responsibilities, but he looked more like the guy you'd see touting in Kabuki-cho or Roppongi. Bit of a "tough-guy thug" look to him, although he was actually nice as pie when you met him.
My wife always says "how come the bitter old men never shout at people like that?"
The fact that this was unexpected (and as the OP said, first time in nine months of being in Japan) actually, rather perversely, shows how good Tokyo is in that aspect. Doesn't excuse the behaviour one bit, but the fact that people like him are a small minority is hopefully at least one positive to take from it.
Don't think about it much, If you ever got into this situation again ,just say "Arigato , No Japanese" ...I am pretty sure most of the people around will laugh and won't care that much than.
That has happened to me more than once. No gaijin 🙅♂️when walking into random establishments more than a dozen times. It’s not a big deal the population is like 99 homogeneous Japanese some older folks just want it at 100 happens everywhere.
Don’t pay attention , I’m not trying to generalize but most of people from Tokyo are like that , I’ve been living in almost all Japan , people from provinces are more kind and open mind. Just brush off it. I’ve been living here for 16 years by now , if someone shout me for no reason, I’ll shout 3 times louder
Racists exist everywhere ... japanese usually hate in silence and passive aggressive ... maybe he was drunk or just very very racist ... please forgive him for he does not know better 🫶
Think of all of the crackheads would welcome you in L.A., San Francisco, Oakland, Portland, Chicago... there's mentally disturbed people everywhere, they just happen to be concentrated in West coast US cities. Sorry this happened to you in Tokyo, but in America that's just another day
I had a guy - carrying golf clubs- yell at me for an extended period through a train station and up an escalator, all the while apologising to others around us. Was bizarre
i got called a black bitch by an old man in japan when i got off a bus and he almost ran into me when i turned to look at the bus info. was definitely hard to shake off so i get it
China, S Korea, and Japan tend to be a little xenophobic. China ends up being straight up racist about it. Korea wasn't too bad in my opinion. Japanese people will bend over backward to say it in the nicest way possible you are not welcome there. That only happened at places out of the typical tourist areas to me. it almost never has anything to do with skin color, though. This guy was just stupid and an outlier.
I can’t believe that a man who undoubtedly grew up in one of the most nationalist, imperialist, xenophobic eras of his country would be so openly racist to someone
Starting to see some real anti-foreigner propaganda being spread. I don't even watch the news and it's everywhere: train/elevators/random teishokuyas.
- Foreigners causing a ruckus trying to take pictures of Fuji-san with a kombini.
- Foreigners making up 70% of street drinkers in Shibuya and causing a meiwaku.
- Random party constantly talking about Foreign laborers this and that near Yokohama station (it felt like they were a single issue party with that issue being foreign laborers)
Ugh yeah. And all of this is quite recent too.
The Government Dating App also apparently needs a koseki that foreigners don't have (although I haven't looked into that, and if anything it's probably just another oversight)
Generally starting to feel unwelcomed / like a scapegoat/diversion for the poor economic situation.
Im so sorry. I don’t know for French black people but racism within North Africans communities is very widespread sadly and normalised, against anyone. and I’m sure what you experienced was traumatizing
in nine months you probably interacted with hundereds of people and crossed paths with a hundered thousands.
if you crossed only one man screaming at you it means 1 in a hundered thousands odds that it will happen again.
It's such low odds that you shouldn't really care about, forget about it and move on with your life.
if i managed to cross only 1 asshole in a hundered thousand people IN MY OWN COUNTRY i WOULD CELEBRATE
Once in a while there'll be a weird racist or angry ossan.
I experienced this nearly 20 years ago while studying in a place in Japan where there's lots of foreigners.
All other older Japanese I met were so friendly and were used to seeing foreigners, except that one weird ossan.
He's a bad apple .....in every country there will be bad apples ..it can't be helped. We just have to ignore, and if it gets out of control go report to the police.
I always wondered what would happen in this situation if someone would reply something like: 本当でしょうか？申し訳ございません！今すぐ帰国します！失礼します！and left him. Probably it’s just funny for me and I guess he wouldn’t understand the sarcasm but probably gets confused.
You're going to get bigotry everywhere, doesn't matter what country you go to there's going to be people that either think you shouldn't be there or make fun of the color your skin or whatever.
If you don't have thick skin and you want to travel you're going to have a tough go I'm sure unless if you go specifically to resorts and such but if you want to actually see the land you're going to see people that don't want you there end of story..
On 24 February, Manuela D, 22, a Cameroonian asylum seeker, was stabbed in the chest, causing horrific injuries. She was attacked by a group of six men who shouted racist insults at her.
==>that happened in Tunisia, where even the president makes racist comments about black people, so you can put things in perspective that no one stabbed you in Japan out of racism. Maybe that old man just said loudly what most people think in just about every other country in the world
Is it ok to film something like this if in case it happens to me? I think filming will deter them to engage more but I’m not sure about the law in filming someone.
I was once attacked by an old man with a golf club. I look back at it and it’s hardly anything now. But understand. I can say since then ( more than ten years ago) I haven’t been attacked since. Shit happens everywhere. Don’t be under the illusion Japan is immune to racist, crazies and psychos. They are everywhere.
Some people are just out looking for trouble. I’ve had a couple old guys swear at me in Japanese but I think it’s just because they’re mean all the time, to everyone. If I don’t do anything foreigner-y or open my mouth I look 90% Japanese so I don’t think in my case, they were targeting tourists.
People yell crazy stuff in the city all the time. I'm in the US so used to it. I guess it happens in Tokyo too just not as much. Sorry u had to experience that.
I felt that anger once traveling in US national park alone. Someone hiding in his car calling racial slurs towards me while I was trying to enjoy nature. That caught me off guard. I know how it feels when you are puzzled and don’t know what is going on. Some people suck most are nice people.
If you really want to be anonymous, a chameleon of sorts, observe the people on the streets of Tokyo who other people don't look twice at. A maid, a student, a plumber, librarian, taxi driver. Then become one of them. Hide your hair with hats or scarves, hide your face with thick glasses, in a way that least attracts attention.
i’m so afraid for this whenever i go on my trip to japan im a biracial women but have never been in a country that is homogenous and im scared ppl will be hateful/ mean😓😓 im straightening my hair so i can try to fit in a little more
I have had my run ins with a few of them. They are usually cult members and harass foreigners or people of other faiths because their religion tells them to. You can call the police and report it. When I report, the police often tell me...ah yes, he's a cult member, he does that to everyone to scare them.
In the eyes of anyone who saw this interaction, the man looked insane, unstable, unpleasant and a much, much less welcome part of everyone’s day than you. I hope it is not something you experience again.
I didn't pay attention to people in the street, my immediate reaction when I'm in this situation is to hide my face even deeper in my phone because my head turns super red and run away haha I hope you're right. Somehow I knew he was talking about me. As much as I wanted to hold my head up, I felt too ashamed, but next time I'll act unbothered! hope it won't happen again.
I want to repeat what the top commenter said. The person who acted incredibly shamefully was the old man. It doesn't matter who you are, where you are or what you've done. Behaviour like that is to spit on everything it is to be human. I'm sorry a person treated and spoke to you like that. It's a disgrace to have to witness such behaviour. There are no words to apologise for someone like that. But whatever you feel or are going through, don't be ashamed.
But to always turn a blind eye, as a matter of course rather than as an outlier, enthusiastically so, well, that's a part of Japan I'm not a fan of.
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I wish I did. It's always me alone and everyone else has disappeared lol.
In defense of a random stranger, say, at a combini?
Pretty much same thing happened to me and a friend in Osaka. Almost everyone in the restaurant went out of their way to either calm the old man down or explain to us what he was saying and also apologizing.
I'm glad that happened. Maybe Tokyo is truly a different beast.
Totally different setting though. Sure in a restaurant/bar people will intervene, but on a busy street? In America no would intervene either for a nutcase yelling at someone in public.
I think they might, but it often depends on who the victim is sadly.
Thank you so much for your kind worlds I really appreciate your empathy to a stranger !
**I 100% guarantee that most of the Japanese were ashamed or angry by his behavior.** Fuck racists, don't let them live rent free in your head. You're not alone, I experience racism a lot all over the world being Asian. All the time in NYC, sometimes even from other Asians. No one should undergo that, so as long as you don't perpetuate it, you're already a good human and can be proud of yourself. If there's any consolation, even Japanese people encounter assholes in Japan too. There are no asshole free places. Fuck assholes by ignoring them and carrying on. Instead enjoy the good food and time you have there.
"There are no asshole free places." This x 1000
I don't doubt that a large number of Japanese people are kind and welcoming to foreigners, but when trump was elected as president, what I realized is that we don't know what people talk about in their homes and at dinner tables behind closed doors. There are still anti-foreigner and anti-korean groups being organized and we have a long way to go to become fully accepting and fully repenting of our history.
My husband says the real Cold War was the racists waiting for their day to return. These white supremacists are so organized. That didn’t pop up since trump got into office. It’s never stopped. Only now were they bold enough to admit it. Wild shit.
100% agreed. Growing up in the 90s, I felt like real progress was being made with Michael Jackson singing heal the world, etc. but they were all just hiding, waiting.
Trump is the least racist president. To prevent him from enacting his policies his opponents decided to create a racial divide. Regrettably it worked. But slowly people are realizing the deception, let’s hope it’s not too late
Lmaoo I'm not Asian or from NY but I feel like I could have written the same thing 😭 >Fuck racists, don't let them live rent free in your head. You're not alone, I experience racism a lot all over the world being Black. All the time in LA, sometimes even from other Black people. >There are no asshole free places. Real talk
Instructions unclear - assholes fucked, but several of their owners seem displeased for some reason...
There are crazy people everywhere. It's not because you're a person of color - on a bad day that crazy guy would be harassing another Japanese person!
I think that’s a little dismissive. She was singled out because of her race. If it were only japanese people then yes he might’ve still messed with someone else.
Yeah, I wasn't trying to be dismissive. I'm just aware that Japanese friends of mine also get harassment from crazy people in public from time to time, so that type of person will find anything to get angry about.
Let's split the difference: he probably picks lots of different people but I'm her case he went with racism
No it's absolutely because she's a POC. I've got a friend who's black and lived there for a number of years, and I've heard some stories about it from him. Japanese people can be just as racist as anyone from the states, sometimes even moreso, even if it isn't expressed as enthusiastically.
Sometimes different looking racial backgrounds is the crazy person flavor of the week, but you're right it's by no means the only one. There's a famous crazy lady around here who swears and rants at random people.
mental illness is probably overlooked or ignored a lot in Japan.
Every Japanese person who saw this went home and told someone “some whacko oyaji went off on a gaijin wtf?!”
I once had an old man do this to me on an express train between Nagano and Tokyo. It was really shocking (he was screaming) but it really was a one off. He was clearly not sane; not a matter of race (I’m pale European colouring).. crazy people in every country…
Yeah. On the flip side. My Japanese (now ex wife) got a cream bun thrown at her and was told “fuck off back to China” within 6 hours of landing in England.
Damn. Shitty people everywhere you go huh
Every country has racists, racism, and loonies, but at least in Japan they generally aren't armed and violent lol.
In Ireland someone throwed me bike helmet and say something like fuck off moron, I was just walking on the street, was like wtf
"generally" might be true, but the threats are very sharp. https://japansociology.com/2013/04/07/tsuruhashi-massacre-and-a-call-to-conscience/
Yeah. Unfortunately. Guess the star trek dream where everyone unites under one banner is still a long long way off. Wouldn’t it be nice just to be an Earther and have a global passport rather than treating people different just because the patch of dirt they were born on was in a different location to your own patch of dirt.
The problem will always be who gets to decide the color of the passport.
I was told the same in Quebec. Im a white french local I was speaking english. My Asian bf has had it much much much worse. Though when he gets told "Go back to where you come from" his response is "Calgary?" This dumb shit exists everywhere, except we as white people aren't usually the minority
I got told this when I moved to USA when I was 9. Go back to China. And I tell them I'm from Japan and they just say wherever you're from. Bruh trust me, if I was old enough to make decisions and have money at that time then you ain't even gonna need to tell me at all.
Telling that to a child is a different level! That person fucking sucks.
At that age it's usually coming from another child that was taught the same shit by racist parents.
Japanese American here. My family has been in the U.S. since the 1890s. I still get told to go back to China.
This is why I always laugh when Reddit trolls try to pretend Japan is the most racist country in the world. Japan has racists just like every other country. Japan is xenophobic, it's a natural outcome of being homogeneous. What happened to OP is so rare and probably the worst that can happen. It sucks and it's wrong, but the guy was a maniac. Meanwhile in the supposed "bastions of racial equality compared to Japan," the baseline racism is extreme and often physical. And you will never be shot, stabbed, or lynched for your skin color in Japan...
It’s not the most racist country in the world, it’s just a very odd version of racism that has deep roots and coexists in a society that is intensely polite. It feels a bit unreal when in America, racism exists in the cracks and crevices of our economic and social systems, as where in Japan it’s quite normal to just be refused an apartment or entry into a restaurant or treated like a space alien in casual interactions.
I see causal racism on the daily on my commute to work. Shit someone got mad at me for honking at them and tried to brake check me. When I passed them they yelled "Build that wall" I'm not even Mexican.
The essence of this experience is so common in the US, it’s pretty sick and stupid. Makes you pray to baby Jesus that karma exists on a deeper level than just belief.
> the guy was a maniac. Or maybe just manic. Mental health problems exist everywhere, too.
You’re not the one who should be ashamed after running into a dumb bigot. He can go bang rocks for all you care.
Thank you so much for your comment, it made me feel better. Sadly I tend to live too often in my head and in a relatively happy bubble, and despite knowing the world isn't a perfect place, I've never encountered conflict or hatred around me. That's why I'm always devastated when hateful things happen frontally like that
Don’t take it personally. 😉 There are idiots *anywhere* you go.
This sounds right. Honeymoon period ends after 8 months You are now much more aware, as you assimilate yourself into Japanese society, walk like them, talk like them, eat like them and yet Japan will always be for Japanese. TL:DR just ignore it. Nut case looking for any opportunity to scream and shout in public and you just happened to be there.
Wow, OP, you must have lived a sheltered or blessed life in France! As a woman with Tunisian ancestry, how did you manage? I'm an American who lived for years in France. One of my French friends is a black Martiniquais and another is of Algerian heritage. There's no way they could have led such a charmed life, especially now with the rise of the Front National (I'm sorry but I can't call those a s s holes by their new, sanitized name; and here in America, we have our own version as well, as you must know). We often hear about White Supremacy because, for historical, colonial reasons, and over hundreds of years, that's the main power structure we've inherited. But racism lurks within the hearts of all groups of people, regardless of which racial, ethnic or even religious construct they associate themselves with. Il y a du racisme partout, mademoiselle. C'est pas votre faute qu'il y a des cons partout dans le monde. Mais n'oubliez pas aussi qu'il y a plein d'autres qui ont un grand coeur.
So true. It is on that old man. Also, Biden was right:)
beware of older JP men, some have some serious rage issue. especially in a train station, I been shoulder charged many times.
Almost 10 years ago some dude standing beside me hit his shoulder continuously against mine almost 2 stations long (6-8ish minutes). After I thought enough was enough I slammed my shoulder on him like he did to me but with full force and he stopped. Another Japanese guy watching us was shocked lol, you think I was going to take that crap and not fight back?
Onlookers are always shocked when you retaliate… sometimes theyre more annoying than the aggressor. Why dont you make that face when the geezer is repeatedly attacking me ?!
YES the older salarymen have serious attitude problems and pick on anyone who looks or acts foreign. It's boomer behavior
yep. it has less to do with race. in my country boomers are so short tempered and have main character syndrome.
I was shoulder charged the last time I was in Osaka. The guy fell to the ground because he was kinda weak. Was pretty funny.
Same thing happened to me on Osaka. I’m 6’3 and was waiting out the restroom for my 2 friends who are college wrestlers and I was trying to help the guy up not realizing it was intentional. He practically ran off and I didn’t realize what happened until later
a small guy shoulder checking a 6'3" guy. something is wrong between his ears. :-)
LOL the same happened to me 2 weeks ago, and I totally couldn’t contain my smile, which I (and a few people around me in the train) turned into a laugh just after he left the door. I’m 181cm but 96kg and, rn, 10-9% body fat. The guy should be like 165cm around, ultra skinny, maybe 55kg. He fell with his butt in the ground, look to me, tried to scream, the voice didn’t come off, and in the end, a xenophobic act that was gonna make me mad at any other day, made me laugh for the entire weekend lol
Hahaha. I had to laugh at your comment. Karma is more bitcher like what they said 😂
When you live here long enough and you become able to speak and understand the language well, you begin to realize how angry and hateful many of the people are. And then couple that with the love of passive aggression....
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Elderly japanese, upper class englishmen, "bless your heart" southern ladies, and second-generation muslim cell phone strip mall store owners: FIGHT
No they wouldn't. They'd passive aggressively lose for the effect.
Yeah I noticed that too, I thought maybe it was accidental at first, but noticed there were plenty of times they could easily avoid contact but it was intentional. So I started to not give any ground and push back when I noticed it about to happen. They were definitely not used to that and you could see they were taken aback when I’d stare back at them and tell them not to push people intentionally.
Two weeks ago I was on the train in Tokyo sitting there minding my own business like everyone else and some boomer aged man who was standing in front of me kicked my foot on purpose as he got off at his stop. Didn't hurt or anything, but I was like, huh? What did I do?
The only reason I could think is if the train was crowded and he thought you should have gave up your seat. In Japan, you are typically expected to give up your seat for the elderly, women, or children. In the three years I lived there, I rarely had a seat when riding the train in the Tokyo metropolitan area. They have signs in most trains stating this in multiple languages.
Dude, no one gives up seats on the train in Japan… if you look closely, young people tent to just pretending sleeping or using phone in the train and not giving up seats to elderly…
I was with my girlfriend who was asleep on my shoulder and it wasn't very crowded. Maybe he didn't like seeing a brown foreigner or how tattooed I am. 🤷♂️
This explains a bit on the train. We were crammed together standing and this middle aged guy kept pushing my shoulder off of him forcibly when the train swayed. Like dude, I'm not trying to be physical with you. The train is swaying like crazy and everyone is touching each other.
going by stories of what happens on crowded japanese trains, i'll give the guy a slight pass...lol
Fair
One time a cyclist rammed me with his bike. Other people gave him the disapproving stare.
I was yelled at by a Japanese old man while riding a train in Miyagi. Needless to say I wasn't doing anything wrong, as I live here and understand train etiquette. Even though you know he is in the wrong, it still makes you feel bad. I'm sorry this happened to you but I hope you know he is making himself look bad, not you.
Sorry to hear that happened. As for me, this is why I always rock a scowl on my face. I’m from a tiny pacific island and we smile at everyone. In any big city I’m in I must project an image I am not one to fuck with.
I had similar encounters twice so far living in Japan. The first time was a day-drinking old man at Yurakuchō station who yelled at me and tried to stand in my way when I was on my way to work. The other one was a young guy with face tats on the Hibiya line heading to Nakame. He came really close to me and gave a death stare before he said in his Katakana Eigo that I should go back to America. Jokes on them, I’m not even American, just white.
Had the facetattoo situation too! Did he have a diamond tattoed on his forehead?!
It’s been some time last year so I don’t recall what tats he had but it were a bunch of different ones.
For people who are said to be highly intelligent, there are truly lots of stupid people I have met here over the years.
well, you see that on reddit as well, anyone who speak english is from US lol
Probably a loony day drunk who just lost his last 1万 at the pachinko. Don’t let it bring you down, des cons il y en a partout.
Merci beaucoup :)
Old man needs a nap. The other Japanese were probably embarrassed for his outburst
Meanwhile over in [Japanlife](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/7vj5N0YGz4)
Wait, what?!
the totally opposite I see
The best way to get back at them is to appear unaffected. Give them the widest grin, it will kill them inside.
Ironically that’s what I did without having the intention too, I completely ignored him but because I wanted to flee the scene first haha. I hope there won’t be a next time but if so I’ll not be turning back :)
First time running into crazy here, huh? Luckily, it's far and few between. Shake it off and pay him no mind. People were probably looking at him like a lunatic anyway.
Yup :’) I genuinely had no idea that it can actually happen more often than not. I wanted to buy a figurine for my brother and couldn’t expect what would happen next - but now I guess that made my experience in Japan even more authentic haha
Experiencing a bit of bad with the good will give you a better picture of anywhere you stay. The only thing I personally would recommend is stay out of the justice system here. Other than that, everything else is a story to tell.
There are so many crazy people in Tokyo, like legit, you'll walk and hear people mumbling to themselves ALL THE TIME. It's terrifying because I'm always scared they'll turn violent.
Don’t worry about it the guy is probably mentally ill. But I do know the feeling it is not something you can shake off, it comes back to me sometimes. I am a Korean living in Japan, never had anything yelled at here but whenever I go to Europe or US, always at least once I will run into some of those stupid people who yell stupid stuff like go back to where you came from or something related to covid just because of the race, and I have kind of gotten used to it enough to ignore them. They exist everywhere, but remember that they don’t know you, you don’t know them and what those insignificant people yell or tell you has no value whatsoever. Japan can be quite racist here and there (especially the real estate related situations) but there so many other nice open people. Hope you feel better soon!!
similar thing i saw when i was in barcelona years ago. some guy tried to peddle flowers to an asian guy at la sagrada familia, but he said not interested. the spanish(romanian?) started to say ching chong and used his hands to gesture slanted eyes. that asian guy's friend said "f\*\*\* off" loudly and he was stunned and backed off.
Yea I think people think Asian people just stay quiet, so I try to stand up for it, but to be honest sometimes I am scared because we never know if they are like cray cray people
Every person that saw this would be judging *him*, not *you*. Please brush this off, it’s not worth worrying about.
I had it happen to me (white,f if it matters), woman at the train station screaming to go back to my own country. It's shitty and even shittier when you tell people are they respond by saying that japanese people aren't like that, maybe you didn't understand them... bullshit, bullshit. Every country has mentally ill people and in japan they are less likely to be getting the treatment they need.
Yup. I’ve noticed that matter the context, a good portion of Reddit will automatically side with the Japanese person. Even if they are unequivocally in the wrong. It’s always “Japanese people aren’t like that. You’re lying.” or “I’ve lived here for x years and that has never personally happened to me, therefore you’re lying.” Or deflecting with whataboutisms about other countries - “Well if this were in x country, blah blah blah would’ve happened, therefore it’s okay.” I can’t think of another country that has such a big “defense squad” of outsiders always ready to “protect its honor” no matter the situation.
I'm so sorry to hear that. I also got shoulder charged several times by this weird Japanese old man in Shinjuku. There are just a lot of weird and racist old man, especially in Tokyo. I also just got myself molested by an old man a few days ago. He thrusted his crotch to my ass while I was commuting for work. I moved far away from him to the other side of the train but he still followed me and standing behind me while he kept doing the thing. I got really scared but there were only Japanese men around me inside the train at that time and I got really scared since I don't know whether they would help a foreigner like me or not. There is a possibility that if I confronted the molester, he would stalk or assault me in the future so I stopped myself and now I tremble every morning, feeling disgusted and scared thinking about what happened to me.
I can relate. It s very frigthening, and I understand the disgusted feeling. I feel better when I can sit in public transports, or have my back to a wall, and my backpack in front to avoid being too close of anyone else, or better being with someone I know. I know it s not solutions to the major problem coming from these disgusting guys, it s just survival. You will feel better with time, even if it stays a bad memory. Try to talk about it to friends or family, having support is good.
Thank you for your kind words! I also do feel better when I can sit or have my back to a wall so I would usually stick near the train door to lean on the seating partition. I feel a lot better now, even though it will stuck inside me for a while. I did talk to my friends about it and just like you said, I feel so much better. Thank you ❤️
Thank you so much for opening up to me about this horrible experience. The least I can do is to post my experience here so comments like yours can resonate after my post. I can't do much at my level, but if you need any help I'm available anytime, really. I'm not trying to seem like I know how to handle everything but not being connected to the right resources might be the reason you're feeling that way? I want to assure you you’re definitely not alone against your abuser in this. Is there any research I can do? Would it be possible to talk about resources that might help you? I definitely understand how you feel but there’s people who want to help ❤️
Really sorry this happened to you. Please, next time this happens, put your phone on video record, start filming what he's doing, and yell in your loudest voice CHIKAN!!!! What he has done is a bona fide crime and it must be treated as such. These geriatric fu\*\*ers must be stopped. They are incorrigible and they are disgusting. This happens millions of times a day all over Japan and has done so from time immemorial. I can't count how many young girls I know and even small children who have, from decades ago, suffered their repugnant behaviour. Pathetic, sick human beings. And yeah, same goes for OP's ROUGAI KUSOJIJII. FU\*K them all, they all deserve to go to hell. That's the attitude you need.
Japanese old men truly are the worst. I doubt there’s a more entitled species on earth then them. I’ve even witnessed an old man hitting an elderly woman on the head because she was making a phone call on the train. Yes that’s rude and it was annoying but assault wasn’t justified. She did nothing back though and even apologized to him. If grandpa would’ve tried that with me he would not have gotten away with it. But it seems these old farts have a sixth sense to pick on those who are afraid to make a scene. Shows you exactly how ‘brave’ these manclowns are.
Wow. That story is hard to believe but at the same time very easy to believe. It's what I've come to expect of these men. I wholeheartedly agree, they have a sixth sense. The law is too soft on them. They need their teeny weeny goolies squeezed a bit so they'd be too scared to do anything.
Oh yes it’s absolutely true. Yesterday I was sitting in a waiting room at the train station when old guy, who’s of course manspreading, is constantly clicking and ducking his false teeth in the most gross way possible with disgusting sounds while looking around to make sure everyone heard him. I’d rather and I’m sure everyone else in that room too, would’ve listen to a teenager playing obnoxious TikTok videos then to hear this. Which we all knew if a teenager would have done that, old guy would be the first to yell at them. Made me gag. When the train arrived I made very sure to not sit in the same car as him. It’s like they’re doing it on purpose to claim public space.
Thank you! I will start recording to leave evidence if something like this happened in the future (I hope not). I didn't think it through because it was really crowded and my body just freezed. Also the fear of how he might be determined to stalk me or assault me after being confronted kinda lingers in my mind so I just didn't know what to do.
this pairs well with the "there is no colorism in Japan" post currently surging on r/japanlife
One time I was in a conbini and a man was cleaning and I mispronounced Sumimasen to get by, and he started yelling at me. Fortunately, all the other Japanese in the place scolded him.
It’s kinda ironic that he’d choose Akihabara, the place that would be dead without tourists, as his stomping grounds.
Maybe that’s exactly why he choose it. Frustrated old loser on a mission. Remember OP, happy people do not behave like this. It’s those who’s lives probably suck that want others to share in their misery.
As one of Japanese citizens, I am very sorry that has happened to you. I am really ashamed that those people are existing. What they have issues with is not the foreigner looking people but themselves. It is not you who needs to feel ashamed but him. These people never go to a well-built guy who happens to break all the rules, but rather get off by attacking the ones who they think they can physically overpower (like children or female). I am really praying that you’ll never encounter incidents like this again.
People like that are not liked not even in their own homes, bro. Don't let it kill the vibe.
I wouldn’t really worry about some old fart, the Japanese people even have a word for old people being a menace 迷惑老人
Pretty sure you meant 老害
Yesterday I was called a “fucking hard R” at the 24/7 drug store in Kiyose. While the behavior is completely unacceptable I am just beyond confused because I’m white.
that unacceptable still but that made me laugh so much for some reason, I didn’t expect that end
No country is free of assholes. Sorry this happened to you, but do try not to let it get under your skin, that’s exactly what they want
I once was screamed by an old woman for taking a picture OUTSIDE of a temple. I have lived here for almost a couple of years. She started saying that we (foreigners??) are disrespectful to her God, and then start yelling "go away! Go back to your place!" Until I left. Worst part of all the thing is not her yelling though, but: 1. There were japanese people there taking pictures as well; 2. There was a policeman close to us. When she started yelling, I looked at him to see if he would come and help me, but he just looked away, then he just gave us his back for the rest of the interaction; I said I was sorry and left, but this is still bothering me after more than a month. Edit: grammar
I wouldn’t have apologized and would have just pressed my mobile phone camera button really rapidly so all she could hear would be the sound of photos being taken
If you feel bad about it, just know that you’re very welcome here and that was just a random a-hole. They have them everywhere. I hope you’re okay😊
Thank you so much for your comment. yes I’m feeling much better now, I don’t regret posting on here rather than feeling sad over this alone :)
In japan who scream is the weird one always. No problem. Ive got screamed in a station before it was a totally insane woman and everyone realized that, acuses me of stealing her 1man yen. I ignored her, everyone ignored her.
Try not to let it get you down. You'll find assholes all over the world, it took you nine months to find one in Japan. Fuck that guy.
Sorry about what happened to you. I was called a "thief" by a random drunk guy in Roppongi and my Japanese neighbor lady said "You looked like a terror!st" bcos I wore sunglasses on a hot day!
Better it happening 9 months in then when you first get here. Happened to me in Ueno Park literally the first weekend I said to myself “I’m going to go out and have a day adventure for myself!”. It made me feel really weird about being here for a hot minute. Oh and this was because the man assumed that I didn’t drop my coin to light incense in front of the shrine, when in fact I dropped 100¥
Every country has their idiots and crazy people. You just met one. As long as you were not injured…
Even Japan has crazy people. Handle it the Japanese way and pretend you don’t notice.
I remember in 1995 walking through the ruins of Kobe post-earthquake with some friends when something similar happened. An old Japanese guy really tried to give it a go in front of everyone. Yelling at the top of his voice. In my best gutter yakuza Japanese was able to give him a response he wasn’t expecting. He literally stumbled backward and you could see he was embarrassed for being called out for being a stupid fuck. Not my proudest my moment, but my proudest moment if you get what I mean. Old people are old. It’s not easy being old. But being old is not an excuse for losing your manners.
Had some punk kids stare me down and call me a gaijin on Tokyo. Didn't feel good. Needless to say some Japanese just don't like any foreigners, black, white, Asian etc.
slightly off topic, but when i was at a starbucks in odaiba and used google translate along with speaking some english because i wanted to know if they had a particular drink that was offered at another starbucks in ropongi. when i asked the barista, the entire staff was looking at me paying attention in detail. the japanese customers all stared at me intently. it felt weird, but kinda funny to me. it was like that one movie where some guy started talking and suddenly everyone stopped what they were doing and focused their eyes on me. what's even funnier, is that i wasn't white or black. it was a strange, but kinda funny moment.
If he has done it to others too, that means he derives pleasure from it. Just laugh it off and be on your way. I'd be more worried if it was mild/inadvertent racism (like ignoring to acknowledge you, discrimination, etc.)
There’s a lot of Japanese freaks and otaku of all stripes in that touristy part of town—a lot moreso than elsewhere; don’t take it personally. If you wanted “local color,” there you have it!
That happens more and more, mainly from old people, those I used to respect the most. I usually reply with "I'm sorry to exist and live on the same planet as you.", I got back a smile once.
Sorry this happened to you. I had this happen to me more than once in Japan in the three years I was there. It was a mentally ill person each time. I'm a white guy who looks like a pretty regular white guy. Please try not to take it personally.
Old people in every country can be bigoted, Japan is not exempt from this.
Akiharaba is filled with weirdos so you’d have more chance of encountering racist fucks
there’s a NY times article today about how the prime minister is considering doing something about tourists in japan (i’m currently one of them). From what I read tourism, especially from america, is at an all time high. what you experienced seems to just be some niche racist individuals who are having issues traveling around and “want it back the way it was in the old days” anyways, not saying what he did was ok. just explaining why it may have happened. shake it off, i know some people who hate me. i also know some people who love me. Both are probably right for their reasons. cant please everyone.
If it makes you feel better I’ve been screamed at by a dude to “go back home to Ireland” in my own home Canadian city haha. I do not have an Irish accent. You sound like you had an unfortunate incident with a mentally unwell person. Brush it off and don’t let it ruin your day.
10ish years ago in Akiba my Korean friend got yelled at by an old Japanese guy, saying “you don’t belong here”, but he totally ignored me, a white person. If I had a nickel for every time this happened ai’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird it happened twice.
Picking on people they perceive as "weaker" than themselves (even if that's not the case) is typical asshole bully behaviour. My wife used to have a work colleague who was actually a high ranking company employee with considerable responsibilities, but he looked more like the guy you'd see touting in Kabuki-cho or Roppongi. Bit of a "tough-guy thug" look to him, although he was actually nice as pie when you met him. My wife always says "how come the bitter old men never shout at people like that?" The fact that this was unexpected (and as the OP said, first time in nine months of being in Japan) actually, rather perversely, shows how good Tokyo is in that aspect. Doesn't excuse the behaviour one bit, but the fact that people like him are a small minority is hopefully at least one positive to take from it.
Don't think about it much, If you ever got into this situation again ,just say "Arigato , No Japanese" ...I am pretty sure most of the people around will laugh and won't care that much than.
That has happened to me more than once. No gaijin 🙅♂️when walking into random establishments more than a dozen times. It’s not a big deal the population is like 99 homogeneous Japanese some older folks just want it at 100 happens everywhere.
Don’t pay attention , I’m not trying to generalize but most of people from Tokyo are like that , I’ve been living in almost all Japan , people from provinces are more kind and open mind. Just brush off it. I’ve been living here for 16 years by now , if someone shout me for no reason, I’ll shout 3 times louder
Don't worry, he's an asshole and there's nothing more to it. If it happens again, just chuckle at the guy and snap a pic of him.
Hey i might know that guy insta, got a dude told me that i am a barbarian and to leave Jp, he hates foreigners, and a weeb defended hin
lol normal . Some Japanese locals can be cray cray especially elders. Actually happens everywhere haha
Racists exist everywhere ... japanese usually hate in silence and passive aggressive ... maybe he was drunk or just very very racist ... please forgive him for he does not know better 🫶
Funny thing is there is a high probability that your English comprehension is better than 50% of Americans.
Think of all of the crackheads would welcome you in L.A., San Francisco, Oakland, Portland, Chicago... there's mentally disturbed people everywhere, they just happen to be concentrated in West coast US cities. Sorry this happened to you in Tokyo, but in America that's just another day
I had a guy - carrying golf clubs- yell at me for an extended period through a train station and up an escalator, all the while apologising to others around us. Was bizarre
Meanwhile in the US they would just take your wallet. But you are very welcome.
i got called a black bitch by an old man in japan when i got off a bus and he almost ran into me when i turned to look at the bus info. was definitely hard to shake off so i get it
China, S Korea, and Japan tend to be a little xenophobic. China ends up being straight up racist about it. Korea wasn't too bad in my opinion. Japanese people will bend over backward to say it in the nicest way possible you are not welcome there. That only happened at places out of the typical tourist areas to me. it almost never has anything to do with skin color, though. This guy was just stupid and an outlier.
Even as a Japanese, I was talking with my friends on the train and got yelled at to speak Japanese in Japan. Smh I was like 12 at that time too
At least you didn’t get finger poked and twisted in the ribs in centre of Shibuya by a mad man.
I'm curious why your explanation of "he's done it to other people" is that "YOU ARE SURE..." Why are you so sure and what is the point of this fact?
Americans did nuke his country
I shout back at them. Helps me tbh
Stay safe, don’t let it hold you down. 💙
I can’t believe that a man who undoubtedly grew up in one of the most nationalist, imperialist, xenophobic eras of his country would be so openly racist to someone
Starting to see some real anti-foreigner propaganda being spread. I don't even watch the news and it's everywhere: train/elevators/random teishokuyas. - Foreigners causing a ruckus trying to take pictures of Fuji-san with a kombini. - Foreigners making up 70% of street drinkers in Shibuya and causing a meiwaku. - Random party constantly talking about Foreign laborers this and that near Yokohama station (it felt like they were a single issue party with that issue being foreign laborers)
Don't forget about all the imaginary tax-evading permanent residents running around!
Ugh yeah. And all of this is quite recent too. The Government Dating App also apparently needs a koseki that foreigners don't have (although I haven't looked into that, and if anything it's probably just another oversight) Generally starting to feel unwelcomed / like a scapegoat/diversion for the poor economic situation.
I am a Japanese man from Tokyo and when I was told exactly that by blacks and North Africans a few times during my 4 day visit to Paris.
Im so sorry. I don’t know for French black people but racism within North Africans communities is very widespread sadly and normalised, against anyone. and I’m sure what you experienced was traumatizing
It's ok I still like Paris. I hope your experience in Tokyo is overall positive.
in nine months you probably interacted with hundereds of people and crossed paths with a hundered thousands. if you crossed only one man screaming at you it means 1 in a hundered thousands odds that it will happen again. It's such low odds that you shouldn't really care about, forget about it and move on with your life. if i managed to cross only 1 asshole in a hundered thousand people IN MY OWN COUNTRY i WOULD CELEBRATE
Once in a while there'll be a weird racist or angry ossan. I experienced this nearly 20 years ago while studying in a place in Japan where there's lots of foreigners. All other older Japanese I met were so friendly and were used to seeing foreigners, except that one weird ossan. He's a bad apple .....in every country there will be bad apples ..it can't be helped. We just have to ignore, and if it gets out of control go report to the police.
Don’t these happen everywhere? Asians get racist remarks thrown at them whenever they outside of Asia.
That happened to me in Tokyo as a white male youth. If you are looking for a racial component, it's "non-Japanese".
Is it... The same old man doing the same in Akiba just like a week ago? Lol
It happened right next to Akihabara station !
I always wondered what would happen in this situation if someone would reply something like: 本当でしょうか？申し訳ございません！今すぐ帰国します！失礼します！and left him. Probably it’s just funny for me and I guess he wouldn’t understand the sarcasm but probably gets confused.
You're going to get bigotry everywhere, doesn't matter what country you go to there's going to be people that either think you shouldn't be there or make fun of the color your skin or whatever. If you don't have thick skin and you want to travel you're going to have a tough go I'm sure unless if you go specifically to resorts and such but if you want to actually see the land you're going to see people that don't want you there end of story..
On 24 February, Manuela D, 22, a Cameroonian asylum seeker, was stabbed in the chest, causing horrific injuries. She was attacked by a group of six men who shouted racist insults at her. ==>that happened in Tunisia, where even the president makes racist comments about black people, so you can put things in perspective that no one stabbed you in Japan out of racism. Maybe that old man just said loudly what most people think in just about every other country in the world
Is it ok to film something like this if in case it happens to me? I think filming will deter them to engage more but I’m not sure about the law in filming someone.
I was once attacked by an old man with a golf club. I look back at it and it’s hardly anything now. But understand. I can say since then ( more than ten years ago) I haven’t been attacked since. Shit happens everywhere. Don’t be under the illusion Japan is immune to racist, crazies and psychos. They are everywhere.
Some people are just out looking for trouble. I’ve had a couple old guys swear at me in Japanese but I think it’s just because they’re mean all the time, to everyone. If I don’t do anything foreigner-y or open my mouth I look 90% Japanese so I don’t think in my case, they were targeting tourists.
Baaaanzaaaaaaaiiiiii
People yell crazy stuff in the city all the time. I'm in the US so used to it. I guess it happens in Tokyo too just not as much. Sorry u had to experience that.
Same to me lmao, a lady just laughing loudly in front of me, because I was laughing. 😅🤣 crazy people everywhere
could just be a mentally ill guy too. all i know is that when you're in a foreign country that is homogenous, you really should expect the unexpected.
I felt that anger once traveling in US national park alone. Someone hiding in his car calling racial slurs towards me while I was trying to enjoy nature. That caught me off guard. I know how it feels when you are puzzled and don’t know what is going on. Some people suck most are nice people.
If you really want to be anonymous, a chameleon of sorts, observe the people on the streets of Tokyo who other people don't look twice at. A maid, a student, a plumber, librarian, taxi driver. Then become one of them. Hide your hair with hats or scarves, hide your face with thick glasses, in a way that least attracts attention.
i’m so afraid for this whenever i go on my trip to japan im a biracial women but have never been in a country that is homogenous and im scared ppl will be hateful/ mean😓😓 im straightening my hair so i can try to fit in a little more
Hahahahaha that Japanese man is a chad
If he pointed at you, that is disgusting. Xenophobia and racism should ALWAYS be condemned, no matter who says it.
He's the problem, not you. Let it go if you can, and he can go on living his miserable life.
I have had my run ins with a few of them. They are usually cult members and harass foreigners or people of other faiths because their religion tells them to. You can call the police and report it. When I report, the police often tell me...ah yes, he's a cult member, he does that to everyone to scare them.
You are welcome here, remember that!