[ SECRET POST #1290 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #1290 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 05 pages, 108 secrets from Secret Submission Post #184.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 1 2 3 4 5 - not!fandom ], [ 1 2 3 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I was in Japan for a while last year, and as awesome as it was (I really want to go back for good) it's not going to be the "fandom mecca" that you seem to envision it to be. I love Akihabara, I had to change trains there every day going back and forth from the school that I went to, but it's not like, fandom central. Yeah there's a shit ton of anime shops and such, but you don't just see people randomly in costume, unless you're going to a maid cafe or something like that. The only time I've seen people actively cosplaying in Japan was when I went to a doujinshi event. Even when I went to Tokyo Anime Fair, I didn't see that many cosplayers milling about.

As for the "accepted and not alienated" thing, unless you're Japanese or even just of Asian descent, you're going to feel pretty left out. You get stared at a lot on a train just because you're not Asian. For the most part people were pretty helpful, but there's a lot who'll refuse to help you at all because either you don't speak the language or because you're not Asian. So I would recommend NOT prancing around in a cosplay outfit when you're there because you're going to get a lot of even funnier looks.

Just enjoy your time there, see the sights, marvel at some of the things you'll find there, but don't expect it to be the be-all-end-all of fandom. Whatever you've built it up to be in your mind, the reality is that it's not.

[(Anonymous)]

They refuse to help you if you're not asian? Wow. How nice.

[affablyevil.livejournal.com]

but there's a lot who'll refuse to help you at all because either you don't speak the language or because you're not Asian. I'm sorry to hear that. Where did you experience this? Because I could imagine maybe some of the more urban areas of Tokyo, but say, Osaka? People have freaked me with how helpful and generous they've been, far and beyond what I've ever seen in America.

[kimoto.livejournal.com]

Seconding this, people helped me a crazy lot, from carrying my 30kilo suitcase up the stairs to taking more than 10 minutes to help me find a location, and all this when they didn't even speak a word english at times.

[rathanylakan.livejournal.com]

When I've been there, I found people to be amazingly helpful ... but also assume that my and my friends don't speak Japanese and don't know what they are saying.

I heard 'Why are those gaijin here' and 'oh, biiiiig booobies' when I was outside of Tokyo. I heard the first often and the second occasionally.

[kimoto.livejournal.com]

I hardly speak japanese, but at some point I could sometimes follow what they were saying and I definitely recognize what you're talking about. And while sometimes it was cute what they were saying (about me) it has been very awkward as well. I picture you felt awkward as well when they were talking about your breasts...

[affablyevil.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've found that direct comments about physical things (body, appearance, etc.) are much more commonly practiced than in the States – but this isn't limited to foreigners, everyone talks about everyone's appearance, weight, age, single status (or not), behavior.

While it can range from being uncomfortable to being offensive, I don't think it's personal, just something people are used to doing socially. That doesn't mean that you can't say "Okay, wow, that's really offensive you need to stop." Just because something is (more) accepted in the place you are doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your boundaries to accommodate it.

[rathanylakan.livejournal.com]

Well, being a language student, there is some value to trying to adopt their norms for a bit just to gain understanding. My favorite thing to do is to say something innocuous in Japanese to my friend, just to show that I do know some Japanese. However, this freaks my friend out, as she'd rather I didn't make it obvious that we understand.

[affablyevil.livejournal.com]

Oh sure definitely! I was just saying that just because something is okay in a cultural norm doesn't mean you have to make it okay for yourself. I think being totally rigid of your own cultural values while being in a different country, but at the same time you shouldn't sacrifice all that you are in the name of blending in with another country. It's definitely a balancing act.

I conversational in Japanese so I spend a lot of time making jokes at my coworkers and purposely misunderstanding things. It's fabulous.

[luna-hoshino.livejournal.com]

Thirding this, my experiences in Japan have all been positive so far.

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe I shouldn't have said, "a lot" but it did happen here and there in Tokyo. But then again, there were also a lot of people who were extremely helpful as well, especially when I attempted to speak their language.

I guess the point I was trying to make is that as a foreigner, you'll probably get looked down on at first. But if you make a whole-hearted attempt to speak the language and such, you'll get a lot further with the Japanese as a whole. They are quite shy to speak English and such.

[affablyevil.livejournal.com]

I've lived here for two years now and on the whole I've found Tokyo to be in general "cooler" than most other places; maybe it's the concentration of business and professionalism. But it's kind of like saying the way everybody acts in New York is totally representative of the United States you know? It's just not true.

In my experience, if you try to speak Japanese (even if it's not the best), in general people in Japan tend to immediately respond positively to it. I've never once experienced the "You speak broken ----, you shouldn't even try." Never, never once. If you make an effort, people over here try to reciprocate that effort. In my experience.

[twenty-rooks.livejournal.com]

I completely agree. I've only ever visited Tokyo (though I've been several times), and I've found the people there incredibly friendly and helpful. It does matter how you yourself behave, of course.

[(Anonymous)]

LOL.

The more Japanese you learn, the more they will resent you.

It's like an uncanny valley thing. When you're all KO-NEH-CHEE-WAH they think it's adorable, but so many people get disappointed and creeped out if you speak Japanese well.

[peachy-ewan-muf.livejournal.com]

I'm skeptical. I've heard plenty of people have positive experiences in Japan, and I'm in Taiwan right now. . . With as much Chinese and Japanese influence and how both of those cultures are said to be extremely xenophobic, I was afraid of blatant racism everywhere I turned. Nope. Not even close. A few older people stare like I'm the most fascinating thing ever, but in general, people are extremely nice. Nicer than in America, where I'm not afraid of being judged for my race like. . . ever. (lol whitey.)

The only time I had strangers GLARE at me or my friends was when we were dressed to go clubbing, and they were probably thinking "stupid American whores." We weren't even dressed slutty, but I guess it was obvious where we were heading.

[x-expat.livejournal.com]

I lived in Japan for close to nine years (worked in the video game industry for five), and I agree with most of the comments here. If you're looking to be "home" in "sparkly anime kawaii-land," you are going to be disappointed. If you're a gaijin, you're not going to be greeted with open arms as "one of the brotherhood." Japanese otaku are pretty insular. The most likely outcome is that you'll be viewed in cosplay as a "hen-na gaijin," giggled and smiled at.

Generally, I've found Japanese treat foreigners as guests in their country: they are polite, helpful, generous hosts. But underlying that is the polite expectation you'll be going home (to your own country) eventually.

Good luck on your trip! I hope you find treasures there outside of the realm of anime. Japan has so much to offer.