I had a white roommate who visited Japan and said that people there were very warm to him and welcoming. His black friend on the other hand was reviled and either ignored or taunted.

My question is, while I understand that white people are the gold standard for all asian people, are non-whites disliked in japan?

I'm Indian and thinking of visiting Japan soon and was wondering if there are certain racial/xenophobic issues in Japan I should be aware of?

(I'm japanese)
Well, actually not many Japanese people have an affinity to foregin people, especially non-white people.
But I guess there is no paricular reason mostly. Political or religious reasons are impossible.
Most Japanese haven't talked with foreign people and are a little bit scared of them.
Especially when they found their language(Japanese) doesn't work with you, they may get panics.

But I think Japanese are kind basically.
I'd like you to come and get to like our country!
(I read an article in The Japan Times this morning
saying the India-Japan relationship will be more important in the future. lol)

Ah...and I'd be glad if you mind your manners in a train.
I often get upset seeing foregin guys speaking too much loudly...

Fascinating...thanks for the reply. Are Indians viewed positively/negatively in Japan?

Because of China ? lol...

HAHAHA. That makes me so embarassed

I had a terrible time in Japan. But I have an attractive Asian friend who said peopel were very kind and helpful to her. Meh.

I'm not surprised. Having said that I have a black friend who's living in Japan but she enjoys it.

My overall experience with Japan has been positive but there are times where people seems to react differently for not speaking Japanese. I think knowing the language is helpful.

@Hamlet - What happened?


To OP - I do know Brazilians of Japanese descent have had it tough in Japan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7097929.stm

japanese people should be fine ^^ love thier sushi lol

Black people say this no matter how well you treat them.

The white guy was the one who told me this....

Wanna elaborate on your experience mate?

He's probably like any other white guy who says Asians are racist just to feel better about himself then

So is this a confirmation or denial about racism in Japan?

japanese love blacks in japan

No they don't. That doesn't mean they hate you.

This Indian guy is fukin paranoid when it comes to traveling to East Asia.

Im Korean, and Im pretty fond of Punjabi people. I respect the Sikh religion. I like how there whole foundation was to defend themselves of Islamic radicals.
Stop being so paranoid and just pack your bags and go, thats what traveling is all about. You're not going to get surrounded by some inbred hillbillies that say " WE DUN TAKE TOO KINDLY OF UR TYPE HEA" and get lynched. You might get weird looks. You might go through some discrimination. But name one place in this country where you wouldnt.

Not really.
The ones who love blacks are generally the ones who think all black people are ghetto and have some fascination with that.

In general people should be alright, blacks sometimes get a rough deal and sometimes they don't. I know people that have had a $hitty time (mainly due to things like not being promoted) and people that really enjoyed it so

Do you like Japan? Japan doesn't like you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCeK0Trz9E0...feature=related

That's been posted a million times and no its not like you'll get there and see those signs everywhere. The places with those signs are generally accepted as having ignorant owners.

I guess we just travel differently. I generally like to check out the social climates of the areas I'm visiting. The times I have been cavalier in traveling, I've regretted it (south america).

Racism is everywhere. Good point. In some cultures though, racism is almost an institution...that's when it becomes unpleasant. I would never visit places like Russia or Argentina looking the way I do.

Anyway these replies have been very informative....thanks...

I haven't heard of anyone in East Asia disliking Indians.

I've actually had a lot of friends who've gone over to Japan, for various reasons. Most of them have come back hating it. It's a sacrifice that you have to be willing to make when you go over there. On the one hand, you'll be praised as a foreigner, some people will have some strange attraction to you except this is kind of a shallow short term thing. On the other hand, most people will treat you as an outsider and you'll never be accepted into their society because of their policies and general attitude towards foreigners. And that's the reason why most of my friends loved Japan for the first few months they were there; amazing culture, women/men, friends, novelty. But that wore off, and they hated every moment of it afterwards. More towards your question, they make fun of you but behind your back, it's kind of a passive-aggressive way of going about it.

Basically what I'm saying is, don't intend on going to Japan long term unless you're ready to accept the fact that you'll always be an outsider.

How about an ABC like me? How do they feel about East Asians who cannot speak the native language as opposed to caucasians? Do they group both into the "foreigner" category or is one treated differently than the other?

Isn't most of what you're saying just conjecture and repeating what someone else's false paranoid opinion of Japan? First, I've never seen anyone "praised" for being a foreigner. This is some bull$hit gaijin myth. What's with your comment on being an outsider? It's definitely NOT TRUE if you actually start living in Japan and become friendly with neighborhood (Of course though, people might describe/call you as the Gaijin but that's pretty general around the World) Anyway this is just some bull$hit gaijin myth. I've heard this Japanese people talk behind your backs in a passive-aggressive way all over the Internet. Seems to me it's more of just repeating someone else's negative paranoid opinion than actually experience.

Yeah, they're joining forces to bring China to an intervention

just got back from a trip to kor/Japanese (im filipino)....i loved it there...ive been depressed ever since i got back...i will definitely be coming back

i want to visit japan someday as my idol has many good things to say about it.

in general i think people in their country would find foreigner uncomfortable to be around.

you speak different language, looks different so that's very normal.

You'll be treated the same as any foreigner. And whites aren't the gold standard for all asian people, where the hell did you pull that from? Many people there generally dislike them. They view Americans as pushy and obnoxious, although a select few are obsessed about it due to the Western media glamorizing USA to them.

I heard from another poster here that Nagoya and possibly other areas are dealing with a serious problem of Nigerian gangs. Could this be impacting how Japanese view Blacks as opposed to other foreigners?

As an indian who stayed a short time there I never found being a person of dark skin color a problem. I didnt get any stares or maybe I just never noticed since I was going around. I guess its just how you view/take things, if 2 people go to a shop and someone comes over to you and asks if you need help 1 person might take it as them being helpful while the other might take it as them checking up on you.

The Japanese were very kind when we went there. They were very helpful. We couldn't figure out how to buy subway tickets from a machine. We asked someone and two people showed us how to do it.

I think Asia in general is kind to white people, but no so much others, sadly.

The lesson here?

Japanese spread their @$$ cheeks for White people to cum in.

Simple.

Just for the info. not all Punjabi people are Sikh. I hope you know that.

Like Americans, a lot of Japanese will feel irritated with people coming the the country without knowing the language. I feel irritated every time I deal with a hispanic person that refuses to learn any English here in the US. I personally believe it's a natural feeling to feel offended that people are thriving in your country without an ounce of respect for it.

Kid, you'll do fine in Japan. As long as you act friendly you would get the same response. If that black guy walked around japan with a tough guy, anti social attitude im sure he didnt get the friendly reactions he wanted. and if you really look different from the Japanese public you def will get looks and attention, good or bad who cares juz have fun.

If worse comes to worse wear a "I heart Japan" Tshirt everyday. haha

well i don't like Indians...

They aren't a problem per se, there's not much of them, but they've been known to hang out in shady areas and skin people. They tell tourists to beware of Nigerians who ask for something.

You thought wrong. Some women in China and Korea do see going out with a rich, white man as a status symbol, but in general, there's more disdain for white people than blacks, actually.

lmao

Yeah, because the term general equates to all, right? I mean, that explains why the Japanese are so fascinated by American culture and vice versa, right? Because they're racist, right?

/end sarcasm.

so how do japanese feel towards people of different asian nations compared to whites/blacks?

do they show more respect towards other asian groups or more towards whites/blacks?

all i know is they don't treat many chinese well i heard.

As a non-European, and stationed in Japan and Okinawa, the Japanese people are decent and are the same as any people elsewhere. In cities, Japanese are more inclined to see foreigners while in the countryside, they tend to be "scared" (lack of awareness and ignorance of other cultures).
An interesting thing is that Japanese first inclination do dislike 'dark skin foreigner who have done nothing to them but prefer the white skinned foreigner who nuked them to the middle ages in WWII. Go figure that psychological stuff!

Anyway, Japan is modern and progressive but any decent person will be acknowledged as such in Japan!

Japanese just hate everyone except Whites. End of story.

Yes, general equates to all, barring exceptions. And I don't live by exceptions. "Some" Japanese are fascinated by American culture because of all that Western media turd that they try to push on our land. Many Japanese don't, and don't even support American products.

I'm Japanese. If you ask me what I think of whites, I'll probably be banned. Contrary to what you've heard of "Charisma Man" or whatever, it's simply a false generalization with absolutely no basis other than white superiority complex. Japanese used to look down on other asian countries, but it's more about rivalry than anything. They are now successful trade partners with China and their ties with Vietnam are strengthened. And another thing, if you think a Japanese would hire a white person over even non Oriental person, think again.

What if the white person has got huge guns?

*flexes biceps*

Like these guns.

Actually, Japanese women hate that muscular look lol.

Hm? Maybe back in the 40s. A few stingy Japanese still think they're a different race, but all in all, Mongoloids in general are treated well as long as you follow customs and speak the language. Mixed marriages between Chinese and Japanese are VERY common.