Foreign Sumo fans in Japan

[Afrozuna 8]

I would like to visit Japan some day during a basho so I could see the action live with my own 2 eyes. However my concern is around the issue of how foreigners are treated in Japan. I have read in numerous sources that Japanese are not particularly welcoming to foreigners and if you are visiting and can't speak Japanese no one will speak to you in English.

As a black South African I would obviously stand out like a sore thumb in Japanese streets and am afraid of being on the receiving end of xenophobic treatment. Given the history of my country you can understand why I would be extremely sensitive to this issue. I need to know if my concerns are misplaced due to hearsay or if there is reason to be cautious.

[Doitsuyama 1,192]

I would like to visit Japan some day during a basho so I could see the action live with my own 2 eyes. However my concern is around the issue of how foreigners are treated in Japan. I have read in numerous sources that Japanese are not particularly welcoming to foreigners and if you are visiting and can't speak Japanese no one will speak to you in English.

As a black South African I would obviously stand out like a sore thumb in Japanese streets and am afraid of being on the receiving end of xenophobic treatment. Given the history of my country you can understand why I would be extremely sensitive to this issue. I need to know if my concerns are misplaced due to hearsay or if there is reason to be cautious.

I think you got a somewhat wrong picture here. In my opinion Japan actually is very welcoming to foreigners, as long as they are tourists and behave as such. Many Japanese of course are also friendly to permanent residents from foreign countries, but this would be the point where xenophobia is a concern.

Japan is a very safe country - I have to admit I would feel a thousand times safer in Japan than in South Africa, no exaggeration here. Most young people in Tokyo can speak English, the difficulty is actually getting them to do it and then understanding them. I don't really know how, well, educated Japanese are in knowing that black people just have a different colour of skin, but I'm optimistic here too. I do know that some good baseball players in the Japanese baseball league or K1 fighters (and thus some of the most prominent sportsmen in Japan) are black.

I can recommend the Taito Ryokan, if you are looking for a VERY cheap and simple place to stay. It has friendly owners who speak English quite well, and international well-travelled guest clientele.

[Shomishuu 0]

I agree with Doitsuyama. Tokyo especially is a very cosmopolitan city with many foreigners not only visiting - but living there as well. My experience in Japan was all good...if you are nice to them, then they are nice and very helpful to you. If I really wanted to see sumo, I would go in a heartbeat. Good luck!

[Petr 0]

Let me add that black people seem to be very demanded among young Japanese women, so you should have a very enjoyable trip.

Enviously,

Petr

[kaiguma 0]

Let me add that black people seem to be very demanded among young Japanese women, so you should have a very enjoyable trip.

Enviously,

Petr

There is a flipside to that . . . I'm not trying to scare you away M-Y, but it is pretty easy for others not to notice the skin-color issue when they are all (so far) of European stock. My understanding, from native Japanese, is that Petr is right about the younger generations and middle aged women. But some from the older generations and a good chunk of conservative middle-aged men have never really let go of the prejudices. Even so, many of these have been taught that it's unacceptable to express their feelings publicly.

Your chances of having a confrontation on this basis are not very high. Doitsuyama's 'permanent resident' comment is right on the money. I've had dark-skinned friends living in Japan who had some ugly encounters. But I've never heard any serious complaints from people touring. If you do go, just be prepared to feel discrimination or an unexpected attitude here and there, from certain classes of people. It certainly won't be a constant condition. You might feel uncomfortable for a moment or two but I strongly doubt it would outweigh all of the positive experiences that you're bound to have. Maybe that all depends on your personal level of sensitivity.

I hope this helps you decide. In the end, you'll never know unless you go, so stay positive but realistic! If you're prepared and you expect it to a cerrtain degree, then you won't be disappointed.

Edited April 26, 2007 by kaiguma

[Ryukaze 0]

Let me add that black people seem to be very demanded among young Japanese women, so you should have a very enjoyable trip.

Enviously,

Petr

Really? I never knew that, (then again I suppose it's been a while since I was in Japan, i'd always thought the opposite, that Japanese people tend to be a little scared or intimidated by black people?)

Anyhow, back to the issue of safety, Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world per capita, so I think your pretty safe man. I mean this is a country were parents can send their small children (kinder gardeners) off to ride the train and walk a fair distance to school by themselves without fear of anything, (I wouldn't dream of ever doing such a thing here, hell I don't even let my daughter play in our own front yard unless I can watch her.) I like to just say to myself "Hey if a guy like "Nishinoshima" can roam around without receiving any"xenophobic treatment," than anyone can." lol (j/k bro.)

Edited April 26, 2007 by Ryukaze

[Ryukaze 0]

small children (kinder gardeners)

They start the old horticulture early in your neck of the woods eh?

You bet they do! lol Although they are actually called "kindergartner-gardeners" my mistake!

I like to just say to myself "Hey if a guy like "Nishinoshima" can roam around without receiving any"xenophobic treatment," than anyone can."

Who says I never experience any? "The Irish are the blacks of Europe" is a famous quote from the movie "The Commitments".

Well none that I've ever seemed to hear of anyway..............

Edited April 26, 2007 by Ryukaze

[Petr 0]

small children (kinder gardeners)

They start the old horticulture early in your neck of the woods eh?

LOL!!!

[Asa Naku Inu 0]

I have always been treated very nicely in Japan, and I stick out like a beacon. I'm an American standing over 6 feet tall and of Irish, German, and Welsh decent.

While some here indicate it may be different for someone of African decent, my friends have never complained to me. Perhaps it was that my friends were so happy to be in Japan that their smiles were just contagious. I don't know, but all the locals seemed very happy to meet them.

On a side note; I have been to many different countries in the last decade or so, and I have found that the only place I was welcomed as warmly as Japan was Ireland. Ireland and Japan just seem to be populated with the most friendly people you will ever meet.

[Asa Naku Inu 0]

While I am thinking about it, I have a story that indicates how amazingly well Japanese people treat foreigners.

In January of 2006, my father and mother were coming to Japan to meet my wife and I. Due to a major mistake by Northwest airlines, my parents were stranded in Tokyo instead of arriving in Nagoya. They spoke no Japanese and didn't have any Japanese currency. Some random kind citizen overheard them trying to get help from the Northwest counter, and came to their rescue. This kind hearted Japanese lady not only took the effort to find out what was wrong, she purchased them train tickets to Nagoya and made sure that they made it safely onto the correct train. She even made sure to ask the workers on the train to make sure the lost gaijin got off at the correct station. This is the way Japanese people treat foreigners. You would never see that here in the U.S.

Important note: If you ever have family coming to visit and plan on meeting them at the airport, make sure they have your mobile number. If not, you may be sitting around Nagoya airport wondering what happened to your parents, while all they can do is leave messages on your home phone. So, part of the stress of that evening was my fault, but I still think if you buy a ticket to Nagoya you should be taken to Nagoya.

[Ryukaze 0]

small children (kinder gardeners)

They start the old horticulture early in your neck of the woods eh?

LOL!!!

What can I say (Whistling...) I need to be an English teacher like Nishi (On the banzuke...) I guess so I'll learn how to spell lol, ("Mr." Ph.D in African American/Japanese relations........)

Edited April 26, 2007 by Ryukaze

[Danjinoumi 10]

I have to throw my two yen in here.

I think Doitsuyama-san's point is an important one. If you act like a tourist, Japanese know how to deal with you, or should I say, pigeonhole you.

IMHO, I disagree that Japanese are friendlier (or bigger jerks) than people from other countries. What I've learned from my time in Japan is that there are friendly, helpful people, and there are (far more) people who either don't care or are horses' patoots -- just like in any other country. Glad to hear that Asa Naka Inu's folks had a positive experience, but I'll bet there are others (tourists or longer term residents) who can tell stories of Japanese xenophobia as well as Japanese generosity. I know I sure can.

The take-home message for me: Japanese are just like people in any other country.

Again, just my 2 yen.

Danji