Comments on: The Kikokushijo Dilemma: Growing Up Abroad As A Japanese Kid

By: rinari0122

rinari0122 — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:54:00 +0000

Very interesting article! I didn’t know what a kikokushijo was so I did a quick google (or bing) and came across this. I personally know a few kikokushijo while growing up. They tend to be children of Japanese co-workers my mother knows from previous and current Japanese companies she worked for. Occasionally I would visit this particular Japanese family for barbeque parties and sometimes Christmas. Also I recall watching my peers play Final Fantasy V or VI with the original Japanese text while I sat back and watched.

By: rinari0122

rinari0122 — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 09:16:00 +0000

Would most people be surprised if a girl (knowing that she’s haafu or lived overseas), is frigid and not so foreign mannered? Then again, I realize that would make peers harshly question if she’s being truthful about her experiences overseas (i.e. USA).

I guess I’ll have to think more mindfully if I really do want to move to Japan. However the idea is still inconclusive. I was born and raised by my Japanese mother in the US so I don’t count as a “kikokushijo”. Although I’ll assume that I could run into similar situations since I never lived in Japan (but thankfully too old to run into school bullies), aside 1-2 week long vacations with relatives.

By: Lauren.

Lauren. — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 00:45:00 +0000

omg I saw the strangest way of speaking japanese by this kikoku joshi on japanese tv.

http://choronghi.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/hilarious-shit/

By: Shoko

Shoko — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 01:51:00 +0000

Thank for your feedback! That’s pretty interesting… I wonder if there’s a difference between people returning from different parts of the world, like European region vs. Asia-Pacific Rim region. I mean I know a lot of girls that go nuts over European accents, which makes people fawn over people from those places. But obviously as the”fob” stereotype instigated we think very negatively of Asian accents… Hmm.

By: Meow

Meow — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 22:29:00 +0000

Funny, in my high school the opposite often happens. People from foreign countries are often fawned over and are usually very popular. Especially if they have some sort of European accent. Although there is a little bit of a distance. Lots of “Do they think I’m *insert american stereotype here*. They might. Proceed with caution.” It might just be because I live in a wealthier area. There is a lot of international business.

By: Shoko

Shoko — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 19:07:00 +0000

Thanks for your feedback! I totally agree. I always wondered why characters in animes, mangas, and dramas were often labeled as kikokushijo and treated like celebrities, when in reality we are kind of viewed differently and sometimes in a negative light. I remember when I first read Prince of Tennis I wanted to yell at Ryoma and tell him to stop being such a cocky jerk and giving us a bad rep, haha. I guess he had the ridiculous skills to back his ego up, though.