Comments on: The 3 Types of Foreign Students in Japanese Schools

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 04:24:00 +0000

I think it would be interesting to expand the article (Or maybe there already is and I just have not seen it.) beyond that of students. The descriptions…yes were generalizing but were also limiting.

By: Ayes11

Ayes11 — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:16:00 +0000

Hmmm, interesting article. I can see myself being in category No1 when I go to live in Tokyo 6 months from now. I am proficient in Japanese (though Keigo is not my forte; I have to brush up on that), with a good accent and a hell lot of confidence when I speak it. I am so natural with the language that I have been asked by Japanese people countless times if I reside years there when I only went for a couple of weeks as a tourist. In fact I’m a Japanese language geek and I enjoy speaking it so I guess it will be easier for me to fit in (I don’t want to be Japanese though; I’m fine being a foreigner).

I have several Japanese friends already with whom we casually chat and joke and most of them tell me that my “nakami” is totally Japanese which kind of freaks me out but I guess that would help me not be in Category 2? It’s my character that is that way and I guess it fits right in with Japanese mentality.

Category 3 is out of the question. Sure, I’d like to meet and hang out with other foreigners in Japan but not just with them. I don’t like ghettos of any type anyway. When my sister went to study abroad she avoided hanging out with people from our home country exclusively and had the time of her life, unlike some other friends of mine who surrounded themselves with their compatriots and felt miserable.

By: サミー

サミー — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 12:53:00 +0000

Are people really going to be 100% these types? because generally people don’t tend to be walking stereotypes or is it these 3 types are only what Japanese society will accept?

By: rosalin

rosalin — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 07:36:00 +0000

I identify so much with this article, ahh. I’ve done the Study Abroad twice (though the first I was forced into Category 3 by the way it was designed and how short it was) and I also came over as an ALT and ended up in a new contract zone with my company so I came over with about 30 other foreigners to live in the same area.

I have been Category 1 is probably what I am seen as XD I legit avoided pretty much all of the English speaking foreigners in my study abroad, made tons of Japanese friends and joined the Kyudo club. My personality is closer to Japan’s general personality than America’s though, so I tend to get along better with Japanese which is odd.

This time too I’m hanging out in little dive bars talking to the Japanese there and making friends and before I realized I didn’t have the money or time to keep at it, I had been apart of a Kyudo Circle as well.

I am related, however, to someone an extreme Category 2. Of course he’s been in Japan much longer than me and married, but when I visit his family and he takes me sight-seeing, the opposite way we approach Japan becomes SUPER obvious and awkward. I’ll do something out of respect for the culture and he’ll start mocking it right afterwards in an attempt at humor that just makes everyone look at us.

Category 3 is definitely what I see the most, especially among my fellow ALTs in my area.

I really do think it depends a lot on personality and it doesn’t matter as long as you’re not being an asshole to other people or the culture your in.

By: Aralc

Aralc — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:09:00 +0000

This article was extremely interesting. Even though on not on an a year abroad in Japan more or less the same groups are forming here. Mostly group 3 in my case.
With me it wasnt a language problem or shyness that caused it but the simple fact that everything is new and all the foreign students are anxious to make friends, while the ‘natives’ already have friends and might be less interested. It is just natural that at the start the new ones group together. It would be wierd or rather really hard to just leave everyone behind from one day to the next.

Of course the 3 groups mentioned above are just stereotype and it isnt always that black and white, however, from personal experience I can say: It is so true!

I also dont think it is necessary to ‘choose’ a catagory or worry to much about it if you are planning to spend some time in another country. Just go there and have a good time. And if you happen to end up in one of the ‘groups’ you dont like you can always change.

just enjoy!

By: MoiKnee

MoiKnee — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 01:49:00 +0000

I haven’t been there yet. For me I’d want to experience the culture and learn the language, and respect the way people act around there, and I’m still going to me though as well . Hopefully I could help people understand how that is as well. I wouldn’t want to pretend to be Japanese, nor would I be interested in playing the oblivious buffoon, for the sake of laughs and attention, nor would I want to only hang out around foreigners only…if possible. tl;dr I just want to be myself. A human being.