Other Asia

It is always surprising, and unnerving to meet other Asian (non-Japanese) people here in Japan. I feel like this because the cultural difference really is significant. They don`t behave in the Japanese way that I am used to. It is as if I am culturally shocked when I meet them. In some cases I also feel really awkward when I see them interacting with Japanese people.

I think that many Japanese people (particularly those who don`t often mix with people from other cultures and who arn`t familiar with how other cultures are) must find dealing with people who LOOK so similar to them – but who behave and interact so differently must be very confusing for them.

I often think that Japanese people must find it easier to deal with western foreigners in a way. Because of the media in which western culture is the most dominant exported external culture, because of English lessons in schools, Japanese people are much more familiar with western culture compared to different asian cultures. They have their sterotypes. In many ways broadly true (if ignorant of the subtler aspects and differences between western cultures). But, they know to expect we are more direct, for example.

But to meet other Asians who behave in different ways must be strange. I`ll take the example of the Malaysian teacher who came with his student on the exchange visit. I was at the nabe party with him. And I found it SO STRANGE to be talking so frankly and directly with someone, across the table. We were talking about education, and the excessively hard-working nature of the Japanese – so not exactly a totally positive conversation about Japan. This man appeared not to have any reserve or embarrassment given the situation we were in – a formal party in the vice-principal`s house. He just kept on talking to me!

He was just so direct, and open. I was so unused to this coming from an Asian person that I was really shocked! (although perhaps Malaysia is a special case, being an EXTREMELY multicultural country itself).
The behavior of the younger Malaysian student also surprised me when upon noticing the wall hanging of Chinese characters (the wall hanging in the corner of the special tatami room that all Japanese homes seem to contain, where there is an alcove and several beautiful Japanese/ Chinese style objects and artworks are on display – sort of in the manner of a small shrine I suppose). Anyway, on recognizing the characters in the wall hanging as a song she knew, she immediately jumped up from the floor and volunteered herself to sing. The self-volunteering and the immediacy of the whole thing was just something I was wholly unused to.

The presence of this almost dominant Malaysian character did seem to make the Japanese people around the table shrink back a little. Perhaps this was due to the language being English so naturally they were less confident in their speaking ability. But, it was noticeable that they weren`t so involved then, and I felt a bit uncomfortable. Perhaps, it was because of the directness of us. Japanese people are definitely used to more indirect conversation – and certainly in formal parties like this one. Of course, it`s completely wrong to say all Japanese are shy and indirect all the time, because they can be loud and brash definitely (particularly when drunk!) but, I think maybe they just couldn`t relax in this unusual situation for them, where there was an equal number of foreigners and Japanese people.

The awkwardness of cross-cultural interaction does depend hugely on the personalities of the host and visitor involved. I like to think that I am quite sensitive culturally, and I can pick up on things (though, saying that, I`m sure I miss out on a huge amount of non-verbal (well … and verbal!) messages from Japanese interactions). But I try to be as sensitive and forth-guessing (??) as I can. I felt the awkwardness that the Malaysian person made the Japanese sometimes, with his directness.

But when people from foreign cultures are more familiar with the Japanese and how they are, how they interact, what they do and don`t like, then cross asian cultural interaction is naturally more easy.

When the Laotians came to cook … (sounds like the start of a story!) But when the Laotians came to cook, was a great day. For one, they have fantastic food. They came to run a cooking class for students at Tokai High School. It was as an English lesson, as the Laotians speak English and not Japanese.
It was interesting for me to meet them aswell. It was at a time that I was frustrated with Japan, and I found it SO refreshing to talk to people who were more direct, and where there was not so much unnecessary sweetness 8as does tend to occur with Japanese women). I found them to be relaxed and chilled, jokey – not something you always get when first meeting Japanese people in a work setting. I was so happy to be with them (and eat their spicy, exciting, food) for an hour that day.

Being in company with the Laotians and the Japanese together was easier. And it`s because these people have been living in Japan for a year or so now. They`ve been studying here. They`re familiar with how Japanese people behave, so they can adjust their behavior accordingly. And that`s what I do, now that I`ve been here for 4 1/2 months. And that`s how I can get on with many different people here.

I don`t want to give the impression that I encounter non-Japanese people all the time, because that is CERTAINLY not the case. A more accurate explanation of this long post, is that these are all the instances, described in detail, of my meetings with non-Japanese Asians during my whole time here!
Japanese peculiarities, I have become accustomed to now, and although I am occasionally shocked when certain international Japanese people do something/ interact in some way, that is not characteristically Japanese, this shock is NOTHING compared to dealing with other non-western people in Japan, which is a whole, other preverbial kettle of fish.

Dealing with “my particular brand of Asian”, as a fellow JET (of Indian descent) put it, is a big chunk of hilarity for me. I just don`t know what to do with myself! My encounter with a person from south Asia was in an all-you-can-eat Indian restaurant – Spicy Tandoori. On entering a restaurant in Japan you always, ALWAYS bow to the person who greets you. But I just didn`t know what to do with myself with these Indians!! I did some kind of strange sideways sway, and shuffled off quickly.

But, I really didn`t know what to do, and I still don`t. Bowing is such a Japanese thing (other East Asians bow in a different way). I`d never do it to a fellow westerner, but an Indian? Do they bow?? I was wondering, later on, if whether they spoke Japanese would come into the question. But even if they did, I don`t think that would help me know what to do.
There is so much confusion for me surrounding other Asia in Japan.