Some thoughts about a recent trip to Japan.

[wanderingfighter]

I have been to Japan several times and have never found it to be especially xenophobic. However, the English level of the average Japanese person is often quite basic and so they are very shy and hesitant to help. It isn't so much xenophobia as I have heard instances where a Japanese person has collapsed in the street and people have walked by and ignored the situation. Culturally people are very hesitant to get involved with anyone outside of their particular social network. It's a bit odd, but don't take it too personally. Personally I quite like the social distance and that people will leave you alone. There seems to be a lot of social anxiety when it comes to interacting with foreigners and it is understandable if you don't speak Japanese or they don't speak English. They avoid the situation if they can. I don't blame them really as I am quite similar. I like Japan, but it fits my character type nicley, so I tend not to have too many problems. Never been turned away from a restaurant or anything like that. Definitely had people too scared to talk to me though and that's fair enough.

I think maybe they just didn't want to deal with me since no one spoke English so I figured that they rather turn my business away than go through the problem of having to cater to me. I walked over 25KM a day when I was there in Osaka so I ended up visiting some real hole in the walls outside the main areas where tourist hang out like Umeda and Namba. But I just found them to be so damm cold and non engaging towards me and I'm a person that shows respect to everyone so I found it quite odd. Perhaps it's true they just find comfort in likeness and everything that's outside of what's like them is observed rather than engaged with. Kobe was a bit better, but that place has had foreign relations for over 100 years and it's smaller and more compact so I guess they are more used to different faces. But yeah the martial arts scene (and boxing) in Japan is thriving. I can now see why it's the mecca for the lower boxing weight classes. That's one thing I really liked. There seems to be martial arts related events all the time somewhere. You can see promotional posters for fights all over the city if you look closely.

P.S What's the deal with the appetizers they give you at restaurants (which you think are free) but they end up charging you for them? Is it culturally impolite if I decline them? Why do they do this?