I was approached by a guy who was smiling while I was walking around 10 PM, but everything was fine.
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Last night, I was walking home from Starbucks around 10 PM.
A man, probably in his 70s, was approaching me with a smile. I tried to remember if I knew him, but the next moment, he extended his right hand as if to shake hands with me…
It turned out he was actually greeting and shaking hands with a foreigner walking next to me!
I watched them exchange a few words like "Arigato" or "Konnichiwa." The foreigner was a Black male in his 20s. He seemed friendly but must have been a bit surprised by the interaction.
Japan is often said to be a racially homogeneous country, and some foreigners feel they get extra attention because of this.
In my opinion, it’s not usually discrimination but rather a sense of curiosity or fascination with something unique. Of course, discrimination exists everywhere, and Japan is no exception. But in rural areas, where foreigners are much less common, it’s natural that some people take notice.
In Tokyo, though, no one pays attention to anyone, no matter who they are, LOL. That’s why what I saw felt rare.
It got me thinking: How many foreigners actually live in Japan?
I checked ChatGPT, and the total is about 3.5 million.
Here’s a list I found of the top 8 nationalities of foreign residents in Japan from GhatGPT:
Chinese – The largest group, primarily for business, study, and family reasons.
Korean – A significant historical community, including both South Koreans and North Koreans.
Vietnamese – Growing due to the Technical Intern Training Program and student exchanges.
Filipino – Many come for business, work, and study opportunities.
Brazilian – Many are descendants of Japanese emigrants (nikkei) with a long-standing presence.
American – Primarily due to military presence, business, and academic exchanges.
Nepalese – A rapidly growing group, often for work and study opportunities.
Indian – Increasing in number due to tech, business opportunities, and students.
I live near Rakuten’s headquarters, so I often see many Indians at the station. I assume many of them work in IT.
I have to emphasize:
Japan is a welcoming country overall, and most Japanese people are happy to interact with foreigners.
Thank you for reading!
Toshiya
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