How long were you here when you stopped trying to be "Japanese"?

[coolgaijin]

I have heard there are stages gaijin go through, the first being an utter fascination with Japan, second being noticing Japan's flaws, third is accepting them (or returning home) and fourth is acceptance of one's own gaijinity and the acceptance of the fact one will always to an extent be an outsider.

Yet still I see so many people that have been here for many years insisting (even when no Japanese are present) that we must use Japanese ritualistic phrases such as "いただきます” or not cross a street against a signal in the middle of the night with nobody there because it isn't the "Japanese way". Oddly enough, I always ruffle the oldbie's feathers with the statement "yeah, but we aren't Japanese". One of them angrily retorted "speak for yourself!". Do these people really think they are Japanese?

[KansaiBen]

Yet still I see so many people that have been here for many years insisting (even when no Japanese are present) that we must use Japanese ritualistic phrases such as "いただきます” or not cross a street against a signal in the middle of the night with nobody there because it isn't the "Japanese way". Oddly enough, I always ruffle the oldbie's feathers with the statement "yeah, but we aren't Japanese". One of them angrily retorted "speak for yourself!". Do these people really think they are Japanese?

There are plenty of Japanese who ignore signals or don't do things that seem "Japanese" (whatever that means).

All I can say is they are wannabes, wannabe more Japanese than the Japanese themselves, or somehow think they are more acculturated than others if they act that way. All they do is come off as acting weird.

[captain harry]

Oddly enough, I always ruffle the oldbie's feathers with the statement "yeah, but we aren't Japanese". One of them angrily retorted "speak for yourself!". Do these people really think they are Japanese?

http://youtu.be/_zCSCMDNclc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8O6aGT5grU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tz5ueq0J3g

[thefg]

I have heard there are stages gaijin go through, the first being an utter fascination with Japan, second being noticing Japan's flaws, third is accepting them (or returning home) and fourth is acceptance of one's own gaijinity and the acceptance of the fact one will always to an extent be an outsider.

Yet still I see so many people that have been here for many years insisting (even when no Japanese are present) that we must use Japanese ritualistic phrases such as "いただきます” or not cross a street against a signal in the middle of the night with nobody there because it isn't the "Japanese way". Oddly enough, I always ruffle the oldbie's feathers with the statement "yeah, but we aren't Japanese". One of them angrily retorted "speak for yourself!". Do these people really think they are Japanese?

i never tried for one moment to be japanese

i see no upside and plenty of downsides


There are unfortunately a lot of low class gaijin in japan. English language teachers mostly.

At the low level i can imagine there is less upside to being gaijin.

[coolgaijin]

Well yeah consider the main sources of foreigners in Japan -- the US military and eikaiwa. It's no wonder we get a bad reputation.

[Effected After]

Well yeah consider the main sources of foreigners in Japan -- the US military and eikaiwa. It's no wonder we get a bad reputation.

And what bad reputation would that be? Most Japanese people have a good opinion of western foreigners. Granted, most western foreigners don't have a good opinion of western foreigners, but most Japanese don't realize that.

[madazzahatter]

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
Dr. Seuss

[coolgaijin]

Be you a troll, these words are true. I intend to live many years in Japan, and that said I will try only to fly under the radar. I won't act Japanese because I am not Japanese and have no desire to be Japanese. I don't really give a damn what people think of what I do. I will follow the law, social "norms" can kiss my balls.

[Effected After]

I can't say I ever tried to be Japanese. That said, maybe that phrase holds different meaning to me than to the OP. The reason I say that is from reading this:

I see so many people that have been here for many years insisting (even when no Japanese are present) that we must use Japanese ritualistic phrases such as "いただきます”

Saying itadakimasu isn't trying to be Japanese (for most people at least), it's recognizing the culture of where we live. Fitting in, and trying to be Japanese are completely different things. Anyone who doesn't make at least a reasonable effort to fit in to the culture in which they live is going to be ostracized, and probably go a little weird in the head.