Have you encountered discrimination or prejudices in Japan ?

[Maciamo]

But you see, the guy spoke to me in JAPANESE without skipping a beat. That's what was so shocking! I was really flattered, actually. It was like the guy didn't even notice I was a foreigner!

I understood. I wanted to point out that it NEVER happened to me. You were "lucky" if I may say so.

On a slightly different note, has a Japanese person ever come up to you at say the train station and asked you for help buying the right ticket? It happened to me once by a little old lady. I don't think she could see so well...

I have seen many times someone asking their way in the street to other Japanese. Often the person had to ask quite a few people as they didn't know the area well. I was standing next to them (waiting at the pedestrian crossing) but the lost guy always ignore me and try to walk further away to find another Japanese to ask. Everytime I knew exactly where the place was and could have explained it very clearly in Japanese. But as the lost person didn't care to ask me at all, I thought to myself that I was not going to help such a jerk who probably presume I am lost (never ever assume I don't know exactly where I am anywhere in the world - it's instinctive) or cannot speak Japanese. Too bad for them. Once, a guy was going to ask me, but as I turned and he saw that I was a Westerner, he abruptly stop talking and walked away without a word. Typical Japanese reaction when they see a Westerner. Very lame if you ask me !

[Mikawa Ossan]

I understood. I wanted to point out that it NEVER happened to me. You were "lucky" if I may say so.

Sorry. I misunderstood.

Once, a guy was going to ask me, but as I turned and he saw that I was a Westerner, he abruptly stop talking and walked away without a word. me !

Yeah, when I worked at the hotel, I remember some customer who just wouldn't listen to my directions, even though it was to a place right next to where I live.
Another time, a different customer just couldn't seem to understand my directions. Then a Japanese staff told the SAME DIRECTIONS in the SAME WORDS and the customer magically understood. Not a happy feeling!

I should mention that I am not asian, but I am very thin, so maybe I'm somewhat less intimidating(?) than some other foreigners.(?)

[Maciamo]

I should mention that I am not asian, but I am very thin, so maybe I'm somewhat less intimidating(?) than some other foreigners.(?)

I am not very fat either. 75kg for 1m90. But that is not it, why would someone behind me ask me for directions, then suddenly go away without a word or even a "sumimassen" when they see I am not Japanese ? That time there was nobody else immediately around, except the first guy he asked who didn't have a clue. Well, that's his choice (but I don't want to hear some Japanese tell me about the strength of the samurai spirit in every Japanese salaymen - more coward you die !).

[Mikawa Ossan]

But that is not it, why would someone behind me ask me for directions, then suddenly go away without a word or even a "sumimassen" when they see I am not Japanese ?

I don't know. I really don't understand it at all. I mean, my ancesters are all from northern Europe, and once I was in Seoul (this is S. Korea mind you) and some guy asked me for directions IN JAPANESE even though I was certainly not speaking Japanese with my American friends I was with at the time. I was flabergasted. I really don't understand how people decide such things.

[Maciamo]

I don't know. I really don't understand it at all. I mean, my ancesters are all from northern Europe, and once I was in Seoul (this is S. Korea mind you) and some guy asked me for directions IN JAPANESE even though I was certainly not speaking Japanese with my American friends I was with at the time. I was flabergasted. I really don't understand how people decide such things.

Now that's interesting ! You are the second person to say that today.
Kara_Nari explained the same experience in this thread :

Well I arrived yesterday morning [in Fukuoka] off the ferry from Busan. The ferry was great, but very long. It was like a mini cruise ship, movie room, restaurant, communal baths. I was the only non asian on the ferry, and for some reason everyone decided they would speak to me in Japanese, even the Koreans.

Why would Koreans in Korea address Westerners in Japanese ? Were they elderly people who had to learn Japanese during the Japanese occupation ?

[pipokun]

But that is not it, why would someone behind me ask me for directions, then suddenly go away without a word or even a "sumimassen" when they see I am not Japanese ? That time there was nobody else immediately around, except the first guy he asked who didn't have a clue. Well, that's his choice (but I don't want to hear some Japanese tell me about the strength of the samurai spirit in every Japanese salaymen - more coward you die !).

Let him/her lost his/her way, and you don't have to exaggerate things...

A small yellow card for your exaggeration.
　　　　[]
('A`)丿

[lexico]

Let him/her lost his/her way, and you don't have to exaggerate things...

A small yellow card for your exaggeration.
　 　　█
('A`)丿

URCOLRSOFF

Now that's interesting ! You are the second person to say that today.
Kara_Nari explained the same experience in this thread :
Why would Koreans in Korea address Westerners in Japanese ? Were they elderly people who had to learn Japanese during the Japanese occupation ?

Mikawa Ossan's interesting case is intriguing, but not enough information to make any informed guess. How old was the person asking you the question in Japanese ? Did (s)he look like a visitor from Japan ? Did the word Japan or Nippon/Nihon or anything that might lead the person to believe that you (or some people in your company) were/was somehow capable of speaking Japanese ? These things can have an impact on how that person made a decision, but there's just not enough info in MO's post.
As for Kara Nari's case, the ferry had probably entered Japanese waters. Nihongo practice time, hai ! As many young people love to travel, and Japan is one of the cheapest place for a quickie out of the country, food is familiar, and the people frinedly. Just like the other foreigners who love to practice their hard earned language skills ?

[Mikawa Ossan]

URCOLRSOFFMikawa Ossan's interesting case is intriguing, but not enough information to make any informed guess. How old was the person asking you the question in Japanese ? Did (s)he look like a visitor from Japan ? Did the word Japan or Nippon/Nihon or anything that might lead the person to believe that you (or some people in your company) were/was somehow capable of speaking Japanese ? These things can have an impact on how that person made a decision, but there's just not enough info in MO's post.

Well, let's see how much I remember.... I was with a Jewish American man, and I know this is rude, but he looked like the poster-child for a Western-Jew. (Sorry, Scott, if you're reading this! ) I was also with a woman, also American, but her ethnicity was half Peruvian and half Japanese. But I think she looked much more Peruvian than Japanese. I happen to look very European (not American, for some reason. I've been asked here and in America whether I'm French, Chzech, Swedish, etc..) I think I had a RURUBU tour magazine (which is in Japanese, yes), but I wasn't looking at it at the time or even holding it; it would have been in my bag. It was kind of funny. We were standing in front of 景福宮 (Kyonbokkun ) taking pictures and this middle-aged guy comes out of nowhere and asks me in Japanese, 景福宮はどちらでしょうか(where is Kyonbokkun?) Of course I told him, and he left. It was a surreal moment. Does this help?

[lexico]

Well, let's see how much I remember.... I was with a Jewish American man, and I know this is rude, but he looked like the poster-child for a Western-Jew. (Sorry, Scott, if you're reading this! )

The Japanese have been quite friendly to the Jewish people ever since the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-1905. I know, I'm stretching it !
Japanese Views towards European Jews
The Japanese Schindler
Sugihara Chiune
Wiki on Sugihara Chiune 杉原千畝 (1900-1986)
Nevertheless there have been some signs of anti-semitism for similar reasons of the initial friendliness--money matters and control; Anti-Semitism in Japan ?

I was also with a woman, also American, but her ethnicity was half Peruvian and half Japanese. But I think she looked much more Peruvian than Japanese.

The lost historical connection of the crossing of the Bering land bridge ?

I happen to look very European (not American, for some reason. I've been asked here and in America whether I'm French, Chzech, Swedish, etc..)

But Japan is a western country by some standards...

I think I had a RURUBU tour magazine (which is in Japanese, yes), but I wasn't looking at it at the time or even holding it; it would have been in my bag. It was kind of funny.

Or perhaps the person was clairvoyant or even psychic ?

We were standing in front of 景福宮 (Kyongbokkung ) taking pictures and this middle-aged guy comes out of nowhere and asks me in Japanese, 景福宮はどちらでしょうか(where is Kyongbokkung ?) Of course I told him, and he left.

Now I get it ! I am often asked for directions in a strange city when I am a stranger myself. My hesitation and unusually long pauses seem to attract people with a similar problem with dierections. If at all possible, I try to stay composed, not to instill fear of asking or discuragement from a snappy answer, "I don't know either !" I try to behave like a local, and give whatever "accurate" directions that I am able to give. The satisfaction is beyond words !

I think the guy found all the other people just too busy and intimidating to ask, while your international company taking leisurely photos in front of the palace comforting. Isn't there some kind of tacit agreement among hard-core travelers to help each other in their perilous adventures abroad ?

It was a surreal moment. Does this help?

Nevertheless, it is both surreal and wonderful when language does not matter; it is people that are talking to people. I think yours was a wonderful story to remind me of that oft forgotten truth. We all came out of Africa not earlier than 40,000 yrs ago.