I'm an African American Girl and I am going to be an exchange student in Japan,will I get treated badly?

Hi!
I am sure you will get treated well in Japan, as you speak fluent Japanese and respect our culture:D

Japanese don't like "angry black man"(aka 怒った黒人), not because he is BLACK , but because who he IS.
He has every elements we hate.(you read Japanese, right?)
1. 頭及び性格が悪い
2. しつこい
3.自分勝手
4.自分をヒーローと呼ぶ勘違い野郎
5.多分不細工　etc.etc...

Don't think, speak and act like him.
Otherwise we ALL will HATE you!!!

You speak fluent Japanese, huh? It's funny how many people say that and yet they can barely hold a basic conversation with a native speaker.

There are many Japanese who respond here, but the truth is that racism is a huge problem in Japan.

Now they won't attack you with police dogs and there isn't a separate water fountain for blacks. But Japan is not the most "black friendly" country. You will make friends and may even find a Japanese boyfriend, but most Japanese will view you through American hip-hop culture and Hollywood movies. It's crazy, but that's how it is.

I'm living in small town in Australia.
There are lots of people who don't like Asian (or Japanese only), but the majority of Australian is very kind. Even some people, who don't have good impression about Japan, do not treat me badly. (only kids do)

So what I wanted to say is that it would be similar to you. I believe the majority of Japanese would not treat you badly. Also the majority of Japanese have some interest to foreigners, like me, so I think you will make a lot of friends.

But I remind you that the most of Japanese are very shy.

Japan is a close society, not racist, but they have a clear distinction between their own people and foreigners. You'll be treated like a foreigner or a tourist. People will be kind towards you because Japan is a hospitable nation. So, my advice would be to show respect to the culture, history and people of Japan at all times. Behave like a good guest and your host will treat you well, too. Don't act kawaii because you doing that could be seen as "mocking" them. Just be yourself but on your best behavior. I know we're raised to be open and honest about our opinions and are encouraged to make them clear. However, in Japan, especially amongst girls, it's still considered desirable to be quiet and reserve and soft-spoken. So, if you want to "act" like the Japanese, I'd do this instead of being kawaii.

The best way to make friends in Japan is to ask your classmates about the history of Japan and ask them if they can show you around the tourist places (ie. imperial palace, etc.). Ask them questions about things in Japan that you don't understand. Show them you're sincere and genuine in learning more about their country.

Wow...this turned into a very heated discussion about racism somehow. Oh well.

I'm a 18 year old Japanese&American girl. I went to school in Japan near my grandma's every summer until senior year last year. Even though I speak fluent Japanese without an accent, and it was the first language I learned as a child, I'm always a foreigner in Japan. NOT A BAD THING. It doesn't mean that people like you any less, or look down on you, it just means that you're different from them. I lived in Japan as a little kid, and my mother's Japanese, so I kinda have a bit of a Japanese mentality. So, I'm going to tell you what I would have thought if I was in school in Japan, and a black girl that speaks japanese started coming to my school.

"I wonder where she's going to get her hair done here?" "I wonder if I can touch her hair?" "Does her armpit hair look like that too?" "I wonder how long it took her to learn Japanese?" "Why does she like Japan?" "Can she eat sushi? And natto?" "Can she rap?" "Does she know how to be polite?"

That's what I would think....and I didn't just pull that out of my ***, there was actually a black girl(her Japanese wasn't that great) that came to my school in 9th grade, and these were pretty much the topics of interest during the first week. I don't know about guys of other races, but girls of any race are generally accepted among adolecents/adults. There's just going to be a lot of curiosity and a LOT of staring and whispering. Many Japanese people have never met a black person in real life, so it'll be a strange experience to them. So my conclusion is, that they will treat you well, stare at you, and want to touch your hair. Go and have fun! lol

Alright so I'm seeing alot of extremes in the answers regarding this issue, either that Japanese people are the most exclusive, racist on the planet or that they're 100% totally and completely accepting no matter what.

First of all: racism, prejudice, and discrimination exist all over the world. Japan is no exception. Being African American, I'm sure by now you know that racism is widespread in your own country, wheather you have experienced any directly or not.

That being said, you must keep in mine that Japan is an island, and thus stayed relatively isolated and ethnically homogenous for quite some time. So you can imagine the shock of the native Japanese when, all of a sudden, there's people that look nothing like them roaming around. Of course they are going to be suspicious of ANY newcomer to their country.

Nowadays, especially the younger generations, are for the most part accepting or at least tolerant of foreigners. Older people may not be so fond of them. I say "mostly" and "may" because there are always exceptions to any generalized statement. Of course there will be people stereotyping you, gawking at you, even trying to ask you questions. Foreigners in Japan are perceived through a spectrum of different feelings and views. Again, it all depends.

To address what ♫Ami♪ said:

"It's offensive of you to ask such a question. Japanese people in general aren't racists."
"I've never met racist Japanese people :-O If I had, then, well, I hadn't...so, Japanese people aren't stereotypical at all."
"Trust me, Japanese people don't judge on races. Heck, whoever made that stereotype up is juscrazyy. I think THEY'RE the ones who are stereotypical and judgmental."

First of all it is not offensive to ask such a question. It is out of curiosity and concern that she asks it.

Secondly, I will say this about Japanese people: they do have a knack of following stereotypes, often to excess. As another poster said, they do often associate black people with gangsters or hip hop culture. When black people, and other foreigners appear on Japanese variety shows, even if they are speaking (near perfect) Japanese, will be given subtitles under the pretense that no Japanese person can understand what the heck they are saying. To add insult to injury, I've seen some variety shows that, as a joke, subtitle entirely in Katakana to show a slow, simplistic manner of speech in their subtitles.

Black people aren't alone though; the Japanese play up the stereotypes of many groups, racial or otherwise; look up Hardgay to get an idea of how they view American gay culture. x]

And of course, as I said earlier, the statement that "there's no such thing as a racist Japanese" is completely untrue. Of course there are racist Japanese people.

One problem in Japan that I find quite distressing is the open discrimination of some foreigners when it comes to some hot springs, bath houses, bars, and clubs. Some of these establishments will post signs outside the door denoting which customers are welcome and which ones are not. For example, a sign might read "No Filipinos" or "Japanese only". This is something that should not be happening in such a developed and advanced nation as Japan, but unfortunately, it does.

If you know a good deal about Japanese culture and customs, and if you try your best to speak Japanese, then you're that much closer to gaining their respect and acceptance. Japanese people are very polite, that is something they pride themselves on and I believe it to be very true.

However, they will always treat fellow Japanese and foreigners in two different ways, and if you wish to get a little less "tourist treatment" and a little more "authentic" treatment, then the Japanese knowledge will help. ;]

About "acting kawaii" - this all depends on your actual nature and personality! Across the globe, regardless of race, there are girls who have cute mannerisms, styles, ways of speaking, etc. A tell tale sign is if your friends frequently say "Oh my god, you're so cute, _________!!!"

If you are not normally cute, but rather sporty, punky, laid back, loud, boyish, or whatever - then for heaven's sake, don't start purring, squinting your eyes, doing peace signs left and right, raising your voice to a squeaky pitch, or actually saying "KAWAII DES~~~" to everything you see. Act normal. Embrace the culture but do not mock it.

Happy Travels!

P.s: I highly reccomend reading Gaijin Smash, a humourous blog written by an African American about his day to day life and experiences in Japan.
http://www.gaijinsmash.net

Don't trust what "outrage black freak man" said. I think he is racist against black. i think he has never been to Japan. He is a liar....

I'm 26, a Japanese male for real. We, young generation, respect your culture, how to walk, how to rap, how to sing, how to behave. I respect those who generate new culture.
But sometimes, we see movie in which there are very bad black men committing crime and shooting gun. We understand that this is just movie but a large number of Japanese has not met, faced Black people and plus a large number of Japanese cannot understand English so we might have some fear to Black, honestly. But What i think is this is normal and common same as you feel to us.
We respect Martin Luther King, Muhammad Ali, Malcom X and President Obama.
As others saying, there is no place where there is no discrimation, no exception. We and you are same. There are still shittest group in America,, there are still freak they are supremacist. We think that white still have discriminaiton mind. I got shocked at this.

Dont worry about us, We are not racist, sometimes we gaze at you in no meaning because we don't get used to your appearance, that's all.

Thanks..

NO where did you hear that from? I'm Japanese, and heck I used to live next door to a black family and their family don't get treated badly! At least by me and my family and my friend's family's friends and my friends, anyways. It's offensive of you to ask such a question. Japanese people in general aren't racists. I've never met racist Japanese people :-O If I had, then, well, I hadn't...so, Japanese people aren't stereotypical at all. And it's not necessary to act Kawaii/cute in front of them -- it will just make you fake. I know this sounds cliche and corny, but seriously, just be yourself. People will want to be friends -- especially with a foreign person ^.^ Trust me, Japanese people don't judge on races. Heck, whoever made that stereotype up is juscrazyy. I think THEY'RE the ones who are stereotypical and judgmental.

***
sorry, I didn't mean that you did offend me. I'm just sort of stating my point that Japanese people aren't racists no matter what people say.

You will not be treated badly, you will be treated the same as any gaijin, or foreigner, that comes to Japan. Japan is a very open nation, the japanese are hospitable and kind to tourists, most popular city in Japan like Tokyo and Osaka have many tourist, therefore they're used to diverse people. If you go to a small village, there will not be hate directed towards you, but a certain curiosity. As any other nation, you cannot generalise the thoughts of a person, but as a nation in whole, the nippon community is not racist against people of different races. The japanese people base people not on their skin color, but on their behavior. Just act with some respect, some etiquette, and show some interest about learning about the culture and you'll be treated nicely. Reading posts from Angry Black, I feel as though his only main interest is to have sexual relations with japanese women. Please do not listen to his words, because I believe that his only intention is to do so, he doesn't have a real intention to learn about Japan. Just be nice and respectful to everyone, and you will make many friends, because of course we're very interested in foreigners. Also, do not give the kawaii impression, it's seen as a kind of mocking of culture, and of course, only the kawaii things of japan are broadcasted in america, so just be yourself.

Japan is totally safe! If u doubt it, then research homicide and crime rate in Japan. U'll find that it's probably one of the lowest if not the lowest especially for a developed country. U should go to either Tokyo or Osaka. Tokyo is so rich in everythn as far as the culture and experience will go. Osaka, ppl r really cool. Manners u will understand once u get the culture. I'll just say don't stab ur chopsticks vertically in the middle of ur rice. Or any food for that matter. My dad made that mistake when meetin my moms parents for the first time. lol U do that for food ur offering to the dead. Don't worry tho, Japanese ppl r cool and hardly ever r confrontational.

As a new exchange student, you can expect the people at the school to go out of their way to welcome you and make you feel comfortable. At first the other students will probably be very interested in and curious about you, although some may be shy about speaking to you directly. Keep in mind that especially if it's a smaller town, you will probably be the first black person many of them have met. But if you show an interest in them and let them get to know you, you should get along just fine. Also, it's not necessary to act "kawaii" all the time, but it does help to be "genki."