Stereotypes

[Mikki]

Hi,
Ithink it would be interesting to do a blog series that looks at stereotypes of Japan and are they real or myths. For example, life-time employment, all Japanese women marry, all Japanese kids are studious etc.

[padrik]

Good idea, and also how Japanese tend to stereotype foreigners(westerners, etc...) until they actually meet one, or make friends with one...

Many people I met who had no western friends, believed me to be just like what they saw or heard about on TV hehe, was funny. Tokyo tends to be different of course...

**A big thing that happened several times to me and other students, was walking into a store with a problem, say with my cell phone. Explaining to the clerk the issue in Japanese, and her replying with "no english". Then another employee comes over, understands everyting you said and helps you. Like there is some mental block when you see a westerner, thinking they only speak english. Of course this happens in america also to foreigners coming here. Kind of frustrating. Oops I rambled on hehe, ごめんね。。
カール

[Ulver_684]

Good idea, and also how Japanese tend to stereotype foreigners(westerners, etc...) until they actually meet one, or make friends with one...

Many people I met who had no western friends, believed me to be just like what they saw or heard about on TV hehe, was funny. Tokyo tends to be different of course...

**A big thing that happened several times to me and other students, was walking into a store with a problem, say with my cell phone. Explaining to the clerk the issue in Japanese, and her replying with "no english". Then another employee comes over, understands everyting you said and helps you. Like there is some mental block when you see a westerner, thinking they only speak english. Of course this happens in america also to foreigners coming here. Kind of frustrating. Oops I rambled on hehe, ごめんね。。
カール

Yes, I agree with you! They should make a Stereotype lesson so we say how we Stereotype Japanese and how Japanese Stereotype Westerns.

[untmdsprt]

Well the stereotype of all Japanese men are short is a myth. I have two friends, one is 5'10", the other is 6'2"

[Ulver_684]

Well the stereotype of all Japanese men are short is a myth. I have two friends, one is 5'10", the other is 6'2"

Thank you for that myth, I didn't knew this one because Japanese guys are tall!