Come sono visti gli ITALIANI in GIAPPONE? E' facile integrarsi?

Summary

The speaker discusses her experiences and observations as an Italian living in Japan. She highlights the cultural differences, such as the Japanese values of silence, cleanliness, and organization, and the challenges of being a foreigner in a country where English is not widely spoken. She shares both positive encounters, like the kindness and helpfulness of locals, and negative experiences, including feeling lonely and being misunderstood due to language barriers. The video script provides a candid and engaging perspective on cultural integration and the unique aspects of Japanese society.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The speaker has been absent from YouTube due to being in Japan and experiencing cultural differences.
• 🏨 They were initially stuck in a small hotel room, which led to a desire to live permanently in Japan for its safety, cleanliness, and organization.
• 🇮🇹 Italians are generally perceived positively in Japan, with a reputation for being charming, fashionable, and good-looking.
• 🗣️ Italians are seen as loud, which contrasts with the Japanese culture of respect and silence in public spaces.
• 🤫 Japanese people are described as shy and introverted, often avoiding causing a disturbance, especially in public transportation.
• 🚫 The speaker experienced difficulty in being accepted in a restaurant due to not speaking Japanese, highlighting a barrier for foreigners.
• 📚 There is a language barrier in Japan, with limited English proficiency and a lack of English menus, which can be challenging for tourists.
• 🏙️ The speaker feels a sense of loneliness in Japan, partly due to being a foreigner and the reserved nature of Japanese social life.
• 🤝 Despite cultural differences, the speaker has encountered kindness and helpfulness from Japanese people, such as being guided to a store by a local.
• 🌐 The speaker suggests that Japan is not as tourist-friendly as it could be, with limited English signage and communication challenges.
• 👥 The speaker notes that friendships in Japan are often work-related and may end if one loses their job, which can be a sad reality.
• 🎥 The speaker plans to share more about their experiences in Japan in future videos and invites viewers to share their thoughts in the comments.

Q & A

Why did the speaker disappear from YouTube for a while?

The speaker was stuck in a 12 square meter hotel room and then moved to an apartment, which led to a temporary absence from YouTube.

What are the three characteristics the speaker appreciates about Japan?

The speaker appreciates the safety, cleanliness, and organization in Japan.

How are Italians generally perceived in Japan?

Italians are generally seen as charming, successful with women, fashionable, and good-looking.

What cultural difference did the speaker notice regarding noise in public places in Japan?

The speaker noticed that Japanese people are very respectful and maintain silence in public, unlike Italians or Americans who might be louder and cause confusion.

What was the speaker's experience with a sushi restaurant in Kyoto?

The speaker and a companion, both speaking Japanese, were not allowed to enter a semi-empty sushi restaurant in Kyoto, which was a painful experience of feeling unwelcome.

How does the speaker feel about the social life in Japan?

The speaker feels that Japanese people generally do not have a very active social life, and this contributes to a sense of loneliness, especially for foreigners.

What language barrier did the speaker encounter in Japan?

The speaker found it challenging that many people in Japan do not understand or speak English, and even in hotels, airports, and restaurants, communication can be difficult.

What was the speaker's positive experience with a local in Akihabara?

The speaker had a positive experience when a local man, upon seeing her struggling with directions, offered to personally guide her to the store she was looking for.

How does the speaker view the Japanese culture of suppressing negative emotions?

The speaker does not fully agree with the Japanese culture of suppressing negative emotions, believing that emotions should be expressed rather than repressed.

What is the speaker's opinion on the availability of English menus in Japanese restaurants?

The speaker finds it frustrating that some restaurants in Tokyo do not provide English menus, making it difficult for tourists to order food.

How does the speaker feel about the sense of loneliness in Japan for foreigners?

The speaker feels a sense of loneliness in Japan, as friendships are often work-related and may end if someone leaves their job, and there is a cultural expectation to always appear impeccable in public.