People Don’t Believe I’m Japanese: Mixed-race in Japan

“Your Japanese is so good!” “But I am Japanese…” What’s it like to feel like a foreigner in your own country? Japan is 98% ethnically the same and there aren’t many mixed-race people. Meet my friend @jesseogn who was born and raised in Japan. Despite being a native Japanese speaker, people always speak to him in English on the street and think he’s a foreigner. He has a good attitude about it and also a very good sense of humor. Watch him make people smile and chat on the street with those who are curious about his mixed heritage.

[whushaw]

The traditional dress is always so stunningly beautiful and timeless.

[christophercrawford]

If I was a native Japanese speaker, and people were constantly commenting on how good my Japanese is, I would also tell them the same thing.“Oh, your Japanese is so good“” wow, yours too. Where did you learn?”

[morningwine]

It must be frustrating to be treated as a tourist everyday where you live and work. You may feel like being apatride

[brianhopkins]

Exactly the same reaction I got growing up in Korea being half black half Korean. Happens in the USA too when I go to Korean ran establishments like restaurants and stuff

[CainRG]

Thats crazy, I feel like id be pretty upset/annoyed to get that kind of reaction every day in the country I live in and grew up in

[noniboo]

This is an example of an isolated country. To be that surprised that a human being of another race could speak your language.

[alyshakelley]

Your YouTube channel is funny and very educational I love it ❤

[giftcodes]

I haven't even finished learning my native language I couldn't possibly learn all these, kudos🎉

[Reiscakes]

I was stationed in Japan for three years. They’re the most respectful people in the world, I miss those days. I had the best time in my life over there.

[NavaGamingz]

Always Happy when seeing People happy.. ❤❤❤😂

[roseywolf]

Man that must be annoying to get everyday if you live there

[kerriganwhite]

Thank god at least there’s SOMETHING that’s different here in Sweden. You’re not going to be told “wow your Swedish is so good” all the time because you look foreign. People will assume you were born here.

That’s not to say you’re not a victim of stereotypes, or that you’ll be seen as “fully Swedish”, though. And you might still get questions about where you come from originally fairly frequently, which is annoying as hell if this is your motherland.

[AA-ynyg]

I feel like the first couple times it’d be funny but like over time i bet it’s like “😒 really? It’s 2024, people can be mixed race”

[aj]

I am Japanese, but I believe living as a mixed Japanese person should be difficult in Japan.
It must be tough to constantly feel alienated as a foreigner despite being Japanese.
However, one thing I can say is that the Japanese people who appear in videos have no intentions to be rude to him . They are just simply surprised to know that he is actually a Japanese.
Japan is almost 100% populated by people with Asian appearances, so for Japanese people, an Asian appearance is what a Japanese person looks like.
Therefore, they just cannot recognize mixed Japanese people who do not have the typical Japanese appearance as Japanese.
Its not malicious.

[hl]

This is so relatable to me. My father is white and my mom is light skinned Asian. Despite leaving here my whole life, people don't think I'm Asian and are genuinely surprised that I speak Filipino. I get that they're curious, but it's so annoying to have to explain everything to everyone I encounter. For them it's a new thing, but I'm always having the same conversation. And I'm always getting mistaken as an American, as a half European, that feels wrong.

[TheExploradoras]

This video is so interesting and fun...Part 2 please....

[airplanetowardsthesky]

I feel like this would get old real fast if you lived in Japan

[nikkijubilant]

How I feel like this man every time some Quebecker says to me "Votre français est très bon. " I come from Quebec, and my mother is francophone!!

[carmengogeidnas]

This is so weird in America, there are so many different cultures and races that I'm never shocked by anyone speaking any language, looking any way or having any accent, everything is normal.

[cantholdyourbreath]

I love Japanese people and traditions, mostly their traditional dress