Rural & City Japan React to Foreigners Speaking Japanese

Are Japanese people shocked by foreigners speaking Japanese? What is the difference in reaction between Japanese people in the city and rural areas when they hear foreigners speaking Japanese? After living in Japan for years, I video taped a few conversations that are good examples of people of different ages in different places reacting to me and my friends speaking Japanese.

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[gege_cn]

As a Japanese person I can 100% agree it's surprising seeing foreigners speak Japanese very fluently!

[danielthompson]

Doing this in Germany is always fun. You can speak perfect German to someone and they'll respond in perfect English, almost completely ignoring the fact that you're speaking German. It's either due to wanting to be a good host, or that many Germans are quite confident that their English is better than your German lol

[martiddy]

6:54 "I like how quiet it is here...". Meanwhile, the super loud cicadas at the background are having a party haha.

[badguy]

The problem I found in Japan: Unless you speak PERFECT Japanese they are somewhat put off. FIRST they are in shock that you can speak ANY Japanese. THEN they think you might be a dummy unless you can speak it with no mistakes.

[ismailniyaz]

Japanese folk in cities and big towns don't even bat an eye when they hear you speak Japanese. The first thing they asked me whenever I approached them for help was if I spoke Japanese. If you go to the more rural communities, those places are mostly inhabited by older retirees and even they don't react like they stumbled across a gold mine when you communicate in Japanese with them. If anything, you just see mild relief on their faces, because for some reason they think they're letting you down if they're unable to speak English properly.

[onaki-channel]

People living in a country side in japan are actually really kind and friendly. They just don’t know how to communicate with foreigners. Nobody criticized you because of the nationality or that kind of things for sure.

[neiroryeh]

I feel bad for the lady in 3:51 her posture looks really painful

[mseker]

“Guy walks into Mexican restaurant and speaks perfect Spanish”

[takumas]

Cicadas in the background is actually relaxing for me and never sound like noise. You hear different species during the day and in the evening around the sunset, during mid-summer and beginning of autumn. Those tones make the Japanese seasonal transitions and remind me of different scenes in my childhood.

[sagiriizumi]

In Japan I rarely get asked why I speak Japanese. It's like, "You're here. Of course you do."

[formulanostalgiachannel]

Story time! I once was a paid extra in a Japanese chorus singing in Paris. They were so friendly, smiling and polite! A Japanese-speaking extra (French-born), who was there with me, told me they were saying many compliments about me and all of us when talking to each other (the Japanese singers had no idea my French colleague understood Japanese).
Beautiful people, it was a wonderful experience.

[donjohnson]

One time when visiting Japan about 10 years ago, I got left together in a house with a Japanese guy ( I think maybe my wife's second cousin or something like that) who was told that I spoke Japanese, so not to worry. I guess he just assumed that I could maybe say "Hello", "goodbye" and "please" and "thank you" in Japanese. So, later he was standing looking out a window and I struck up a conversation with him...speaking his language. It shocked the heck out of him and his reaction was pretty funny. Now, looking back at that incident, I'd guess that I was living in Japan teaching English and speaking Japanese on a daily basis LLOOOONNG before he was even born!! And back in those days (late 1960s and early 70s) Americans in Japan that spoke pretty fluent conversational Japanese were pretty rare, so I was quite accustomed to seeing funny reactions...especially from teen aged and on down kids!!

[ohthatsnice]

I’m actually trying to learn Japanese though it’s hard knowing I’ve just become a freshman in high school! I plan to be fluent and visit Japan often! This really inspires me, thank you ❤️

[ZALMusic]

The moment at 5:35 has got to be the most family wholesome thing I've seen all day. Truly warmed my heart seeing this.

[epiccamper]

The images from the countryside were indeed very interesting, those places seem to be so relaxing! It reminded me of the time when I used to visit my grandpa in the interior, I would sit on the sidewalk on sunny days and simply watch the streets.

[chinmustache]

It’s satisfying to hear “Toukyou”, instead of “Tokio”

[xEnjoyTheMoment]

"the countryside is so quiet!" /cicadas going WILD in the background/

[bryanwonghong]

Its amazing how you are willing to open up and speak up too. Things like praising strangers for their clothing sense, striking up conversations. All these may seem simple when you know the language but having the courage and willingness to initiate a conversation is really tough and hard to do so kudos to you for showing us all these content through your videos!!!

[itsmedave]

I am impressed when someone speaks more then one language but to speak Japanese and chines is super cool

[potollomuck]

Kudos to you Anming

You’re really a beam of sunshine in this ever dividing world. You show us that we are capable of getting along together no matter of our origin or culture.