The Dark Side of Japan (Black in Japan) | MFiles

In this episode of The Melanated Files (MFiles), we introduce Dr. Harriet Ocharo, a Kenyan PhD Info Science Researcher in Japan. Harriet has been living in Japan for five years and shares her story with us. Harriet moved to Japan from Kenya as a single mom with her son to attend a PhD program as a MEXT scholar. During that time she and her son experienced both the beauty and the dark side of Japan. Watch to hear her story.

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You can find Harriet across social media: @savvykenya

The Melanated Files or the MFiles is a Black Experience in Japan's series that highlights black people from diverse countries across the globe. It focuses on sharing the story of the individual; who they are; what they do; what they are passionate about; and what their experience has been so far, as a black person living in a foreign land.

Melanated is a word that is regularly used in the black community. It means “full of melanin.” Files is in reference to the collection of stories of black people that will be shared in this series.

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Music:

Track: Mark Pettitt - Something Inside [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds.

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Thank you for watching!

#blackinjapan #mfiles #harriet

[TheBlackExJp]

It's important that you watch the entire video to get the full context, story, lessons, advice, etc.
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Thanks for watching!

[SavvyKenya]

Thank you for the kind and encouraging comments. I'll try to respond individually later. Just to clarify, my son was in Japan for 4.5 years. The first 4 years were great. He was in a Japanese kindergarten full of other foreign kids in Ishikawa while I studied my PhD. He had a lot of fun there. Trouble started this year when we moved to Tokyo in April and he joined an elementary school as a first grader. By the second term, I knew I had to get him out of there. I hope he'll get over the experience and retain the good memories from the kindergarten.

[SoffyLoves]

She's such an impressive woman. Congrats Doc.

[chigasaki]

You find the most fascinating people to interview.

[zacharyhall]

She is BEAUTIFUL..sooo gorgeous..smart and classy darkskin queen.

[benben]

The positive is, at 6yrs old, Jeremy sounds like he has a strong sense of himself/confidence.
Because they were trying to break him down to conform to their ways, and he knew himself well enough to not change himself for their liking

[vickboardman]

From one African to another. Thanks to the guest for being frank and honest. Honesty is needed on issues like these to stop others from unnecessary pain. Japan still has a LONG way to go in terms of fixing their society. I've been here 10 years and am contributing to destroying their stereotypes of others.

[doucelait]

I appreciate her honesty. She’s definitely a trail blazer. Sorry she had to go through that situation with her son. She’s definitely inspirational.

[takayuki]

I feel so sorry for her son. Bullying can happen to anyone which is very dark side of Japan. Living in Tokyo can be very hard even for Japanese who are not raised there. I’m glad that her son is having great time in Kenya. I wish her a bright future!

[indieu]

Thank you Harriet for sharing you and your child's experience in Japan transparently and gracefully

[mayavril]

I'm so glad she was in touch with her kid. I wanted to cry - omg I could easily see a child harming themselves! She articulated herself so well in everything. She's a superwoman! Hope all her wishes and dreams come true!

[denisewalker]

Really enjoyed this video, Dr. Harriet Ocharo spoke from the heart! When she discussed the problems her son was having (at such a young age) it really hurt me. I hope she will be able to reunite very soon ( which I think she will) with her son. That is the most important thing a child needs is his parents (esp his mom) since she is a single parent. You could feel the sadness in her voice as she spoke of how he was treated. No parent should ever experience that! Wishing her well wherever she goes.

[xoxomacx]

I am in so hard to see your child go through that. Big up Dr Harriet. You are the boom.

[lt]

Loved this one, Dr Ocharo touched on two issues that are close to my heart regarding women and black people in tech and the treatment of black people in homogeneous societies like those in Asia. And I am glad she spoke about the dark side of living in an homogeneous society like Japan for children as I think sometimes people make the move without really having any ideas to the extent of how this can impact the kids in a negative way. I hope everything works out well for her and her son.

[stylkfry]

Damn, when talking about her son being bullied you could feel the pain her voice

[Badia.Online]

Wow. Great interview I’m so sorry to hear about your son. As a single mother of two small children I was really considering relocating there but after watching this I have a lot to think about.

[lethabo]

I wish there was an end of year special where you'd update us on the progress of some of the amazing people you interview.

[ZoukLaDolce]

Waouh such an amazing woman! You can see how emotional she was talking about her son being bully...so sad!
Great woman and mother! such an inspiration!!

[Inaesteeina]

She's an intelligent and beautiful young lady. She's heading for greatness.

[daddams]

A wonderful interview...I felt so sad for what her son had to endure and I'm proud of her removing him from that toxic environment. Thanks again for introducing this remarkable woman.