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It highly depends on the city. In Kyoto, people only speak to me in English. I've even seen asians get talked to in English there when their fashion/behavior st
by fiblye 9y ago
It highly depends on the city. In Kyoto, people only speak to me in English. I've even seen asians get talked to in English there when their fashion/behavior stands out as slightly non-Japanese. Everywhere else, I get straight, everyday Japanese thrown at me.
Honestly, it could very well depend on the city how you get received. I live in a fairly rural area and it's adapt or go home here. If you live in this area, people seem to just assume you are decently adapted and don't need to be handled like an outsider.
- bojo 9y agoThis has been my experience here in Osaka. Even though there were dozens of other Japanese around, an old man walked up and asked me in Japanese if I knew where the closest ATM for his particular bank was. I'm not entirely sure what it is, but I think you eventually hit a threshold where you are somehow signaling via body language or manner that, as you say, you don't need to be handled like an outsider. Edit: I just noticed I have replied to you twice. We seem to be on the same page :)