I live in Tokyo and have done this quite a bit, but it makes me feel like such a Gaijin that I don't do it anymore. 出る杭は打たれる The nail that sticks out gets hit.

I live in Tokyo and have done this quite a bit, but it makes me feel like such a Gaijin that I don't do it anymore. 出る杭は打たれる The nail that sticks out gets hit. Maybe that sentiment has sunk in. Perhaps loneliness is a pervasive feature of living in a big city.