As a woman who's lived in Japan for 5 years, I will say it's relatively safe to walk around alone, even at night (depending on the area). However, as with pretty much all countries, it is generally less safe to live here as a woman than as a man. I have been followed a few times and have had to loop around so as not to give away where I was living. If I'm walking alone in areas like Shinjuku or Shibuya, there is a good chance I'll be stopped by guys doing nanpa ("girls hunting"). When I first came here, I was very naive and didn't understand completely that that was what they were doing, because sometimes they were lowkey about it, like "Teach me English, please" or "Where are you from?". But make no mistake, people in Tokyo don't just stop and talk to you for no purpose. If they do, I would just be wary. Don't assume you're safe just because it's Japan and take precautions like you would in any other country.
Nanpa (ナンパ) is slang for seducer, smooth talker but nanpa suru (ナンパ する) is the action of hitting on women. Not "girls hunting" please be careful when translating stuff. The way you describe it makes ナンパ sound super creepy when it's usually very benign. There is even a phrase for when women try to pick up guys.
I’m with the Swiss girl. My concern is that no one will help me if I ever get into any real trouble. I have felt faint on the trains; I’ve crouched in front of a vending machine after feeling ill when I’ve been alone and no one came to check on me. I’ve even heard people talking about me and speculating what might be wrong with me, but no help whatsoever. Bystander apathy is really bad here, so I can’t imagine the police helping me either.
Doesn't matter whether you are a foreigner or not. As a Japanese woman myself, I've encountered creepy men here in Japan before. I apologize on behalf of that person and bystanders on a bus who attacked this woman from Switzerland and did absolutely nothing about it. Most of Japanese aren't really confrontational and due to lack of English skills, we tend to shy away especially in that type of situation, doesn't mean it excuses their behavior at all.
It's all about culture in the end, I'm from Brazil for instance and if I was in the bus and witnessed that i wouldn't confront the girl doing it, but I'd tend to the victim for sure, like asking if everything was alright and if there was something I could do to help, but in the end even if I wouldn't confront the person doing that i can assure you other woman would call her out really out loud to stop and make sure she would leave the victim alone
@@felipecabral7366 naw that young girl can catch a swift kick in the ass and be on her way, then tend to the the victim. Hopefully it will teach that woman to attack anybody
The part about Japanese people not helping is sadly true😢 I never forget visiting Tokyo as teenager 5 years ago when I saw fragile elderly japanese man collapse so that he hit his head hardly on concrete. I remember being shocked and looking how all the locals just kept walking over him. I felt nervous to approach cause I barely spoke 5 words in japanese at that time but I still had to, because no one else did. I was very concerned that he would get brain damage (he was very fragile looking). I muttered to him ”daijoubu desu ka” and he awkwardly just tried to say that its ok. I did not know what to do since for all I know he could have been run away elderly person who now has internal damage lying there on busy street (yes, nobody still stopped). Finally his wife/elredly lady comes and I helped her to get him up from the ground. This truly shocked me, since I had liven in the impression that japanese people respect elders but this was far from it.
I think this could be the reason of suicide in Japan being rather high, which is really upsetting. I think because of how hard they must work, it causes a lot of problems and they feel they have no choice.. Perhaps it should be reviewed and that could change these issues?
I would have helped too, despite language barriers. When a helpless elderly person has physical suffering, my soul aches. Thanks to the upbringing of my liberal great beloved grandmother, I have this mindset. It is a pity that young Japanese have simply passed by. My beloved late grandmother also used to say: "Help people who are in a bad situation, because you will also get into a situation unintentionally in your old age and then you will need help too!" Those who look the other way are complicit. Two years ago I helped when calls for help came in from America for mouth masks. It would have been fatal for me and my mindset not to help. I had to help because it was my duty. Without thinking about it, I would do the same again.
omg.. im just in a shock right now.. how could it be real? japan culture is so sensitive but i think part of them started to lose their humanity cause of the technological improvement
This girl claimed she feels safe, then proceeded to say she was punched and no one cared to help. That's the most dangerous place you can be - a society that turns away from you when you're attacked. You can literally never be safe in a place like that.
In fairness, that was a freak scenario. As she said, the full breadth of her experience has been very safe. I don't think one bad circumstance should color ones view of an entire nation/culture.
That happens everywhere in the world, it depends on the people not the country. In the US there’s a famous story of a woman being stabbed in broad daylight and no one doing anything to intervene.
The girl from Switzerland’s story made me angry. I live in Japan, and I can confirm people do NOT intervene. My Japanese teachers have said that you should help if you can, but it’s definitely not the norm here. This is the one thing I would love to see change.
Japan's collectivst society is both a good and bad thing, because yes, it's rare for women to be attacked in Japan, during such events it is also rare for anyone to do anything to intervene and stop it. There's a 2005 Japanese film called Densha Otoko (電車男) translated as Train Man that deals with this very subject. The film is about a very, very introverted man witnessing a drunk man assulting a young woman on a train, and standing up to him, only to get attacked himself, but nevertheless saving the woman and being praised as a hero while the rest of the people on the train did nothing.
That happens constantly every single day in Japan lol. Except the part of someone helping the women being publicly molested, normally they just watch and let it happen. If I was a women I'd never visit Japan
@@kris8569 but don't you want to help the women in Japan, Kris? So you could give example to the men there on how to be a good gentleman like you are :)
@@monkasmerp6614 crazy to assume they only watch anime while not even addressing their points. I love Japanese culture and I they seem generally nice. But you can’t deny that there’s multiple videos of streamers being creeped on in Japan and even assaulted.
My friend is working in Japan, and she’s often stopped at the street by hentai oyaji asking how much to sleep with her (they usually run when she talks in English). Once she told me that a man tried to lift her skirt to take a photo but she turned around just in time so the man ran away. Another story I heard is a Tiktoker who was groped in the train and when she confronted the groper, no one moved a muscle to help her at all. That is the sad thing about Japan, they care so little to help others in distress in public, or maybe that only applies to big cities. I heard people in rural areas are nicer.
I think it’s only Japan, as a person from Australia if we were to see something like that happen, most likely people would support your friend in that scenario.
I sent my daughter to Japan for a week with my sister as a 13th birthday present. My daughter was sexually groped on a bus for a minute while my sister was distracted with her baby a few meters away. My daughter was petrified and couldn't scream but curled up into a ball while fending him off. After a minute, a few other people on the bus noticed and told him to stop and chased him off the bus but the bus driver refused to call the polics or report it. My sister was very apologetic for not noticing and then told me she had 3 similar incidents on public transport whilst living in Japan for 2 years. I wanted my daughter to have a life changing experience but not like that. My daughter needed lots of counselling when she returned and is still affected. Riding buses gives her flashbacks. :(
I have lived in Japan for 5 years now. I’ve always felt safer here than anywhere that I’ve lived in the US. Saying that there are still issues here in Japan like stalking and aggressive behavior from Japanese women. Also ignoring situations when foreigners are being mistreated. A Japanese man was videotaping up my daughters dress on an escalator in Yokohama and many people saw it and did nothing. We only noticed when we turned around and he was sitting on the escalator with his camera. People around us were pointing or laughing but did nothing. Japanese Men have followed my daughter and I all around Tokyo or back home. It’s definitely scary at times.
@@Bayard1503 In the US you easily identify danger from your surroundings. Danger is always in your face. In Japan, danger could be hidden behind any smile, any moment you lower your guard or let a creepy stalker do his things.
I was on the train, and I saw this dude take a picture of this girls underskirt I grabbed his phone real quick and got her attention. He tried to cover his face and I got in his face using the translator telling him to delete it or I’m calling the cops. He ended up deleting and the girl asked me to stay next to her until she got off. I don’t like to make scenes cuz I’m a foreigner but I saw that and couldn’t stand by
When I was in Japan I felt really safe as a woman and the only really unpleasant situation I encountered was from a group of drunk men who were peeing into a plant pot in front of a train station entrance and in between a restaurant's outdoor tables. When I walked past them, trying to basically run around them, one of them turned around and started peeing in my direction and the other 2 started to do the same and they were laughing. (My father was with me. But i was walking on their side of the street) I was super shocked. So I would say stay away from drunks on the streets.
@@urchhyy1253 Its fine I can see how it could've been funny😅 I have OCD so it freaked me out on a whole different level I kept feeling like my feet got splashed but also being like "its all in your head so don't scrub your skin off"
@@nova2293 True. I guess it just left a deeper impression since I don't go walking in the city at night in South Africa. Never really around drunks either since I'm a bit of a homebody. From traveling I have made a rule though: if you are in a city and the side walk is wet don't step in it, it's probably not water lol
Not just safety of person, but of property as well. I lost my wallet, and a stranger turned it into the police, who tracked me down to my hotel because I had a hotel key in my wallet. I got my wallet back from the front desk, and EVERYTHING, including a lot of Japanese money, was still inside. Unbelievable.
Same here, I went to Japan for 2 months and there was one time in which I forgot my wallet (with important documents, money, etc) in the subway. I got distressed but luckily with the help of my host family that called the police station, and some angel of a person that brought my wallet to the police I was able to find it with everything inside. All that was in the span of 2 days iirc
Hot take; Women always have to be careful where ever they go; most places in general are safe- but there will always be predators looking for weak/vulnerable people (i.e. women/children) ... Be aware of your surroundings always; and don't ever be afraid to raise your voice with any type of confrontation, bringing attention to you is #1 best way to help yourself if something creepy is happening or scary. Or even screaming FIRE; my mother taught me you get more reactions with FIRE then anything else.
@@xXDESTINYMBXx It's been ruined by rampant immigration from the Middle East. Some areas are still somewhat safe, but the cities are a lost cause. It obviously affects the whole country economically.
I have to say I've never been in Japan but weirdly experienced something similar in a bus while living in Rome. There was this creepy guy trying to grab a group of teenager girls inside the bus (that was full of Japanese), and no one did anything. I had to confront the guy alone, which worked out but was indeed very scary. The abuser wasn't Japanese, but I was shocked to see that EVERYONE was looking and that's it. They wouldn't even help ME help these poor girls. I guess being a woman is less safe anywhere in this world.
The truth is most people don’t really care about stuff that doesn’t involve them directly. They’re too caught up in their own lives to spend energy getting mixed up in other peoples’ disputes.
i spent two weeks in lockup in Malaysia for unawaringly obstructing undercover police from conducting an arrest on a street pusher thinking that it was kidnapping. lol nearly cost me my job.
When I hear those stories It come to my mind a case in Spain of one man who tried to help a young woman who was being beaten by her boyfriend on the street, that heroic man tried to stop the agression and the boyfriend punched him and he end up dying in the hospital... And the worse is the girl continued the relationship with the agressor and defending him, so f* up. So since that story I would call the police of course but I don't risk my life. But if like in the bus case I see more people involved to help I'll join because it would be safer, but not playing the superhero card.
Also the language barrier. How are you supposed to intervene if you cannot understand what's happening? If it's a couple's dispute, you can actually get in trouble if the shit hits the fan even if you subdue the guy.
I am Indian and I lived and worked as a scientist in Japan for 8 months and I never faced hostility even once, but my Chinese colleague did say that Japanese people, especially elders, would abruptly stop conversing with her and go away once they found she was Chinese.
@@-VAJRA- Also stopping a conversation and walking away purely based on someone's country of origin makes you seem much less like an elder and much more like an immature little baby.
@@Bubby91 nope . Japan has been having somekind of vengeance towards chinese since probably 100 of years or more due to bad history. Mostly because the king vowed to hate them so no one can do anything about it
I am a woman from germany and lived in Japan, Sapporo. Sometimes men were following me at the train station, supermarket or Tsutaya. They were creepy, but didnt do anything. That never happened in my life before, but in Japan quite often (and i dont wear sexy cloth. I was wearing normal japanese fashion) One time i forgot my bag with drugstore products in the supermarket and i got it back. That was great. I heard from others they forgot their umbrella in the train and got it back
@@メロンパンあ-n4k It was not that long. As soon as i left the shop, or entered a train they did not follow anymore. They did not speak, but just follow and watch
What the Swiss lady said at the beginning really resonates with me. I had a similar experience on a train in Tokyo. I was actually with a couple Japanese friends and we were speaking English. A younger Japanese guy angrily grabbed me by the wrist, got right in my face and screamed at me to quit speaking English. I got right back in face and yelled back to let me go before one of my friends intervened and calmed the situation down (with no punches thrown fortunately). Up to that point I had never experienced anything like that in Japan (and probably never would again). Just like the lady mentioned, what really struck me was how disengaged everyone else on the train was. They had their faces buried in their phones as if nothing was happening. It got me wondering the exact same thing as her. If it had escalated and I had been by myself, would anyone come to my aid or just assume I was causing the problem (or just not want to get involved)? To be honest, it was actually a bit disheartening. I feel situations like this are where the Japanese tendency for conformity and passivity is not a good thing. Here I was in need of aid and I feel everyone just kind of looked the other way. From that point on, I took personal safety much more seriously and made a concerted effort to be more aware of my surroundings and do a better job of trying to blend in. Honestly, looking back, it was mostly just completely bad luck. I just happened to get on a fairly crowded train with that one guy in a thousand who was looking for trouble. I was also extremely lucky to be with Japanese friends who were able to pour cool water on the situation. Still, even though Japan is probably the safest country you can visit, you are an outsider and will stand out. Situations like this can be much less predictable than in your home country.
its probably because your not supposed to talk while in the train, its considered rude, maybe your voice was a bit loud, I don't know if you notice, people in the train usually don't talk that much. most of the locals in Japan do not speak English as well, maybe they find it hard to assist and communicate if a foreigner is in trouble. if you're a foreigner and you speak Japanese, the locals will appreciate you.
@@stryker2048 no one needs to "speak Japanese" to get help while getting punched or abused, and get appreciated in that process. Go back to a proper school, kiddo!
There was a incident in Japan that a young adult man injured a middle school student for being asked to quit smoking in a train. The three students were pressed by the wall being yelled and punched for long hours. It became a big news and the problem of bystanders not wanting to intervene the situation was featured. The other incident is a man started attacking with a knife a woman who was sitting next to him in the train and one man tried to stop him with bare hands and was killed. He might have been saved if other people had joined with him but everyone else just left him alone and fled. So yeah I think this is a problem that we must fix.
This naughty young guy reminds me of my racist mother. "German is spoken here!" was her stupid, racist attitude and opinion. Fortunately, I had no contact with her for the last two years. English can be spoken at my place. The racist woman has been dead for over 8 years and I am happy when it is possible to invite friends from abroad again. If young Japanese are so rude and patronise others about which language to speak, I will naturally not visit this country. The expensive trip would be money wasted.🤷♀
The woman from London mentioned the Maid Cafes; would you consider asking Japanese and foreigners on their thoughts of how a small part of Japanese culture infantalize girls, or is that too controversial? If you do try to ask mostly women. Thank you for all your hard work on such a great channel
in vietnam everyone would probably help you. I'm a vietnamese in canada and i was at a bar once. Everyone inside the bar around me saw this girl outside being assualted and pushed hard against a car. I was in a caste on one leg at the time and on crutches, so I was getting mad no one was going out to help her. Bar staff is like police will handle it....in my head im like are you fucking kidding me, she needs help now. Thankfully a man and my friend(who i had to convince) to go and help the girl. They managed to wrestle the guy to the ground and the girl just hurried out of the scene, looking distraught. After that experience I have very little faith in people. No one gives a shit about anyone else, and they all think someone else will do something. Fucking bystander effect....bunch of conformists everywhere.
you cant blame the people tho, they either scared if the dude had a gun or a knife that probably gonna harm them. but yeah you and your friends are a hero to that girl.
Yeah man, I've been in multiple occassions like this too. And 9 out of 10 times I'm the only one saying or doing something. It's fucking retarted. I can't stand peoples indolence. Good you tried to do something about it👊
As someone who lived in Vietnam, I can't agree. I've seen a man harassing a woman and there were 3 young men standing and watching it happen as I rounded the corner. I yelled the man off and then the 3 young men were laughing at me as I walked with the girl to a busier street. This was in Da Nang
It's kind of interesting that it NEVER crosses anyone's mind that a woman might have done something to get herself into that situation. Who know what had happened before then? Was she pushing him? Did she punch him in the face? Kick him in the balls? Doesn't matter. No matter what, help the woman, wrestle the man to the ground. I can understand it to an extent, but there's still something messed up about it, because I have seen so many situations where a woman will basically initiate the fight, punch a guy in the face, he hits back, and then 10 white knights are ready to fight him as if she did nothing wrong. Women aren't always innocent.
What about Junko Furuta? How is it possible that her killers are now roaming free on the streets of a country like Japan? Why don’t the people and press ask questions and protest that justice be done to her? This would be the reason as to why I will never visit Japan. So disappointed with the justice system there! Can you please do a video on this topic to see what the Japanese people feel about this?
@@gorkyrojas9346 the oldest perpetrator is literally a repeat offender, and has bragged numerous times about the crime. 3 of them had their identity hidden and are free men with no restrictions, and the mother of the eldest perpetrator actually vandalised Junko’s grave because she “ruined her sons life”… the fact all of them still live is enough to stain a justice system forever
Thanks for the video as always! But to everyone reading, just remember that no place is 100% safe. I read a story about a foreign girl whose drink was spiked at a bar in Nichōme and she did get home somehow due to helpful strangers but it could’ve ended a lot worse. There are also these fake restaurant scams that prey on tourists specifically. Always be aware even if you’re in the safest country
Oh god that brings back bad memories. My drink was spiked with a sleeping drug and I live in Japan's deep countryside. Hopefully i didn't drink it and had the glass investigated right away. I never thought it'd happen in such a small town in Yamagata Prefecture but you're never safe anywhere in this world... Be careful everyone
I've always wondered how people actually make the transition when moving to Japan especially when studying abroad. Like everything from the immigration process to looking for a place to live, etc. These video interviews are very helpful and informative for people like me who plan to visit and possibly live in Japan someday. Thank you💝
I did exactly that! My home uni was partner with an japanese one, for the visa all I needed was a letter from the Japanese university. Looking for a place was a bit harder, few places rent to foreigners, but Leopalace did, I found a place I liked then started emailing them about the rental. I left my country with housing ready, all I needed was to sign the papers on the first day
Usually the school or the workplace will assist you. Schools often have people specifically for this purpose. It's always difficult getting settled in a foreign country, especially if you don't share a common language.
I visited Japan for one month. Stayed in Tokyo, visited Kyoto and I felt very safe. In the evening, the train cars were gender specific. They had a women cart only and a train cart separately for men. I thought it was a great idea. I always felt safe traveling all over the city. Even in the early hours it felt safe and I’m very careful as I grew up in Chicago. As a woman you never let your radar off. Always assess areas and know where your going. If you get lost, never appear lost and know how to ask for help. Japanese people are helpful. Overall, in my experience, I felt Japanese men to be respectful. I had a few cat calls from foreign men-Italian and Greek mainly who found me exotic because I’m Latina. Other than that, nothing was off putting but then again I never put myself in dangerous situations and most women who travel should be street smart.
That’s kinda weird. Separate carts for men and women? That seems like regression back to segregational ideals. I do understand the pro to that for safety, but still, just seems off.
@@troyboi7662 unfortunately we live in an imperfect world that is why things like this are needed i dont believe it is regression more like a short term solution until they fix there molestations problem
That feels to me like women and men have to be put on different train cars because the men don't know how to keep their hands to themselves. I'm an American woman who is considered fairly attractive by most, and I've never lived anywhere with gender-specific trains, and I've never been groped on a train or a bus even though I have ridden them my entire life. So it's starting to feel like maybe the men in my country aren't as molesty as the ones in Nippon...
@@goombapizza6335 just because you didnt get molested dose not mean that it dose not happen in the US percentage wise there is more molestation , raxxxpe, violence and crime in the US then japan the main difference is that in the US molesters get harsher punishment's but in japan they get a slap on the wrist
I have lived in Los Angeles and Japan. I have been harassed in both. The LA experiences were somehow less scary as the men came up loudly to me, and people around me helped and I can stand up for myself. But in Japan it is so much creepier, I have caught two people filming me while I'm alone in public. Once while I was eating in a restaurant, and another shopping at the grocery store. Nobody helps, and you don't know what to do cause when you confront the perpetrator they act like nothing happened. It makes you feel very helpless. Now when ever I go out I always am paranoid as I know more people may have filmed me without me noticing. If they film me, it just drives me crazy that they will look back at this footage and have a piece of me forever without my consent. are they posting it online? I also don't know when its just a perv shocked to see a white woman or if they may try to stalk me.
You should probably start wearing a face mask again, cuz it'll at least conceal your face. All I can say is you shouldn't dress in anything that "shows off" your body in any way (crop tops, leggings, yoga pants, skirts, thigh highs). Those creeps/perverts will probably show no interest in filming you if they have "nothing" to look at. Maybe something you could do is to threaten those filming you by telling them that you'll call the police, or give 'em a taste of their own medicine and film them with your phone until they either stop or leave. It's unfortunate that you've experienced such traumatizing things while living abroad :/ Take care of yourself.
This won't make you feel better, but they do often post their videos online... I have seen weird men posting videos of them following women at Walmart while just filming their behind, reported but you know Twitter doesn't care... I'm sorry this happened to you and I hope they get caught and punished one day
She sounds like a great person especially coming from Switzerland. Shouldnt deserved to be treated that way, foreigners in another country are embracing the culture by visiting in the first place. Cant expect everything to go well. Thanks for the video
It's a homogenous country population wise. Many parts of Japan you will see few non-Japanese. Switzerland is a nice country. They speak French, German and Italian there. It's nice her family has opened a pastry shop in Japan.
And also like, Japan accept virtually no refugees compared to countries like Germany so she doesn’t even have a point about “deserving to be here” bc almost all people who move to Japan have worked their butts off and are highly skilled so they do “deserve” it. And that was me playing devil’s advocate by assuming refugees don’t “deserve” it which is a whole other topic I could go on about😔 But seriously Japan has a declining birth rate and plenty of abandoned schools and stuff so it’s not like they can’t use more people, esp in the countryside
@@MrClassssic totally agree with you. I once lived in apartheid South Africa but I really think the racism and xenophobia is worse here. At least in South Africa we could empower ourselves in the economy, here it’s practically impossible to have the same empowerment I speak of.
@@majibento Why would Japan accept refugees from Europe? Ukraine and Syria are right next to Europe, of course they would enter Europe either by foot or by boat. Japan is on the other side of the globe. Refugees can't afford going there even if they could. It makes no sense for Japan to do that.
I can never say this enough about not just your content, but content like this in general: it's great to show honestly your country. The good and the bad. When you just show the good, it can be a huge shock, and possibly a danger, when ppl arrive and experience some of the possible negatives of a place. At the same time you don't want to just show bad things or dwell too much on negative experiences when there are many positive things. Its best to try to show the whole experience as it is, as best you can. Anyway, love your videos, you're a very charming interviewer.
I was in Tokyo in 2018 for 10 days. There's so much I love about Japan but what really stood out to me most was how safe I felt while I was there. I didn't always have to look over my shoulder. One day I saw a cute little dog in his stroller parked in front of a grocery store, no one bothered him. I thought that's neat. I think people there are just respectful of each other and their properties. So if you've dreamed of visiting there go, it's safe, fun lots to see and do and they have great food.
@@familiasosa6379 Doesn't change the fact that people who have lived there have seen crime and know people that also share stories of crime. Where did you live in Japan when you were there?
Having just come back from Kyoto and Osaka and Wakayama prefecture I felt incredibly safe no matter where I was. There was a general sense of orderliness, unbelievable cleanliness and there I saw no obvious homeless (or mental) people in the streets. To give you an idea of what Japan is like, there is a vending machine behind the woman from London. These machines are all over, out in the open, some even vend beer and tobacco. In what countries is it possible to have these machines out in the open without being immediately vandalized and destroyed. Amazing.
I love Japan. I loved my time in Japan when I travelled! I had exactly one creepy encounter in a smaller fishing village with an older guy, and I was so lucky that a woman walking her dog noticed and offered to walk back to the hostel with me from the 7/11 store where I hid. Forever grateful to her, she never told me her name. Other than that and being permanently photographed (pale, red hair) & gawked at, I felt relatively safe.
Probably the most misunderstood aspect of safety in Japan is that while Japan's crime rate is low, low does not mean zero. You still have to use your head and take common sense precautions. That girl from France was surprised that no one on the bus did anything to help her when she was assaulted. But the fact is you CANNOT assume other people will come to your aid when you are being victimized; this applies to any country you are in. My officemate toured Paris before the pandemic, and she was assaulted and robbed in the Paris subway fill with people, and no one helped her; according to her, they just on keep walking and getting on the train as if nothing was happening. Except for a French policewoman who arrive on the scene and gave her some money so she could get back to her hotel and contact the US embassy. In my lifetime, I have heard many similar stories from travelers to other countries. No matter where you go, being a foreigner paints a huge target on you because the criminals will assume: 1) you are carrying more money because you are a tourist. 2) You don't know how to call out for help because you don't speak the local language.
I had some homeless guy in Paris spit in my face on the street out of the blue and nobody did anything. I had other issues in Paris as well and people didn't step in to help. I found people in Japan way more helpful.
@@red2977 Paris is a cesspool of immigrants from the Middle East. I was on vacation there just before the pandemic, never again. Couldn't tell if I was in Paris or Kabul, just endless amount of immigrants just hanging around doing nothing all day long.
Okay but if you go to LA, try to go to other places too because LA is so different compared to other places in the USA and even those places are different than other places. But also, it’s really cool you are coming to America and I hope you have fun! Be safe! :)
I feel bad for Takashii starting out in LA he be better off staying in Orange County plus his eyes are going to water when he eats out after being use to Japanese prices, he might die of sticker shock.
@@southcoastinventors6583 LA really isnt anything special. Im here right now, and been here my whole life. Hes going to be shocked when he sees how many homeless people there are.
@@look_my_daddy Oscar…I want to visit Los Angeles…I am a big foodie…I also want to visit Santa Monica pier and San Francisco…Is it worth going or is it unsafe right now?
@@sharonluquis5823 LA is like almost every large city in that there's good parts and bad parts. I've lived in LA for many years, and there's such a huge range of amazing food and culture. Don't know what that guy is saying, Japanese food prices are a lot higher. Santa Monica as a beach isn't that great, but the pier is a fun time. There are other beaches farther north and farther south that are nicer. As for Orange County, there are parts that are interesting like the old towns areas, Little Saigon, Anaheim, and Santa Ana, but overall it's a bunch of boring suburbs.
I'm from Germany (which is one of the most opinionated countries in the world which of course can be a bad thing) and I couldn't even imagine somebody daring to punch someone in public transport let alone nobody stepping in. Over here you would probably have 3 body guards, a new step mom, 5 aggressive new friends and a few people teaming up with the opposite side if it's not obvious who was the bad guy. Basically there would be a street fight lol
@@morgan97475 You will literally have people come up to you if you do something they perceive as rude/inappropriate. Also: lots of intense staring. People are not polite but at least honest lol.
You're kidding, right? I lived in Germany and would see occasional abuse on public transport. Nobody ever intervened, and in fact they usually just looked away or even moved away.
@@itsnemosoul8398 Very interesting. I've been to Germany a couple of times, but never long enough to notice such things. I do recall good food & beer there. Also, rather nice people.
I’m also a foreign woman living in japan for almost 9 years. I don’t have any problems so far. Maybe it’s bcs I’m not really attractive for japanese beauty standards so nobody disturb me. This is not me being sarcastic bcs it was really true. I don’t have any problems being nanpa-ed or being followed. I can literally walking alone in the night in shinjuku or shibuya or harajuku without being worry abt safety. I speak japanese so if I have some trouble I’ll just go to koban (police box station) or just any nearest convenience store for help. On the other hand, the only thing I kinda scared is the crimes in japan bcs sometimes it was too random and too scary like people being stabbed on the train. That’s the most scary thing in japan.
3:38: This did not happen in Japan but in South Korea, but I feel like it's relevant to what the girl is saying. I've been verbally assaulted by old men just because I was a foreigner. It happened 3 times in six months: twice on the subway (by the same guy, lucky me bumping into him twice) and once at a bus stop. None of the many people around me said a single thing before or after the accidents. It wasn't the assaults that bothered me most as I can understand that the actions of those men came from a place of trauma, but the fact that no one did a single thing to either help me or make sure I was okay made me realise I did not want to live in that country any longer. After 3 times of the same thing happening with the same result, I'm just not taking any more chances. I'm sad South Korea couldn't prove me wrong because I actually really loved the culture, history and food of the country.
@@익명-q6x I got shouted at "Go back to America you white monkey" despite not even being American plus some other not-so-nice things. All while I was just standing waiting for the bus/subway.
Id like to add that I work at a big university in NYC and its unfortunate that our country isnt as safe or trusting, we get a lot of foreign students who I feel are accustomed to safe environments and think they can leave their belongings unattended, but a lot of robberies occur and they tend to be shocked at how this is even a possibility.
This is one of the reasons my Japanese wife prefers to live in NZ. Everybody here will help you no matter what the situation. We have and a few situations with a lost child and l;losing things and people are always ready to drop what they are doing and focus on helping you. It's very reassuring. My wife says, 'that would never happen in Japan'.
Having spent a year in NZ, I found the local and the less well-off people to be exactly as you describe, quite lovely. That said, I also encountered or saw multiple instances of coldness, classism, rudeness and lack of consideration from some of the wealthy émigré population, particularly those I met who were French, Indian and English (sad to say, as I am Brit myself). Guess that happens wherever you go in the world, though--wherever they come from, the elites and very rich simply don't care about others.
@@pendafen7405The by-stander effect is a thing off course and you have to be really strong (mentally and physically) to intervene. For example there was this guy being held in neck clamp for in broad daylight in a shopping street. I wanted to do something but I'm not strong enough on my own, probably a lot of people think that way. It's not their business. But still people called the police and stuff so we do exactly care.
I had someone yell at me at the street, "go back to your country" but it's fine. People like this exist everywhere. Japan has been a lovely experience for me so far.
@@DccAnh Absolutely. I am moving to Japan from Australia. Not really worried about xenophobic remarks in the future. Asian people get it a lot worse here. I want to apologise on behalf of the inbred, unemployed morons who call themselves real Australians. They know not what they do.
This video is super informative, helpful and obviously it will help people who really love Japan and wish to settle there. Keep up the great work. Loads of love from 🇮🇳
I was recently in Japan. IMO, everyone kept to themselves or with their own groups. Many times I saw people who just looked so out of it, like they were faint, drunk, or something because they were wobbly but they just kept going about their business and no one else seemed to pay any attention. I did witness a man faint, in the crowded train station, and a few young men ran to his assistance, it was immediate. I had seen the man, crouched, earlier staring at the distance but I didn't make anything of it. As for creepy men? I didn't witness any of that but then again I'm not a young woman any more so haven't been getting any type of attention in a longgg time lol.
Been in Japan for 10 months as a 17 year-old exchange student and I did face a man yelling at me at the train station before going away because I was a foreigner. Also encountered two massive creeps, first one seemed on drugs or had never seen a white person in his life or whatever that face he made was, then he tried following me but being super paranoid with men I saw he was trying to wait for me to start walking away when I noticed he kept giving me side eyes while waiting on his phone. Second one was a good old 30yrs old salaryman (probably drunk like they often are on Friday nights) that was spying on me and my boyfriend at the time hiding in the bushes in the dark. Needless to say I started running with him when I heard a branch cracking and saw a creep crouching in the bushes next to me. What’s scary about that is that if if he hadn’t stepped on that branch I would’ve never noticed him. Also we were both wearing school uniforms so this grown ass man actively decided to spy on minors.
Yeah, I’ve dealt with aggressive people as well. When I was an eikaiwa teacher in Kichijoji, one really crazy random woman entered our school and started yelling at my students about how they’re “betraying their culture” by learning English. Another teacher and I had to basically shove her back into the entry elevator and tell her if she came back, we’d call the police. Seems like there are weirdos no matter where you go in the world.
I remember visiting the country a long time ago. Me and my family were riding a train down south to the Osaka prefecture area. I was wearing a yukata and had my seat turned towards my family. As other guests were boarding on the train, they would stop and bow and offer their greetings, turn tail, and walk back the other way, some passengers even left me food. It was weird to me since in Tokyo many people mind their business and walk at a pretty fast pace, they don't stand around and talk. My grandmother overheard some passengers calling me scary and assuming I was part of the yakuza since I'm a relatively sizeable Asian male of darker skin. I was pretty embarrassed after hearing that and made sure I smiled the whole time as to not scare anyone else.
I need to double check your channel to see if you already have it, but I'd actually love to see this interview among more Japanese/native women! I'm sure many feel similarly to the foreign women interviewed, but they may have more stories of what to look out for that some women who haven't been in the country as long wouldn't know about. Congrats on all your channel growth, Takashi! You've done a great job creating curated content and collecting your audience. Plus, it's so cool to go out and interview people to practice your conversation skills (in and outside of your own language). I admire you! If you haven't gone already, I hope you have a great (and safe :)) time on your travels!! I hope you meet many accommodating, friendly, and interesting people! I'm always scared that foreigners or tourists will meet bad apples in my country and not feel welcomed 😔so I hope you don't have that experience in your travels!
I think the dangers from living in Japan is because everyones beliefs is that everyone else is taught to not steal, keep environment clean, be respectful, etc. but when something suspiciously happens and not clear about what happens, most bystanders will not get involved because it's not a typical thing and unexpected. So if someone got harassed, others won't step in and help unless u ask for help.
I am planning of moving to Japan soon to teach English and watching your videos has been super helpful! I'm wanting to learn more about the culture and the people so thank you for uploading!
@@jessicalopez2456 Japanese is extremely difficult to learn in order to write/speak fluently so noone really expects you to master it if you are only here temporarily. I've lived here for 3 years (moving home soon) and haven't gone beyond the basics as I don't see much point in investing that much time in a language only spoken in one country. You have to also remember, in a teaching setting people want to talk to you in English, not Japanese. The less Japanese you know, the less they will try to use it as a crutch when you are talking to them. As long as you know how to ask for basic things, count, tell time, money stuff and ordering food it won't be an issue.
@@JimmyTAus1 thank you for the advice! Unless I decide to live there a longer period of time, I probably won't stress myself out on trying to learn it and be fluent in it. But I do agree that I need to learn some basics in order to navigate through different social settings.
I'm from Mexico and went to Japan for my 15th birthday. The second day there I was gropped by an elderly man on the subway. I guess the man thought I wouldn't fight or anything but the moment he saw me turn around and put my fists up he walked away. If I'm being 1000% honest, that didn't really affect my experience in Japan. I had a great time and everyone was super nice. Thing is that, as a woman, we just gotta be attentive to everything and everyone. The only time I've been followed around was when I lived in Canada, and that one is another very safe country. Bad things will happen everywhere in the world. Some places more than others so in general we just gotta be careful.
As someone who will be based in Tokyo in November. I am from🇿🇦, your videos are always informative about the experiences there. I really enjoy them, I've learnt a lot. You doing an amazing job
You’ll be safe here, but you’ll experience ostracism, xenophobia and a little racism. But xenophobia isn’t as bad as SA. Just enjoy yourself and make some cash! Also be careful of “black” companies looking to exploit foreigners here.
at 6:56 you can even see that old man on the left take a picture of that women he is interviewing. just after talking to the pervious women about them taking pictures of people and "stalking"/ making people uncomfortable. a little strange
I just turned 21 in 2013, backpacked June, July, august, 3 whole months. Knew no Japanese. Had a 2 week JR rail pass used to go to Kyushu and back to Tokyo than up to Hokkaido. I was so excited for my trip I would walk and walk til 2am find a hostel or internet cafe, maybe use couch surfing to stay at a locals, I'd usually wake up at 6am sharp to immediately leave and go out exploring again. Walked alone through towns in the countryside and walked the Tokyo streets at night, perfectly safe I never once had an issue. Never once felt in danger. I felt so much more safe and secure, free and able to walk than in my own country. Children got to school on their own, the more I keep telling people that here they think it's the worst idea because the crime and missing children is so high here. school buses or parents dropping children off, rarely do children go to school on their own. I definitely miss walking a city feeling safe, I miss Japan.
The cc for 0:42 says “perfect channel for animals that want to come to Japan.” So I just wanted to thank you for making a channel for animals to get instructed on what Japan is truly like, and if they should pursue their dream of going to Japan.
6:56 The way the girl just before this interview was talking about ppl taking pictures of foreign women and there's a man in the background taking pictures of the British woman
That first girl from Switzerland comes from the same hometown as me! Heard about her and her family in the news about the pastries shop! Never though Takashi would interview a Swiss from my city hahah すごいじゃないですか!
I love watching all your interviews because they are so informative about life in Japan as a foreigner. I was going to vacation in Tokyo next year but since I don't speak any Japanese I decided that it might be better to know how to speak it first before traveling there. The experience will be way better if I had the communication skills first. So, I will be leaning the language first and then when fluent enough I will take the trip. Thanks and keep up the great work.
Wow , I am shocked. I am currently in Japan as a tourist. i am a male foreigner and something I didn’t expect happened to me in Tokyo two days ago. I was looking at google map for a while in the middle of the street trying to figure out how to get to the station I am looking for. A nice Japanese lady who also happens to speak English asked me if I needed help. I told her I am looking for this station and instead of pointing towards the location she guided me to it and started asking me questions about my visit. I ain’t gonna lie , I was worried since I am a solo traveler and kept my guard up for any surprises but she was super nice and walked me with me till we reached the station. I don’t think I would do it if it wasn’t in Japan cuz I would be extremely suspicious elsewhere.
some of my japanese friends that learn english always say to me they want to speak to foreigners in japan to learn english and to make friends if it works. So the curiosity is there and many welcome foreigners in japan. for Traveling at least. For living its another story.
Dude, happens to me all the time. I travel there a lot for work, and I stopped asking or appearing lost because one Japanese will stop, then another, once I had 4 Japanese offering help, with 2 walking me to an ATM.
I spent over a decade travelling around the world - kindness and help is pretty universal - But I understand when you first start out - My first trip I flew New Zealand to Buenos Aires in 1987 - checked in the evening in a cheap hotel in centre - knock at my door 11pm - was scared to open the door - couldn't even ask in Spanish who is it - Was just that I missed out some details in the registry for hotel - next day go to Youth Hostel - it's closed -A Middle Age lady who spoke no real english guided me on local busses to where the new one was - I wasn't completely sure where she was taking me - but I trusted her ( I was young had a baby face back then :) = in say London in the city , or Paris , Manhattan there will be people who will help - you choose wisely - even the businessman hurrying along - Hi Times Square ? - that way as he doesn't stop - Also don't judge certain countries by just the nasty/creepy guys who have no shame in harrassing especially females - Kind good decent people are going about their day - also they may know their country's has that reputation - so shy in approaching to help afraid their actions will be misconstrued . Given I have a lot more life experienced - I would take more precautions in certain countries- as don't have the strength , stamina to run hard and fast away as a young guy - never had to - but I had the build of a rugby player - so hard to shove and grab my bag of me etc - I was very confident of my physical ability up to say 15 years ago
I studied Japanese in college and graduated even but my Japanese is very poor and rusty these days. Sadly. I visited twice as a student for 4 and 3 weeks and loved it. Always wanted to go back and drive around Hokkaido with my family but it never happened. Now I'm 38... It was weird being gawked at though, plenty of young people wanted to take our pictures (two of us girls have blonde hair), there was even a group of school girls that gave us cookies and ran off, lol. We felt like zoo animals. But that was not creepy, just strange. And also funny. There are a ton of older creeps though. One made disgusting animations with his mouth at me. On a crowded train men try to feel you up sometimes. These things happen in Germany a lot less but they happen too. Overall Japan is super safe though and I was never scared or really uncomfortable. Not worried about being out at night. People in small towns are VERY friendly and helpful. You'd think they'd be wary of strangers (like rural Germans) but no. We went to this small town close to Nagano to research an author's home town for a paper my friend was writing and the young woman at the museum there drove us around town all day for free. That was amazing! It's true though that in the city people don't always help you. When we arrived in Tokyo we had trouble getting our suitcases up the stairs in the subway and the only people who helped us were foreigners. On the other hand a lot of Japanese people asked us if they could help us when we had a map and looking around clueless. As a German I come from a safe country and Japan was more of that. I'm so used to not being scared walking around as a woman that I need to remind myself to be careful elsewhere, like in the States. I once drove around for 10 days by myself in Arizona and Utah visiting national parks before arriving at a friend's place. My friend was super tense while I didn't even consider this might be dangerous. Because it wouldn't be in Germany.
We are Chinese American family. We were on vacation in Tokyo a few years ago at a pop culture shopping location, we left our daughter alone for about 15 minutes and when we came back there were 3 Japanese men talking to her. She can only speak English so we do not know what they were talking about ... on the "foreign women in Japan" subject through this experience, we could easily be mistaken as Japanese locals, but then again Asians can pick up subtle differences to identify someone foreign. I think it's not a racial thing but just generally young women should be careful as in any place.
Wherever you are, I think "don't let your guard down!" is definitely a basic survival skill. But really, a place where you can rely on nobody... can't say it safe at all. Thanks for the interview!
I have been in Japan for 3 months and is the SAFEST place I will be in my whole life. I have to return to my country, Mexico, but start thinking about that is... I don't want to :(. Is insane that I need to worry about doing a normal thing like going to school in Mexico, I really don't want to return. Japan made me think that I can live more freely.
Don’t get complacent if you do live there. Japan is safer, but it’s not safe. Just like any other country, except if something happens, you’re going to be alone.
Awesome video topic and great interviewing!!! I especially liked hearing from the girl from Los Angeles. I am from the San Francisco Bay Area and it is just as unsafe. Enjoy your trip to California and stay safe!!!🙏
I saw the most common issue I've heard about in Japan as soon as you began interviewing the second woman, Takashii. You asked her where she was from. She replied "born in Japan" but you kept emphasizing "half-" somewhere else. Her entire life was spent in Japan but still she's treated like a foreigner. It's really sad that in order to "be Japanese", you have to "look Japanese". Just food for thought... : /
In Japan you will always be a transplant if your not genetically 100 Japanese. They will consider you partly foreigner because your parents or grandparents are not rooted in their culture. Japanese identity is strong.
It’s because Japanese is a race not just a citizenship. Another example is China, if you are born in China are you Chinese? Citizenship yes, but race no. Unlike US where American isn‘t your race but your citizenship
@@brandon.h9624 Yet it can also be a nationality, also Japanese is an ethnicity, not a race.. for example, someone can be black or white and be born in Mexico, they are considered Mexican even though they aren't ethnically Mexicans, even ethnically Mexican people consider them it. I'm sure the view on it is different in Japan due to ethnic homogeneity, when Mexico is very mixed with people of many different "races," the same math still applies.
When I was in Osaka at a metro station, a middle aged Japanese man approach me and my two friends (all female) late in the evening and asked if we were having trouble navigating around the place (probably because we looked confused staring at the map). Then he walked us all the way over to our hotel once we showed him the address, which was half an hour away by foot. He seemed a bit shy but eager to help, his English was bad but we gathered that he was a schoolteacher. When we walked around some clubs, no Japanese men ever bothered us, no cat calls, no incessant staring. As a tourist, I never feel very safe walking around any country, but Japan did make me feel moderately safe. It’s also very clean in the streets.
As a woman, japan is the country where I felt the safest in my entire Life. I was really free to do things that I would never do at home, like walking all by myself at 3 AM. I’m not a sleeper, so when I was in japan I used to walk by night all by myself, it was so nice, I felt so safe and peacefull. It’s the kind of thing That I could never do where I live. I live in the most dangerous city of France and one of the most dangerous city in Europe, and I’m not the kind of girl you can push around, Or the kind to be scared easily, but where I lived, being a woman all by yourself at night means trouble, I never felt that way in japan. And even if some japanese guys would be creepy like taking picture, it never was in an agressive way. I think it’s because I am a white girl, but it was okay, Japanese people are very kind and have good maners. I really think that japan is one of the safest place in the world. I miss japan so much…
@Minx Vania yes, I live in marseille. I used to live in one of the most dangerous area of Marseille, but after spending 30 years of my Life in that part of the city, I moved in another part because I was tired of fighting everyday with people who spend their Time getting on my bad side, but at night you still have to be careful as a woman if you are all by yourself in a city like Marseille. You need a sixth sense and be careful. If you are fearless most of the people will back off, but you still need to be careful. Since I tend to not let people push me Around, my mother was always scared that I’ll get in big trouble and the cop would call home to say : your daughter was hurt or your daughter hurts someone 🤣🤣🤣. It’s a pity cause it’s a wonderful city, but the people here are not so good.
Japan being safe or not, I would recommend to never let you guards down. There is manic anywhere even here in Japan. So just thinking it is safe to walk alone at 3 ~4 am in the morning it`s not the reason to do it every weekend, get a cab if you can. And as anywhere in the world, if a man call you out, because he is drunk or something, don`t respond, just ignore it. Saying something back will just make them think they got the attention, specially drunks.
I lived in Japan for 6 months and I think there's two sides to Japan. It's very safe when it comes to theft and things like that, but I had a lot more creepy experiences with men in Japan than my home country. Also like the first girl kind of commented on, there's a culture of not getting involved or making a "scene" when something happens. Women aren't protected when it comes to sexual harassment or assault
The girl from indian parents has a very beautiful japanes accent I would say. Nice video as always, very interesting to see their point of view regarding this topic.
Very much this. I felt safe in Japan because there's an attitude that "Japan is safe." And it really is! But it was also while I was in Japan that I got mildly followed, and then accosted by a (to be fair, foreign) man who was trying to get my number, and was being pushy. Luckily nothing bad happened - when he saw I wasn't going to budge, he stopped and walked off. Both good and bad - had I leaned into "feeling safe" in Japan, I could have gotten caught up in a scam or worse with this man, because he obviously was trying to pull something on someone he thought was a naive tourist. This is worse than I got when I was in the US or any other country on my own late at night. To be fair, I haven't _often_ been on my own late at night in foreign countries. I've travelled around suburban areas of the US late at night (by bike) and felt safe - as safe or safer than I felt in Tokyo on my own. So again - what you say - some places _are_ safer than others in certain ways, but keeping your wits about you is important. Doing this can help you feel (and be) safer in less safe places, and can keep you safe from scams or being a victim of un/under-reported crimes in "safe" places.
I'm from the U.S. and have always wanted to go back to Japan. It felt so very safe there compared to my own hometown and other places in the U.S. I have been. I look forward to visiting Japan again and thank you so much for these helpful videos. Not only are they helpful and informative, they're very interesting! I hope you have a nice day/evening/night 🙂
India can be really unsafe but if you consider the average person's living standards there along with the general education level and then compare it to Japan's I would say that's it's a little unfair to expect the same level of safety. The higher a countries living standards/ education level, the safer it will be.
Safety for women has consistently gone up in India. Its is a rapidly evolving society, and given the awareness of people to the issue, actions have been taken to improve women safety here. If you get a chance visit us, you will see a lot of improvement has occurred here.
I spent once a month in Tokyo, and felt actually very safe, even walking to my lodgings at 10pm. I only had 2 unpleasant meetings during that time, the second actually nearly scaring me, and both time it was with foreign men.
@ 6:56 there is an old man taking pictures of the woman from London doing the interview... proved the point about some of the older men taking pictures of foreign women. :(
I have lived in different cities in Japan, but not in Tokyo. When someone needs help i do what i can, and i also see others do it. On public parks on smaller cities, they always greet me when i pass by so i do the same. Ive been to tokyo once and i was walking on a busy street and some guy bumped really hard on me and i was almost thrown away. I was bewildered when i checked back he didnt event turn his head to check, no one really cared 😂
The Swiss girl should have reported the incident to the bus transit authority and to the Swiss embassy. At least there would be an official record of the incident.
A colleague neglected all safety measures because of "Japan is so safe". Indeed, it is. But... He went to Japan with his brand new bike. It was his 10.000€ baby and he wanted to ride it around Japan for a few month. He left it outside a store and after fifteen minutes of shopping the bike was gone. Japanese Police was in disbelief as they heared his story. Needless to say he never got it back.
I have traveled a lot around the world and I can say from my experience that Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka (I was in these cities in Japan) are really safe compared to other larger cities. I saw a lot of drunk women walking alone there in the morning hours. Something like this is unthinkable in European, American or Latin American cities.
Working in a thrift shop... Oh, pastry shop? .🤣 It just goes to show how good your English is, Takashii. You made that switch so fast. And you got Switzerland right, even though it was totally incomprehensible. Job well done!
2011, Tokyo. I was walking with my husband near tokyodom. It was 9p.m. On a late october evening so it was pitch dark except streetlights. My husband noticed that he had left his mobile at the hotel nearby so he left me there while he was retrieving it. We both thought it was safe so I wasn't afraid at all. As soon as I lost his sight, a man came out from the darkness and tried to start talking with me. My sixth sense warned me immediately. I swear to god, I was already imaging myself cut into pieces and stuffed into a trashbag so I did my best to stay as calm as possible, acting nice but cold as ice. I used my height and body language to make him feel I wasn't weak nor afraid of him and it seemed working. He asked me where I came from, why I was visinting Japan, etc. Luckily my husband came back in les time than expected and the man vanished when he realised we weren't alone anymore. I was afraid af but I never let him sense that and I'm sure that this saved my life. So, no, it's not a truly safe Country but there is no such thing when you are a woman. That's my personal thought based on my experience, though.
Yes, it's a dichotomy. It's definitely safe relative to most countries but this is also the country that enforces sound in cell phone cameras due to unsavory behaviours and the tiniest slap on the wrists for sexual assault.
Tbh nothing in your story sounds out of the ordinary and it could have just been a guy hitting on you if all he did was talk. People do this in western countries as well... a lot more, with men being more upfront and pushy. There are definitely a lot of creeps in Japan and issues with stalkers, but this doesn't seem to be a clearcut example.
Like you learned, never, ever assume any place is safe. Especially at that hour and alone. Just don’t. Especially in a foreign country, you don’t know how law enforcement will treat you as a foreigner.
My sister was almost kidnapped by a couple of Japanese men at a club when she was an exchange student at Doshisa, maybe in 2011, her junior year...but she felt safe overall...as a woman you need to always take proper precautions...be aware of your surroundings at all times...be smart ladies.
@@HatredPrime What I'm alluding to is that she felt safe for most of her year stay in Japan except for that one incident and women need to be ALWAYS vigilant no matter how safe the country is...there was a UA-camr who lives in Japan (married a Japanese man) she feels safe in Japan most of the time...but even she had an incident with Japanese men drugging her drink at a bar/club. So two things can be true at the same time.
I went to an exchange program (education first Toyko) It was mainly my housemate from Russia who got issues with guys. Whenever she wanted to visit something she went on her own. 2 times she got bothered by guys like in the nappa calling kind of thing. One time we got catcalled on the streets of Kawasaki and then there was one time that she was bothered by guys in a fish restaurant they started to touch her head and sang to her bec they were drunk. But beside that I didn't feel unsafe or anything. Even at night there are so many people on the streets especially in Tokyo. I must say be aware of the public transport though. It's so extremely crowded with a lot of businessmen going to work. Then I felt kinda unsafe bec everyone could touch you.
Interesting experience of the Swiss girl in Japan. I am actually an Ausländer in Switzerland and sure I feel safe in the physical way… but I know I am considered here „different kind of human“ with people being straightforward mean and assuming that I am dumb so they can screw me on services etc. And I am white blonde so I can’t even imagine how hard it is for people which look different… I feel like Switzerland is a Japan of Europe. Crazy work culture, lack of personal life, shy and distanced people, inequality between men and women considered „part of culture“… Like come on… My company literally asked me if I am planning to get pregnant 😅 or how did I get my visa…
I'm Swiss, I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this. Sadly most of what you described is absolutely true. I do think though that younger people tend to be more open minded here so hopefully the future will be a bit brighter for people like you. Just remember that you matter!
@@adunce.5422 nah… Not really. If I remember correctly Switzerland was the last country in Europe which allowed women to vote. And that only because the last canton was forced to it… In 1990… I work in a company with 90% women because men won’t work for so shitty salary… I was asked if I am planning on having children during interview… Apparently even though that’s illegal it’s a common thing in here. Best advice: answer the question even with a lie. School system requires children to take a long lunch break in the middle of the day, this means one parent can’t have normal full time job (usually woman). And this again means women have low incomes and that comes with other dangers like - Women struggling to leave violent partners. Just having kids or being 25-30yo as a woman will put you on the bottom of applicants if you are looking for job. There is probably more issues. Honestly I live and work here just so we can quickly save up money with my partner and settle later in some other country.
Japan can be a racist country, but they're often not vocal about it like the girl's case from Switzerland. I can remember a few years ago in Tokyo some old guys having a parade with banners that said "Yankees Go Home". They were mad so many Americans lived in Japan and allegedly were taking their jobs. I was on the subway in London once and a woman go verbal about foreigners. She had heard us talking with our western accents and was pissed we we were there to take jobs away from British people. I have heard similar stuff in America, Canada, and Australia. There are prejudiced people everywhere unfortunately.
TOKYO GUIDEBOOK
takashifromjapan.com/tokyocompleteguide
As a woman who's lived in Japan for 5 years, I will say it's relatively safe to walk around alone, even at night (depending on the area). However, as with pretty much all countries, it is generally less safe to live here as a woman than as a man. I have been followed a few times and have had to loop around so as not to give away where I was living. If I'm walking alone in areas like Shinjuku or Shibuya, there is a good chance I'll be stopped by guys doing nanpa ("girls hunting"). When I first came here, I was very naive and didn't understand completely that that was what they were doing, because sometimes they were lowkey about it, like "Teach me English, please" or "Where are you from?". But make no mistake, people in Tokyo don't just stop and talk to you for no purpose. If they do, I would just be wary. Don't assume you're safe just because it's Japan and take precautions like you would in any other country.
What the heck is girl hunting? It sounds like criminal activity. Hope you have a pepper spray or something
Men are more likely to be murdered, assaulted, and robbed. Statistically, you are wrong.
What do you recommend besides awareness, etc? I guess even pepperspray is illegal isn't it?
So, it’s not safe.
Also there is plenty of videos of streamers getting harassed in Japan.
Nanpa (ナンパ) is slang for seducer, smooth talker but nanpa suru (ナンパ する) is the action of hitting on women. Not "girls hunting" please be careful when translating stuff. The way you describe it makes ナンパ sound super creepy when it's usually very benign.
There is even a phrase for when women try to pick up guys.
I’m with the Swiss girl. My concern is that no one will help me if I ever get into any real trouble. I have felt faint on the trains; I’ve crouched in front of a vending machine after feeling ill when I’ve been alone and no one came to check on me. I’ve even heard people talking about me and speculating what might be wrong with me, but no help whatsoever. Bystander apathy is really bad here, so I can’t imagine the police helping me either.
There are many safe and attractive countries besides Japan.
If your health is in such a poor state then you shouldn't be traveling alone - until u get better.
@@thinkingagain5966 bro how dumb are you? anyone can get sick literally anywhere and whenever.
@@Greenforrest7342 are you Japanese?
If there was a nepali passy by surely u would be checked whether u r ok or nt
Doesn't matter whether you are a foreigner or not. As a Japanese woman myself, I've encountered creepy men here in Japan before. I apologize on behalf of that person and bystanders on a bus who attacked this woman from Switzerland and did absolutely nothing about it. Most of Japanese aren't really confrontational and due to lack of English skills, we tend to shy away especially in that type of situation, doesn't mean it excuses their behavior at all.
It's all about culture in the end, I'm from Brazil for instance and if I was in the bus and witnessed that i wouldn't confront the girl doing it, but I'd tend to the victim for sure, like asking if everything was alright and if there was something I could do to help, but in the end even if I wouldn't confront the person doing that i can assure you other woman would call her out really out loud to stop and make sure she would leave the victim alone
@@felipecabral7366 naw that young girl can catch a swift kick in the ass and be on her way, then tend to the the victim. Hopefully it will teach that woman to attack anybody
Not as creepy as the monster in this video trying to make Greg Brady smoke crack in a fire truck!
@@felipecabral7366 same in India
I would love to go to Japan someday but would like to either go with a friend or make a friend there so we can go do stuff together.
The part about Japanese people not helping is sadly true😢 I never forget visiting Tokyo as teenager 5 years ago when I saw fragile elderly japanese man collapse so that he hit his head hardly on concrete. I remember being shocked and looking how all the locals just kept walking over him. I felt nervous to approach cause I barely spoke 5 words in japanese at that time but I still had to, because no one else did. I was very concerned that he would get brain damage (he was very fragile looking). I muttered to him ”daijoubu desu ka” and he awkwardly just tried to say that its ok. I did not know what to do since for all I know he could have been run away elderly person who now has internal damage lying there on busy street (yes, nobody still stopped). Finally his wife/elredly lady comes and I helped her to get him up from the ground. This truly shocked me, since I had liven in the impression that japanese people respect elders but this was far from it.
I think this could be the reason of suicide in Japan being rather high, which is really upsetting. I think because of how hard they must work, it causes a lot of problems and they feel they have no choice.. Perhaps it should be reviewed and that could change these issues?
I would have helped too, despite language barriers. When a helpless elderly person has physical suffering, my soul aches.
Thanks to the upbringing of my liberal great beloved grandmother, I have this mindset. It is a pity that young Japanese have simply passed by.
My beloved late grandmother also used to say:
"Help people who are in a bad situation, because you will also get into a situation unintentionally in your old age and then you will need help too!"
Those who look the other way are complicit. Two years ago I helped when calls for help came in from America for mouth masks.
It would have been fatal for me and my mindset not to help. I had to help because it was my duty. Without thinking about it, I would do the same again.
Japanese are weird...
omg.. im just in a shock right now.. how could it be real? japan culture is so sensitive but i think part of them started to lose their humanity cause of the technological improvement
makes you think if this is a japanese thing or just a big city thing. perhaps rural folk would be more helpful?
This girl claimed she feels safe, then proceeded to say she was punched and no one cared to help. That's the most dangerous place you can be - a society that turns away from you when you're attacked. You can literally never be safe in a place like that.
Yeah, its a failed society when the people are NPC's
In fairness, that was a freak scenario. As she said, the full breadth of her experience has been very safe. I don't think one bad circumstance should color ones view of an entire nation/culture.
That happens everywhere in the world, it depends on the people not the country. In the US there’s a famous story of a woman being stabbed in broad daylight and no one doing anything to intervene.
Oh, you mean like New York? Or Chicago? Or any major US city?
@@dathunderman4 nope in India if something is happening the people will definitely come to save you ....
The girl from Switzerland’s story made me angry. I live in Japan, and I can confirm people do NOT intervene. My Japanese teachers have said that you should help if you can, but it’s definitely not the norm here. This is the one thing I would love to see change.
でも君の国じゃ日本以上に誰も助けないだろ？
@@ppsmgw7202 what? In my home country people will immediately stop to help you even if you don’t need it better to be safe than sorry
@@ppsmgw7202 お前って海外に行ったことあるか？何ボケてこと言ってんだよ？😂
@@Justazraa dude's some 40 year old salary man that's never left his tiny neighborhood let alone travel abroad 😂
and shes says YEAH I'M SAFE HERE
Japan's collectivst society is both a good and bad thing, because yes, it's rare for women to be attacked in Japan, during such events it is also rare for anyone to do anything to intervene and stop it. There's a 2005 Japanese film called Densha Otoko (電車男) translated as Train Man that deals with this very subject.
The film is about a very, very introverted man witnessing a drunk man assulting a young woman on a train, and standing up to him, only to get attacked himself, but nevertheless saving the woman and being praised as a hero while the rest of the people on the train did nothing.
That happens constantly every single day in Japan lol. Except the part of someone helping the women being publicly molested, normally they just watch and let it happen. If I was a women I'd never visit Japan
@@kris8569 they molest you and then sue you for defamation even when it's a true report . Fking gross and terrifying
@@kris8569 you only watch anime so how do you know this?
@@kris8569 but don't you want to help the women in Japan, Kris? So you could give example to the men there on how to be a good gentleman like you are :)
@@monkasmerp6614 crazy to assume they only watch anime while not even addressing their points. I love Japanese culture and I they seem generally nice. But you can’t deny that there’s multiple videos of streamers being creeped on in Japan and even assaulted.
My friend is working in Japan, and she’s often stopped at the street by hentai oyaji asking how much to sleep with her (they usually run when she talks in English). Once she told me that a man tried to lift her skirt to take a photo but she turned around just in time so the man ran away. Another story I heard is a Tiktoker who was groped in the train and when she confronted the groper, no one moved a muscle to help her at all. That is the sad thing about Japan, they care so little to help others in distress in public, or maybe that only applies to big cities. I heard people in rural areas are nicer.
I think it’s only Japan, as a person from Australia if we were to see something like that happen, most likely people would support your friend in that scenario.
Yo..what the hell Asian Country as Japan like this..shameful
I sent my daughter to Japan for a week with my sister as a 13th birthday present. My daughter was sexually groped on a bus for a minute while my sister was distracted with her baby a few meters away. My daughter was petrified and couldn't scream but curled up into a ball while fending him off. After a minute, a few other people on the bus noticed and told him to stop and chased him off the bus but the bus driver refused to call the polics or report it. My sister was very apologetic for not noticing and then told me she had 3 similar incidents on public transport whilst living in Japan for 2 years. I wanted my daughter to have a life changing experience but not like that. My daughter needed lots of counselling when she returned and is still affected. Riding buses gives her flashbacks. :(
thats so horrible hope shes ok :(
😞💔💔
Omg! Horrifying! 🥺
Can’t imagine being in your position.😮
You being a father and this happening must make you feel so bad I hope everything is better bro
Takashi: _"You want to show your Japanese skills?"_
The last person with utmost confidence: _"No."_ 👌😂
You need a copy of this video. ua-cam.com/video/ZDH7vr0JNNc/v-deo.html
She could use a little humility and a bra. the feminism is strong with this one.
she's a mood😂
@@3seren She got nipples....Nice body...HAHAHAH *runs away*
the whole time i just wondered why she has no bra on 😲
I have lived in Japan for 5 years now. I’ve always felt safer here than anywhere that I’ve lived in the US. Saying that there are still issues here in Japan like stalking and aggressive behavior from Japanese women. Also ignoring situations when foreigners are being mistreated. A Japanese man was videotaping up my daughters dress on an escalator in Yokohama and many people saw it and did nothing. We only noticed when we turned around and he was sitting on the escalator with his camera. People around us were pointing or laughing but did nothing. Japanese Men have followed my daughter and I all around Tokyo or back home. It’s definitely scary at times.
Leave. you should have called the police, but dont bring your disgusting western values into japan. they dont need it.
@@professorerudite sweetie you talk like that about the men you want to sleep with.
But US is not a standard for safety in any way.... that story sounds horrible.
@@Bayard1503 In the US you easily identify danger from your surroundings. Danger is always in your face. In Japan, danger could be hidden behind any smile, any moment you lower your guard or let a creepy stalker do his things.
They took upskirt photos because her daughter was "cute"? 🤦♂️
I was on the train, and I saw this dude take a picture of this girls underskirt I grabbed his phone real quick and got her attention. He tried to cover his face and I got in his face using the translator telling him to delete it or I’m calling the cops. He ended up deleting and the girl asked me to stay next to her until she got off. I don’t like to make scenes cuz I’m a foreigner but I saw that and couldn’t stand by
Good on u
When I was in Japan I felt really safe as a woman and the only really unpleasant situation I encountered was from a group of drunk men who were peeing into a plant pot in front of a train station entrance and in between a restaurant's outdoor tables. When I walked past them, trying to basically run around them, one of them turned around and started peeing in my direction and the other 2 started to do the same and they were laughing. (My father was with me. But i was walking on their side of the street) I was super shocked. So I would say stay away from drunks on the streets.
I think street drunks should be avoided anywhere 😂
im sorry but when i saw that they started peeing in ur direction i burst out laughing 😭
@@urchhyy1253 Its fine I can see how it could've been funny😅 I have OCD so it freaked me out on a whole different level I kept feeling like my feet got splashed but also being like "its all in your head so don't scrub your skin off"
@@nova2293 True. I guess it just left a deeper impression since I don't go walking in the city at night in South Africa. Never really around drunks either since I'm a bit of a homebody. From traveling I have made a rule though: if you are in a city and the side walk is wet don't step in it, it's probably not water lol
@@urchhyy1253 same
Not just safety of person, but of property as well. I lost my wallet, and a stranger turned it into the police, who tracked me down to my hotel because I had a hotel key in my wallet. I got my wallet back from the front desk, and EVERYTHING, including a lot of Japanese money, was still inside. Unbelievable.
I guess they're pretty honest they're good people. Not like The Brady bunch or kiss. ua-cam.com/video/ZDH7vr0JNNc/v-deo.html
There is a really good video on how the lost and found process works in Japan.
Japan is top tier 🔥
Same here, I went to Japan for 2 months and there was one time in which I forgot my wallet (with important documents, money, etc) in the subway. I got distressed but luckily with the help of my host family that called the police station, and some angel of a person that brought my wallet to the police I was able to find it with everything inside.
All that was in the span of 2 days iirc
Honest people are everywhere, just not everyone is honest.
Hot take; Women always have to be careful where ever they go; most places in general are safe- but there will always be predators looking for weak/vulnerable people (i.e. women/children) ... Be aware of your surroundings always; and don't ever be afraid to raise your voice with any type of confrontation, bringing attention to you is #1 best way to help yourself if something creepy is happening or scary. Or even screaming FIRE; my mother taught me you get more reactions with FIRE then anything else.
Not even a hot take, just the truth unfortunately
Some places are worse than others though. I wouldn't let my daughter walk around by herself in ANY major Swedish city at night, just an example.
@@fred6907 I thought Sweden was a nice and safe nordic country.
@@xXDESTINYMBXx It's been ruined by rampant immigration from the Middle East. Some areas are still somewhat safe, but the cities are a lost cause. It obviously affects the whole country economically.
Not a hot take at all imo, people who find this as hot take are part of the problem as well then
I have to say I've never been in Japan but weirdly experienced something similar in a bus while living in Rome. There was this creepy guy trying to grab a group of teenager girls inside the bus (that was full of Japanese), and no one did anything. I had to confront the guy alone, which worked out but was indeed very scary. The abuser wasn't Japanese, but I was shocked to see that EVERYONE was looking and that's it. They wouldn't even help ME help these poor girls. I guess being a woman is less safe anywhere in this world.
The truth is most people don’t really care about stuff that doesn’t involve them directly. They’re too caught up in their own lives to spend energy getting mixed up in other peoples’ disputes.
i spent two weeks in lockup in Malaysia for unawaringly obstructing undercover police from conducting an arrest on a street pusher thinking that it was kidnapping. lol
nearly cost me my job.
When I hear those stories It come to my mind a case in Spain of one man who tried to help a young woman who was being beaten by her boyfriend on the street, that heroic man tried to stop the agression and the boyfriend punched him and he end up dying in the hospital... And the worse is the girl continued the relationship with the agressor and defending him, so f* up. So since that story I would call the police of course but I don't risk my life. But if like in the bus case I see more people involved to help I'll join because it would be safer, but not playing the superhero card.
This is about Japan. No one cares about your opinion and experiance that does not meet the topic.
Also the language barrier. How are you supposed to intervene if you cannot understand what's happening? If it's a couple's dispute, you can actually get in trouble if the shit hits the fan even if you subdue the guy.
I am Indian and I lived and worked as a scientist in Japan for 8 months and I never faced hostility even once, but my Chinese colleague did say that Japanese people, especially elders, would abruptly stop conversing with her and go away once they found she was Chinese.
Elderly Chinese and Japanese hating each other is fair though given their bloody past
@@-VAJRA- there is nothing fair about hate, things should be forgiven and people should move on.
@@-VAJRA- Also stopping a conversation and walking away purely based on someone's country of origin makes you seem much less like an elder and much more like an immature little baby.
@@Bubby91 nope . Japan has been having somekind of vengeance towards chinese since probably 100 of years or more due to bad history. Mostly because the king vowed to hate them so no one can do anything about it
@@sunnyisson90 yea I already know the reasons why… it’s just sad
I am a woman from germany and lived in Japan, Sapporo. Sometimes men were following me at the train station, supermarket or Tsutaya. They were creepy, but didnt do anything. That never happened in my life before, but in Japan quite often (and i dont wear sexy cloth. I was wearing normal japanese fashion)
One time i forgot my bag with drugstore products in the supermarket and i got it back. That was great. I heard from others they forgot their umbrella in the train and got it back
how far did you followed?
Sorry to hear. Love from Ireland. Ich liebe deutschland 💚🤍🧡 🖤❤💛
Sorry to hear that. I think it's because Asians don't tende to see Europeans or Americans more often. But such things are encountered very less.
@@メロンパンあ-n4k It was not that long. As soon as i left the shop, or entered a train they did not follow anymore. They did not speak, but just follow and watch
@@swapnilkumarrai1175 Yes. In Sapporo are almost no foreigners
What the Swiss lady said at the beginning really resonates with me. I had a similar experience on a train in Tokyo. I was actually with a couple Japanese friends and we were speaking English. A younger Japanese guy angrily grabbed me by the wrist, got right in my face and screamed at me to quit speaking English. I got right back in face and yelled back to let me go before one of my friends intervened and calmed the situation down (with no punches thrown fortunately). Up to that point I had never experienced anything like that in Japan (and probably never would again). Just like the lady mentioned, what really struck me was how disengaged everyone else on the train was. They had their faces buried in their phones as if nothing was happening. It got me wondering the exact same thing as her. If it had escalated and I had been by myself, would anyone come to my aid or just assume I was causing the problem (or just not want to get involved)? To be honest, it was actually a bit disheartening. I feel situations like this are where the Japanese tendency for conformity and passivity is not a good thing. Here I was in need of aid and I feel everyone just kind of looked the other way. From that point on, I took personal safety much more seriously and made a concerted effort to be more aware of my surroundings and do a better job of trying to blend in.
Honestly, looking back, it was mostly just completely bad luck. I just happened to get on a fairly crowded train with that one guy in a thousand who was looking for trouble. I was also extremely lucky to be with Japanese friends who were able to pour cool water on the situation. Still, even though Japan is probably the safest country you can visit, you are an outsider and will stand out. Situations like this can be much less predictable than in your home country.
its probably because your not supposed to talk while in the train, its considered rude, maybe your voice was a bit loud, I don't know if you notice, people in the train usually don't talk that much. most of the locals in Japan do not speak English as well, maybe they find it hard to assist and communicate if a foreigner is in trouble. if you're a foreigner and you speak Japanese, the locals will appreciate you.
@@stryker2048 no one needs to "speak Japanese" to get help while getting punched or abused, and get appreciated in that process. Go back to a proper school, kiddo!
There was a incident in Japan that a young adult man injured a middle school student for being asked to quit smoking in a train. The three students were pressed by the wall being yelled and punched for long hours. It became a big news and the problem of bystanders not wanting to intervene the situation was featured. The other incident is a man started attacking with a knife a woman who was sitting next to him in the train and one man tried to stop him with bare hands and was killed. He might have been saved if other people had joined with him but everyone else just left him alone and fled. So yeah I think this is a problem that we must fix.
@@stryker2048 As I am also Japanese, I was very embarrassed what you said and totally disagree !
This naughty young guy reminds me of my racist mother. "German is spoken here!" was her stupid, racist attitude and opinion.
Fortunately, I had no contact with her for the last two years. English can be spoken at my place. The racist woman has been dead for over 8 years
and I am happy when it is possible to invite friends from abroad again. If young Japanese are so rude and patronise others about which language to speak,
I will naturally not visit this country. The expensive trip would be money wasted.🤷♀
Takashii you are very good at what you are doing, very polite and comforting when talking to interviewees. Good job, keep it up.
Thank you so much for watching!!
I hope this video will help you when you come to Japan!
And Japan is finally open for tourists right??
Yes, I heard by October
Do you know Nobita From Japan and on a scale of 1 - 10, how ugly do you think he is?
The eastern Indian said her parents are e. Indians from India. But she was born in Japan and raised there.
Love from India
The woman from London mentioned the Maid Cafes; would you consider asking Japanese and foreigners on their thoughts of how a small part of Japanese culture infantalize girls, or is that too controversial? If you do try to ask mostly women. Thank you for all your hard work on such a great channel
in vietnam everyone would probably help you. I'm a vietnamese in canada and i was at a bar once. Everyone inside the bar around me saw this girl outside being assualted and pushed hard against a car. I was in a caste on one leg at the time and on crutches, so I was getting mad no one was going out to help her. Bar staff is like police will handle it....in my head im like are you fucking kidding me, she needs help now. Thankfully a man and my friend(who i had to convince) to go and help the girl. They managed to wrestle the guy to the ground and the girl just hurried out of the scene, looking distraught. After that experience I have very little faith in people. No one gives a shit about anyone else, and they all think someone else will do something. Fucking bystander effect....bunch of conformists everywhere.
Wow, you had to convince your friend, he wouldn't have helped otherwise.
you cant blame the people tho, they either scared if the dude had a gun or a knife that probably gonna harm them. but yeah you and your friends are a hero to that girl.
Yeah man, I've been in multiple occassions like this too. And 9 out of 10 times I'm the only one saying or doing something. It's fucking retarted.
I can't stand peoples indolence.
Good you tried to do something about it👊
As someone who lived in Vietnam, I can't agree. I've seen a man harassing a woman and there were 3 young men standing and watching it happen as I rounded the corner. I yelled the man off and then the 3 young men were laughing at me as I walked with the girl to a busier street. This was in Da Nang
It's kind of interesting that it NEVER crosses anyone's mind that a woman might have done something to get herself into that situation. Who know what had happened before then? Was she pushing him? Did she punch him in the face? Kick him in the balls? Doesn't matter. No matter what, help the woman, wrestle the man to the ground. I can understand it to an extent, but there's still something messed up about it, because I have seen so many situations where a woman will basically initiate the fight, punch a guy in the face, he hits back, and then 10 white knights are ready to fight him as if she did nothing wrong. Women aren't always innocent.
Walking around Japan from 1am to about 5am alone (due to a horribly delayed flight layover) was the safest I had ever felt in any major city.
Excuse me *Tokyo
Would you say the same about riding public transportation?
@@alskarmode I felt fine. I had to catch the bus from the airport into the city at 12:30am
Same in Osaka, Tokyo, and Kyoto for me.
Japan is mad safe. Even if you run into the Yakuza, they won't do anything to you.
What about Junko Furuta? How is it possible that her killers are now roaming free on the streets of a country like Japan? Why don’t the people and press ask questions and protest that justice be done to her? This would be the reason as to why I will never visit Japan. So disappointed with the justice system there! Can you please do a video on this topic to see what the Japanese people feel about this?
Her killers served time. Punishments are not infinite.
@@gorkyrojas9346 crime such as these ought to have infinite punishment. The punishment they got was a joke.
@@gorkyrojas9346 Some punishments need to be infinite. You think people change after being punished once?
@@gorkyrojas9346 the oldest perpetrator is literally a repeat offender, and has bragged numerous times about the crime. 3 of them had their identity hidden and are free men with no restrictions, and the mother of the eldest perpetrator actually vandalised Junko’s grave because she “ruined her sons life”… the fact all of them still live is enough to stain a justice system forever
@@gorkyrojas9346 0thesw bastards should be rotting in jail right now what they did was horrible they even deserved the death penalty
Thanks for the video as always! But to everyone reading, just remember that no place is 100% safe. I read a story about a foreign girl whose drink was spiked at a bar in Nichōme and she did get home somehow due to helpful strangers but it could’ve ended a lot worse. There are also these fake restaurant scams that prey on tourists specifically. Always be aware even if you’re in the safest country
Oh god that brings back bad memories. My drink was spiked with a sleeping drug and I live in Japan's deep countryside. Hopefully i didn't drink it and had the glass investigated right away. I never thought it'd happen in such a small town in Yamagata Prefecture but you're never safe anywhere in this world... Be careful everyone
@@lefweakshow871 That was a nasty piece of work. Male predators like that are unspeakable. They have no honour.
Fake restaurant scams?
I've always wondered how people actually make the transition when moving to Japan especially when studying abroad. Like everything from the immigration process to looking for a place to live, etc. These video interviews are very helpful and informative for people like me who plan to visit and possibly live in Japan someday. Thank you💝
I did exactly that! My home uni was partner with an japanese one, for the visa all I needed was a letter from the Japanese university. Looking for a place was a bit harder, few places rent to foreigners, but Leopalace did, I found a place I liked then started emailing them about the rental. I left my country with housing ready, all I needed was to sign the papers on the first day
@@wayland8 Thank you for the info! 😃 What did you do in terms of getting a job? What is a "home uni"?😳
@@misskizzz Home uni : the university from their home country
Usually the school or the workplace will assist you. Schools often have people specifically for this purpose.
It's always difficult getting settled in a foreign country, especially if you don't share a common language.
I visited Japan for one month. Stayed in Tokyo, visited Kyoto and I felt very safe. In the evening, the train cars were gender specific. They had a women cart only and a train cart separately for men. I thought it was a great idea. I always felt safe traveling all over the city. Even in the early hours it felt safe and I’m very careful as I grew up in Chicago. As a woman you never let your radar off. Always assess areas and know where your going. If you get lost, never appear lost and know how to ask for help. Japanese people are helpful. Overall, in my experience, I felt Japanese men to be respectful. I had a few cat calls from foreign men-Italian and Greek mainly who found me exotic because I’m Latina. Other than that, nothing was off putting but then again I never put myself in dangerous situations and most women who travel should be street smart.
That’s kinda weird. Separate carts for men and women? That seems like regression back to segregational ideals. I do understand the pro to that for safety, but still, just seems off.
Where are you from?
@@troyboi7662 unfortunately we live in an imperfect world that is why things like this are needed i dont believe it is regression more like a short term solution until they fix there molestations problem
That feels to me like women and men have to be put on different train cars because the men don't know how to keep their hands to themselves. I'm an American woman who is considered fairly attractive by most, and I've never lived anywhere with gender-specific trains, and I've never been groped on a train or a bus even though I have ridden them my entire life. So it's starting to feel like maybe the men in my country aren't as molesty as the ones in Nippon...
@@goombapizza6335 just because you didnt get molested dose not mean that it dose not happen in the US percentage wise there is more molestation , raxxxpe, violence and crime in the US then japan the main difference is that in the US molesters get harsher punishment's but in japan they get a slap on the wrist
I have lived in Los Angeles and Japan. I have been harassed in both. The LA experiences were somehow less scary as the men came up loudly to me, and people around me helped and I can stand up for myself. But in Japan it is so much creepier, I have caught two people filming me while I'm alone in public. Once while I was eating in a restaurant, and another shopping at the grocery store. Nobody helps, and you don't know what to do cause when you confront the perpetrator they act like nothing happened. It makes you feel very helpless. Now when ever I go out I always am paranoid as I know more people may have filmed me without me noticing. If they film me, it just drives me crazy that they will look back at this footage and have a piece of me forever without my consent. are they posting it online? I also don't know when its just a perv shocked to see a white woman or if they may try to stalk me.
You should probably start wearing a face mask again, cuz it'll at least conceal your face. All I can say is you shouldn't dress in anything that "shows off" your body in any way (crop tops, leggings, yoga pants, skirts, thigh highs). Those creeps/perverts will probably show no interest in filming you if they have "nothing" to look at. Maybe something you could do is to threaten those filming you by telling them that you'll call the police, or give 'em a taste of their own medicine and film them with your phone until they either stop or leave. It's unfortunate that you've experienced such traumatizing things while living abroad :/ Take care of yourself.
This won't make you feel better, but they do often post their videos online... I have seen weird men posting videos of them following women at Walmart while just filming their behind, reported but you know Twitter doesn't care... I'm sorry this happened to you and I hope they get caught and punished one day
She sounds like a great person especially coming from Switzerland. Shouldnt deserved to be treated that way, foreigners in another country are embracing the culture by visiting in the first place. Cant expect everything to go well. Thanks for the video
It's a homogenous country population wise. Many parts of Japan you will see few non-Japanese. Switzerland is a nice country. They speak French, German and Italian there. It's nice her family has opened a pastry shop in Japan.
And also like, Japan accept virtually no refugees compared to countries like Germany so she doesn’t even have a point about “deserving to be here” bc almost all people who move to Japan have worked their butts off and are highly skilled so they do “deserve” it. And that was me playing devil’s advocate by assuming refugees don’t “deserve” it which is a whole other topic I could go on about😔 But seriously Japan has a declining birth rate and plenty of abandoned schools and stuff so it’s not like they can’t use more people, esp in the countryside
I like the culture but hate that they are very racist and narrow minded
@@MrClassssic totally agree with you. I once lived in apartheid South Africa but I really think the racism and xenophobia is worse here. At least in South Africa we could empower ourselves in the economy, here it’s practically impossible to have the same empowerment I speak of.
@@majibento Why would Japan accept refugees from Europe? Ukraine and Syria are right next to Europe, of course they would enter Europe either by foot or by boat. Japan is on the other side of the globe. Refugees can't afford going there even if they could. It makes no sense for Japan to do that.
I can never say this enough about not just your content, but content like this in general: it's great to show honestly your country. The good and the bad.
When you just show the good, it can be a huge shock, and possibly a danger, when ppl arrive and experience some of the possible negatives of a place.
At the same time you don't want to just show bad things or dwell too much on negative experiences when there are many positive things. Its best to try to show the whole experience as it is, as best you can.
Anyway, love your videos, you're a very charming interviewer.
I was in Tokyo in 2018 for 10 days. There's so much I love about Japan but what really stood out to me most was how safe I felt while I was there. I didn't always have to look over my shoulder. One day I saw a cute little dog in his stroller parked in front of a grocery store, no one bothered him. I thought that's neat. I think people there are just respectful of each other and their properties. So if you've dreamed of visiting there go, it's safe, fun lots to see and do and they have great food.
@@AJ-fo2pl yep that applies to pretty much every country but some do definitely give a worse first impression than others so ye
10 days is a very little amount of time to accidentally witness a crime XD
@@marw9541 Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world
@@familiasosa6379 Doesn't change the fact that people who have lived there have seen crime and know people that also share stories of crime. Where did you live in Japan when you were there?
Having just come back from Kyoto and Osaka and Wakayama prefecture I felt incredibly safe no matter where I was. There was a general sense of orderliness, unbelievable cleanliness and there I saw no obvious homeless (or mental) people in the streets. To give you an idea of what Japan is like, there is a vending machine behind the woman from London. These machines are all over, out in the open, some even vend beer and tobacco. In what countries is it possible to have these machines out in the open without being immediately vandalized and destroyed. Amazing.
I love Japan. I loved my time in Japan when I travelled! I had exactly one creepy encounter in a smaller fishing village with an older guy, and I was so lucky that a woman walking her dog noticed and offered to walk back to the hostel with me from the 7/11 store where I hid. Forever grateful to her, she never told me her name. Other than that and being permanently photographed (pale, red hair) & gawked at, I felt relatively safe.
Probably the most misunderstood aspect of safety in Japan is that while Japan's crime rate is low, low does not mean zero. You still have to use your head and take common sense precautions. That girl from France was surprised that no one on the bus did anything to help her when she was assaulted. But the fact is you CANNOT assume other people will come to your aid when you are being victimized; this applies to any country you are in. My officemate toured Paris before the pandemic, and she was assaulted and robbed in the Paris subway fill with people, and no one helped her; according to her, they just on keep walking and getting on the train as if nothing was happening. Except for a French policewoman who arrive on the scene and gave her some money so she could get back to her hotel and contact the US embassy. In my lifetime, I have heard many similar stories from travelers to other countries. No matter where you go, being a foreigner paints a huge target on you because the criminals will assume: 1) you are carrying more money because you are a tourist. 2) You don't know how to call out for help because you don't speak the local language.
Japan 's crime rate is not low, they hide it from outside world. U forget how high their suicidal rate is. Plus their population to so smol.
I had some homeless guy in Paris spit in my face on the street out of the blue and nobody did anything. I had other issues in Paris as well and people didn't step in to help. I found people in Japan way more helpful.
@@red2977 Paris is a cesspool of immigrants from the Middle East. I was on vacation there just before the pandemic, never again. Couldn't tell if I was in Paris or Kabul, just endless amount of immigrants just hanging around doing nothing all day long.
Okay but if you go to LA, try to go to other places too because LA is so different compared to other places in the USA and even those places are different than other places.
But also, it’s really cool you are coming to America and I hope you have fun! Be safe! :)
I feel bad for Takashii starting out in LA he be better off staying in Orange County plus his eyes are going to water when he eats out after being use to Japanese prices, he might die of sticker shock.
@@southcoastinventors6583 LA really isnt anything special. Im here right now, and been here my whole life. Hes going to be shocked when he sees how many homeless people there are.
@@southcoastinventors6583 He should stay in South Central or Harlem in New York or the Southside of Chicago maybe Kensington in Philly.
@@look_my_daddy Oscar…I want to visit Los Angeles…I am a big foodie…I also want to visit Santa Monica pier and San Francisco…Is it worth going or is it unsafe right now?
@@sharonluquis5823 LA is like almost every large city in that there's good parts and bad parts. I've lived in LA for many years, and there's such a huge range of amazing food and culture. Don't know what that guy is saying, Japanese food prices are a lot higher. Santa Monica as a beach isn't that great, but the pier is a fun time. There are other beaches farther north and farther south that are nicer. As for Orange County, there are parts that are interesting like the old towns areas, Little Saigon, Anaheim, and Santa Ana, but overall it's a bunch of boring suburbs.
I'm from Germany (which is one of the most opinionated countries in the world which of course can be a bad thing) and I couldn't even imagine somebody daring to punch someone in public transport let alone nobody stepping in. Over here you would probably have 3 body guards, a new step mom, 5 aggressive new friends and a few people teaming up with the opposite side if it's not obvious who was the bad guy. Basically there would be a street fight lol
Same in Britain. If a fight breaks out in the U.K., 9/10 a crowd will instantly gather to cheer or get in the thick of it.
I never knew that about Germany/ Germans. Interesting.
@@morgan97475 You will literally have people come up to you if you do something they perceive as rude/inappropriate. Also: lots of intense staring. People are not polite but at least honest lol.
You're kidding, right? I lived in Germany and would see occasional abuse on public transport. Nobody ever intervened, and in fact they usually just looked away or even moved away.
@@itsnemosoul8398 Very interesting. I've been to Germany a couple of times, but never long enough to notice such things. I do recall good food & beer there. Also, rather nice people.
I’m also a foreign woman living in japan for almost 9 years. I don’t have any problems so far. Maybe it’s bcs I’m not really attractive for japanese beauty standards so nobody disturb me. This is not me being sarcastic bcs it was really true. I don’t have any problems being nanpa-ed or being followed. I can literally walking alone in the night in shinjuku or shibuya or harajuku without being worry abt safety. I speak japanese so if I have some trouble I’ll just go to koban (police box station) or just any nearest convenience store for help.
On the other hand, the only thing I kinda scared is the crimes in japan bcs sometimes it was too random and too scary like people being stabbed on the train. That’s the most scary thing in japan.
Seems like dudes and ugly women have a lot in common.
3:38: This did not happen in Japan but in South Korea, but I feel like it's relevant to what the girl is saying. I've been verbally assaulted by old men just because I was a foreigner. It happened 3 times in six months: twice on the subway (by the same guy, lucky me bumping into him twice) and once at a bus stop. None of the many people around me said a single thing before or after the accidents. It wasn't the assaults that bothered me most as I can understand that the actions of those men came from a place of trauma, but the fact that no one did a single thing to either help me or make sure I was okay made me realise I did not want to live in that country any longer. After 3 times of the same thing happening with the same result, I'm just not taking any more chances. I'm sad South Korea couldn't prove me wrong because I actually really loved the culture, history and food of the country.
????????????????????????????????
@@익명-q6x I got shouted at "Go back to America you white monkey" despite not even being American plus some other not-so-nice things. All while I was just standing waiting for the bus/subway.
Id like to add that I work at a big university in NYC and its unfortunate that our country isnt as safe or trusting, we get a lot of foreign students who I feel are accustomed to safe environments and think they can leave their belongings unattended, but a lot of robberies occur and they tend to be shocked at how this is even a possibility.
This is one of the reasons my Japanese wife prefers to live in NZ. Everybody here will help you no matter what the situation. We have and a few situations with a lost child and l;losing things and people are always ready to drop what they are doing and focus on helping you. It's very reassuring. My wife says, 'that would never happen in Japan'.
Having spent a year in NZ, I found the local and the less well-off people to be exactly as you describe, quite lovely. That said, I also encountered or saw multiple instances of coldness, classism, rudeness and lack of consideration from some of the wealthy émigré population, particularly those I met who were French, Indian and English (sad to say, as I am Brit myself). Guess that happens wherever you go in the world, though--wherever they come from, the elites and very rich simply don't care about others.
@@pendafen7405The by-stander effect is a thing off course and you have to be really strong (mentally and physically) to intervene. For example there was this guy being held in neck clamp for in broad daylight in a shopping street. I wanted to do something but I'm not strong enough on my own, probably a lot of people think that way. It's not their business. But still people called the police and stuff so we do exactly care.
I had someone yell at me at the street, "go back to your country" but it's fine. People like this exist everywhere. Japan has been a lovely experience for me so far.
Yeah, people like that exist anywhere u go
@@buenohanedits people like that exist more in the western world
I think it worsen since covid
@@DccAnh Absolutely. I am moving to Japan from Australia. Not really worried about xenophobic remarks in the future. Asian people get it a lot worse here. I want to apologise on behalf of the inbred, unemployed morons who call themselves real Australians. They know not what they do.
What country r u from anyway?
This video is super informative, helpful and obviously it will help people who really love Japan and wish to settle there. Keep up the great work. Loads of love from 🇮🇳
It does not matter where you go or where you are, just be aware. What didn’t happen in years, can happen in a second. Just don’t be so naive
Finally someone said it
It's not only about being naive though, i had men trying to drag me away in crowded stations too
I was recently in Japan. IMO, everyone kept to themselves or with their own groups. Many times I saw people who just looked so out of it, like they were faint, drunk, or something because they were wobbly but they just kept going about their business and no one else seemed to pay any attention. I did witness a man faint, in the crowded train station, and a few young men ran to his assistance, it was immediate. I had seen the man, crouched, earlier staring at the distance but I didn't make anything of it. As for creepy men? I didn't witness any of that but then again I'm not a young woman any more so haven't been getting any type of attention in a longgg time lol.
Been in Japan for 10 months as a 17 year-old exchange student and I did face a man yelling at me at the train station before going away because I was a foreigner. Also encountered two massive creeps, first one seemed on drugs or had never seen a white person in his life or whatever that face he made was, then he tried following me but being super paranoid with men I saw he was trying to wait for me to start walking away when I noticed he kept giving me side eyes while waiting on his phone. Second one was a good old 30yrs old salaryman (probably drunk like they often are on Friday nights) that was spying on me and my boyfriend at the time hiding in the bushes in the dark. Needless to say I started running with him when I heard a branch cracking and saw a creep crouching in the bushes next to me. What’s scary about that is that if if he hadn’t stepped on that branch I would’ve never noticed him. Also we were both wearing school uniforms so this grown ass man actively decided to spy on minors.
lol stop lying
Yeah, I’ve dealt with aggressive people as well. When I was an eikaiwa teacher in Kichijoji, one really crazy random woman entered our school and started yelling at my students about how they’re “betraying their culture” by learning English. Another teacher and I had to basically shove her back into the entry elevator and tell her if she came back, we’d call the police. Seems like there are weirdos no matter where you go in the world.
@@Blox117 You may believe the grass is greener but Japan is flawed like every other country lol
@@Blox117 lol stop watching too much anime
@@kiwi7297 im not some basement dweller like you. go outside
I remember visiting the country a long time ago. Me and my family were riding a train down south to the Osaka prefecture area. I was wearing a yukata and had my seat turned towards my family. As other guests were boarding on the train, they would stop and bow and offer their greetings, turn tail, and walk back the other way, some passengers even left me food. It was weird to me since in Tokyo many people mind their business and walk at a pretty fast pace, they don't stand around and talk. My grandmother overheard some passengers calling me scary and assuming I was part of the yakuza since I'm a relatively sizeable Asian male of darker skin. I was pretty embarrassed after hearing that and made sure I smiled the whole time as to not scare anyone else.
I really like how relaxed you are during your interviews. You are also handsome, polite, and kind.
I need to double check your channel to see if you already have it, but I'd actually love to see this interview among more Japanese/native women! I'm sure many feel similarly to the foreign women interviewed, but they may have more stories of what to look out for that some women who haven't been in the country as long wouldn't know about.
Congrats on all your channel growth, Takashi! You've done a great job creating curated content and collecting your audience. Plus, it's so cool to go out and interview people to practice your conversation skills (in and outside of your own language). I admire you! If you haven't gone already, I hope you have a great (and safe :)) time on your travels!! I hope you meet many accommodating, friendly, and interesting people! I'm always scared that foreigners or tourists will meet bad apples in my country and not feel welcomed 😔so I hope you don't have that experience in your travels!
Just started watching the channel. I love listening to regular peoples' perspectives about their experiences. Hope you have a good trip to LA
I think the dangers from living in Japan is because everyones beliefs is that everyone else is taught to not steal, keep environment clean, be respectful, etc. but when something suspiciously happens and not clear about what happens, most bystanders will not get involved because it's not a typical thing and unexpected. So if someone got harassed, others won't step in and help unless u ask for help.
People respond differently in Tokyo and in regional cities. You will understand if you actually go to Japan.
@@Greenforrest7342 if you don't mind would you explain further
I am planning of moving to Japan soon to teach English and watching your videos has been super helpful! I'm wanting to learn more about the culture and the people so thank you for uploading!
If you're serious about going to Japan take a copy of this video with you.ua-cam.com/video/ZDH7vr0JNNc/v-deo.html
do you speak japanese?
@@joshuabauer591 no but I am wanting to start learning it soon so I don't feel completely lost over there 😵💫
@@jessicalopez2456 Japanese is extremely difficult to learn in order to write/speak fluently so noone really expects you to master it if you are only here temporarily. I've lived here for 3 years (moving home soon) and haven't gone beyond the basics as I don't see much point in investing that much time in a language only spoken in one country. You have to also remember, in a teaching setting people want to talk to you in English, not Japanese. The less Japanese you know, the less they will try to use it as a crutch when you are talking to them. As long as you know how to ask for basic things, count, tell time, money stuff and ordering food it won't be an issue.
@@JimmyTAus1 thank you for the advice! Unless I decide to live there a longer period of time, I probably won't stress myself out on trying to learn it and be fluent in it. But I do agree that I need to learn some basics in order to navigate through different social settings.
I'm from Mexico and went to Japan for my 15th birthday. The second day there I was gropped by an elderly man on the subway. I guess the man thought I wouldn't fight or anything but the moment he saw me turn around and put my fists up he walked away. If I'm being 1000% honest, that didn't really affect my experience in Japan. I had a great time and everyone was super nice. Thing is that, as a woman, we just gotta be attentive to everything and everyone. The only time I've been followed around was when I lived in Canada, and that one is another very safe country. Bad things will happen everywhere in the world. Some places more than others so in general we just gotta be careful.
They are so good at not bothering people, to the point the don't even bother helping anyone.
Tokyo is on my list to visit so all the videos you put up had been very helpful
As someone who will be based in Tokyo in November. I am from🇿🇦, your videos are always informative about the experiences there. I really enjoy them, I've learnt a lot. You doing an amazing job
Go home gaijin
@@migamaos3953 Sit down weeb
@@migamaos3953 lmao that was so uncalled for
You’ll be safe here, but you’ll experience ostracism, xenophobia and a little racism. But xenophobia isn’t as bad as SA. Just enjoy yourself and make some cash! Also be careful of “black” companies looking to exploit foreigners here.
@@zimpetrichor4919 Sounds like America. Except change “black companies” to white and change “foreigners” to immigrants.
at 6:56 you can even see that old man on the left take a picture of that women he is interviewing. just after talking to the pervious women about them taking pictures of people and "stalking"/ making people uncomfortable. a little strange
Good job on taking these topics!
I just turned 21 in 2013, backpacked June, July, august, 3 whole months. Knew no Japanese. Had a 2 week JR rail pass used to go to Kyushu and back to Tokyo than up to Hokkaido. I was so excited for my trip I would walk and walk til 2am find a hostel or internet cafe, maybe use couch surfing to stay at a locals, I'd usually wake up at 6am sharp to immediately leave and go out exploring again. Walked alone through towns in the countryside and walked the Tokyo streets at night, perfectly safe I never once had an issue. Never once felt in danger. I felt so much more safe and secure, free and able to walk than in my own country.
Children got to school on their own, the more I keep telling people that here they think it's the worst idea because the crime and missing children is so high here. school buses or parents dropping children off, rarely do children go to school on their own.
I definitely miss walking a city feeling safe, I miss Japan.
The cc for 0:42 says “perfect channel for animals that want to come to Japan.” So I just wanted to thank you for making a channel for animals to get instructed on what Japan is truly like, and if they should pursue their dream of going to Japan.
6:56 The way the girl just before this interview was talking about ppl taking pictures of foreign women and there's a man in the background taking pictures of the British woman
9:42
"I feel very safe here."
*A dangerous truck passes*
That first girl from Switzerland comes from the same hometown as me! Heard about her and her family in the news about the pastries shop! Never though Takashi would interview a Swiss from my city hahah すごいじゃないですか!
I love watching all your interviews because they are so informative about life in Japan as a foreigner. I was going to vacation in Tokyo next year but since I don't speak any Japanese I decided that it might be better to know how to speak it first before traveling there. The experience will be way better if I had the communication skills first. So, I will be leaning the language first and then when fluent enough I will take the trip. Thanks and keep up the great work.
just use a translator on your phone
Wow , I am shocked. I am currently in Japan as a tourist. i am a male foreigner and something I didn’t expect happened to me in Tokyo two days ago. I was looking at google map for a while in the middle of the street trying to figure out how to get to the station I am looking for. A nice Japanese lady who also happens to speak English asked me if I needed help. I told her I am looking for this station and instead of pointing towards the location she guided me to it and started asking me questions about my visit. I ain’t gonna lie , I was worried since I am a solo traveler and kept my guard up for any surprises but she was super nice and walked me with me till we reached the station. I don’t think I would do it if it wasn’t in Japan cuz I would be extremely suspicious elsewhere.
some of my japanese friends that learn english always say to me they want to speak to foreigners in japan to learn english and to make friends if it works.
So the curiosity is there and many welcome foreigners in japan. for Traveling at least. For living its another story.
It happens to me a lot of times, anywhere, that I would ask for directions to people and they would walk me if not too far
Dude, happens to me all the time. I travel there a lot for work, and I stopped asking or appearing lost because one Japanese will stop, then another, once I had 4 Japanese offering help, with 2 walking me to an ATM.
I spent over a decade travelling around the world - kindness and help is pretty universal - But I understand when you first start out - My first trip I flew New Zealand to Buenos Aires in 1987 - checked in the evening in a cheap hotel in centre - knock at my door 11pm - was scared to open the door - couldn't even ask in Spanish who is it - Was just that I missed out some details in the registry for hotel - next day go to Youth Hostel - it's closed -A Middle Age lady who spoke no real english guided me on local busses to where the new one was - I wasn't completely sure where she was taking me - but I trusted her ( I was young had a baby face back then :) = in say London in the city , or Paris , Manhattan there will be people who will help - you choose wisely - even the businessman hurrying along - Hi Times Square ? - that way as he doesn't stop - Also don't judge certain countries by just the nasty/creepy guys who have no shame in harrassing especially females - Kind good decent people are going about their day - also they may know their country's has that reputation - so shy in approaching to help afraid their actions will be misconstrued .
Given I have a lot more life experienced - I would take more precautions in certain countries- as don't have the strength , stamina to run hard and fast away as a young guy - never had to - but I had the build of a rugby player - so hard to shove and grab my bag of me etc - I was very confident of my physical ability up to say 15 years ago
What's wrong with that? Happened to me many times, they just want to help people and it's great.
I studied Japanese in college and graduated even but my Japanese is very poor and rusty these days. Sadly.
I visited twice as a student for 4 and 3 weeks and loved it. Always wanted to go back and drive around Hokkaido with my family but it never happened. Now I'm 38...
It was weird being gawked at though, plenty of young people wanted to take our pictures (two of us girls have blonde hair), there was even a group of school girls that gave us cookies and ran off, lol. We felt like zoo animals. But that was not creepy, just strange. And also funny.
There are a ton of older creeps though. One made disgusting animations with his mouth at me. On a crowded train men try to feel you up sometimes. These things happen in Germany a lot less but they happen too.
Overall Japan is super safe though and I was never scared or really uncomfortable. Not worried about being out at night. People in small towns are VERY friendly and helpful. You'd think they'd be wary of strangers (like rural Germans) but no. We went to this small town close to Nagano to research an author's home town for a paper my friend was writing and the young woman at the museum there drove us around town all day for free. That was amazing!
It's true though that in the city people don't always help you. When we arrived in Tokyo we had trouble getting our suitcases up the stairs in the subway and the only people who helped us were foreigners. On the other hand a lot of Japanese people asked us if they could help us when we had a map and looking around clueless.
As a German I come from a safe country and Japan was more of that. I'm so used to not being scared walking around as a woman that I need to remind myself to be careful elsewhere, like in the States. I once drove around for 10 days by myself in Arizona and Utah visiting national parks before arriving at a friend's place. My friend was super tense while I didn't even consider this might be dangerous. Because it wouldn't be in Germany.
"Animations"..? Did you mean "movements"?
@@KhoiruunisaRF I guess. He was flapping his mouth and tongue in an obscene way.
Germany doesn't have much 13% as we do here
@@KhoiruunisaRF animations also makes sense
We are Chinese American family. We were on vacation in Tokyo a few years ago at a pop culture shopping location, we left our daughter alone for about 15 minutes and when we came back there were 3 Japanese men talking to her. She can only speak English so we do not know what they were talking about ... on the "foreign women in Japan" subject through this experience, we could easily be mistaken as Japanese locals, but then again Asians can pick up subtle differences to identify someone foreign. I think it's not a racial thing but just generally young women should be careful as in any place.
Wherever you are, I think "don't let your guard down!" is definitely a basic survival skill.
But really, a place where you can rely on nobody... can't say it safe at all.
Thanks for the interview!
I have been in Japan for 3 months and is the SAFEST place I will be in my whole life. I have to return to my country, Mexico, but start thinking about that is... I don't want to :(. Is insane that I need to worry about doing a normal thing like going to school in Mexico, I really don't want to return. Japan made me think that I can live more freely.
Your an international student there ?
Are you a girl ?
Jejejeje vas a volvernal infierno, el primer mundo si enamora cierto jajaja
Don’t get complacent if you do live there. Japan is safer, but it’s not safe. Just like any other country, except if something happens, you’re going to be alone.
Aren't most countries safer than Mexico? I wouldn't say being safer is much of an accomplishment because most countries don't have such big cartels.
Awesome video topic and great interviewing!!! I especially liked hearing from the girl from Los Angeles. I am from the San Francisco Bay Area and it is just as unsafe. Enjoy your trip to California and stay safe!!!🙏
I saw the most common issue I've heard about in Japan as soon as you began interviewing the second woman, Takashii. You asked her where she was from. She replied "born in Japan" but you kept emphasizing "half-" somewhere else. Her entire life was spent in Japan but still she's treated like a foreigner. It's really sad that in order to "be Japanese", you have to "look Japanese". Just food for thought... : /
In Japan you will always be a transplant if your not genetically 100 Japanese. They will consider you partly foreigner because your parents or grandparents are not rooted in their culture. Japanese identity is strong.
She said her Parents are Indian, hence he said half.
It’s because Japanese is a race not just a citizenship. Another example is China, if you are born in China are you Chinese? Citizenship yes, but race no. Unlike US where American isn‘t your race but your citizenship
@@brandon.h9624 Yet it can also be a nationality, also Japanese is an ethnicity, not a race.. for example, someone can be black or white and be born in Mexico, they are considered Mexican even though they aren't ethnically Mexicans, even ethnically Mexican people consider them it. I'm sure the view on it is different in Japan due to ethnic homogeneity, when Mexico is very mixed with people of many different "races," the same math still applies.
@@icantcomeupwithaclevername2500 ah yes, i used the wrong word, ethnicity would be more appropriate.
When I was in Osaka at a metro station, a middle aged Japanese man approach me and my two friends (all female) late in the evening and asked if we were having trouble navigating around the place (probably because we looked confused staring at the map). Then he walked us all the way over to our hotel once we showed him the address, which was half an hour away by foot. He seemed a bit shy but eager to help, his English was bad but we gathered that he was a schoolteacher.
When we walked around some clubs, no Japanese men ever bothered us, no cat calls, no incessant staring. As a tourist, I never feel very safe walking around any country, but Japan did make me feel moderately safe. It’s also very clean in the streets.
That first girl was so sweet, please protect her at all cost!
Personally speaking, i feel safe in Japan. I hope to come back soon or stay for a little longer.
As a woman, japan is the country where I felt the safest in my entire Life. I was really free to do things that I would never do at home, like walking all by myself at 3 AM. I’m not a sleeper, so when I was in japan I used to walk by night all by myself, it was so nice, I felt so safe and peacefull. It’s the kind of thing That I could never do where I live. I live in the most dangerous city of France and one of the most dangerous city in Europe, and I’m not the kind of girl you can push around, Or the kind to be scared easily, but where I lived, being a woman all by yourself at night means trouble, I never felt that way in japan. And even if some japanese guys would be creepy like taking picture, it never was in an agressive way. I think it’s because I am a white girl, but it was okay, Japanese people are very kind and have good maners. I really think that japan is one of the safest place in the world. I miss japan so much…
@Minx Vania yes, I live in marseille. I used to live in one of the most dangerous area of Marseille, but after spending 30 years of my Life in that part of the city, I moved in another part because I was tired of fighting everyday with people who spend their Time getting on my bad side, but at night you still have to be careful as a woman if you are all by yourself in a city like Marseille. You need a sixth sense and be careful. If you are fearless most of the people will back off, but you still need to be careful. Since I tend to not let people push me
Around, my mother was always scared that I’ll get in big trouble and the cop would call home to say : your daughter was hurt or your daughter hurts someone 🤣🤣🤣. It’s a pity cause it’s a wonderful city, but the people here are not so good.
Which part of Japan?
You think people were taking a picture of you because you're white?
yikes Marseille??? I can see why you said that then
Japan being safe or not, I would recommend to never let you guards down. There is manic anywhere even here in Japan. So just thinking it is safe to walk alone at 3 ~4 am in the morning it`s not the reason to do it every weekend, get a cab if you can. And as anywhere in the world, if a man call you out, because he is drunk or something, don`t respond, just ignore it. Saying something back will just make them think they got the attention, specially drunks.
I lived in Japan for 6 months and I think there's two sides to Japan. It's very safe when it comes to theft and things like that, but I had a lot more creepy experiences with men in Japan than my home country. Also like the first girl kind of commented on, there's a culture of not getting involved or making a "scene" when something happens. Women aren't protected when it comes to sexual harassment or assault
you look like a man but you pretend to be a woman lol
@@yipz07 what?
Kinda makes you appreciate men who intervene doesn't it. Especially considering we have nothing to gain, and everything to lose.
Japan is supposed to be extremely safe!!!
I finally got you commenting early Ray 🎉
The girl from indian parents has a very beautiful japanes accent I would say. Nice video as always, very interesting to see their point of view regarding this topic.
Now I know you studied french, I will comment in french ! :') Je suis très heureux que tu parles un peu français, bravo pour ton travail !
OHHHHHHHHH lol
Self awareness and attitude helps to keep yourself safe wherever you go.
Very much this. I felt safe in Japan because there's an attitude that "Japan is safe." And it really is! But it was also while I was in Japan that I got mildly followed, and then accosted by a (to be fair, foreign) man who was trying to get my number, and was being pushy. Luckily nothing bad happened - when he saw I wasn't going to budge, he stopped and walked off. Both good and bad - had I leaned into "feeling safe" in Japan, I could have gotten caught up in a scam or worse with this man, because he obviously was trying to pull something on someone he thought was a naive tourist.
This is worse than I got when I was in the US or any other country on my own late at night. To be fair, I haven't _often_ been on my own late at night in foreign countries.
I've travelled around suburban areas of the US late at night (by bike) and felt safe - as safe or safer than I felt in Tokyo on my own.
So again - what you say - some places _are_ safer than others in certain ways, but keeping your wits about you is important. Doing this can help you feel (and be) safer in less safe places, and can keep you safe from scams or being a victim of un/under-reported crimes in "safe" places.
I'm from the U.S. and have always wanted to go back to Japan. It felt so very safe there compared to my own hometown and other places in the U.S. I have been. I look forward to visiting Japan again and thank you so much for these helpful videos. Not only are they helpful and informative, they're very interesting! I hope you have a nice day/evening/night 🙂
Exactly. These videos might be weird for for people from the U.S. to watch considering the amount of crime in the U.S.
Japan is even more safe than where you from. Lot of crimes happening there
Watching from 🇨🇵🇩🇪
When are we going to Japan? Lol
Japan has other problems which you’ll only find out when you start living here. Just visiting?…. No problem, you’ll enjoy yourself.
@@chialor1945 As soon as possible! I am looking forward to it 😄
Woman safety in India vs Japan are absolutely polar opposites
and yet they still go to india. just goes to show they enjoy grape
India can be really unsafe but if you consider the average person's living standards there along with the general education level and then compare it to Japan's I would say that's it's a little unfair to expect the same level of safety. The higher a countries living standards/ education level, the safer it will be.
@@Blox117 wtf??? No one enjoys rape. Stop being disgusting and fkin delusional.
Safety for women has consistently gone up in India.
Its is a rapidly evolving society, and given the awareness of people to the issue, actions have been taken to improve women safety here.
If you get a chance visit us, you will see a lot of improvement has occurred here.
@@Blox117 people going there to travel because it's cheap there not to get attacked but since the attack people no longer want to go to indea
I spent once a month in Tokyo, and felt actually very safe, even walking to my lodgings at 10pm. I only had 2 unpleasant meetings during that time, the second actually nearly scaring me, and both time it was with foreign men.
@ 6:56 there is an old man taking pictures of the woman from London doing the interview... proved the point about some of the older men taking pictures of foreign women. :(
I have lived in different cities in Japan, but not in Tokyo. When someone needs help i do what i can, and i also see others do it. On public parks on smaller cities, they always greet me when i pass by so i do the same.
Ive been to tokyo once and i was walking on a busy street and some guy bumped really hard on me and i was almost thrown away. I was bewildered when i checked back he didnt event turn his head to check, no one really cared 😂
私は日本人です！私は神戸に住んでいます。以前、東京に行きました。そこでコンビニ入ると1人の男性が私に向かって「邪魔だ」と言いました。凄く驚きました…。商品を選んでいただけなのに。神戸に住んでいる時はそのような経験がありませんでした。同じ日本人でも東京の人たちは少し怖く感じます…。
The Swiss girl should have reported the incident to the bus transit authority and to the Swiss embassy. At least there would be an official record of the incident.
A colleague neglected all safety measures because of "Japan is so safe". Indeed, it is. But...
He went to Japan with his brand new bike. It was his 10.000€ baby and he wanted to ride it around Japan for a few month. He left it outside a store and after fifteen minutes of shopping the bike was gone. Japanese Police was in disbelief as they heared his story. Needless to say he never got it back.
Sound suspicious, like I'm not sure I should believe this story.
@@youuuuuuuuuuutube theft happens in every country...
Japan is full of foreigners these days.
I have traveled a lot around the world and I can say from my experience that Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka (I was in these cities in Japan) are really safe compared to other larger cities. I saw a lot of drunk women walking alone there in the morning hours. Something like this is unthinkable in European, American or Latin American cities.
Working in a thrift shop... Oh, pastry shop? .🤣 It just goes to show how good your English is, Takashii. You made that switch so fast. And you got Switzerland right, even though it was totally incomprehensible. Job well done!
9:21 interviewer: "oh so you are an intelligent woman?
Woman: yes
interviewer: Have fun with cats :)
2011, Tokyo. I was walking with my husband near tokyodom. It was 9p.m. On a late october evening so it was pitch dark except streetlights. My husband noticed that he had left his mobile at the hotel nearby so he left me there while he was retrieving it. We both thought it was safe so I wasn't afraid at all. As soon as I lost his sight, a man came out from the darkness and tried to start talking with me. My sixth sense warned me immediately. I swear to god, I was already imaging myself cut into pieces and stuffed into a trashbag so I did my best to stay as calm as possible, acting nice but cold as ice. I used my height and body language to make him feel I wasn't weak nor afraid of him and it seemed working. He asked me where I came from, why I was visinting Japan, etc. Luckily my husband came back in les time than expected and the man vanished when he realised we weren't alone anymore. I was afraid af but I never let him sense that and I'm sure that this saved my life. So, no, it's not a truly safe Country but there is no such thing when you are a woman. That's my personal thought based on my experience, though.
Yes, it's a dichotomy. It's definitely safe relative to most countries but this is also the country that enforces sound in cell phone cameras due to unsavory behaviours and the tiniest slap on the wrists for sexual assault.
Tbh nothing in your story sounds out of the ordinary and it could have just been a guy hitting on you if all he did was talk. People do this in western countries as well... a lot more, with men being more upfront and pushy. There are definitely a lot of creeps in Japan and issues with stalkers, but this doesn't seem to be a clearcut example.
Like you learned, never, ever assume any place is safe. Especially at that hour and alone. Just don’t. Especially in a foreign country, you don’t know how law enforcement will treat you as a foreigner.
Takashi, we know what you're doing. And we like it. Keep it up :D
My sister was almost kidnapped by a couple of Japanese men at a club when she was an exchange student at Doshisa, maybe in 2011, her junior year...but she felt safe overall...as a woman you need to always take proper precautions...be aware of your surroundings at all times...be smart ladies.
That's sounds stupid: safe but almost kidnapped.
@@HatredPrime What I'm alluding to is that she felt safe for most of her year stay in Japan except for that one incident and women need to be ALWAYS vigilant no matter how safe the country is...there was a UA-camr who lives in Japan (married a Japanese man) she feels safe in Japan most of the time...but even she had an incident with Japanese men drugging her drink at a bar/club. So two things can be true at the same time.
I'm an American and would love to visit Japan. I've always admired the architecture of the buildings and would love to see the country side.
I went to an exchange program (education first Toyko) It was mainly my housemate from Russia who got issues with guys. Whenever she wanted to visit something she went on her own. 2 times she got bothered by guys like in the nappa calling kind of thing. One time we got catcalled on the streets of Kawasaki and then there was one time that she was bothered by guys in a fish restaurant they started to touch her head and sang to her bec they were drunk. But beside that I didn't feel unsafe or anything. Even at night there are so many people on the streets especially in Tokyo. I must say be aware of the public transport though. It's so extremely crowded with a lot of businessmen going to work. Then I felt kinda unsafe bec everyone could touch you.
You are such a kind gentleman! I am enjoying your videos.
No matter what people say, Japan is much safer than my country (South Africa). I'd want to visit one day!
Interesting experience of the Swiss girl in Japan.
I am actually an Ausländer in Switzerland and sure I feel safe in the physical way… but I know I am considered here „different kind of human“ with people being straightforward mean and assuming that I am dumb so they can screw me on services etc.
And I am white blonde so I can’t even imagine how hard it is for people which look different…
I feel like Switzerland is a Japan of Europe. Crazy work culture, lack of personal life, shy and distanced people, inequality between men and women considered „part of culture“… Like come on… My company literally asked me if I am planning to get pregnant 😅 or how did I get my visa…
I'm Swiss, I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this. Sadly most of what you described is absolutely true. I do think though that younger people tend to be more open minded here so hopefully the future will be a bit brighter for people like you. Just remember that you matter!
Switzerland is incredibly feminist, no?
@@adunce.5422 nah… Not really. If I remember correctly Switzerland was the last country in Europe which allowed women to vote. And that only because the last canton was forced to it… In 1990…
I work in a company with 90% women because men won’t work for so shitty salary…
I was asked if I am planning on having children during interview… Apparently even though that’s illegal it’s a common thing in here. Best advice: answer the question even with a lie.
School system requires children to take a long lunch break in the middle of the day, this means one parent can’t have normal full time job (usually woman). And this again means women have low incomes and that comes with other dangers like - Women struggling to leave violent partners.
Just having kids or being 25-30yo as a woman will put you on the bottom of applicants if you are looking for job.
There is probably more issues. Honestly I live and work here just so we can quickly save up money with my partner and settle later in some other country.
@@kjkj4725 I see.
@@kjkj4725 Perhaps I was thinking of Sweden then.
Poor girl that was punched in the face, what a shitty experience :/
Japan can be a racist country, but they're often not vocal about it like the girl's case from Switzerland. I can remember a few years ago in Tokyo some old guys having a parade with banners that said "Yankees Go Home". They were mad so many Americans lived in Japan and allegedly were taking their jobs. I was on the subway in London once and a woman go verbal about foreigners. She had heard us talking with our western accents and was pissed we we were there to take jobs away from British people. I have heard similar stuff in America, Canada, and Australia. There are prejudiced people everywhere unfortunately.