This is Cool about Japan!” (Julien)

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        I love NIHON!

Students come to Japan for a myriad of reasons. From the archetypical anime nerd, to the creepy guy that has a thing for Japanese girls, to the overweight cosplay chick, Japan gets all shapes and sizes of gaijin. One of the first things I remarked when coming to Japan was the amount of strange foreigners I met. So like most Japanese I asked “why?”

A person in a foreign country might tell you that its because Japan has a distinct blend of culture, perversion, and mystery that captivates even the most isolated individual. Another might tell you, it is aesthetically pleasing to every sense of the human palate. If you don’t believe me take a stroll around Shinjuku on a typical weeknight. But most foreigners answering this way have never and will never go to Japan.

This first thing one should understand when asking the question “why?” is that Japan is like a box with two holes peering out.  If you are Japanese, you see the inside of the box, which amounts to everyday life in Japan. If you are a foreigner, however, the picture’s quite different; it’s no secret that the outside of Japan’s box is controversial, flashy, and utterly intriguing. Let me give you an example of the types of questions a non-Japanese peer, whose never been to Japan, might ask me. Are all Japanese men like samurais? Do all the girls talk in that weird, high-pitched voice? Does everyone love manga and anime? Are all the women beautiful? No, no, no, and no. Sorry, if you happen to be a Mishima fanatic or a fan of the modern geisha, but all the answers to these questions are false. Those people who come to Japan to find Gods among men (or Goddesses’ among women), often return disappointed, without realizing that it only existed 70 years prior, when the emperor used to be more than just a rich guy who sat around a castle in Tokyo!

So, why is it then that so many people are drawn to the land of the rising sun? It’s true that all of these above-mentioned stereotypes do carry some weight, but for the most part, Japan’s appeal goes beyond such an artificial level.  Believe it or not, a lot of people come to Japan for the same reason they come to America to pursue the fabled “American Dream.” Despite the hyped-up talk about gaijin, Japan is one of the most gaijin friendly places in the world. They have a place for otakus, hikikomoris, and even hentai! As strange as it is to say, Japan seems to have a place for everyone and everything; which makes Japan a novelty to outsiders worldwide no matter what their interests. As the commonly cited text on the Statue of Liberty reads bring me your tired, your weary, your weak, its Japanese counterpart may read bring me your disillusioned, your innovative, and your misunderstood.  That said, Japan is a beacon-point for alternative people. It is for this reason why world-renowned artists, fashionistas, and musicians flock to it. That is why Japan is cool-because you can be whatever you want, and find people who like whatever you want. Forget Greenwich Village in Manhattan or the Latin Quarter in Paris, Tokyo is the mecca of all unconventional lifestyles!

Turns out it does exist!

Among the foreigners I’ve met, there have been: robotics engineers, architects, fashion designers, game enthusiasts, sociologists, culture buffs, and linguists. Why? Because Japan provides the best environment for what they do in an unwonted way. Its funny how a society so set on conformity created such a reverse affect.  Think about it deeply, and next time you cross a foreigner don’t ask him what his favorite comic book is, or if he found a Japanese girlfriend yet? Most gaikokujin are a lot more intelligent, open-minded, and complex then you think. My advice: sit down and get to know one-you’ll be thoroughly surprised. Each one is different.