In the midst of present day globalization, and with international marriages on the rise, how do Japanese people fare on the ‘international stage’ of dating?
We decided to find out by sending our reporter to Comiket 82 earlier this month and asking REAL LIVE foreign visitors if they would like to date a Japanese person.
(Note: This is the third part of our “RocketNews24 asks REAL LIVE foreigners” series. Check out the first part here and second part here!”)
We asked the following questions, which everyone seemed really happy to answer: “What do you think of Japanese men/women? Would you date one? What would you like to do on your date with a Japanese man or woman?” (names coincide with people pictured from left to right)
To our delight, all 16 participants said that they would like to go on a date with a Japanese person!
Dana, Ann, and Valdar
What do you think of Japanese men?
- Dana, a 26-year old German – “Most of them are shorter than me, that is what stands out in my mind the most. I don’t understand how they could be popular. They all look the same to me, with funny hair styles. And they are effeminate, I think I am more masculine than they are!” (laugh)
- Ann, a 22-year old Estonian – “Japanese boys are like girls.”
- Valdar, a 25-year old Estonian –“I noticed not many Japanese men have beards or mustaches.”
What do you think of Japanese women?
- Dana – “I think they are cute. They are slender, small, and easily embarrassed, making them sweet. Also they are good at wearing make up and tend to look younger than their age.”
- Ann – “They are cute.”
- Valdar – “They are cute and petite”
What would you like to do on your date?
- Ann – “I’d like to watch fireworks together!”
Matthieu is a foreign exchange student
Matthieu, a 20-year old Frenchman –
- “Japanese men are gentlemen and cool looking too! When I came to Japan I was told that Japanese are afraid of foreigners. I don’t see that. When I was lost and asked for directions they were very kind in helping me.”
What do you think of Japanese women?
- Matthieu – “They are beautiful. I like their endearing faces. Many Japanese women are shy. It is very difficult to tell how old they are. Once I was surprised to find that someone who I thought was 16 was actually 30!” (laugh)
What would you like to do on your date?
- “I’d like to go to karaoke or eat dinner at home and talk about all sorts of things. Taking walks outdoors is nice too!”
Robin, Daniel, and Dennis
Robin is married to a Japanese.
What do you think of Japanese men?
- Daniel, a 25-year old Dutchman – “More Japanese men wear suits than men in Holland do”
- Robin, Also 25 years old and a Dutchman –“Sometimes I get the impression that Japanese men lead boring lives. Particularly Company men who work only for the company and have nothing else of interest in their lives.”
What do you think of Japanese women?
- Daniel – “I have never had the chance to talk to a Japanese woman enough to get to know her well, but I think they wear a lot of make up.”
- Dennis – a 29-year old Dutchman – “It is hard to guess the age of a Japanese woman. I think they are cute.”
- Robin – “I am married to a Japanese woman but compared to Japanese women, women in Holland are conceited. They naturally expect their boyfriends to do things for them and if he doesn’t meet her needs then she breaks up with him. In this way, compared to women in Holland Japanese women are wonderful”
What would you like to do on your date?
- Daniel – “I’d like to go to the beach and get outdoors for walks together.”
- Dennis – “Anything would be fine as long as we can spend time together.”
- Robin – “I am Married to my Japanese lady but we visited shrines, and went to karaoke, for our ‘Japanese’ dates.”
Brigitte, and Susanne
Foreign exchange students
- Brigitte, a 24-year old Austrian – “Japanese men look cool, but are shy with the opposite sex. In Austrian schools, boys and girls mix together to study in class. Because of this, when we are adults, mixing with the opposite sex is natural. But in Japan people seem to be immature when it comes to getting to know the opposite sex. Japanese men can only approach a woman when drinking, that is strange.”
- Susanne, a 25-year old Austrian – “Japanese men are shy, particularly around women”
What do you think of Japanese women?
- Brigitte – I think japanese women care too much about their appearance, they care too much about what other people think of how they look. They don’t have a strong sense of themselves. Maybe that is why I don’t have a lot in common with them. I feel that in order for me to get along with a Japanese woman, I must have the same hobbies or wear the same kinds of clothes as she does.”
- Susanne – “Japanese women are very feminine but I don’t like that. Instead of working on being themselves they are concerned about what other people think about them. They are avid make up wearers and look wonderful, but I think they try too hard to be ideal by societies standards.”
What would you like to do on your date?
- Brigitte – “I am currently dating a Japanese guy, but any kind of date is fine. I just don’t like movies because you don’t get a chance to talk.”
- Susanne – “I’d like to go blossom viewing in a park and take a picnic.”
Victor, on the left with his friend.
- Victor, a 18-year old Austrian –“Japanese men are normal, not so different from Austrian men.”
What do you think of Japanese women?
- Victor – “They are small, slender, and cute!”
What would you like to do on your date?
- Victor – “I’d like to go to a movie, or cafe, just a normal date is fine.”
Jeremie and Nicolas
Both fluent in Japanese
- Jeremie, a 24-year old Frenchman – “Men aren’t gentlemanly to women in Japan. Recently I saw a couple I know get on the train. There was only one seat open and the man took it! I was surprised because in France, no matter what, the man would most certainly give the seat to the woman.”
What do you think of Japanese women?
- Jeremie – “They have cute faces”
- Nicolas, is also 24 and French – “They are cute, especially the eyes, I like black eyes.”
What would you like to do on your date?
- Nicolas – “I’d like to go to a fancy restaurant and talk about all kinds of things. If she’s a kindhearted person I’d like to treat her to the meal.”
Jessica, Gladzy, and Issac
Costume Players taking part in the fair
- Jessica, a 24-year old Canadian – “Japanese men are very fashionable, they care about their hair and take care of their general appearance. I think its wonderful.”
- Gladzy, a 21-year old Canadian – Japanese men look like anime characters. I think it is attractive. Canadian men tend to be muscular but Japanese men are slender, which is sexy to me. The way they speak English hesitantly is cute!”
What do you think of Japanese women?
- Jessica –“Their so cute! Everything is cute, their faces, eyes, fashion, and hair. American women are sexy and glamorous but Japanese hold back, and are kind.”
- Gladzy – “They are cute! They are short so when I am in Japan I feel really tall!” (laugh)
- Issac, a 21-year old Canadian – “They have cute eyes. I like that they wear skirts. It’s cold in Canada so Canadian girls wear mostly jeans. I like their cute little high voices!”
What would you like to do on your date?
- Jessica – “I’d like to go to karaoke or a cafe together.”
- Gladzy – “I’d like to go to karaoke or a movie, I want to talk about all kinds of things.”
- Issac – “I’d like to go to a movie, the park, or a game center, just a regular date is fine.”
Jordy in the yellow T-shirt with friends.
- Jordy, a 30-year old Frenchman – “I think japanese men are too conservative. They are negative about trying new things. With that being the case it is difficult to be optimistic about Japan’s future. In the past Japan has always been forerunners in producing new things, always moving forward. It seems that power has been lost. In game production America is pushing ahead as well as in cell phone technology. Japanese use iPhone instead of Japanese cell phones. Japanese men should have the strength to get their ideas across to their superiors at work.”
What do you think of Japanese women?
- Jordy -“Japanese women are much more positive about new ideas than Japanese men. Women are more adventurous traveling abroad frequently compared to men.
What would you like to do on your date?
- Jordy – “I’d like to go to Enoshima beach, Hakone, the mountains in Nagano, or the Lavender fields of Hokkaido. Visiting old ruins is my hobby so I’d also like to visit Gunkan Island on my date.”
How interesting to know what some people are thinking! No worries! Japanese can go out into the world broadening their horizons, and spicing up their love lives. Just try by looking beyond your own backyard for a partner, or simply a date!
[ Read in Japanese ]