While studying in Japan, foreign students are surprised by the social customs and lifestyles that differ from their home countries. 

But they are also exposed to the kindness of people on a daily basis.

Here are stories that students at the Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute in Tokyo contributed to share their experiences and talk about how they see Japanese society and culture.

The original text was written in Japanese and was translated into English.

‘GREENHOUSE JAPANESE’

Li Yufei, 18, is from China

“Li-san wa gakusei desuka?” (“Are you a student, Li?”)

“I-i-e, gakusei dewa arimasen. Kaisha-in desu.” (“No, I’m not a student. I’m a company employee.”)

Textbooks for beginner and intermediate-level Japanese courses are filled with expressions like these, which are hardly used in everyday conversations.

I call sentences like these, which are intentionally simplified, “greenhouse Japanese.”

Advanced-level learners are also challenged with listening questions that make your brain go through twists and turns.

And I call them “trapping Japanese” because they try to entrap you with similar choices.

Both use Japanese sentences that are unnaturally crafted.

You may think you can avoid them when you actually talk to Japanese people, but surprisingly the barrier of greenhouse Japanese is hard to break.

When you talk to a Japanese person in real life, they speak slowly and only use simple words.

It is disappointing because I want to improve my speaking and listening skills through conversation.

Then, what can I do?

For example, words spoken by drivers and conductors on trains are real Japanese in terms of speed and pronunciation.

There are situations where you can hear people speak real Japanese in a natural manner, too.

You can break the barrier of unnatural greenhouse Japanese.

UNCOVERING KINDNESS

Nguyen Thi An Xuan, 21, is from Vietnam

I have seen someone say on the internet in Vietnam before I came to Japan: “Japanese people have no heart.”

But after living in Japan for a year and experiencing many things, I realized it is not true.

I saw people give up their seats for old people on the train, help others get up from a fall and give foreigners directions.

I also have experiences of being helped.

I once fell from a motorcycle and hurt my foot when I was doing my part-time job delivering newspapers.

But a Japanese person whom I didn’t know helped me.

He lifted the motorcycle up and picked up the papers for me. He was also worried about my injury, and I was deeply touched.

Sometimes I even receive sweets from customers when I deliver evening papers to them.

Many of them also encourage me, saying, “Keep it up!” and I feel my heart warm.

Japanese people act carefully to avoid bothering others and refrain from showing their emotions.

But they actually have a warm heart even if they look impassive.

LOST SENSE OF SECURITY

Chen Han, 30, is from China

I see many incidents featured on TV in which people’s lives are targeted in Japan.

I become anxious every time I see news reports.

Japan has been known as a safe country, but I can’t bring myself to say it still is.

Mr. Shinzo Abe, a former prime minister, was shot and killed in a public place, while a Chinese president of a company fell victim to a robbery in Tokyo.

I, who come from China, become anxious in crowded places, feeling that someone might come out of nowhere and attack people at random.

I don’t understand why things are like this.

It may be because Japanese are stressed out due to a worldwide depression and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nowadays, there are people who find it difficult to live, and I think they could turn to crime. It may worsen the mood of the entire society.

I want the mass media to suggest that the government take measures to stop that from happening.

I also want Japanese to act in a level-headed manner.

I want Japan to regain its sense of safety.

PATIENCE WITH MISTAKES

Ta Thi Huong Giang, 22, is from Vietnam

It’s been a year since I came to Japan.

I think I can also learn about Japan by experiencing its customs and lifestyles.

When Japanese people greet, they bow instead of shaking hands.

At first, this made me think of them as cold, and I thought they were indifferent to others, but as I study and work together with them, I keenly felt they can be friends for life once you make friends with them.

I currently work part time delivering newspapers, but I sometimes made mistakes because I have no experience.

If I were in Vietnam, I would not only be reprimanded, but also fired.

But in Japan, the manager is kind enough to explain why I made the mistake in a careful manner and encourage me to take it easy without getting angry at me.

I was deeply impressed.

I was once surprised by one of their customs, too.

When Japanese people eat, they say, “Itadakimasu” (Let’s eat) before beginning to eat and say, “Gochisosama” (Thank you for the fine meal) when they finish.

I think it is a form of appreciation for those who prepared the food.

As I also learned what was good about bowing, I started thinking that it is a very good country.

I want to live in Japan for a long time.

LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENCES

Myint Myint Mon, 21, is from Myanmar

I came to Japan in December last year.

I had a variety of experiences because the cultures are completely different in Japan and Myanmar.

I have a small appetite, and I often can’t finish what’s on my plate.

I couldn’t finish my meal when I visited a Japanese restaurant for the first time, and I found staff looking at me with troubled eyes.

I learned that Japanese people can’t stand to see food left uneaten.

I apologized in Japanese, but I couldn’t express my feelings well to restaurant staff, and I felt really awkward.

But while I’ve had some bad experiences, I’ve also had many heart-warming experiences.

When I was racing for a train, an old woman whom I didn’t know said, “Oh, what's the matter? Take care.”

As I met many people in Japan, I learned they have different ways of thinking and different personalities.

I have gotten used to living in Japan.

Now I feel I have more good times than difficult times, and I am moving forward as I try my best.