Comments on: Lost in Translation

By: Helen

Helen — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:01:13 +0000

Uh, by the way everyone, in Japan when an older man asks you out to coffee, he is actually propositioning you, not asking you out on a date. Just so you know. I had a similar encounter when I was 17 in Osaka, but I knew enough about the culture to say hell no! and take the stairs instead of the elevator I was waiting for.

Okay? Not a date, just a euphemism for sex. Kristen, I’d suggest you stop giving them your phone number.

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:04:15 +0000

I’m also a blonde American in Tokyo, and most of my experiences with Japanese guys have been exactly like this. And what’s worse, they (the ones I have encountered, anyway), are so OBSESSIVE. Like, texting me 2 or 3 times a day afterwards asking why I won’t go out with them. One guy kept that up for A YEAR!!!

I’ve also been mistaken for Russian and offered money for sex on the street. Numerous times. Usually while I’m in my sweatpants heading back from the gym!

By: Thaily

Thaily — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:51:21 +0000

I would also like to point out the obvious hazard of downing a drink given to you by a guy who can’t keep his hands to himself :/

By: LiLi

LiLi — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:53:03 +0000

Jessica– I had the same problem when I was in South Korea, that’s why I commented. Though I had no one actually confront me, the stares on people’s faces said it all. A Korean man from Canada was talking to me on a tour and I asked him for his email to get some pictures he took and the people who saw this innocent exchange on the street gave me some of the worst looks I’ve ever seen. The man was clearly 30 years older than me which was the worst part! My family is German but I look pretty Canadian so I was surprised. While Korea and Japan are both great countries, it was difficult to contend with. I just can’t imagine what actual eastern European girls deal with when traveling to these countries.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:46:14 +0000

LiLi is spot on right about the Russian thing. Many, many Japanese people have thought I’m Russian (I’m the one who submitted this story, btw) because I have very pale skin and my ancestors are from eastern Europe. But it definitely has negative connotations here… And for the record, this was also the shortest date ever. I did NOT stay long, though I didn’t give him the slap in the face he deserved either.

By: Yukue

Yukue — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:42:42 +0000

Sounds like a classic Japanese guy into foreigners, actually! Living in the Tokyo area now, I can sympathize. Japanese guys are either too incredibly shy to ask you out, or overly enthusiastic/sketchy (and usually hunting for foreign women specifically) when they try to pick you up! Haven’t found a happy medium yet.

By: LiLi

LiLi — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:15:33 +0000

Uhh it sounds like he thought you were a prostitute. If you are a foreigner in Japan or Korea, they tend to assume you are a prostitute if you are white because (from what I’ve heard) the majority of the prostitutes in the area are imported from Russia. So yeah, chances are, he thinks you’re a prosti.

By: Frau Blucher

Frau Blucher — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:52:05 +0000

he sounds like a guy who has very few social skills….but a word of advice. If a guy starts putting his hand up your skirt right after meeting you, it’s not a good idea to continue sitting there and downing drinks. You get up and GO!

By: lmnop

lmnop — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:07:14 +0000

Hmmm… I wouldn’t say all “random strangers” are bad to go on dates with. I actually met my ex randomly on the train. I was in a “sure, what the hell” kinda mood and he seemed really cool, artsy, and was my age. We actually got along really well and he didn’t turn out to be a creep or anything. We ended up dating for a few months.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:08:11 +0000

Pers, remember Worst dates happen to teach us to get up and leave. How else do you learn to stop such things. And don’t start the “But my mama taught me better” argument, because mama’s across the world don’t teach their daughters everything all the time (Mine never taught me to respect my body).

I think this taught the OP that such acts are an excellent reason to close-fist slap someone ;D