January 31st, 2008 by Foxes

Just had this conversation with a Japanese friend (in Japanese, of course!)

Her: What are you making?

Me: Rice and a croquette…with spinach and tofu.

Her: Haha, you’re like a Japanese person!

Yes…like a Japanese person indeed.

Sometimes I will meet a person who can tell right away that I am Asian–this simultaneously makes me happy (I really wasn’t adopted!), and scares me: what describes someone with Asian features? The people who have pointed out my “Asian-ness” have always been other Asians. One time I met two Japanese girls, who right away after seeing me compared me to half-Italian-American, half-Japanese singer Angela Aki. After I explained that I was also half, they said that they could totally see it–whereas my Western friend said she couldn’t see it at all and thought I was lying.

Methinks it’s the glasses.Some Westerners don’t know what real Asian people (specifically women) look like–they look for Lucy Liu’s, who of course is beautiful and all but doesn’t reflect what most Asian women look like (nor is a representation of the Asian standard of beauty–think Ziyi Zhang.) When I tell Westerners I am half Japanese, a lot of times I get this look like they are searching for something in my face that gives it away. Sorry, I know the folded-eyelid thing can throw people off.(At the same time, when I tell Japanese people I am half, they sometimes say “Oh–that explains the dark hair.” Um, actually my dad has dark hair too! So I’m sayin’ it goes both ways.)

I understand that there is bone/facial structure that is common among Asian women, but it makes me wonder to what extent do they make people look “more Asian” than others. In Japan alone there is a huge range of facial structures, to the extent that people from one prefecture can tell whether someone is an outsider or not. And of course, if you throw half-people into the mix…well it gets kind of hard to sort into categories. (I personally am tired of calling myself “half” all the time–I’m a whole person, dammit! I shouldn’t have to justify my actions/looks because of my heritage.)

Oh by the way, this obviously isn’t a real post on how to actually look Asian…if you came here for that reason alone, shame on you! It drives me nuts when girls (Asians and non-Asians alike) try to look “more Asian” by playing into stereotypes such as dressing like a FRUiTs model, buying Hello Kitty goods, and clever use of black hair dye and liquid eye liner. I don’t care if someone’s into that sort of fashion or whatever, but when it’s done with the intention of “looking more Asian,” it is kind of frightening.

On an unrelated note, here is (omg half!) Angela Aki performing the song Sakura Iro at 2007’s Kouhaku event. I got goosebumps watching it. Watch as she discreetly pulls a sakura petal away from her mouth and still delivers a killer performance.

5 Comments »

Hi, as you can see my name is Sophie,

As I was browsing through random websites I happened upon your blog and more specifically, this entry. I’m a 1/4 Japanese myself and after reading this I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I felt to share similiar experiences with another person of ‘mixed-Asian’ heritage. Many times I have had to defend myself and my ethnic backround in the case of ‘not looking Asian enough’ and being ostracised or criticised for it. I’ve lived many places in my 18 years; first Japan then England and now the U.S. Like you it seems that different people react differently to my admission of Japanese/Asian backround. Some say they ‘had a feeling I was’, some act suprised and others don’t see it and like you, think I’m lying. Furthermore, like you it’s usually other Asians/people with an Asian spouse that recognise it in me the most as opposed to Westerners however, it’s usually Asians of the older generations that recognise it whereas the younger generations react more negatively and don’t consider me to be ‘asian enough’ for them and treat me wearily. Has this ever occured with you? Also in my experience, there seems to be alot of ‘competition’ between mixed-Asian (more specifically Japanese) kids in the west to be “the most Japanese of all” what with the rising popularity and influx of Japanese (pop)culture into the West. Have you ever experienced this? I would love to chat about this subject more with you as it is nice to have some-one to relate to about these issues (though I suppose it must be far more aggrivating for you what with Japanese making up half of your genetic makeup haha) Anyways I’m rambling now but if you’d like to reply to rant along with me or just to talk, that’d be great! Just wanted to let you know how much this entry has helped me in feeling relief and to thank you for talking about an issue that most don’t speak about.

Cheers, Sophie

Said by Sophie | March 5, 2008 @ 7:24 am

Hi Sophie,
Thank you so much for your response! Like you said, this is something that isn’t commonly talked about and I wish it were a little bit more exposed. I would definitely love to talk more on the subject, so I will get in touch with you Thanks again Sophie!!

Said by Foxes | March 5, 2008 @ 9:14 am

Just wanted to let you know that I’ve replied to your e-mail. I thought I should send a little not on here since I don’t know how frequent you check your e-mail. Hope to hear from you soon!

Cheers,

Sophie

Said by Sophie | March 6, 2008 @ 1:16 am

Hi! Like Sophie was, I was also randomly surfing the web,, I’m not half Japanese, but I’m half filipino. I get a mixed responce when people try to guess my heritage/when I tell people my nationality. I get most of the following:
“Oh! NOW I see that..”
“You’re Filipina aren’t you?”
“Are you part.. um.. ‘Cause your eyes are just a little..” (I don’t know why they think I’ll be offended >.

Said by Jenny | May 2, 2008 @ 7:23 pm

Haha, I get the “I see it now!” too, and I’m not sure whether they are trying to be nice, or they really have picked out some physical characteristic that they deem “Asian” (eyes, hair?) Thanks Jenny immensely for your comment–good to know other people of mixed descent can relate (although in an unfortunate way…)

Said by Foxes | May 2, 2008 @ 7:45 pm

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