I appreciate that Jasmine called out Chipa for saying he had been “blessed” to not have 100% curly hair. We have to stop pushing the narrative that Black hair is a struggle or horrible to have. It’s not! It’s beautiful and just requires certain ways to care for it, just like every other hair type requires specific hair care practices to care for them…
Well, it's your opinion. She's entitled to hers. Not a fun or a fun of a curly hair is fine. Both answers are perfectly acceptable. It's you that needs some adjustments on your limited line of thoughts.
Nah he is a critical thinker, he was talking about how happy he is that his hair type is easy for HIM to manage without having to rely on people to do his hair
@@ellabrad3886 uhm no. It’s VERY common in the black community to treat black/curly hair (same in south Asian communities) as horrible. Not just “oh I prefer”. It’s making people feel bad, ugly and like they can’t succeed with curly hair. I don’t think the guy in the video meant it that way because they are in Japan where they specialize in East Asian hair types and Aisha is more “westernized” so she’d take it differently but in a video reaching numerous audiences, you should always be careful with your words. You’re trying to reach demographics so you should be respectful. Freedom of speech but that speech can have consequences
As someone who lives in Japan, I wish they would have also chosen more people who work outside of entertainment and social media. I want to hear their opinions too
Especially considering those working outside of entertainment and social media are at the mercy of society and simply don’t have a choice to have their own values - less it get them fired from the only job they we able to get. These individuals are just as it was said in the video: “The exception, not the rule.”
@@jackson7922 it's ironic that the topic is about race, but the video excludes the reality of most black people in Japan. I really think they should of put more work into finding people that aren't influencers our in entertainment
I loved Stevens personality so much, you can tell he is a kind and genuine soul. I also loved how outspoken Aisha was and I’ll be looking forward to her growth in the music industry 🥰
Steven is kind but he also didn't seem to understand that everyone ACTS a certain way as a result of societal expectations. He sees the 'American' societal norms as normal and thinks others need to be changed
i may not be Black or Japanese but understanding peoples perspective, history and outlook is important. I'm glad i got to hear these unique and enlightening opinions and experiences.
If you worry about yourself you will get where you want to be regardless of your color. But if you worry about a whole race of people and divide yourself to strictly think about all you will fail. Remember young people an employer don't hire a whole race. They are hiring you and your personality. And whether or not you dress appropriately . Be yourself quit following everyone around you. And be the best you can be .
I'm so glad to see Aisha in this especially growing up listening to her in Naruto. Her song is Kono Koe Karashite. Honestly, my experience in Japan was primarily positive when I was both an exchange student and tourist. I actually think that Jubilee should do one on exchange students of different races on their perspectives. Especially coming from Black and Brown backgrounds. Cuz hair wise, it's REAL
The discussions got heated sometimes but we all had so much Love and Respect for each other which made it so beautiful. Thank you Jubilee for making us feel seen. I will never forget this day. 👩🏽✏️♥️
“heated”?? lol where??? If that’s heated for ya’ll then yes you are definitely Japanese and I strongly recommend you DO NOT come to America. You wouldn’t fit in American society lmao our version of heated is easily 20x what we seen displayed in this video
I disagree with the guy who said he gets called ''boss'' in Africa because of his light skin. In Africa it's a common thing among ourselves. Its a way of showing mutual respect to each other especially to someone you consider a bit well to do. And about the dating issue, STEVEN got it right on! I'm a scholarship student and been here in Japan for 4 months now and I've witnessed that same scenario he described.... These Japanese are very scared of us. Just this evening before typing this, a woman with her two children turning around and changing direction because they noticed i was behind them and after the younger kid kinda drew their attention. It was very annoying but sad.
Yeah lmao, the japanese are weirded out by white people, and even more weirded out by black people. I guess it's because it's pretty rare, they don't have many immigrants from the west and africa. Can draw a parallel to that, being from northen sweden; my ex gf is from a village out in the mountains, and vividly remembered the first time she saw a real live black man.
I mean, can’t fully blame them since they have a very surface level understanding of anyone outside of their race. I remember my trip to Japan, I saw this restaurant which specifically mentioned “no foreigners”. They really need to work on their xenophobia.
@@zingyburger Japan always seems like a country that likes you to come and spend a couple months or years but always wants to remind you that "you are not from here"
I'm so grateful to have been apart of this with these incredible people. Although some of us had different opinions, it was wonderful being on platform that allowed us to listen to everyone's individual perspective in order to understand their past that brought them to those opinions. There was so much more to this video, but I understand why it was taken out. It was still a beautiful experience. Thank you Jubilee!
I thought it was interesting how Raimu changed some of her answers depending on how the rest of the group answered. For example, it seemed like she wasn’t going to share her experience with the cops until she saw that nearly everyone else had an experience with them.
Jubilee, you guys have no idea the impact you’re making with all the series you’ve created over the years. This new series/episode in particular, really pulled my heart strings. Thank you!
This was AMAZING! I love that jubilee is constantly expanding and upping their quality. Fantastic cast, edit, and setting to really set the theme for the video. This video is so powerful and shows how diverse the black community can be outside of what you just see on tv.
As someone who is black and has taken an interest in Japanese culture, this video was such a treat. It was enlightening seeing the different perspectives that everyone brought and the discussions being made! Cannot wait for more episodes!
When you're keep emphasized the skin colour as your identity too much, you might fall into the rabbit hole of colourism & will not integrated into any societies that's were not rooted by genetically ancestors/world view forever.
I feel for Chipa. He seems like he has been through alot of pain due to racism. He seems like a nice guy. Cute too. I hope for the best for him. All of them.
It takes people people like this to open doors for all black people. So the good experiences that the Japanese people have with black people in real life will supercede the negative portrayal in the media. So for that, I say thank you for showing our race in a good light and all the best for the future 😊
@@bdh711What you may not know is how much struggle the half-Black children face in Japan. They aren't treated the same as half-Asian and half-Europeans. It's actually too painful to hear their stories.
We do that a lot. Especially us with tri-language speakers in Japan when we speak Malay-Japanese-English to express ourselves better among our peers but it’s annoying for those who only understood 1 or 2 languages 😂
I love Steven speaking up and not being afraid to say the truth. Especially when he said that we shouldn’t have to conform and make ourself smaller just to be accepted… we are acting to make other people feel comfortable but what about our own sense of comfort?
I think what he was also missing was that sometimes that’s what Japanese people are comfortable doing there more comfortable making other people comfortable because that’s how they’ve grown up and asked her culture. That’s what they were trying to say.
It depends on the person. Some people are excessively selfish or self-centred, and need to learn to have consideration for others. For others it's the other way round. There needs to be an aspect of compromise especially if your basically a guest/visitor in another country. Otherwise, you may end up perpetuating the negative stereotypes that people have about you (i.e. foreigners are inconsiderate, selfish, lazy, ill-mannered, have no respect for Japanese culture, don't bother to learn the language and so on). It's much more complex than what Steve was saying. No offence, but particularly in the case of black people this is pronounced, due to the stereotypes perpetuated by media and society. Japanese people will probably attribute perceived negative characteristics such as higher levels of criminality and violence to their refusal to conform or abide. By only thinking about his own comfort and disregarding society, Steven reinforces a particular image of black people in their minds.
I love the fact that this was not just in english. It was awesome seeing them speak in another language and share their lives with us. This is beautiful.
Aisha and Steven were my favorites. They were so comfortable and confident, in who they are, that they want everyone to be like that. With that being said, I didn't not like chipa, but I also get the feeling that he still thinks he's a litte better because he's mixed. Yet, he has the worst time dating and is looked over because his mixed. Still, he was expressing his own opinions, based off of his experiences, which just like everybody else, he is entitled to do. I didn't like how a couple of times, people tried to shut him down and tell him that he was wrong because of those experiences. I personally think he needs to be more secure and proud of his black side, the same way he is about his Japanese side.
I found this so fascinating. Their perspectives on racism not really affecting them but also reflecting about how children get scared when they see them, or they’re constantly stared at or even interactions with police seemed contradictory. I guess it’s just the severity of racism and those negative perceptions differs from those held by Americans and also the overall culture of Japan seems a lot more peaceful and harmonious. I really want to travel there one day.
A lot of the time when you don't have a very large community that share the same issues as you or more particularly one that you can really identify with you will often see people downplay or act numb to those bad encounters as a defense mechanism to cope with that kind of racism or prejudice as opposed to constantly calling it out. At the end of the day when you are outnumbered and overwhelmed by cultural notions/norms that cause the racism you experience its easier to be numb to it than essentially take it on alone.
In a comment below, Jasmin literally said kids would call her names when she taught at a school 😭 Like fam, they called you “bird poo” and you’re talking about your family getting mad that you say racism isn’t in Japan? Mixed messages, man….
@@chey6073 you know they are trying so hard to be liked by Japanese when the natives say they experienced racism from police and society whilst the expats haven't lol.
I think they’re not referring to a lack of racism but rather how racism doesn’t impede most of the opportunities they can get. There isn’t a structurally or universally legal realities that would prevent them from succeeding. They can succeed based off their individual realities than structural things that will keep them back. Nor do they have to worry about their safety to the degree they need to in say western countries.
I wanted to watch the video before I commented. I'll start by saying, I'm a white American male. My wife is from Trinidad, therefore she is a black woman (there are many Indian people in Trinidad as well). I bring this up to say the following. My wife has a cousin from the Caribbean islands that lives in Japan. He has done so for a few years now. He is a dark man. We have talked with him on Facebook a number of times about his Japanese experience. His experience has been the same as everyone else's in this episode. If you plan to live in Japan then you need to learn Japanese. Once you do, life will be much easier for you. Even though Japan is a very conservative country, they are slowly opening up and accepting people from different backgrounds. Jubilee put together a very excellent episode.
I really like Steven, I feel like in a way being told to fit in and be quiet is what can be the biggest change of, changing yourself. In a way, from America to Japan, being yourself and free to being closed in quiet and trying to be nicer can seem a bit troublesome, but the white foreigner expirences vs. The black foreigner expirence can be very telling. As well as colorism. I believe there's more to it than simply fitting in like every other foreigner. Also very excited for the more Black in.. series !🩷 😆💕✨ありがとー
This is literally one of THE BEST episodes I’ve ever seen and I believe I saw Saiyon on another video somewhere on TH-cam. Ayisha is a firecracker and I love it! Steve is an absolute delight. He reminds me so much of Billy Porter’s character Prey Tell from Pose. Wonderful episode! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Pretty nice video, really make one consider and understand cultural differences. I'm actually Nigerian and I want to correct a misconception about people calling him "boss". It's a sort of friendly approach to get someone's attention. We do it to ourselves too, irrespective of skin colour. It's all about making conversation and getting someone's attention "playfully".
Jubilee you really stepped up the SPECTRUM series. It was already entertaining and educational but adding the global perspective and conversation has elevated this series. Bravo! Well done!! I can't wait to see the What Is It Like To Be Black In India episode.
I can really feel for the biracial Black people in this video. Being Black and Latina has also been challenging, especially with my Latin family all being fair skin so I tried to fit in and not act like a stereotypical "black" person and straighten my hair, even though other black people made fun of me for being "white-washed," but I let my natural hair grow out and act the way I want to act. I really resonated when she said asked her mom why she got with a Black man and had her because I asked my mom the same thing. And I have also thought about skin bleaching just to look lighter. It was and still is mentally taxing but I'm 17 now and hoping I can overcome this internalized hatred one step at a time :D
latina isn’t a race though. Being an afro-latina doesn’t automatically make you biracial. So do you mean you’re mixed with Indigenious Americans? White Europeans? East Asian? South Asian? Middle Eastern? African?
I totally understand that I’m biracial (white and black) and I am a hundred percent white passing and was bullied a lot as a kid Aswell. I’m still trying to learn to love the black side of me and I hope one day it will get easier for people like us. ❤
20:03 “we’re not acting, it’s just two different cultures. it was very american to be like ‘it should be there, it should be more this way’. japanese people enjoy this way, they feel more comfortable in this way’” i love how she pointed that out. you don’t go to another country and expect them to accommodate your difference or change them for you. YOU CAME TO THEIR COUNTRY, YOU CONFORM TO THEM. they dont get to change for you
I'd argue that Steven didn't looked at things in depth about Japanese culture though and are forcing his Americanism towards others. There's a saying in Japan that says "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down"
As an African student in Japan, I must admit that my personal experiences of living and studying in Japan have been captured vastly in this video. Overall, I feel like being a foreigner in Japan is overwhelming because you are pressured to act in a certain way because of the differences of Japan and the rest of the world. And for a black person in Japan, the train situation is real. Almost all black people in Japan have a similar experience in using Japanese trains. The Japanese people are hesitant to sit next to black people on their trains which is so sad because they would also be staring at them for most of that journey.
Very interesting!! I wish it was longer so I could hear everyone's responses to each question. I can definitely see where Steven was coming from, about not "acting" or changing yourself to suit others and to be your authentic self. But I also understand why someone would feel compelled to assimilate. Hard to say if one approach is better than the other. And when you think about it this struggle is not very different being black people in America- we feel compelled to "code switch" (speak differently), pick different hairstyles, dress differently, etc to appear "less black" ie "less threatening" in many situations. Which is sad. But at least in Japan it doesn't seem as much as a life or death matter as it can be here. Can't wait to see the rest of the videos in this series.
I admire Steven's honesty. He isn't being self entitled or trying to change Japan. He is calling out the problem he see in Japan. He wants them to be able to show and express their true selves. Also, there are two things I wanna talk about Jasmine's response to Steven when she disagreed and said "It's very American to be like...this is not good, it should be more this way, it should be more..." and she continued saying it's a "Japanese culture." First, in her first statement about the American thing, Japanese are literally the same! If you know Japanese, they're also like that too. They're literally like robots who need to "act" and "behave" in a certain way, and when you're different, they call you out too. That is what Steven is only doing AND it's not just an "American thing." So don't make it sound like Americans are bad and that they're the only ones doing it. Second, when Jasmine said it's a "Japanese culture," For your information, "acting" and "being fake" is not a culture. That is what Steven was pointing out. That part when Japanese people try to act or fake things like their voice, their laugh, the way they behave and act around people. Being naturally shy is different and okay, but if you know Japanese, you'll easily get what Steven is saying. THAT part is not a culture. Those are choices that people make. And Steven was also right about how these underlying problems are affecting Japanese and why suicide rate is high. Steven is just being real and honest and part of being real is being able to call out the problems and hear the hard truth. This is also why it's hard for me to trust Japanese to be honest. They can be so kind, so polite, so innocent like, and everything nice you can think of, but when you truly get to know them, you'll be really surprised.
@@missplainjane3905 You'll be surprised that "most of the time" what they show you aren't actually real. They're mostly fake. 1. The politeness 2. The innocent, shy, and kind voices they make when they talk to you. 3. That they are really friendly to you 4. Like they're very respectful and aren't racist towards other nationalities 5. That they are what they show you. So everything that people say and think about Japanese people aren't actually real until you lived long enough in their country. If I have to describe it, Japanese are so good at sugarcoating things, even themselves, like everything is nice, but the real truth behind those sugarcoating aren't as beautiful as they look like. Number 1. Japanese aren't really nice. They pretend to be nice. Let's be honest. They smile and talk so kindly and politely like they can't break a glass, but damn, when you turn your back and when they're all alone, their true colors come out. They're pretty much like those anime characters. In other countries there are people like these too but Japan is on another level. I'd rather want a rude person at least I know what I'm dealing with. These fakeness are dangerous and can't be trusted. Number 2. That Japanese aren't racist. Whenever I hear this, all I can do is smile. Oh boy. You people have no idea how incredibly racist and xenophobic these people are. Those who have lived long enough in Japan, like these people in this video, can testify to this. They're good at hiding this now adays because they know it's not widely accepted and tolerated, and they're always aware of the image they present. But damn, when you get to know them, their true colors, they won't be able to hide it. You'll most likely hear them say, "Go back to you country!!" or "Gaijin!! (Degrading term for foreign people)" or comment about your skin or anything rude about your country and many more. They are so biased and only love and respect Caucasians that's why most Caucasians doesn't have any negative experiences here. Japanese also feel like they're superior than other asians. You'll see their biased treatment towards other Asians and Caucasians. Just look at their magazines, their TV ads, and how they treat tourists in general. They'll put special treatments towards the whites than other nationalities. You'll never see a brown Asian looking models or celebrities. Japanese won't always verbally attack or say anything to you, but at the back of their head, they really don't like foreigners in their country especially when you're coming from a third world country. So for those of you who have only lived in Japan recently or have only come here for vacation, especially if you're white, don't tell me that Japanese aren't racist because I and like the people in this video have lived long enough in Japan to testify this that Japanese are Racists and Xenophobic.✋🏼
@@missplainjane3905 Also, Anime and Japan's real world is a very good example of this Sugar coating I'm telling you. Many people think Japan's real world is like anime full of colors, happiness, and perfection. But the truth is, it's not. There are so many people who are depressed, sad, and lonely in Japan. Just look at the suicide rates. In addition to the fake kindeness and politeness I mentioned earlier, another reason why I'm saying this is because Japanese are also a Major bully. Yes they're Bullies!!! You have no idea what I'm talking about but if you live long enough, man, you'll be surprised. Which will also make sense why many people commit suicide in this country especially in elementary and high school. Their country are okay with Bullying and never do anything to prevent this. And what does bully people do to people who are not their own kind?? Most adults won't show it especially when they first meet you, but it's there. It's only a matter of time and circumstances where you'll see this part of them. Try getting on the train and observe the atmosphere. It's mostly gloomy. Japan is only fun when you first visit this place or stay here for several weeks. But the longer you live, the more you'll discover things and the truth. Which is why I smirked/laughed when Jubillee asked their contestants if they'll live in Japan forever and they responded no and give different allibies/reasons. lol. Like other newcomers in Japan, I was also one of those who speak good things about this country, I'll also go out of my way to defend them. But that already changed. Japan and Japanese are not what other people in other countries think of.
@@gfam5304 OML for your 3rd paragraph, you just reminded me how the popular genre in Japanese music where they make a fun cute happy song and the lyrics are horrid, suicidal, and just not good. That quite literally symbolizes that statement you said.
@@dongsicheng170 Thanks Dong. I'm glad you noticed that. It's very sad unfortunately. I don't mean to spread hate or anything towards Japan or Japanese, but I just hope people see and know this reality especially for those who want to move and live here someday so they won't be disappointed and shocked. At the same time, just know that not everyone who show you kindness and politeness here in Japan can be trusted.
Normal body size in the eyes of westerner maybe consider as overweight in Japan (unless you are sumo/heavy lifting athletes).. different standard in different societies, it is normal phenomenon
lol saw a video where there was a plus size black woman with rainbow braids in Japan and a Japanese woman walked up to her and started to try to pick her up multiple times (without her consent btw)
19:43 I love that the biracial folks chose to check Steven on feeling as though all Black people have to be over the top. As they said Japanese culture is part of their culture. So why shouldn’t they accept some of its norms? Nothing wrong with fitting in as long as you know who you really are.
Exactly, i think if you are the one who moved somewhere, you should adjust to their culture. Thats just the public persona, doesnt mean you change on the inside.
This was such a beautiful video! As a black person interested in Japanese culture and travelling to Japan, these are the types of honest, raw and heartfelt videos that I'd been searching for. Thank you Jubilee for making a video on this! I'm so happy you got Aisha on the show, I love her music! This must have been such a healing experience for all of them, but it was so heartbreaking to hear about how they feel the need to 'shrink' themselves to be accepted. 😢 The girl who said that she wants to change things for the next generation of biracial Japanese kids seems like such a lovely person with a beautiful heart, I would love to meet her if I come to Japan one day! 😊
This was really interesting! As someone who has watched a lot of J-Vloggers over the years, it was great to see some familiar faces. I’m studying Japanese and will be doing my year abroad next year so it’s wonderful to hear about their experiences. Also, this has been the best series I’ve seen on this channel in a while! Keep it coming!
This has been my favorite episode on this channel. Every voice was soooo different, and everyone was soooo articulate and soooo candid. Each person's authenticity spoke to my heart. I enjoyed this particular set of people speaking about their personal journeys. Loved this group.
I think this is a very interesting situation, because Japan is almost 100% Japanese people it's understandable that companies won't be selling hair products for the black population and there would be a cultural divide so not much will be done to aid that population. I guess that's the issue with moving anywhere with a population that's predominantly a certain race. I loved how each person got their own kinda segment to explain their life and stuff.
I think Steven is one of the most honest people there. Acting means you are not yourself. Black people are not treated equally by anyone. I believe racism is taught everywhere.😢
In the "I feel accepted by the Japanese community" prompt, Steven makes a good point about the dangers of being too reserved/too quite to the point of an unhealthy suppression of one's true self. However, what some of the others are saying is also valid. (Although they used the word _act_ and _adjust_ to describe their conformity to Japanese culture, I think _adapt_ would be a better word.) While it is not wise to consciously perpetuate a false persona of oneself, it is also worth contemplating human nature and its intricacies when discussing the reasons why we behave in different ways in certain settings. Our cultural upbringing and unique life experiences are pivotal in understanding the diversity of thought and behavior that exists between and within social groups.
It was wonderful to hear all of the participant's various experiences being Black in Japan. Japan is one of my favorite countries to visit for many reasons, but one of the reasons is how different it feels being Black there vs in the USA.
I agree with this! Sometimes it feels cringe bringing up my "Blackness" in Japan with Japanese people just because it isn't usually a factor so it's almost like I'm separating myself form the "foreigner" group for no reason. Of course there are cases where things happen to me maybe because I'm Black here, but overall, just in my personal experience it's usually just because I'm not Japanese.
Thank you for this video. I'm half Chinese half Japanese, and though visually I "look Japanese", there's still definitely some moments in Japan that made me realise how much Japan really needs to up their education on cultures and different races etc. I loved this discussion.
This was so powerful and informational. I have a biracial friend who lives in Japan and she constantly tells me about her experience and how she's made to feel less-than. (Steven does not listen, though. He has his own experience but feels the need to impose his vision on others. I understand where he's coming from, but he needs to listen.)
This is great, now I have an idea on how it fills to be black in Japan. Thank you all for putting this together. However, I want to strongly disagree with Chipa about having the filling that those with light skin are considered as Boss and that's why some bleach. That's never the case here in Nigeria, though being white you may be respected but not as you put. Thanks to you all.
@@DA-js7xz Yes it has. I'm a 14 yr old girl in South Africa and let me tell you about how I felt so bad about having dark skin I would cry and search for videos on how to get whiter and I was lutterally 12YRS OLD AT THE TIME.
@@justjoanneofficial Other African countries don’t care about skin colour that much btw. I’m black and I’ve always been praised for my skin tone. Just love your skin no matter what.
As a Japanese raised in America, this is an extremely interesting video. One perspective that stood out to me was Steven's. Now I don't disagree that Japanese tend to not share all of themselves with those who they have just met. That we like the slow burn of building a relationship. That we wear many different faces for different situations and people. But the thing I think Steven doesn't seem to recognize is that all of those faces are still me. Just different facets of me. That for Japanese people, building strong relationships with people takes time. That it's not possible to share your "real self" just with words. For us, its a slow and careful process that encompasses not only words but gestures, expressions, actions, and so much more. I see it in myself too. When I'm in the states, I'm much more consistent in the way I act. I don't really have to change the way I act depending on who im talking to or where I am. My western perspective says that that mean Im being "true to myself" but my Japanese perspective says that Im just being less dimensional. On top of that, I think America pushes such a strong message of being yourself and expressing yourself and being unique, which can also be a terribly isolating and lonely experience. In contrast, in japan, I feel like im much more a part of something bigger. Like im part of this social web. That im protecting the peace of those around me and those around me are protecting my peace. That there's an air to be read, a cafe for others to be has. Consideration. And I think that that can be a very beautiful experience. I don't act the way I act in a club in a classroom. I don't act the way I act in a izakaya in a temple. I think that opens our lives to a great depth and complexity. I am able to exercise the complexity of my being because as a human, I'm complex and it's reflected in the society around me. And, much like the two half Japanese people in the video, that's how we feel comfortable. That it comes naturally to us. But I get that as a foreigner, this can be a hard concept to grasp. I have trouble with it too sometimes. But for Japanese people, they have been immersed in this since day 1. They know exactly what is being said without it being said. They know the difference in meaning in a hairline change in inflection or tone or expression. I understand that that can be something that is frustrating. But I don't necessarily see it as something that has to change. It's just different
Naruto Shippuden ED 22 was always one of my all time favorites. Much love to Aisha. You are a part of my childhood and dont even know it. And as a half black person myself, you’re an inspiration
As someone who is black and always wanted to go to Japan, these videos help me understand more about the culture, what the black experience is like there, and what to expect. It’s very interesting to see videos like this and hear everyone’s thoughts and opinions. The black experience and/or being half black, half Japanese, isn’t talked about as much as it should. This was an insightful video and they all seem like great individuals.
My opinion but as a Japanese person I personally don’t mind other people from other countries. I really appreciate tourists visiting us and when I see other skin tones like so what? Japanese people also have dark skins sometimes! I think you guys look beautiful as heck. If you like see people staring I would stare at them too cuz I would want to talk to them because they look beautiful and I am also bilingual so. I go to a international school so international in Japan isn’t bad at all. I’m not mixed or anything so idk how you guys feel but yeah.
I am Japanese. I thought it was a great video. I personally love the way black people look. No matter what clothes they wear, they look like models, women look beautiful and attractive, and men look extremely cool. Unfortunately, as discussed in the video, the small population of black people in Japan can make children feel creepy and old people discriminatory. It is also true that not all Japanese are as kind and friendly as people from overseas would like to think. As a Japanese, I can only hope that this country can be a comfortable place for people from other countries and other races.
僕は外国人と日本に行きたい。中国で生まれた So I'm used to people looking at me different. すいません日本語下手。僕は勉強している！Do you think that 外国人 can be accepted in Japanese society if they 日本語を話せるか？
As a half japanese being half in my country and half in Japan... It would be interesting to see, how others "hafu" see this! Thank you always for a great work, Jubilee!
I am black and I have lived in Japan so I'll give my perspective. 1) somewhat disagree. I mainly did my own hair and imported products from america, but then I met another black girl, and she told me who she goes to. So I went to this woman who is full Japanese but used to do hair on the army base so she knew how to take care of my hair better than me! 2) strongly disagree - I actually had people tell me they really want my skin color. 3) strongly disagree - never had an issue getting a date. Men would usually approach me first. 😊 4) i had 3 experiences. The first was the usual thing they do when you first arrive where they approach you in the street and ask you for your residency card. The second time, I had passed a squad car going in the opposite direction, so I didn't pay attention to them. I turned the corner and continued home, but then when I stopped at a red light, I saw that same squad car pull up next to me. The squad car that was going in the opposite direction just moments prior. I was feeaked out. They never approached me, but I think that was because I rushed inside my house. The third and final time was when I was walking with headphones and accidently blocked some teenagers on bikes. One girl gave me a nasty look as she rode by me. Two seconds later, a squad car stopped me. I 100% believe they told them something. 5) Agree - in the beginning, no. Like no one sat next to me on the train and stuff like that. By the time I left, people were falling to sleep on my shoulder; strangers would start conversations with me in Japanese; and my friends were trying to convince me to change my passport. 6) strongly disagree - this one is obvious. I live in Italy now, and I plan on living here for the rest of my life. I am married to an italian and we have two children. I have an established life here.
ok good for you...but that doesn't mean everyone has or had the same experience,I kind of feel like you are trying to invalidate some of their feelings/experiences which is wrong
@@zeesroyalty7053 she isn’t trying to invalidate anyone. She just had an overall positive experience, with a few negative things here and there. If she was trying to invalidate she would have tried to pick apart the experiences of those in the video, which she didn’t
I agree with Chipa that people with lighter skins are usually treated differently but the term "boss" is used by young people usually when we don't know the other person's name or we want to get their attention or just as a banter among ourselves in some cases. For example if I met someone on the streets and wanted to ask for direction to the hospital I would probably just go like "boss please where's the hospital located?". This is at least the case in Ghana.
Chipa has a great personality and I love how he embrasses both sides of his culture without holding one above the other. We love to see it. Zambia ku Chalo🇿🇲🇿🇲
Protruding nail will be hammered down… When you are in Rome act like Roman( I mean Japan/Japanese) These two words come to my mind when I think about life in Japan. I’m Japanese who lives in state 40+ years ever since graduating from high school in Japan, so naturally I adapted lots of American things like way I talk, do things,how I communicate with others or simply how I sit down. Conforming with other people in public places is very important that surpasses own individuality in Japan. You can be different within your circle of family or friends who let you be yourself but when you are outside better be behave yourself, not just for yourself but for your circle as well. It’s reminds me every time when I go back to Japan, my sister tells me “ watch yourself “, thanks Sister! 😅
I don't think Chipu meant any disrespect by saying "blessed hair." I think he meant he had a nice mixture of straight and curl that is easy to work with. Arthell? He mentioned he was in a chair for eight hours getting his hair done in cornrows. My mother is Japanese. She wanted a perm. There was a Black woman working in the salon. The owner asked if it was okay to have the Black lady work on mom's hair. Mom said it was fine. The stylist made a mess of mom's hair. Mom's hair is really thick and coarse and very straight. The hair did not curl around the rollers. They were loose and kept popping out and the stylist had big issues and took forever. Mom had enough hair for six people. Some Black people have really thick hair too, but the stylist was shocked by this amount of hair and mom's hair wouldn't stay around the rods, it had no curl. I asked the same, "What happened to your hair, mom?" My dad is a White American. I grew up in the United States, but was born in Japan. The lady who is half Japanese and half Nigerian is absolutely beautiful! She has perfect features and a perfect body. I see a model and she did say she was in a beauty pageant competition . And my mother made made babies cry too. All of the kids would cry when they looked at my mother's face. I never understood why, but, they did. I asked my sister why did babies and little kids cry when they saw mom's face and my sister was so absorbed into herself that she didn't notice. This was in the US. I really like Steven too. He has a big heart. ❤🌸🌹👍.
Nah..The guy speaking on being called "Boss" because of his light-skinned is 1000% incorrect absolutely incorrect..he was called Boss down here for either of these reasons. 1. Just Respect. 2. Someone was trying to make him feel comfortable with a motive of getting money out of him....SIMPLE!
In Nigeria calling you boss, is just a modern day greeting doesn’t mean cos of your skin, my friends call me boss and i call em boss, think of it like British “mate” of American “Hommie or dude”
Just don't forget that wherever you go, you'll fit in...if you know how to respect and adjust to the people's culture. Adaptation is the key with respect to all!
I appreciate that Jasmine called out Chipa for saying he had been “blessed” to not have 100% curly hair. We have to stop pushing the narrative that Black hair is a struggle or horrible to have. It’s not! It’s beautiful and just requires certain ways to care for it, just like every other hair type requires specific hair care practices to care for them…
Yes thank you i loved it
Well, it's your opinion. She's entitled to hers.
Not a fun or a fun of a curly hair is fine. Both answers are perfectly acceptable.
It's you that needs some adjustments on your limited line of thoughts.
Nah he is a critical thinker, he was talking about how happy he is that his hair type is easy for HIM to manage without having to rely on people to do his hair
@@ellabrad3886 uhm no. It’s VERY common in the black community to treat black/curly hair (same in south Asian communities) as horrible. Not just “oh I prefer”. It’s making people feel bad, ugly and like they can’t succeed with curly hair. I don’t think the guy in the video meant it that way because they are in Japan where they specialize in East Asian hair types and Aisha is more “westernized” so she’d take it differently but in a video reaching numerous audiences, you should always be careful with your words. You’re trying to reach demographics so you should be respectful. Freedom of speech but that speech can have consequences
@@kiki13451 It's good to use the word #blessed. We all should be grateful for the good things God gives us.
As someone who lives in Japan, I wish they would have also chosen more people who work outside of entertainment and social media. I want to hear their opinions too
Especially considering those working outside of entertainment and social media are at the mercy of society and simply don’t have a choice to have their own values - less it get them fired from the only job they we able to get. These individuals are just as it was said in the video: “The exception, not the rule.”
@@jackson7922 it's ironic that the topic is about race, but the video excludes the reality of most black people in Japan. I really think they should of put more work into finding people that aren't influencers our in entertainment
probably hard to find you all lmao
@@Luv-dq5th I'm not black but I'll put them in touch with my friends. Some are in IT, science, teaching English, etc
Yes!
I loved Stevens personality so much, you can tell he is a kind and genuine soul. I also loved how outspoken Aisha was and I’ll be looking forward to her growth in the music industry 🥰
Exactly
yeah i like Steven too
Steven is kind but he also didn't seem to understand that everyone ACTS a certain way as a result of societal expectations. He sees the 'American' societal norms as normal and thinks others need to be changed
he reminds me of Billy Porter so much! beautiful soul he has
Yes! I would love to see him perform when we finally visit Japan. He's so interesting and charming.
i may not be Black or Japanese but understanding peoples perspective, history and outlook is important. I'm glad i got to hear these unique and enlightening opinions and experiences.
As a black Japanese person this video was insulting
@@10pmmemes88 The questions or the point of view of every one? or the point of the foreigners ?or the point of the hafus?
If you worry about yourself you will get where you want to be regardless of your color. But if you worry about a whole race of people and divide yourself to strictly think about all you will fail. Remember young people an employer don't hire a whole race. They are hiring you and your personality. And whether or not you dress appropriately . Be yourself quit following everyone around you. And be the best you can be .
@Norma "be someone I can't attach stereotypes to because that's your job, not mine"
Well said
Do one for black people who lived in China… I did and we all had different experiences… let me on the show lol
Or asians in south africa
... apparently theyre viewed as the lowest class
Contact them
I coming but as a special guest representative lol, cuz I would rep Taiwan!
@@tee5705 how is it living it taiwan
One for India too lol
I'm so glad to see Aisha in this especially growing up listening to her in Naruto. Her song is Kono Koe Karashite. Honestly, my experience in Japan was primarily positive when I was both an exchange student and tourist. I actually think that Jubilee should do one on exchange students of different races on their perspectives. Especially coming from Black and Brown backgrounds. Cuz hair wise, it's REAL
Which one is Aisha?
@@tyaler9805 the one in the cute black shirt and pink pants
In Naruto?? What do you mean?
@@marleymarsss She did a song for Naruto. Ending 22.
She was in Naruto?
The discussions got heated sometimes but we all had so much Love and Respect for each other which made it so beautiful. Thank you Jubilee for making us feel seen. I will never forget this day. 👩🏽✏️♥️
Love your music Aisha, keep it up ❤️
You all contradicted yallselves though. Racism definitely exist in Japan lol.
“heated”?? lol where??? If that’s heated for ya’ll then yes you are definitely Japanese and I strongly recommend you DO NOT come to America. You wouldn’t fit in American society lmao our version of heated is easily 20x what we seen displayed in this video
You was the most honest I believe
I disagree with the guy who said he gets called ''boss'' in Africa because of his light skin. In Africa it's a common thing among ourselves. Its a way of showing mutual respect to each other especially to someone you consider a bit well to do.
And about the dating issue, STEVEN got it right on! I'm a scholarship student and been here in Japan for 4 months now and I've witnessed that same scenario he described.... These Japanese are very scared of us. Just this evening before typing this, a woman with her two children turning around and changing direction because they noticed i was behind them and after the younger kid kinda drew their attention. It was very annoying but sad.
Yeah lmao, the japanese are weirded out by white people, and even more weirded out by black people. I guess it's because it's pretty rare, they don't have many immigrants from the west and africa. Can draw a parallel to that, being from northen sweden; my ex gf is from a village out in the mountains, and vividly remembered the first time she saw a real live black man.
I mean, can’t fully blame them since they have a very surface level understanding of anyone outside of their race. I remember my trip to Japan, I saw this restaurant which specifically mentioned “no foreigners”. They really need to work on their xenophobia.
Exactly
what do you mean when you say"a bit well to do"
@@zingyburger Japan always seems like a country that likes you to come and spend a couple months or years but always wants to remind you that "you are not from here"
I'm so grateful to have been apart of this with these incredible people. Although some of us had different opinions, it was wonderful being on platform that allowed us to listen to everyone's individual perspective in order to understand their past that brought them to those opinions. There was so much more to this video, but I understand why it was taken out. It was still a beautiful experience. Thank you Jubilee!
I thought it was interesting how Raimu changed some of her answers depending on how the rest of the group answered. For example, it seemed like she wasn’t going to share her experience with the cops until she saw that nearly everyone else had an experience with them.
Still trying NOT to stand out.😢
Yeah she is doing that thing of going with the people and not stand out .
@@adeOLUWA Well she is japanese so obviously she gonna do that.
@@adeOLUWA 100%
Exactly
Jubilee, you guys have no idea the impact you’re making with all the series you’ve created over the years. This new series/episode in particular, really pulled my heart strings. Thank you!
This was AMAZING! I love that jubilee is constantly expanding and upping their quality. Fantastic cast, edit, and setting to really set the theme for the video. This video is so powerful and shows how diverse the black community can be outside of what you just see on tv.
very well said
The animation on ethnicity was cool
As someone who is black and has taken an interest in Japanese culture, this video was such a treat. It was enlightening seeing the different perspectives that everyone brought and the discussions being made! Cannot wait for more episodes!
When you're keep emphasized the skin colour as your identity too much, you might fall into the rabbit hole of colourism & will not integrated into any societies that's were not rooted by genetically ancestors/world view forever.
I feel for Chipa. He seems like he has been through alot of pain due to racism. He seems like a nice guy. Cute too. I hope for the best for him. All of them.
It takes people people like this to open doors for all black people. So the good experiences that the Japanese people have with black people in real life will supercede the negative portrayal in the media. So for that, I say thank you for showing our race in a good light and all the best for the future 😊
Crazy thing is most people I know who are half Japanese are half black (African American) so I am surprised when people say Japanese hate others
@@bdh711What you may not know is how much struggle the half-Black children face in Japan. They aren't treated the same as half-Asian and half-Europeans. It's actually too painful to hear their stories.
Its awesome how they transition between languages to explained themselves beautifully
We do that a lot. Especially us with tri-language speakers in Japan when we speak Malay-Japanese-English to express ourselves better among our peers but it’s annoying for those who only understood 1 or 2 languages 😂
I love Steven speaking up and not being afraid to say the truth. Especially when he said that we shouldn’t have to conform and make ourself smaller just to be accepted… we are acting to make other people feel comfortable but what about our own sense of comfort?
I think what he was also missing was that sometimes that’s what Japanese people are comfortable doing there more comfortable making other people comfortable because that’s how they’ve grown up and asked her culture. That’s what they were trying to say.
It depends on the person. Some people are excessively selfish or self-centred, and need to learn to have consideration for others. For others it's the other way round. There needs to be an aspect of compromise especially if your basically a guest/visitor in another country. Otherwise, you may end up perpetuating the negative stereotypes that people have about you (i.e. foreigners are inconsiderate, selfish, lazy, ill-mannered, have no respect for Japanese culture, don't bother to learn the language and so on). It's much more complex than what Steve was saying.
No offence, but particularly in the case of black people this is pronounced, due to the stereotypes perpetuated by media and society. Japanese people will probably attribute perceived negative characteristics such as higher levels of criminality and violence to their refusal to conform or abide. By only thinking about his own comfort and disregarding society, Steven reinforces a particular image of black people in their minds.
@@thecrimsondragon9744 This
The way Japanese 'act' or behave. That IS the culture.
I love the fact that this was not just in english. It was awesome seeing them speak in another language and share their lives with us. This is beautiful.
I need the rest of these black in Asia spectrum videos immediately lol
Aisha and Steven were my favorites. They were so comfortable and confident, in who they are, that they want everyone to be like that. With that being said, I didn't not like chipa, but I also get the feeling that he still thinks he's a litte better because he's mixed. Yet, he has the worst time dating and is looked over because his mixed. Still, he was expressing his own opinions, based off of his experiences, which just like everybody else, he is entitled to do. I didn't like how a couple of times, people tried to shut him down and tell him that he was wrong because of those experiences. I personally think he needs to be more secure and proud of his black side, the same way he is about his Japanese side.
I found this so fascinating. Their perspectives on racism not really affecting them but also reflecting about how children get scared when they see them, or they’re constantly stared at or even interactions with police seemed contradictory. I guess it’s just the severity of racism and those negative perceptions differs from those held by Americans and also the overall culture of Japan seems a lot more peaceful and harmonious. I really want to travel there one day.
Some times it’s the unspoken words that hurts the most, without telling you they hate you they silently show you and it hurts badly trust me.
A lot of the time when you don't have a very large community that share the same issues as you or more particularly one that you can really identify with you will often see people downplay or act numb to those bad encounters as a defense mechanism to cope with that kind of racism or prejudice as opposed to constantly calling it out. At the end of the day when you are outnumbered and overwhelmed by cultural notions/norms that cause the racism you experience its easier to be numb to it than essentially take it on alone.
In a comment below, Jasmin literally said kids would call her names when she taught at a school 😭 Like fam, they called you “bird poo” and you’re talking about your family getting mad that you say racism isn’t in Japan?
Mixed messages, man….
@@chey6073 you know they are trying so hard to be liked by Japanese when the natives say they experienced racism from police and society whilst the expats haven't lol.
I think they’re not referring to a lack of racism but rather how racism doesn’t impede most of the opportunities they can get. There isn’t a structurally or universally legal realities that would prevent them from succeeding. They can succeed based off their individual realities than structural things that will keep them back. Nor do they have to worry about their safety to the degree they need to in say western countries.
I wanted to watch the video before I commented. I'll start by saying, I'm a white American male. My wife is from Trinidad, therefore she is a black woman (there are many Indian people in Trinidad as well). I bring this up to say the following. My wife has a cousin from the Caribbean islands that lives in Japan. He has done so for a few years now. He is a dark man. We have talked with him on Facebook a number of times about his Japanese experience. His experience has been the same as everyone else's in this episode. If you plan to live in Japan then you need to learn Japanese. Once you do, life will be much easier for you. Even though Japan is a very conservative country, they are slowly opening up and accepting people from different backgrounds.
Jubilee put together a very excellent episode.
I really like Steven, I feel like in a way being told to fit in and be quiet is what can be the biggest change of, changing yourself. In a way, from America to Japan, being yourself and free to being closed in quiet and trying to be nicer can seem a bit troublesome, but the white foreigner expirences vs. The black foreigner expirence can be very telling. As well as colorism. I believe there's more to it than simply fitting in like every other foreigner.
Also very excited for the more Black in.. series !🩷 😆💕✨ありがとー
This is literally one of THE BEST episodes I’ve ever seen and I believe I saw Saiyon on another video somewhere on TH-cam. Ayisha is a firecracker and I love it! Steve is an absolute delight. He reminds me so much of Billy Porter’s character Prey Tell from Pose. Wonderful episode! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Literally thought the same of Steven
Pretty nice video, really make one consider and understand cultural differences. I'm actually Nigerian and I want to correct a misconception about people calling him "boss". It's a sort of friendly approach to get someone's attention. We do it to ourselves too, irrespective of skin colour. It's all about making conversation and getting someone's attention "playfully".
I was looking for this!!
Honestly
It’s not the same in Southern Africa, if someone calls you “boss” it’s definitely because your social status is assumed to be higher.
@@freelanceteaching1641 Pretty direct huh..
I'm Nigerian and what Paul said is right. We use boss with our friends as way of friendship.
I really appreciated Steven, I love how all of them were open to hearing and listening to each other’s experiences
Jubilee you really stepped up the SPECTRUM series. It was already entertaining and educational but adding the global perspective and conversation has elevated this series. Bravo! Well done!! I can't wait to see the What Is It Like To Be Black In India episode.
I can really feel for the biracial Black people in this video. Being Black and Latina has also been challenging, especially with my Latin family all being fair skin so I tried to fit in and not act like a stereotypical "black" person and straighten my hair, even though other black people made fun of me for being "white-washed," but I let my natural hair grow out and act the way I want to act.
I really resonated when she said asked her mom why she got with a Black man and had her because I asked my mom the same thing. And I have also thought about skin bleaching just to look lighter. It was and still is mentally taxing but I'm 17 now and hoping I can overcome this internalized hatred one step at a time :D
Just be proud of who you are, because you are special.
u go girl!
@@MD-cv4gn Thank you :)
latina isn’t a race though. Being an afro-latina doesn’t automatically make you biracial. So do you mean you’re mixed with Indigenious Americans? White Europeans? East Asian? South Asian? Middle Eastern? African?
I totally understand that I’m biracial (white and black) and I am a hundred percent white passing and was bullied a lot as a kid Aswell. I’m still trying to learn to love the black side of me and I hope one day it will get easier for people like us. ❤
20:03 “we’re not acting, it’s just two different cultures. it was very american to be like ‘it should be there, it should be more this way’. japanese people enjoy this way, they feel more comfortable in this way’”
i love how she pointed that out. you don’t go to another country and expect them to accommodate your difference or change them for you. YOU CAME TO THEIR COUNTRY, YOU CONFORM TO THEM. they dont get to change for you
Really like how they switch languages while speaking. Being bilingual is cool
I love Steven's energy and presence. The experiences they have had provide a perspective that urges us to look at things in depth
I'd argue that Steven didn't looked at things in depth about Japanese culture though and are forcing his Americanism towards others. There's a saying in Japan that says "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down"
Thank you for creating this video and everyone who participated in it! It's interesting seeing their perspectives and experiences.
This was great. When I heard Arthell start speaking Japanese I was like AAAYYYEEE
As an African student in Japan, I must admit that my personal experiences of living and studying in Japan have been captured vastly in this video. Overall, I feel like being a foreigner in Japan is overwhelming because you are pressured to act in a certain way because of the differences of Japan and the rest of the world. And for a black person in Japan, the train situation is real. Almost all black people in Japan have a similar experience in using Japanese trains. The Japanese people are hesitant to sit next to black people on their trains which is so sad because they would also be staring at them for most of that journey.
This is so heartbreaking to read.
@@shekinahp3508they do it to all foreigners.
@joshuamoon9312 my guy that is not the point
This group is so full of character and bring interesting perspectives!
I really like this series and I can't wait to see more! It was interesting to here them speak on their experiences.
Very interesting!! I wish it was longer so I could hear everyone's responses to each question. I can definitely see where Steven was coming from, about not "acting" or changing yourself to suit others and to be your authentic self. But I also understand why someone would feel compelled to assimilate. Hard to say if one approach is better than the other. And when you think about it this struggle is not very different being black people in America- we feel compelled to "code switch" (speak differently), pick different hairstyles, dress differently, etc to appear "less black" ie "less threatening" in many situations. Which is sad. But at least in Japan it doesn't seem as much as a life or death matter as it can be here.
Can't wait to see the rest of the videos in this series.
I admire Steven's honesty. He isn't being self entitled or trying to change Japan. He is calling out the problem he see in Japan. He wants them to be able to show and express their true selves. Also, there are two things I wanna talk about Jasmine's response to Steven when she disagreed and said "It's very American to be like...this is not good, it should be more this way, it should be more..." and she continued saying it's a "Japanese culture." First, in her first statement about the American thing, Japanese are literally the same! If you know Japanese, they're also like that too. They're literally like robots who need to "act" and "behave" in a certain way, and when you're different, they call you out too. That is what Steven is only doing AND it's not just an "American thing." So don't make it sound like Americans are bad and that they're the only ones doing it. Second, when Jasmine said it's a "Japanese culture," For your information, "acting" and "being fake" is not a culture. That is what Steven was pointing out. That part when Japanese people try to act or fake things like their voice, their laugh, the way they behave and act around people. Being naturally shy is different and okay, but if you know Japanese, you'll easily get what Steven is saying. THAT part is not a culture. Those are choices that people make. And Steven was also right about how these underlying problems are affecting Japanese and why suicide rate is high. Steven is just being real and honest and part of being real is being able to call out the problems and hear the hard truth.
This is also why it's hard for me to trust Japanese to be honest. They can be so kind, so polite, so innocent like, and everything nice you can think of, but when you truly get to know them, you'll be really surprised.
@@missplainjane3905 You'll be surprised that "most of the time" what they show you aren't actually real. They're mostly fake. 1. The politeness 2. The innocent, shy, and kind voices they make when they talk to you. 3. That they are really friendly to you 4. Like they're very respectful and aren't racist towards other nationalities 5. That they are what they show you.
So everything that people say and think about Japanese people aren't actually real until you lived long enough in their country.
If I have to describe it, Japanese are so good at sugarcoating things, even themselves, like everything is nice, but the real truth behind those sugarcoating aren't as beautiful as they look like.
Number 1. Japanese aren't really nice. They pretend to be nice. Let's be honest. They smile and talk so kindly and politely like they can't break a glass, but damn, when you turn your back and when they're all alone, their true colors come out. They're pretty much like those anime characters. In other countries there are people like these too but Japan is on another level. I'd rather want a rude person at least I know what I'm dealing with. These fakeness are dangerous and can't be trusted.
Number 2. That Japanese aren't racist. Whenever I hear this, all I can do is smile. Oh boy. You people have no idea how incredibly racist and xenophobic these people are. Those who have lived long enough in Japan, like these people in this video, can testify to this. They're good at hiding this now adays because they know it's not widely accepted and tolerated, and they're always aware of the image they present. But damn, when you get to know them, their true colors, they won't be able to hide it. You'll most likely hear them say, "Go back to you country!!" or "Gaijin!! (Degrading term for foreign people)" or comment about your skin or anything rude about your country and many more. They are so biased and only love and respect Caucasians that's why most Caucasians doesn't have any negative experiences here. Japanese also feel like they're superior than other asians. You'll see their biased treatment towards other Asians and Caucasians. Just look at their magazines, their TV ads, and how they treat tourists in general. They'll put special treatments towards the whites than other nationalities. You'll never see a brown Asian looking models or celebrities. Japanese won't always verbally attack or say anything to you, but at the back of their head, they really don't like foreigners in their country especially when you're coming from a third world country. So for those of you who have only lived in Japan recently or have only come here for vacation, especially if you're white, don't tell me that Japanese aren't racist because I and like the people in this video have lived long enough in Japan to testify this that Japanese are Racists and Xenophobic.✋🏼
@@missplainjane3905 Also, Anime and Japan's real world is a very good example of this Sugar coating I'm telling you. Many people think Japan's real world is like anime full of colors, happiness, and perfection. But the truth is, it's not. There are so many people who are depressed, sad, and lonely in Japan. Just look at the suicide rates. In addition to the fake kindeness and politeness I mentioned earlier, another reason why I'm saying this is because Japanese are also a Major bully. Yes they're Bullies!!! You have no idea what I'm talking about but if you live long enough, man, you'll be surprised. Which will also make sense why many people commit suicide in this country especially in elementary and high school. Their country are okay with Bullying and never do anything to prevent this. And what does bully people do to people who are not their own kind?? Most adults won't show it especially when they first meet you, but it's there. It's only a matter of time and circumstances where you'll see this part of them. Try getting on the train and observe the atmosphere. It's mostly gloomy. Japan is only fun when you first visit this place or stay here for several weeks. But the longer you live, the more you'll discover things and the truth. Which is why I smirked/laughed when Jubillee asked their contestants if they'll live in Japan forever and they responded no and give different allibies/reasons. lol.
Like other newcomers in Japan, I was also one of those who speak good things about this country, I'll also go out of my way to defend them. But that already changed. Japan and Japanese are not what other people in other countries think of.
@@gfam5304 OML for your 3rd paragraph, you just reminded me how the popular genre in Japanese music where they make a fun cute happy song and the lyrics are horrid, suicidal, and just not good. That quite literally symbolizes that statement you said.
@@dongsicheng170 Thanks Dong. I'm glad you noticed that. It's very sad unfortunately. I don't mean to spread hate or anything towards Japan or Japanese, but I just hope people see and know this reality especially for those who want to move and live here someday so they won't be disappointed and shocked. At the same time, just know that not everyone who show you kindness and politeness here in Japan can be trusted.
@@gfam5304why are you mentioning anime characters? they act american if anything.
It's normal for africans to call you boss especially Nigeria where I'm from. It's just a way we guys socialize
Righttt he thought he was special 😂
Exactly, They do that here in the states as well.
Exactly😂😂
You should do "Overweight people in japan" I really wonder that one
Normal body size in the eyes of westerner maybe consider as overweight in Japan (unless you are sumo/heavy lifting athletes).. different standard in different societies, it is normal phenomenon
lol saw a video where there was a plus size black woman with rainbow braids in Japan and a Japanese woman walked up to her and started to try to pick her up multiple times (without her consent btw)
@@azrael0842 lies
@@CorntwallLipstickQueen I saw it too. She was smiling the whole time but I knew it looked super uncomfortable
19:43 I love that the biracial folks chose to check Steven on feeling as though all Black people have to be over the top. As they said Japanese culture is part of their culture. So why shouldn’t they accept some of its norms?
Nothing wrong with fitting in as long as you know who you really are.
Exactly, i think if you are the one who moved somewhere, you should adjust to their culture. Thats just the public persona, doesnt mean you change on the inside.
Thank you Jubilee for letting me be apart of this project 🙏
This was such a beautiful video! As a black person interested in Japanese culture and travelling to Japan, these are the types of honest, raw and heartfelt videos that I'd been searching for.
Thank you Jubilee for making a video on this! I'm so happy you got Aisha on the show, I love her music! This must have been such a healing experience for all of them, but it was so heartbreaking to hear about how they feel the need to 'shrink' themselves to be accepted. 😢 The girl who said that she wants to change things for the next generation of biracial Japanese kids seems like such a lovely person with a beautiful heart, I would love to meet her if I come to Japan one day! 😊
AYYY AISHA SINGS SOME OF THE GUILTY GEAR STRIVE SONGS. Glad you had her on here and great video?
THAT IS DO DOPE I HAD NO IDEA!!!
This was really interesting! As someone who has watched a lot of J-Vloggers over the years, it was great to see some familiar faces. I’m studying Japanese and will be doing my year abroad next year so it’s wonderful to hear about their experiences. Also, this has been the best series I’ve seen on this channel in a while! Keep it coming!
This is the most aesthetically pleasing editing I've ever seen in a Spectrum video
This has been my favorite episode on this channel. Every voice was soooo different, and everyone was soooo articulate and soooo candid. Each person's authenticity spoke to my heart. I enjoyed this particular set of people speaking about their personal journeys. Loved this group.
I think this is a very interesting situation, because Japan is almost 100% Japanese people it's understandable that companies won't be selling hair products for the black population and there would be a cultural divide so not much will be done to aid that population. I guess that's the issue with moving anywhere with a population that's predominantly a certain race. I loved how each person got their own kinda segment to explain their life and stuff.
I think Steven is one of the most honest people there. Acting means you are not yourself. Black people are not treated equally by anyone. I believe racism is taught everywhere.😢
it seems very American to me.
In the "I feel accepted by the Japanese community" prompt, Steven makes a good point about the dangers of being too reserved/too quite to the point of an unhealthy suppression of one's true self. However, what some of the others are saying is also valid. (Although they used the word _act_ and _adjust_ to describe their conformity to Japanese culture, I think _adapt_ would be a better word.) While it is not wise to consciously perpetuate a false persona of oneself, it is also worth contemplating human nature and its intricacies when discussing the reasons why we behave in different ways in certain settings. Our cultural upbringing and unique life experiences are pivotal in understanding the diversity of thought and behavior that exists between and within social groups.
It was wonderful to hear all of the participant's various experiences being Black in Japan. Japan is one of my favorite countries to visit for many reasons, but one of the reasons is how different it feels being Black there vs in the USA.
I agree with this! Sometimes it feels cringe bringing up my "Blackness" in Japan with Japanese people just because it isn't usually a factor so it's almost like I'm separating myself form the "foreigner" group for no reason. Of course there are cases where things happen to me maybe because I'm Black here, but overall, just in my personal experience it's usually just because I'm not Japanese.
Thank you for this video. I'm half Chinese half Japanese, and though visually I "look Japanese", there's still definitely some moments in Japan that made me realise how much Japan really needs to up their education on cultures and different races etc. I loved this discussion.
I was cut off in the selection process 😅 but I’m sooo glad to see Jasmine ❤
Aisha would really enjoy Honolulu. She looks like a lot of mixed folks here. Nobody would blink lol
This was so powerful and informational.
I have a biracial friend who lives in Japan and she constantly tells me about her experience and how she's made to feel less-than.
(Steven does not listen, though. He has his own experience but feels the need to impose his vision on others. I understand where he's coming from, but he needs to listen.)
This is great, now I have an idea on how it fills to be black in Japan. Thank you all for putting this together. However, I want to strongly disagree with Chipa about having the filling that those with light skin are considered as Boss and that's why some bleach. That's never the case here in Nigeria, though being white you may be respected but not as you put. Thanks to you all.
It's so sad how damaged Africa has become because of European colonialism. I wish 'the scramble for africa' never existed:(
He made a generalization but he's not far from the truth.
@@DA-js7xz Yes it has. I'm a 14 yr old girl in South Africa and let me tell you about how I felt so bad about having dark skin I would cry and search for videos on how to get whiter and I was lutterally 12YRS OLD AT THE TIME.
@@justjoanneofficial Other African countries don’t care about skin colour that much btw. I’m black and I’ve always been praised for my skin tone. Just love your skin no matter what.
As a Japanese raised in America, this is an extremely interesting video.
One perspective that stood out to me was Steven's. Now I don't disagree that Japanese tend to not share all of themselves with those who they have just met. That we like the slow burn of building a relationship. That we wear many different faces for different situations and people.
But the thing I think Steven doesn't seem to recognize is that all of those faces are still me. Just different facets of me. That for Japanese people, building strong relationships with people takes time. That it's not possible to share your "real self" just with words. For us, its a slow and careful process that encompasses not only words but gestures, expressions, actions, and so much more.
I see it in myself too. When I'm in the states, I'm much more consistent in the way I act. I don't really have to change the way I act depending on who im talking to or where I am. My western perspective says that that mean Im being "true to myself" but my Japanese perspective says that Im just being less dimensional. On top of that, I think America pushes such a strong message of being yourself and expressing yourself and being unique, which can also be a terribly isolating and lonely experience.
In contrast, in japan, I feel like im much more a part of something bigger. Like im part of this social web. That im protecting the peace of those around me and those around me are protecting my peace. That there's an air to be read, a cafe for others to be has. Consideration. And I think that that can be a very beautiful experience. I don't act the way I act in a club in a classroom. I don't act the way I act in a izakaya in a temple. I think that opens our lives to a great depth and complexity. I am able to exercise the complexity of my being because as a human, I'm complex and it's reflected in the society around me. And, much like the two half Japanese people in the video, that's how we feel comfortable. That it comes naturally to us.
But I get that as a foreigner, this can be a hard concept to grasp. I have trouble with it too sometimes. But for Japanese people, they have been immersed in this since day 1. They know exactly what is being said without it being said. They know the difference in meaning in a hairline change in inflection or tone or expression. I understand that that can be something that is frustrating. But I don't necessarily see it as something that has to change. It's just different
A care* for others to be had*
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful insight! It gave me a great food for thought
A lot of cultures are like this
Naruto Shippuden ED 22 was always one of my all time favorites. Much love to Aisha. You are a part of my childhood and dont even know it. And as a half black person myself, you’re an inspiration
the production quality of this video compared to other spectrum videos is sending me😭
this was great, loved it!
That’s not how you use “sending me”. The production quality is humorous? Is that what you’re trying to say?
She used aave wrong
Truly enjoyed learning from this amazing group! Thanks Jubilee
As someone who is black and always wanted to go to Japan, these videos help me understand more about the culture, what the black experience is like there, and what to expect. It’s very interesting to see videos like this and hear everyone’s thoughts and opinions. The black experience and/or being half black, half Japanese, isn’t talked about as much as it should. This was an insightful video and they all seem like great individuals.
YES, been waiting a LONG time for this video!!!! Well done, Jubilee.
My opinion but as a Japanese person I personally don’t mind other people from other countries. I really appreciate tourists visiting us and when I see other skin tones like so what? Japanese people also have dark skins sometimes! I think you guys look beautiful as heck. If you like see people staring I would stare at them too cuz I would want to talk to them because they look beautiful and I am also bilingual so. I go to a international school so international in Japan isn’t bad at all. I’m not mixed or anything so idk how you guys feel but yeah.
What about your family
@@johnindigo5477 They don’t mind either
♥ this is such a lovely comment !
@@augustusgloopfangirl8751 Thank you!! c:
でも外人ってなんか自分の思想や意見を日本人に押し付けて日本を自分の都合に合わさせようとする傾向があるからうざいんだよな。俺も普通にハーフだけど外人って「都にいれば都に従え」って概念がないんだよな。日本の社会とか嫌なら帰ればいいと思う。何で日本人が自分の国でよその者に合わせなきゃいけないん？って俺は思う。
I am Japanese. I thought it was a great video.
I personally love the way black people look. No matter what clothes they wear, they look like models, women look beautiful and attractive, and men look extremely cool.
Unfortunately, as discussed in the video, the small population of black people in Japan can make children feel creepy and old people discriminatory.
It is also true that not all Japanese are as kind and friendly as people from overseas would like to think.
As a Japanese, I can only hope that this country can be a comfortable place for people from other countries and other races.
僕は外国人と日本に行きたい。中国で生まれた So I'm used to people looking at me different. すいません日本語下手。僕は勉強している！Do you think that 外国人 can be accepted in Japanese society if they 日本語を話せるか？
Wow. This was the best Jubilee video I've watched. Actually felt like a real documentary rather than a TH-cam video.
Amazing.
Eeeep, I love Aisha!! She is hilarious and is truly the best of 2 worlds. Really loved this episode.
This episode touched my heart, as a black woman I'm always nervous about visiting other countries but Japan seems like it would be worth the trip!
I knew with every fiber of my being that I heard a Bahamian Dialect from that one guy, before he even mentioned it and I got soooo excited. 3:56
As a child of mixed cultures, I found this moving, and relate to much of it. I look forward to seeing more of this series!
As a half japanese being half in my country and half in Japan... It would be interesting to see, how others "hafu" see this! Thank you always for a great work, Jubilee!
I am black and I have lived in Japan so I'll give my perspective.
1) somewhat disagree. I mainly did my own hair and imported products from america, but then I met another black girl, and she told me who she goes to. So I went to this woman who is full Japanese but used to do hair on the army base so she knew how to take care of my hair better than me!
2) strongly disagree - I actually had people tell me they really want my skin color.
3) strongly disagree - never had an issue getting a date. Men would usually approach me first. 😊
4) i had 3 experiences. The first was the usual thing they do when you first arrive where they approach you in the street and ask you for your residency card. The second time, I had passed a squad car going in the opposite direction, so I didn't pay attention to them. I turned the corner and continued home, but then when I stopped at a red light, I saw that same squad car pull up next to me. The squad car that was going in the opposite direction just moments prior. I was feeaked out. They never approached me, but I think that was because I rushed inside my house.
The third and final time was when I was walking with headphones and accidently blocked some teenagers on bikes. One girl gave me a nasty look as she rode by me. Two seconds later, a squad car stopped me. I 100% believe they told them something.
5) Agree - in the beginning, no. Like no one sat next to me on the train and stuff like that. By the time I left, people were falling to sleep on my shoulder; strangers would start conversations with me in Japanese; and my friends were trying to convince me to change my passport.
6) strongly disagree - this one is obvious. I live in Italy now, and I plan on living here for the rest of my life. I am married to an italian and we have two children. I have an established life here.
Wow you're lucky in Japan😮👍
Honestly this is a good one,but everyone wouldn't have same experience though. Hope to be in a foreign land someday .
ok good for you...but that doesn't mean everyone has or had the same experience,I kind of feel like you are trying to invalidate some of their feelings/experiences which is wrong
@@zeesroyalty7053 she isn’t trying to invalidate anyone. She just had an overall positive experience, with a few negative things here and there. If she was trying to invalidate she would have tried to pick apart the experiences of those in the video, which she didn’t
This is the most original video so far. We. Want. More.
Thank you brothers and sisters for sharing Your experience. GOOD CONVERSATION
They are sooo cool, you first hear them speaking english and then they switch to fluent Japanese! It sounds so amazing 💯
This group deserves a series.
Wow!! This was really interesting & enlightening . I realize to that the Bahamian accent is very recognizable no matter where you are 😂
Nicest person was Saiyon hands down, very respectful didn’t bash the Japanese culture even a little bit
I’m a Japanese and strongly believe that what shapes who you are is not defined by what you look but how you behave.
This is probably the best content from Jubilee in a long long time! Great job to everyone involved!
I agree with Chipa that people with lighter skins are usually treated differently but the term "boss" is used by young people usually when we don't know the other person's name or we want to get their attention or just as a banter among ourselves in some cases. For example if I met someone on the streets and wanted to ask for direction to the hospital I would probably just go like "boss please where's the hospital located?". This is at least the case in Ghana.
Everyone looks beautiful on this cast.👌🏾
Chipa has a great personality and I love how he embrasses both sides of his culture without holding one above the other. We love to see it. Zambia ku Chalo🇿🇲🇿🇲
Protruding nail will be hammered down… When you are in Rome act like Roman( I mean Japan/Japanese)
These two words come to my mind when I think about life in Japan. I’m Japanese who lives in state 40+ years ever since graduating from high school in Japan, so naturally I adapted lots of American things like way I talk, do things,how I communicate with others or simply how I sit down. Conforming with other people in public places is very important that surpasses own individuality in Japan. You can be different within your circle of family or friends who let you be yourself but when you are outside better be behave yourself, not just for yourself but for your circle as well. It’s reminds me every time when I go back to Japan, my sister tells me “ watch yourself “, thanks Sister! 😅
I don't think Chipu meant any disrespect by saying "blessed hair." I think he meant he had a nice mixture of straight and curl that is easy to work with. Arthell? He mentioned he was in a chair for eight hours getting his hair done in cornrows. My mother is Japanese. She wanted a perm. There was a Black woman working in the salon. The owner asked if it was okay to have the Black lady work on mom's hair. Mom said it was fine. The stylist made a mess of mom's hair. Mom's hair is really thick and coarse and very straight. The hair did not curl around the rollers. They were loose and kept popping out and the stylist had big issues and took forever. Mom had enough hair for six people. Some Black people have really thick hair too, but the stylist was shocked by this amount of hair and mom's hair wouldn't stay around the rods, it had no curl. I asked the same, "What happened to your hair, mom?" My dad is a White American. I grew up in the United States, but was born in Japan. The lady who is half Japanese and half Nigerian is absolutely beautiful! She has perfect features and a perfect body. I see a model and she did say she was in a beauty pageant competition . And my mother made made babies cry too. All of the kids would cry when they looked at my mother's face. I never understood why, but, they did. I asked my sister why did babies and little kids cry when they saw mom's face and my sister was so absorbed into herself that she didn't notice. This was in the US. I really like Steven too. He has a big heart. ❤🌸🌹👍.
What a lovely video. I thoroughly enjoyed this dialogue. Everyone was so insightful.
Steven is the best person you can meet in Japan. He’s the most positive and honest person I’ve met here.
Wow, love the way they switched between languages in the video. Very cool.
I really love Steve his OG knowledge is dope he speak his mind
Watching videos like this makes me want to go to Japan even more.
The dude might be the biggest guy in the room but he’s definitely the softest and sweetest ❤
That was so insightful! there was conflict even within the group , within the first couple minutes, which was interesting to see.
I wouldn't call it a conflict, but rather a disagreement.
Nah..The guy speaking on being called "Boss" because of his light-skinned is 1000% incorrect absolutely incorrect..he was called Boss down here for either of these reasons. 1. Just Respect. 2. Someone was trying to make him feel comfortable with a motive of getting money out of him....SIMPLE!
These beautiful black/Japanese people make me so proud 😊 them speaking Japanese have me in awe!!! Loved this!
One of your best videos ever guys wow, so illuminating and such beautiful people full of character.
Proud of my brother Chipa in the Dashiki 😄 great video
In Nigeria calling you boss, is just a modern day greeting doesn’t mean cos of your skin, my friends call me boss and i call em boss, think of it like British “mate” of American “Hommie or dude”
This was so cool! I enjoyed everyone in the video. Steven gives me major Billy Porter vibes haha
Aisha is such a bundle of joy! Bless her. Steven has a pure heart too 💓
Arthell's the real gee here. Working hard to bless us all with ANIME 🤩
Just don't forget that wherever you go, you'll fit in...if you know how to respect and adjust to the people's culture.
Adaptation is the key with respect to all!