But foreigners can study things no matter their age,
I envy that.
Even if others reject them, foreigners can say "But I am me".
Hey guys and girls it's Cathy Cat. Today we've come to Artism market and
we're gonna go and ask the artists here what they envy about
foreigners. Let's go and ask Japanese.
What do you envy about foreigners?
I envy that it's easier for many foreigners to bleach their hair!
I envy that. - Easier? - It's easier for them
to dye their hair a different color. Foreigners who have come here
often have purple hair, as if it was a wig.
Strong pinks and such. Japanese people can't dye their hair like that. - Cant?
You have to dye it a lot to get there? - Yes because our base is often black
for Japanese. It's a pigmentation thing possibly, it's hard to ADD color
and I envy foreigners who have hair that accepts colors
easily. I envy that. - That means...
You have tried to dye your hair? - I really want to dye my hair this color
but it will be gone within a week. - That's quick. - It is.
Foreigners hair seems to stay colored longer. I envy that.
Today you're wearing a wig. - Yes to make up for it. - You're doing that
because real dye would vanish quickly? - That's right. - Foreigners are friendly
and I envy that. - Friendliness....
but you seem quite friendly? - I am actually really shy.
I can't do that. I have moments when I can't speak with people. When I don't wear makeup
I will be quiet and avoid people. - Why such a change?
I learned to be able to deal with people, working in customer services.
Because it's work I can do it.
When I need to talk to people, I put on makeup. - Makeup gives you strength?
It does. I become a new me.
I change myself.
If a friendly foreigner came up to you for a high 5?
You can do it. - And if the same person came when you don't wear makeup?
Oh! - You shied away. - Yeah
I would wonder if that was ok.
Makeup is your weapon? - My arms!
Foreigners aren't shackled to their academic timeline
What does that mean? - I am a university student now. We have exchange students
In Japan we have a straight academic timeline from primary school
middle school and high school and then straight into employment.
It's an unspoken rule. A preconceived notion. But foreigners...
study no matter how old they are. When they work and want to start something new
they do go back to university and start something new.
I see many foreigners do that.
I envy that. In Japan people would get a lot of opposition for that.
People around them would be hostile. Many want to change their lives but can't.
But abroad age doesn't matter
and they learn new things to change. I envy that a lot.
Does that mean you exchange students were at different ages?
Our teacher studied at a British arts university.
He heard those stories at the university.
He told us that abroad people of all ages study at university. I envied that.
I think the Japanese language is difficult...
I don't like it. - Foreign languages seem to be easier?
Yeah. We have 3 alphabets...
I think matching those is hard...
Why so many? - You envy that others don't have 3 alphabets?
That's it.
I wish Japan didn't have Kanji characters either.
There is Hiragana! - Let's use just one alphabet!
I think so too! - They have a broad world view abroad
I envy that.
What do you mean? - Japanese people
we get influenced by others around us a lot.
That's a thing. But instead of letting oppositions change us
we should open ourselves to other possibilities
How would you apply that? - In the world of fashion
it would mean accepting people like us
it depends on people, but just admitting that these styles are cute
Don't wear something because everyone wears it...
Foreigners find something and they wear it no matter what others say
They don't get pulled into mainstream? - Yes.
The beautiful foreign scenery and buildings...
are easy for foreigners to experience
Many old buildings still exist abroad. I envy that.
Are you thinking of Europe right now? - Yes...
Europe, Paris, Italy and Germany....
Where would you like to go?
I want to see Neuschwanstein castle.
Please come and visit Germany! - I would love to. -Director: She's German
You're from Germany?!
I have been to that castle a lot. - I envy that!
Please come one day. - I will!
Foreigners look very independent and free. I envy that.
They have more freedom about their age and clothes.
And gender too.
In Japan we say "I am too old to wear this...
or these clothes don't suit me" and we quit.
But then I went to Hawaii and saw...
There are grandmothers who wear a bikini
In Japan we wouldn't allow us to do that at that age
We won't dare to do that.
I envy that foreigners can do that.
Not just with fashion, they seem to have more freedom. I envy that.
In Japan the public eye is very strict?
The eyes of the people around us are strict and we also worry too much of others
I envy that foreigners are not living a life like that.
Foreigners seem to value their uniqueness
in my opinion. - What do you mean?
I like this. You like that. Ok.
That's where it ends.
Ok someone likes something else than you like
It might be something I hate but it's ok for you to like it.
That's where it ends. Foreigners won't oppose to you likes
Foreigners seem to accept that others have different likes
And leave them to it.
They can do that abroad in my opinion, I think.
In Japan people will say "That person likes that! He is weird" It's sad
for us. Isn't it just ok to leave him like what he wants?
I envy that abroad. - You have your likes and that's ok.
Even foreigners we have different interests
foreigners can still stay friends.
I envy that a lot. - The way of thinking
abroad seems to be so free. They express their opinions
directly, which is what Japanese struggle with.
I think that's amazing.
Everyone has their own opinion and there's less gender discrimination
abroad too. Same sex love is ok
lgbt is more accepted abroad than in Japan.
I think that's great abroad. - Foreigners can reject things directly
and officially. Japanese people tend to endure things.
That's true. - Japanese just endure, but that won't change Japan for the better
Foreigners don't endure. They do demonstrations
but we do not have that in Japan. I really envy that abroad.
Foreigners try to change things for the better. - Japan should do that too.
I think.
In Japan, people don't tend to oppose to old rules
or to end something. - Yes.
It's seen as bad to oppose
We had a culture like that for too long in Japan.
So we didn't change. - But we should change things for the better? - Yes.
Do you think Japan will change? - America is changing now
and Japan is influenced by the US.
If the US changes, Japan might change too. - Foreigners don't
get dragged into mainstream. They have their own opinions
and they can express them clearly like "I think this is good"
and they know they like it, no matter what others say.
"I am me" people seem to think like that.
Is this difficult in Japan? - We tend to endure
and suppress a lot, to be like everyone else.
We should be more honest with ourselves.
People who wear what they love are cute
and I find that attractive. - Thank you so much.
So what do Japanese people envy about foreigners? We got some
very interesting responses this time, I am so glad.
One of those that struck me the hardest, when one girl said she
envies that foreigners can do certain things or start new things no matter
how old they are and that ties into the fact that in Japanese culture, during a certain
age you're supposed to do a certain thing and it's really hard to move away
from that, because everyone else seems to be doing it too. It's hard to break out of that
As an example, many Japanese people after school go straight to university
there is no such thing as a gap year, it's seen as something negative for many people.
So people go straight to university and it's really
rare to see people do what you see in the West. When you for example finish
the kids are out of the house and then you go to university, so people who join university later
in life are generally not as common. They are there but not as common and also there are certain
age limits on entering universities in Japan as well.
That's an example that when you're in a different age, it's harder to pick up things
in Japan. It's not impossible but it's one of the things that the girls said she envies abroad
Seems to be a lot more easier to change your path in life and maybe go for
a different occupation or something like that.
On that note, what do you envy about Japanese people or about people from other countries
What do you envy let us know in the comments below. Also don't forget to vote up the comments that you enjoyed
I hope I catch you soon for move videos from Ask Japanese. Bye.
Artism Market calls itself an "Underground Japanese Culture Expo"
Artists and Designers display their art freely here and you can find everything
from stationary bag fashion items and more to unique inventions.
From the kawaii to the bizarre, it's a crafty shopping paradise.
Walking around and talking to the artists in our interviews, I could tell the inspiring mindsets of them
Designers and visitors were really dressing pretty cool there.
Crazy, unique, comical, for lovers of unique items and designs
you'll find an item you will definitely love.
You might also have the chance to meet some famous designers in person there,
so don't miss your chance when you visit.
Information about the next Artism market are in the box below.
Be sure to check them out.