身長何センチあるの？
身長何センチあるの？

How tall are you?
How tall are you?

I've been asked this question more than
I've been asked this question more than

a hundred times when I was in school.
a hundred times when I was in school.

I'm 185cm which is about 6'1, so I'm pretty tall for Japan
I'm 185cm which is about 6'1, so I'm pretty tall for Japan

Actually I grew almost all my height by the time I finished elementary school.
Actually I grew almost all my height by the time I finished elementary school.

I was about 176cm when I was in 6th grade
I was about 176cm when I was in 6th grade

so I was much, much taller than my classmates.
so I was much, much taller than my classmates.

I always looked older than my age, too.
I always looked older than my age, too.

At the graduation ceremony a mother of another student came up to me and said
At the graduation ceremony a mother of another student came up to me and said

「息子がこの度はお世話になりました...」 blah blah blah...
「息子がこの度はお世話になりました...」 blah blah blah...

which means, "Thank you for taking care of my son,"
which means, "Thank you for taking care of my son,"

because she thought I was a teacher or something.
because she thought I was a teacher or something.

I was 12 years old!
I was 12 years old!

By the way I'm 22 now.
By the way I'm 22 now.

Everything then was too small for me.
Everything then was too small for me.

I just looked stupid.
I just looked stupid.

The desks and chairs were stuck together in the classroom,
The desks and chairs were stuck together in the classroom,

and I couldn't really move my legs.
and I couldn't really move my legs.

It was very difficult for me to fit in it.
It was very difficult for me to fit in it.

My knees always hit the desk.
My knees always hit the desk.

It was very, very uncomfortable and I was not happy at all!
It was very, very uncomfortable and I was not happy at all!

I even had my own desk.
I even had my own desk.

It was the biggest desk in my school and I was the only one in my class who had a
It was the biggest desk in my school and I was the only one in my class who had a

desk that big... even though it was small. It was kinda small.
desk that big... even though it was small. It was kinda small.

There is a day called 席替え which means seat change, where everyone changes seats.
There is a day called 席替え which means seat change, where everyone changes seats.

Everyone else just took their backpack and book and moved it to a new desk
Everyone else just took their backpack and book and moved it to a new desk

But I had to take my desk with me and move it across the room,
But I had to take my desk with me and move it across the room,

which was annoying!
which was annoying!

Also, Japanese elementary school students all have to use a specific type of backpack called ランドセル.
Also, Japanese elementary school students all have to use a specific type of backpack called ランドセル.

They're hard and not flexible.
They're hard and not flexible.

This is what I used.
This is what I used.

They are kind of expensive, too, so usually your grandparents...
They are kind of expensive, too, so usually your grandparents...

well not all the time... they buy them for you.
well not all the time... they buy them for you.

And it was supposed to go down to your waist, but since I was too tall
And it was supposed to go down to your waist, but since I was too tall

it just stopped midway down my back.
it just stopped midway down my back.

And you also have to wear a bright yellow hat so you are easier to see.
And you also have to wear a bright yellow hat so you are easier to see.

This is my sister's.
This is my sister's.

The hats for boys are a different shape.
The hats for boys are a different shape.

Everyone else was really tiny and short and they looked like little kids but
Everyone else was really tiny and short and they looked like little kids but

I looked like an adult with a ランドセル and a yellow hat
I looked like an adult with a ランドセル and a yellow hat

so I looked really stupid and funny.
so I looked really stupid and funny.

I was only less than 10cm shorter than I am right now
I was only less than 10cm shorter than I am right now

so this is what I looked like in elementary school.
so this is what I looked like in elementary school.

Even now being really tall in Japan is sometimes annoying
Even now being really tall in Japan is sometimes annoying

because everything is so small.
because everything is so small.

For example: the counters. I cook a lot
For example: the counters. I cook a lot

and the counters are really low
and the counters are really low

so it's hard for me to do anything in the kitchen.
so it's hard for me to do anything in the kitchen.

And it makes my back hurt a lot.
And it makes my back hurt a lot.

The doorways, for example, they're really low and I hit my head so many times.
The doorways, for example, they're really low and I hit my head so many times.

I've come here to save you!
I've come here to save you!

And on buses and trains sometimes the girls standing next to me would put their hands
And on buses and trains sometimes the girls standing next to me would put their hands

on their shirt and try to hide their chest
on their shirt and try to hide their chest

because they thought I was taking advatange of being tall to see their chest.
because they thought I was taking advatange of being tall to see their chest.

I am not a pervert! I get offended!
I am not a pervert! I get offended!

And on trains they have rings for you to hold called 吊革
And on trains they have rings for you to hold called 吊革

to keep your balance.
to keep your balance.

For most people it's far above their heads so
For most people it's far above their heads so

they can hold it easily and balance, but for me it's right next to my head,
they can hold it easily and balance, but for me it's right next to my head,

like here.
like here.

So I have to train my muscle when I'm holding onto it to keep my balance, like
So I have to train my muscle when I'm holding onto it to keep my balance, like

fuck it's so low.
fuck it's so low.

And when I'm not holding them it just hits me in the head.
And when I'm not holding them it just hits me in the head.

And in Japan there's a lot of concern about perverts on trains,
And in Japan there's a lot of concern about perverts on trains,

about guys trying to grab girls and things,
about guys trying to grab girls and things,

so us normal Japanese guys have to be really careful
so us normal Japanese guys have to be really careful

to stay away from girls on trains so they don't think we're perverts.
to stay away from girls on trains so they don't think we're perverts.

But some Japanese girls are really short compared to me, like they came up to here.
But some Japanese girls are really short compared to me, like they came up to here.

They're really short.
They're really short.

So when the train is busy and crowded it's very difficult to avoid them and
So when the train is busy and crowded it's very difficult to avoid them and

I have to use all my muscle I've got.
I have to use all my muscle I've got.

By the way, this is the umbrella I was talking about in my last video.
By the way, this is the umbrella I was talking about in my last video.

It just broke because of the wind.
It just broke because of the wind.

It's still made of metal, though.
It's still made of metal, though.

Anyway, if you are tall and thinking about coming to Japan, please be careful.
Anyway, if you are tall and thinking about coming to Japan, please be careful.