When I first moved in to the house in Japan that I bought in 2015, a neighbor called the police because there was a suspicious foreigner there.
2 cops responded to the call, showing up and demanding to see my ID, just for being in my house. (This was 9pm at night.)
(1/?)
I love living here for countless reasons. I don't complain about this kind of thing much. But the number of people denying racism or saying foreigners are causing all the problems here is just a bit over the top recently. Every country has issues, Japan among them.
(4/4)
Met a TV Asahi crew waiting at Fuji 6th Station. They said they were waiting for poorly prepared gaijin to warn on camera. I told them I hate that they do that as it pushes public opinion against us. (3 that died 2 days ago were all Japanese.)
The Japanese media seems to be intentionally provoking animosity toward foreign tourists.
(Airing segments like this with a French guy saying he finds Japanese noodle slurping irritating.)
In northern Aomori, Japan, a little girl just pointed at me and said, "It's a foreigner!" Her mom quickly scolded her, telling her not to point and that she was a foreigner from my perspective.
Well done, mom!
Today on My Fuji, a hypothermic tourist from Hong Kong (guy, 20s) was found without his backpack, having been blown from the summit to Gotemba trail. No phone, wallet, passport.
I've had cops in Tokyo pull our car over and use very rude demeaning language to me and a friend from Ecuador, accusing us of having weapons and drugs, only to switch to keigo when a Japanese gf got out of the car.
(3/?)
Finally getting a decent amount of snow in the mountains of Akita! Can't wait to go backcountry skiing and snowshoeing on the next clear day!
#tsurunoyu
#鶴の湯
This wasn't the normal visit you get from cops when you move, just to get your info. They told me directly someone had called the police because they saw a foreigner there. They were polite enough, but insisted on seeing my immigration status and ID immediately.
(2/?)
So I was filling my car up with gas here in Morioka today and the station attendant (20-something guy) asked me if I was the Youtuber from GoNorth Japan...!
I know I'm tiny, but made me feel kinda famous, for a few minutes at least.
Quite harsh, but I can't help but agree with most of his points. Still reads a bit like an upraised middle finger from a frustrated journalist on his way out of the country. And contradicts himself a bit at the end. Solidly damning though.
All the bad press about gaijin on Fuji in Japan is annoying.
Guiding a group of nine, and our route to the lodge has a brief traverse between routes that is on a side trail and there is a sign saying do not enter to keep people from going by mistake.
Another international Tokyo moment- while checking into my hotel in Shinjuku, both staff at reception are Nepali. When I hand over my Driver's License as ID, one asks if I have permanent residence. I respond affirmatively, and this launches a conversation...
A couple Chinese tourists were taking pictures from next to the Fuji Lawson Wall, and an old local man scolded them despite the streets being empty and no one around. So I took a photo too.
Hey
@AbroadInJapan
and
@premier_two
- there's a volcano up here with your name on it! Mt. Fuji is fine, but up here I could take you somewhere with wild hot springs, a good chance to see bears, and fields of poison flowers that kill with one bite. See you this summer!
Hiked up Mt. Iwate again today, my 4th time this year. Recently I always see the same old man near the summit. He's gotta be nearly 80. He's got really light gear if you can call it that, goes really slowly, but always summits. I think he's my hero.
I know the man who has climbed Mt. Iwate more than anyone else in modern history, probably ever. He passed 1,000 summits several years ago, so is probably over 1200 now.
Meanwhile, I've summited 85 times. I'll never break 500. But I'm really enjoying all the time spent up there.
In just a decade so much has changed. The snow monsters of Zao (below) are threatened both by insects and warming temperatures, which are of course connected.
I should maybe worry more about global agriculture over beauty, but can't help myself.
Explaining Fuji's religious history to my guests as we hike up. Crowded trail, lots hiking and chatting. Old Japanese dude yells at me in English, "Be quiet! No talking hiking!" Couldn't believe it. Sorry to complain so much lately. Just shocked.
They ask how hard it was to get, etc. and we end up chatting for 10 minutes about living in Japan, where I've visited in Nepal, etc. Love the small town friendliness in Tokyo!
(Though I was dead tired from overnight Fuji job, still covered in sweat and stinking to high heaven.)
Yesterday guided a blind man up Mt. Fuji! He made it to the 8th Station - at an elevation of 10,000 feet! Tough guy! It was so foggy I couldn't see much either...
I really think all the press painting gaijin as rulebreakers is creating Japanese Karens. I wish they would tone it down. Japanese groups didn't get that treatment.
I'm officially kicked out of the never COVID club. Being 4x vaxxed, it wasn't so bad. Just 48 hours of 38.4 fever (now gone) and some residual congestion. No sore throat, no coughing. Can taste/smell. Fingers crossed on after-effects. Gotta stay home for another 3 days though...
In Iwate, where I live, when you stop your car at a crosswalk to let a kid cross, they bow to you after crossing. Is this common throughout Japan? Don't remember seeing that in Tokyo.