Japan (culture, language etc) and a newbie

So because of the hobbie, I am very much interested in Japan, and I was reading the learning japanese thread and it got me pondering. Where can I learn about modern Japan? Books, sites? Anything really. It's my goal to travel there for the first time one day soon (am young and single and childless so this will make great stories for when it's time to settle) I reached out two a mix couple who posts videos on YouTube about Japan. But I am lost as to the cultures, food, manners and behavior of this place and its people. Also am afraid of racism/ discrimination. I am from the Bahamas and am dark skinned, I had my first brush with such behavior in Florida when I was younger, the people didnt want to let in the elevator to get breakfast -,- the woman literally screamed "oh dear, close the the door,close it! Her son screamed no but yeah door closed haha. So are the people of Japan ok with the dark skinned folk of the west? I don't really know, blame it on ignorance but even brief pictures of a crowed and the darkest would by a gyaru? I am just afraid hehe . Am even willing to learn the language! So any help/ advice/information will be well recived.

I'm not sure how the Japanese react to dark skinned people, since I'm not dark skinned myself. But I am obviously a foreigner, as a white, blond girl. I've never had Japanese people react negatively to me in the 2 months I've lived here. They have always been polite and kind. I live in the Tokyo area though, where people are more used to seeing foreigners. I've heard other areas of Japan, especially rural areas, can be a different story.

 

The Japanese seem to appreciate it if you learn even a little bit of their culture and language. If you can kind of meet them halfway in that way, then they'll almost bend over backwards to help you. They just want to know that you are trying and respectful of their culture and country. You still may run into racist people. Sadly, racist people are everywhere. But, as a lot of moms teach, manners like saying please "onegaishimasu", thank you "arigatou goziamasu" or "domo", and excuse me "sumimasen", go a long way.

 

If you have any specific questions, feel free to post them here. My language isn't so great, but others here can help with that. I've been living here in Japan for the past 2 months and I've been a Japanophile for years, so I can probably answer any culture or pop culture questions.

 

Anyway, here's some sites that may help you out:

 

http://www.tofugu.com/ - This site mostly focuses on the language side of things, but there's culture articles mixed in there too.

 

http://japan-guide.com/ - The site itself will help you for travel. If you go on the forums, people ask a lot of questions there about culture and etiquette. It might help to read stuff there, and you can even post specific questions yourself if you think of any.

Oh I don't fear the racism it is what it is, if tolerance was 100% across the board we would have perfectionism and in itself chaos, :s I just don't want to be attacked haha ^.^ I am kind of a hermit, so people in general am afraid of bad experiences. But thank you for the help. I will definitely ask more questions if I get confused thanks

I saw a video about this. http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=VDBSV8DL1lU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVDBSV8DL1lU She says that Japanese people have certain preconceptions about her, but they don't generally treat her badly. But in more rural areas, sometimes they'll want to touch her hair, since it's different.

 

There's also this video http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=VDBSV8DL1lU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVDBSV8DL1lU

I know as a girl from the Carribean you're not an American rapper. But it's something that I found amusing, and it may be a stereotype that you run into, I don't know.

 

But still, I don't think anyone would be disrespectful or treat you badly.

I saw a video about this. http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=VDBSV8DL1lU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVDBSV8DL1lU She says that Japanese people have certain preconceptions about her, but they don't generally treat her badly. But in more rural areas, sometimes they'll want to touch her hair, since it's different.

 

There's also this video http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=VDBSV8DL1lU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVDBSV8DL1lU

I know as a girl from the Carribean you're not an American rapper. But it's something that I found amusing, and it may be a stereotype that you run into, I don't know.

 

But still, I don't think anyone would be disrespectful or treat you badly.

 

No am not a rapper, I have the typical black girl shape, and am not as fearful, with the touching of hair, am ok being treated like an alien, lol your links are that of Sakura card captors! Haha nice blast from the past though

Hmm that's weird. Maybe because I was using a mobile device.

Here's the links I meant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=attGpbm4OAQ&sns=em

 

 

I double checked them this time so they should be right.

Thanks that really puts my mind at ease. I was just really scared I wouldn't be liked off of skin value, ( if such nonsense even exists) I am more confident now. Wish I could meet a Japanese person and ask questions. In the bahamas currently there are a lot of Asians, but I think they are Chinese haha, we have development going on in the country by the Chinese government and mandarin was an option, but I like Japan, mandarin will be next, somewhere after French haha I don't think it would be nice running up to them and asking what nationality they are, some try to speak to the natives now, but I don't think they know English enough for a full conversation. And it maybe ignorance or under exposure but I really can't tell the difference and have never interacted with both nationalities to know. That's why in my adult life am trying to change the hermitism (totally made up) I have nurtured so well. I want to educate and live in Canada but travel other places. Big dreams for an islander I know

Not at all, if you want to have dreams it doesn't matter where you're from. It can sometimes be hard to tell a person's nationality just by looking at them, and the same is true of every race. If I am curious, I will listen to their language and see if I can tell from that.

thanks jezrah your a really an awesome person