Autistic Adults in Japan [ENG CC]

[@TheJapanReporter]

Huge thanks to all the people for watching this all the way to the end!

[@timothyayi7704]

Hi I'm a Nigerian student who has been following your content for awhile I'm considering coming to do my masters in Kyoto, please what is climate towards Nigerians there? Do you have any advice for me on how to accomplish this task

[@timothyayi7704]

Hi I'm a Nigerian student who has been following your content for awhile I'm considering coming to do my masters in Kyoto, please what is climate towards Nigerians there? Do you have any advice for me on how to accomplish this task

[@roywalls5595]

Thank you for sharing this video about ADS! 😊

[@noahwilliams8996]

Towards the end they said they wanted to help educate people about it. Here's something that might help: kzbin.info/aero/PLogZUlUedQpYSIHOn6CrcGt-Xw1pGL2RB

[@user-yc3fw6vq5n]

No, thank you Nobita先生 for doing this and best wishes to you and everyone in the video! "I've come to the stairs five times previously, and today, I could finally open the door and meet you!" sounds like it could be in an Anime

[@limelightraver5690]

As an autistic American who has worked on behalf of Autistic Rights Advocacy activism many times in the past, I’ve always been extremely curious about what it’s like for my fellow autistic brothers and sisters all across the planet in other countries like Japan and Britain. So I would occasionally go online to see how things were going in The U.K. and Japan and so on. Thank you for making this video because it’s giving me an opportunity to observe on autistic rights in Japan and see how things are going on over there when I haven’t got the chance to do that for a little while.

[@veganryori]

In the UK it's basically the same as this video... Except some of us are standing up and asking the world around us for accomodations instead of us being forced to continue to accomodate the world around us 100% of the time.

[@danielwhyatt3278]

@@veganryori I definitely agree. I’m autistic with Asperger’s and in the UK too and this good change really has been visibly happening over the past plus decade.

[@homebrandrules]

@@veganryori bravo !!!

[@kuroazrem5376]

In my country, autism was a dirty word when I was a kid, hence there is a lot of stigma attached to it. For that reason (among others), I was only diagnosed with Asperger's when I was around 21. Thanks to that diagnosis my life has improved a bit, since I can now understand why I am the way I am. However, divulging that information outside a select number of people is basically banned. Also, some day-to-day things (like going somewhere with strong smells or noises, for example) is really challenging to me.

[@evanmcarthur3067]

They lump ADHD in the same category, at least that was my experience

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

People that are not neurodivergent have just as many flaws as us. The only difference is that the work environment is suited to their needs. Not yours. Don't let anyone convince of being less than others. You have strengths just as much as weaknesses. So focus on making these strengths known as well.

[@postmoon]

i agree! also, unrelated, is your icon from the utsu-p song fools are attracted to anomaly? its such a good song i love utsu-p :D the songs alien's i love you and i thought i was an angel to me really convey the difficulties if being different and i love them.

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

@@postmoon You have great taste! I have an interest in cute songs, hardcore metal songs, japanese hiphop, some dark and gothic genres. If the music does a great job at expressing a feeling and idea well, I'm gonna like it.

[@ririinu_]

This!! ↑↑ Also, good to see two people finding similar interests in the comment section lol

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

@@ririinu_ Nice to meet you. Fellow compatriot... I'm not very good at talking directly to people lol

[@starscion]

@@rumplstiltztinkerstein you have almost the same music taste as me, wow

[@NahiraAi]

I really felt all the remarks of "you have no motivation", "you're lazy" and "you lack efforts" it really hit me, specially because my therapist has started to use them, and she is the one who diagnosed me when I was 17, so it really felt as if my trust has been broken yet i have nowhere else to go

[@shu6414]

THROW HER IN THE TRASH. YOU ARE GREAT AND AMAZING AND I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT. I'M ALSO AUTISTIC AND I THINK THAT YOU DO NOT DESERVE SUCH TREATMENT.

[@magnoliablossom4750]

she should lose her license. try a new therapist

[@kaymullen5123]

I had a similar therapist a while ago- She actually told me "girl's cant be autistic. Youre just lazy" And then I got diagnosed by someone else a year later 😭 Some people just do not deserve the jobs they have, I'm sorry.

[@kmann100500]

Have you considered that you are just lazy?

[@kaymullen5123]

@@kmann100500 the difference between laziness and the inability to do something to the same standard of others is guilt. Lazy people do not feel guilt for slacking. They are lazy and uncooperative by choice and it's something they can control, but choose not to. I dont think it's fair to ask that question at all. (Please know that I mean all of this in the nicest way possible 😭)

[@CaolánTheCryptidCrow]

I'm really happy you talked with autistic people instead of only parents with autistic kids. A lot of times in the USA whenever people talk about Autism they talk to parents of autistic kids and they talk to companies like Autism Speaks who don't listen to autistic people and instead assume what we need based on their own beliefs. I'm happy seeing other autistic adults like me being interviewed and I relate to a lot of their struggles, like with work or eating disorders. For me I don't have an eating disorder because I want to be skinny or because I think I'm fat. Rather I have difficulty eating because I often don't have the energy to feed myself, or everything I have has the wrong texture or not the right flavor. My body gets picky so that can make it difficult. A lot of autistic people experience Autistic burnout from masking (pretending to not be autistic). Having to pretend to be "normal" all day is exhausting, especially when you have to do a job on top of it. I'm having to quit a job because my boss thinks I'm faking when I go nonverbal. Even though we also have laws that make discrimination illegal, sometimes employers will find another excuse not to hire you if you disclose you're autistic before you get the job. A lot of times what people think are limitations is really just not being in the right environment. I can work really well when I'm able to go at my own pace, but when I am rushed (especially because I also have chronic pain) I sometimes panic and I can't do as good of a job. Fun fact, there's quite a few health issues that can be co-morbid with Autism. Things like digestive issues, hypermobile joints, and even ADHD. I suspect my chronic pain is due to my hypermobile knees and my legs not knowing how to walk correctly, I also have Crohn's disease which effects the digestive system and I have ADHD. With all of these health conditions interacting, it's no wonder I am disabled and can't take care of myself sometimes. It's why I very much think that humans need to focus on taking care of one another. There's evidence of prehistoric humans and neanderthals taking care of their sick or injured family members. If someone can make me a meal when I'm low energy, then once I have food I can have more energy to make myself another meal later. Or if someone is overwhelmed by sound, letting them borrow some headphones might help. Being autistic I feel like my brain is constantly on overdrive and things get overwhelming, even little things like temperature changes. So I'm happy that people are finally starting to learn about it in a way that focuses on Autistic individuals and in ways that help them understand us better.

[@jinxpianista]

Hypermobility is related to ASD? I have both and had no idea there was a link between them!

[@teamojesusss]

I'm very sorry about what you had to go through with your boss. Although I'm not autistic, I relate to the own pace thing. I only do good when I go at my own pace and get very nervous when rushed. I do have a non-verbal syndrome though, but it only affects me at school subjects and a little in socialization. I hope someone takes good care of you and helps you.

[@RainbowEssence-c3w]

Amen! Here in the U.S. unfortunately developmental disorders (it's even in the name!) like autism and ADHD are considered mainly problems that affect children. Thus, most research and diagnoses focus on children (particularly males/assigned male at birth). Things are getting better now, but in the past it seems adults living with such conditions have been largely neglected which is unfortunate because contrary to popular belief ADHD (and other developmental disorders) is not something you "grow out of". I haven't been formally diagnosed with autism of ADHD (though I have my suspicions) but I can definitely relate to the whole being rushed thing. I HATE being rushed, but on the other hand I admit sometimes it's necessary because otherwise I have a tendency to be late to things lol. Still, it's an issue for me at work or when doing something that requires concentration because when I get rushed I get nervous, and then I start to get flustered, and then I forget things and make careless mistakes! I have a tendency to "march to the beat of my own drum", as this one career assessment I took back in middle/high school told me. And while I don't believe it's severe enough to classify as an eating disorder, I too struggle with making sure to get enough to eat and stay hydrated. Except for me it's because I have a tendency to get really absorbed in what I'm doing and it's very hard for me to stop in order to get a drink, stretch my legs, get some food, use the bathroom, etc. Growing up it always felt like I was "different", I got the impression that others didn't really like me or they thought I was strange. Well, my friend had actually told me that all our classmates thought I was weird and I believed her. Idk if it was just my imagination, but it did feel like others sorta avoided me or looked at me kinda funny sometimes. It felt like my interests didn't really align with those of my female peers, and I was very quiet and had a tendency to keep to myself. Partially because I thought no one wanted to be my friend. It didn't help that I had a hearing loss and wore a hearing aid either. I don't know... I have always felt "flawed", like there's something not quite right with me and I hate it. I wish I could be "normal", not the dysfunctional adult that I am. I feel sorry for my parents having such a daughter as me, and there are times where I just wish I could start over. I can't help but feel sometimes like I don't really belong in this world, like a mistake, like maybe I shouldn't exist. Sorry lol, didn't mean to get all morose on you. Anyway, I just wanted to say I think you're absolutely right and I'm sorry to hear you've had such experiences but I hope things are better now and they continue to get better for you!

[@TomoyoTatar]

Autism Speaks was one of the worst advocates for me. They have no idea what they are doing, and only referred me to child facilities. There's literally no adult facilities in the northeast in my state. Im very similar to you in that I cant get a job because I have to do things my own pace, also really bad chronic pain from crohns and endometriosis. The eating texture thing, its hell. My mother only after years of fighting has started to understand my noise sensitivity and she finally helps me and give me my noise cancelling headphones. At least that!!!

[@MsLaceyLane]

​@@jinxpianista yes they are often co-morbid. The exact reason why they're linked is still being investigated though. Look up "Autisim and Elhers Danlos Syndrome", or "Hypermobility and neurodivergent disorders". I am diagnosed with hypermobile Elhers Danlos Syndrome, ADHD, OCD, and I am waiting to be assessed for ASD. I'm 100% sure I'm autistic though, but the waitlists to be assessed are super long. I have over 20 diagnoses, and I got them all late in life (around 30 years old). I had no idea how much hypermobility was hindering me until I became so sick I could no longer work. I was working 10 times as hard as everyone else just to struggle to keep up because I didn't know I had disabilities. I just thought it was all normal until it impeded my life so profoundly. I knew I was different, but had no clue how different I truly was. It's been really freeing to now have aids and care for all of my various disabilities. ❤

[@second_second_]

The part where she mentions about how Siri responds to feelings, is really a good way to explain how a neurodiverse brain works in relationship. That's a great, very neat analogy. Because people with autism think logically.

[@bigboomer1013]

I always thought about how thought autistics are not like emotionless robots, their quirks or reactions are kinda like it. Such as how siri hears you trying to say something, but then goes "I didn't get that. Can you say it again more clearly?" Or "I'm having trouble understanding you". It gave me the idea for a short story about a robot family and how one robot is wired differently and process or reacts to things differently and can only do this much amount of tasks before they get shut down and reboot. Other robots sees that guy as broken and something that needs to be fixed. But if they do something like that, then it won't even be the same computer or robot.

[@angeldude101]

I find instead that we can be very emotional contrary to the stereotype, but the lack of other autistic people means we rarely get to learn how to process those emotions properly and we're left with a poor understanding of our own emotions. Since we don't have the proper words to convey how we feel, even to ourselves, we'd instead resort to trying to analyse them logically, which then naturally runs into trouble considering how emotions work.

[@cameronschyuder9034]

@@angeldude101 I've read in a study that that alexithymia, which is difficulty recognizing one's own emotions (let alone in others), is experienced by around 50% of the autistic folks that participated in their study. So essentially, there are as many in the stereotype as there are out of it?

[@fwogboy]

@@bigboomer1013 that would be such an amazing story and such an eye opener for a lot of people. i highly encourage you to write it if youre passionate about making stories! i would certainly love to see it come to fruition

[@DellikkilleD]

@@bigboomer1013 No, it would be a better, functional robot. stop treating disability as a personality trait, its not, its just bad wiring that you must strive to overcome.

[@Fireprincess161]

Autism in women is often overlooked, and mental health vids about Japan are so few and far between. The combination of the two is so great to see. It's amazing to see how similar my life is to some of these women, and my mothers to others. We're both autistic with slightly different experiences much like these women. I absolutely love the idea of the cafe for autistic people, if I lived somewhere more built up I'd love to do something like that.

[@Shammon5]

I'm a late diagnosed autistic+adhd mom and am raising my 4 year old son in Japan. We suspect he is also autistic/adhd though we are still waiting on a diagnosis. Japan can be so backwards in regard to mental health and the understanding of developmental disability, but if you are struggling please know there are some good doctors, psychiatrists, therapists, and support workers. Please don't give up. ❤️

[@reynewan999]

We are not disabled. World is. Disabled, loud, stinky, full of lies. You and Your son are fine, we are just differently wired, but in our own society we would be fully functioning people. Although, psychologist would be fine, its very hard to raise an autistic child, as and autistic, and help is needed (i dont feel i have it...)

[@jokerpilled2535]

I’d never trust a neurotypical person to be my therapist.

[@analennyja]

As a psychologist I appriciate this video, because I can use it to show my students who have autism what's like for people with autism in other countries. Thank you for making it!

[@eijiroinouye4115]

Is autism similar to phobias?

[@Midna127]

As an autistic person who has a special interest in Japan, it's really nice to be able to see content like this :)

[@ymotechnopopfan]

I feel the same way.

[@IlyaLavendae]

I also feel the same way

[@RageDeRuin]

Same! Especially since I want to visit some day and I wondered how I might be treated there due to this. I'm guessing a lot of it might be excused because I'm a foreigner.

[@TheSilverShadow17]

I'm an autistic person myself and have seeked interest in Japan as well, so you're not alone haha

[@Adelicows]

I'm also autistic and obsessed with Japan 🇯🇵🍜🏯🥟🍱🎋🥢🗾🍡

[@MrAJS11]

As a Chinese American with speech delays as a child, I can relate to these frustrations with these folks with ASD, autism or ADHD. Growing up I got bullied a lot , and those kids though I was weird, so I felt completely awkward and really had hard time make friends. I eventually was able to understand through speech therapy that I was not weird. Despite these challenges, I am and was able to speak Cantonese with my family and others. I can even read and write some Chinese. When I was 18, I only knew English and Cantonese. As I got older, I was curious, so I expanded my language experience to Mandarin at 22, Spanish and japanese at 27, French and Russian by 29. In each language I learn, I had to remind myself what I went through with speech delays as a kid, so I don’t get frustrated. To this day, I still practice listening, and speaking , my weakest part. Written part, like reading periodicals, novels, comics, give me pleasure, the part I have less trouble. As a visual learner, kanji, hiragana, katakana, Chinese Hanzi, Russian words, or unfamiliar words in French or Spanish words don’t intimidate me at all. I find it a beauty and a chance for me to connect others. Thank you for this video. Ps. I have always wondered how these folks in Japan with autism, ASD and ADHD cope.

[@Charles-sg9zu]

哈囉，我係Charles，我喺英國讀緊古生物學，我有好多朋友都係autistic 。

[@mustacheboyo]

Nice knowing multiple languages. I only know English and a little bit of elementary school level Spanish

[@Rulesofliferoso]

knowing this gives me hope my 4 year old son has mild autism, speech delay but very smart scored 95% in normal PreK class, even with developmental /speech delay ... cuse of the speech issue with bleeding heart i stopped teaching him our mother tongue and concentrated on english speaking only, i love to hear him converse so can teach him better so i was desperate to the point at least if he can get fluent in english that would mean a lot to me.. he have enough vocabulary for the age of 5, can say all his needs and wants, but cannot hold a meaningful back and forth conversation.. your story gives me hope once he gets fluent in english i will start teaching him our mother tongue..

[@GuestR-Evolution]

Holaaaa!!!!

[@chummycult]

I’m also an Asian American and being Asian covered up my autism people kind of just let me say the weirdest shit and no one had a clue

[@agamersinsanity]

I think it's great that someone started a café for people who have ASD or any other disabilities.

[@commentarytalk1446]

I don't really understand the "group desire" tbh. But I would say, for ASD people I'd guess that finding them specific activities they "slot" into would be a good solution and being around others who slot into that would make them feel a shared groupedness or appreciation of others they may or may not feel a lack of.

[@CrystalRose1111]

I also agree with this. I genuinely want to start like a community resource center/recreational place for people on the spectrum

[@jazmine7798]

@@commentarytalk1446 when I read the Gamers Insanity comment, the first thing that came to mind was “safety” vs “group.” The cafe would be a safe place that ASD individuals could feel free to be themselves and not worry about performing for society. From the video, it seems like those with ASD have experience terrible environmental situations.

[@mawprints]

@@commentarytalk1446 being around other autistic people is a whole different vibe than being in a group of non-autistic people, simple as. it's easier to be yourself, without the pressures of 'masking', or performing. there's a weird kind of 'brain link' i experience with other autistic people as well, where i can often immediately mesh with them, and talking feels effortless. this kind of feeling is otherwise very rare in our day-to-day and very alluring once you experience it. you can see table signs in the video too, that say 'i want to be left alone' or 'i want you to talk to me' and although i've never seen anything like it before, i know these cues are incredibly helpful. i would love to have some sort of cafe like this where i live.

[@Timbo183404]

First off, Kazuki rocks that top hat! Secondly, thanks for making this video because I thinks this is a global issue as much as it is just an issue in 日本。I'm in the United States and literally a few days ago some idiot on television said that people with Asperger's have no empathy. I think for too long we've had the generational idea hammered into us of "You must be this normal to function in society." when those standards only really cater to a smaller majority of the world's population than you think. I believe instead of saying "everyone should be at this standard." we should have guidance programs that cater to the desired career path and lifestyle of the individual, neurodiverse or otherwise.

[@Jade-db1jx]

Today on "How I Made Myself Cry Today", is realizing that the exact issues I've experienced as an autistic person isn't uncommon even in a country with different culture and values from my own. My heart aches. Thank you for sharing. I too have to monitor my speech patterns and words in a way I think will be understood. I also mess up at simple tasks, but can complete complex ones. Because of cultural values here, I feel less than a human being. An alien. I even call my medication "be a functioning human meds". 🎉

[@jazmine7798]

I’m sorry to hear that, I wish that everyone could feel safe being themselves. You inspire me to become a better person that will be compassionate and kind and intentional to understand those around me and not expect societal norms or actions. Thank you.

[@georgiagalaxy]

Wow that’s very interesting, and relatable.. Thank you for sharing

[@myheartismadeofstars]

As a woman who is almost 30 it felt so good to see women with my disorder who are older than me, especially being successful. It truly felt like these are people I can look up to and may actually be able to emulate. Though the guy who said he'd write down all the rules he noticed is so familiar lmao. I spent years teaching myself to read body language and stuff like that. Though now I wonder, is Applied Behavioral Analysis utilized in Japan? Especially for children? (it's a form of treatment that most autistic adults consider child abuse, because it focuses on stopping all outward signs of being different, including teaching the child they have to do things that are painful or unnatural to please others) it's a horrific practice that I'm kinda shocked I didn't hear mention of. For a society that bullies and isolates people who are different, you would expect this "training" (seriously, many autistic people consider it similar to training a dog) to be wildly common there! Silver Star: not as bad as you could be! (btw the man who invented ABA also invented gay conversion "therapy" just to give you an idea what it's actually like"

[@veganryori]

AFAIK ABA is only used to abuse American autistics. It is not a thing in Europe that I have seen/heard of.

[@Sunny10tv]

I'm 35 & was diagnosed with autism back in 2007. I feel like there hitting the nail on the head as I went through alot of those same experiences but over here in America in the 90's. I even contemplated moving to Japan in 1999 when I was 12 because of having such a bad time in school with people in my grade giving me a time all the way around. My thought process back then maybe if I move to japan where people don't know me i would fit in better... When I moved to the one school the people in my grade repeatedly told me each year from 2nd grade to 5th grade: We don't like new kids get out of our school. They also made things up to the principal saying I did things I didn't actually do. Endless battle of having to defend myself. When I confronted them. They said you don't get it were trying to get you expelled we don't want you here... I was told that point blank to my face. The joke was on them though I had friends who were in younger grades who actually had my back & caught the people in my grade trying to belittle & bully me to point several 1st graders & 3rd graders I was friends with had enough & tried to stick up for me even going with me to the principal's office. Didn't matter the principal was on the side of the people were in my grade unfortunately & made the remark to me so now you have little kids fighting your battles for you? Keep in mind this principal showed favoritism towards those who were regular ed, honors, or ap but those were were special ed she tried to pull stuff on to the point several parents called the school board & the principal was almost fired. The school was Canon MacMillan (Canon Mac) or (Cecil Elementary for the elementary part of the school) I know people if they came forth could say quite a bit about there nightmarish experiences with that school particularly... Glad I'm not in school anymore on so many levels... I feel like it made my autism worse on certain levels plus me having a severe stuttering problem from the time I was little didn't help in school or daycare... ✌️

[@Fireprincess161]

Right? I didn't know I was autistic until I was in my mid-late 20s and refused to accept it for a few years after that. It wasn't until I was 30 that I accepted the diagnosis. But hearing these womens experiences and what they've been though and relating so much is good.

[@AeonZhang]

​@@Sunny10tv ✨🫂🫂🫂✨

[@Sunny10tv]

@Fireprincess161 I accept the autism but have a love / hate for it on certain levels. The few times I've mentioned it to others whether in person or online. They either assume I'm a genius or complete idiot. I'm just in the middle with my autism. I know I baffled some teachers in school years ago because some subjects I was really advanced in high school level & other subjects my iq was so low pretty much elementary level. It's strange how autism effects the brain & learning in general. Since been out of school have self taught myself alot of stuff but I did that even as a kid. A few teachers tried to take credit & I corrected them on the spot because I knew what I learned in school & what I actually self taught myself on different things~ 🤷‍♀️✌️

[@mistrotech8894]

As an autistic person, I have a bit of advice. Find out how your own mind works, and figure out your own strengths or weaknesses by observing your surroundings and experiences. By this, I mean to examine how you think, for example through imagery, sound, or something else...make learning strategies based on that, and figuring what works best for you. Then, embrace those strengths and weaknesses. For me, being autistic seems to make people think what I say is funny...so I've embraced that as a high schooler, and don't mask my autism. My misunderstandings can actually make people laugh, and it can also make some...pretty interesting interactions with teachers

[@mustacheboyo]

​@Dre L yeah I went to online community college for 5 monthes in the pandemic

[@MindfulnessArtCoaching]

This is good advice but how do you find the time to do this? I was diagnosed last year at 47. With a full time job, then business of my life. I don't have the spoons to work things out.

[@celestea_.]

Have you ever masked your autism before? and what age did you get diagnosed?

[@darkstarr984]

For me I am fortunate I can make people laugh, pass off my literalism as jokes, and many of my behaviors are considered cute, if very confusing. I tend to mask when in unfamiliar environments, though I didn’t realize that’s what I do - because that means suppressing lots of impulses even though it’s exhausting to do so, and to push hard to identify and guess the right thing to say and do.

[@ciinidoodle]

Couldn’t give better advice, this is so true. Figuring out less stressful and custom tailored routines/lifehacks for each aspect of your life makes it so much easier to deal with the rest of the challenges life throws at us.

[@colorpraeterita3824]

Shout out to Kazuki, I respect a guy who can rock a sharp suit and a top hat! I'm not autistic however I am dyslexic and wasn't diagnosed until my mid 20s, so what your interviewees has to say about struggling at school and at work and not knowing why hit close to home.

[@CatalogK9]

I’m an AuDHD American looking to move to Japan in a few years with my son (who is also AuDHD), and I’ve been searching for information about how neurodiversity is understood and handled in Japan, and couldn’t find anything beyond the most extreme pity cases (not unlike the US until fairly recently). My diagnoses were missed for the first ~30 years of my life, and it’s my passion to help raise awareness and acceptance so we don’t have to keep suffering and misunderstanding each other so needlessly. Thank you so much for this video! This is seriously one of the best I’ve seen on the subject in general, and it’s so hard to find good information even among so-called “experts”-it really can’t be overstated how important this kind of representation is for us!

[@dunta2706]

やはりまだ、努力論、精神論が基本です。 障害者雇用の法律はあれど、先日見学に行った障害者施設もも、生産性は時給に反映しない、欠点を直し挨拶（日本では挨拶しても、やり方がどうだと因縁つけられたり注意されます）しっかりし、 指導員が努力してると判断したら時給が200円から上がる可能性があるといわれ、つまり障害者はいらない、障害を消せということです。 すぐに教育カリキュラムや指導要領がかわるわけではないですが、 まずは 特に女性の自閉症、発達障害は未だに診断しない医師、認めない教師・親・家族、その背景にある社会的イメージや理想像があります。 そして性被害・風俗従事者とならざるをえない人がたくさんいます。

[@zoefarr2600]

Find local medication if you use any: things like Adderal is illegal

[@edomoeli1347]

​​​@@dunta2706 igirisu demo onnaji na mondai ga okorimasu ... sumimasen, hafu nano de, nihongon ga chotto hetakuso nanode ...... watashi wa soro soro igirisu no daigaku kara sotsugyou shitte kitto nihon ni hikoshi surunokedo ASD ga arunode chotto shimpai shimasu .. demo yapari doko ni mo ittemo henna hitto ni azukarechau ... itsumo nakamahazure ni naru to omou. demo, kono douga o mitara watashi wa jishin ga mochimashita! nihonjin no ASD/ADHD no minasan! nakayoku ni narimashou!

[@natalieo7539]

Ive talked to autistic friends who moved to Japan from America and since they are already viewed as foreigners in Japan they are given more space. They found they had very little travel anxiety because people would leave them alone and things happened when things were said to happen.

[@mawprints]

this video ended up making me cry since i realized that my struggles living undiagnosed are as real here in my home country as they are in other countries. i'm learning to adapt as i grow older and i hope any others who are struggling are learning to do the same !!

[@BugHwi]

I really like how Sayaka explained her thought process, it reminds me of when I say "my brain is full of references". Also, this whole video reminds me of articles I read when I was writing an essay on undiagnosed/late-diagnosed autistic women. (I was diagnosed when I was 18 and am 24 now [and just started college])

[@vaizluca]

I don't have autism but like learning about it and hearing perspectives and experiences of autistic people as some of those close to me are on the spectrum and it helps me be a better ally. Thank you!

[@t3hsis324]

Only a quarter of the way in, but dedicated until the end. I'm autistic, study Japanese... I wish I could be friends with some of these people. So many of their struggles resonate with me, regardless of our different cultures (I'm US). Being thought of as rude, lazy, 'what's wrong with you?'... 😔 It's hard at times. I want to say a big thanks for sharing their stories. It may be difficult to watch, but things like this make me feel less alone. Edit: I loved the cafe so much! I cried when she told the story of someone who had climbed the stairs 5 times, and finally they could open the door and say hello. I understand this too well. You could say I was a grey zone, until I couldn't anymore. I was diagnosed at 36, and told that I was "unusual". If I didn't find the right person to assess me, maybe I would still be in the grey zone.

[@second_second_]

I like how you did the directing for this video. First you got people sharing their problems, and later go to what we can do, what they did, and then you showed that these same people are actually very successful and sweet people and give the feelings of hope. You really did amazing work, thank you so much to you and all these people for sharing your life with us

[@ratking927]

I’ve been waiting for a video like this. It seems like an especially difficult country to be in with autism. Although, I think I gravitated towards Japan because studying a culture from the outside is always what I did naturally anyway. I think a lot of autistics are interested in Japan because the social rules are pretty clear

[@あわや楓]

このビデオをシェアして頂き有難うございました！ 私は発達障害のADHDで不注意が強くて最近になって発達障害だと分かりました。障害者手帳も作りました。 遅刻や忘れ物や他人に対して空気を読んだり指示されても理解するのが時間がかかるか理解出来なかったりと会社でも辛い場合が多いです。 海外の方のコメントを読んでも様々な方々がいるんだと分かり、また日本の発達障害の方々の意見も自分と近い方もいて自分なりにこちらの動画を見て元気を貰えました。 頑張り過ぎるのは駄目ですが自分なりに頑張ろうと思いました。 日本の空気読めと集団行動は本当に苦手ですし女性ばかりの集まりは苦手なのは同意です。

[@crystalrelic_art]

As an autistic person, I really appreciate this video ❤️✨️

[@myselfme767]

I live in Denmark and I recently found out I'm autistic or/and I have ADHD (not officially diagnosed, it's what my psychogist thinks I have). People would tell you Denmark is kinda open to this kind of things, you can actually take days off because of mental health issues ( I had anxiety as well). But, there's a big but-I also got "releaved" from my job, because I disclosed I had anxiety, instead of being accomodated. Also you're expected to act in a certain way in your work environment, it's very specific for Denmark, I fail to do so and there are always really bad consequences. People are not accepting of any kind of different behavior. The only way to not be fired for not acting according to the non official social rules is if you have official diagnosis and are hired as a person with special needs (idk how it's called officially), but then they kinda laugh behind your back and say to other people that you're "special".

[@CrystalRose1111]

I live in the United States and this is literally my greatest fear It’s like, yeah go ahead and disclose your diagnosis on the application, no way are you getting hired

[@matthendrix1327]

There is a double edged sword with openness about Autism.

[@ebhelyn3479]

I'm really glad you commented this. I was debating saving up to move to Denmark from the UK because I heard I'd get treated better but what you’re saying sounds exactly the same to what goes on here.

[@Onthe9thlife3730]

I'm AuDHD but only found out whilst healing from being so burnt out and stuck in constant anxiety and panic attacks and having my physical health destroyed from the several years I just kept pushing through because I didn't know. I'm mostly physically recovered but still struggling with overwhelm, anxiety, and trying to learn about myself only to forget stuff constantly then remember it affects me and unable to find a job that actually fits my needs without burning myself out. I did a stint of meditating every day for several months and had a meditative dream on repeat that I had to move to Denmark the country (because there's a Denmark near where I grew up) and the more I learnt about it the more I loved it. Sad to find out that this is an issue there too. What's the point of it if nothing is going to improve and I'm only going to be constantly struggling just to survive. That's not a life I want and I don't understand why people would bother other than them being afraid of death. The discrimination, and cognitive dissonance about their own discrimination, in the workplace is insane. I'm tired of being used by people that just don't give a rat's arse about anyone but themselves but then behave like they gave you the world. I actually got my autie diagnosis and work gave me zero support in terms of finding a better role and then I was let go and even the union didn't help. Done with this planet.

[@Fireprincess161]

@@ebhelyn3479 I think it's the same everywhere in the world to varying degrees. Being ND in Aus is a lot like this. The world is made for NTs but I'm hoping it's changing, even if slowly.

[@boomshakarlaka7237]

Great video! As a westerner living in Japan as an adult with ADHD has been quite challenging. Expectations are extremely high for individuals, but I get excused a lot as foreigner. That has truly saved me on some occasions.

[@Gwenx]

I am one of those late diagnosed grey-area autistic people, and here in Denmark we face the exact same problems. Many people know what ASD is but its still thought that it mostly effects boys and are very visible in both boys and girls. I was told as a child that i couldn't have ASD because i was not a boy and i was a normal functioning kid. I didn't finish school, i fell into a huge depression, i had friends but not really anyone who understood my brain, i could have ended out in drug-abuse had i been in the wrong friend groups, i was vulnerable, and the child psychiatric told me i just had a deep depression and an eating disorder, nothing was done about it. I gradually lowered my food intake to a minimum, I'm not sure why, it was just a daunting task to eat anything really. Fast forward till I'm 21. I have been fighting, trying to get an education, trying not to drop out, trying my best, getting top scores in my classes, but i get to the big blocker and fall. I tell my school that i cant continue and there is no point i trying to make me because i wouldn't be there tomorrow anyways, they call me and ask me to meet up just one more time, so i do and we have a talk about my mental health, i made one of them cry with my story, and they order a taxi and drive me to the psychiatric to get some help, the lady waited 5 hours with me. I was assessed, and they started screening me, long story short, i tell them i think i have ASD and they tell me i can't because i can hold a conversation easy, i maintain eye contact, I'm not wierd, and i am too well functioning to have ASD. I get diagnosed with schizophrenia. A diagnosis I'm first now understanding is very wrong and needs to change. I did have ASD, i always had ASD, and nobody listened to me, no doctor, no nurse, no parents, no one listened because its a debilitating disorder, but i already live on welfare, i already have a handicap card helping me in daily life, i have always been debilitated in some form, but i adapted, i masked, too well might i add, and now when everything is crumbling down around me, people won't give me the right diagnosis because they are afraid what it will do to my future.. A future that was already colored by ASD. I am getting re diagnosed right now, but the Danish society don't know what to do with me and others with ASD, ADHD, Schizophrenia, Bipolar, BPD, and more, are put on the side and gets no real help to either enter society at their level or to just sit down and relax, we are either being pushed or shoved around in the system, failing again and again in jobs or educations, or we are left completely alone, isolated, without any help at all.. This is an issue i think most countries are having, a few countries are giving their mentally ill or neurodivergent people the proper help, and community. More awareness helps

[@kmann100500]

Well, you're clearly mentally ill but it does not seem like autism.

[@phant0m811]

This is a really sad story. As someone who has to deal with a messed up system as well, one thing I like to remember is that the mental health/psychology system is still in it's infant stages and has a lot more room to grow ( we were literally isolating and abusing neurodivergent in mental hospitals less than a century ago) so things will definitely improve in the future. It's also what inspired me to start studying to become a psychologist myself

[@duetopersonalreasonsaaaaaa]

What on earth?? I have a very very similar story to you, education/eating disorder, all of it. I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder as a teenager, now they say I have ADHD (among other things) and my psychologist wants me to go to a university for autism screening (I'm in USA). Another Russian commenter said their autism diagnosis was transferred over to schizophrenia after they turned 18. What is with autism being mistaken for schizo-spectrum??

[@Gwenx]

@@duetopersonalreasonsaaaaaa It is so freaking confusing, BUT i am getting re diagnosed by the nicest person right now and she is so good at informing me and telling what the frick this mess is haha! Basically from what i understand, Autism-spectrum and the schizophrenic-spectrum have a lot of overlap, and from what she tells me, the symptoms can overlap, and unfortunately if the person diagnosing does not go deep and investigate if the "symptoms" are problematic or just how the person functions then a wrong diagnosis can be given (most common is to get on the schizophrenic-spectrum). An example from me: Children develop an understanding during childhood that when a schooldays is over, the teacher doesn't stay at the school till next day and just wait, but they go home to their families, they get sick, they can have family issues too, and so on, in short, no matter what YOU are doing, the world dosen't stop, everybody have a life that you don't see when you're not there. Most children understands this concept better and better as they grow up. BUT i may perhaps have a delayed development of this - one of the things i was noted on when i got the skizo diagnosis, was that i felt like i was kinda alien and i didn't fit into the world, i felt like a computer charterer, and not in control of my life or actions, the way i explained it was really bad, so they noted it down as i felt like everyone was actors in my life hired to be around me. This was not what i wanted to tell them but it was what they heard me say, among other things. This happened with so many tings. The woman re-diagnosing me now is really good at asking followup questions, and the same question, but differently worded, so she gets a better answer from me. She has been good at pointing out the differences in what i said and what was noted 6 years ago and what I'm trying to say today. I was very stressed, one the edge and considering suicide 6 years ago, i had constant meltdowns, and felt so extremely alone and alien.. I was desperate to get help, and i took whatever, and i had faith in the doctors diagnosing me. I was hallucinating, was paranoid, but it was because i was pressed into a corner for far too long, and the same could happen to a completely normal person if their life gets too out of hand. This is what i believe also to be the reason so many get misdiagnosed :)

[@JaejoongPrincess]

I have autism and I want to live in Japan and work as an artist. Thanks for the upload.

[@Jalestar]

Same here!

[@darraghsheehy4455]

Wishing you luck. I hope you achieve your goals

[@Jalestar]

@@darraghsheehy4455 Thank you! You too!

[@TheShisuisan]

How can you even comment if you have autism?

[@JaejoongPrincess]

@@darraghsheehy4455 Thank you so much! I'm trying and have been for a long time thanks to my autism and learning disability in sequential processing disorder. I have helped others with their applications and essays on programs like the JET Program yet I am the one that is always rejected. 😩 Opportunities and doors to Japan never open for me and my autism probably has something to do with it. I'm not going to give up though.

[@howardmaryon]

In my country, people with autism, often referred to as “being on the spectrum” are no longer regarded as “mentally ill” or “disturbed” but rather thought of as “with different abilities”. I know several people who fit into this group, and as long as other people around them understand their strengths and weaknesses, everyone does well. One young man, who was almost hikkikomori in his school years, discovered that he was extremely good at RPG games and was hired by a software company that realised his talent as a game designer. Your program is very well researched and sympathetic to your interviewees. I think your approach to difficult subjects is without equal and I hope that you are able to continue this series explaining the differences between Japanese and other cultures.

[@killertruth186]

And "being on the spectrum" is just similar to medical specialists as to surgeons.

[@veganryori]

In English, saying "differently able" and "with autism" is highly offensive. It's "disabled" and "autistic". Thank you for changing the way you speak to not further ableism.

[@BarrowX]

@@veganryori i don't see how that's offensive. And "disabled" sounds much more offensive than "differently able" to me.

[@_Aclea_]

@@BarrowX Totally agree with that

[@SuperHappyNotMerry]

@@BarrowX it's generally agreed upon by disabled people that “differently abled” is not a term they like to be referred by for a multitude of reasons. I suggest you do further research into disabled perspectives to understand why that term as well as person first language (i.e. saying “person with autism” instead of “autistic”) is disliked by autistic and disabled communities.

[@canyoupleaserunfast]

Amazing stories from people who have overcome so much hardship. I guess I'm one of thos Grey Area ones and I have tears running down my face. Absolutely brutal society though! parents worried about what their neighbours would think more than caring for their own children! I had no idea of the levels of prejudice and ignorance in Japanese society, it must be so hard for people on the autism spectrum. And well done to all the hero's paving the path of support to neurodiverse and those with learning difficulties! You are the positive side of Japan. To any autistic people reading this: there are societies where people laugh at your inability to understand jokes, or read people, or read between the lines, and just let you get on with being you, you are not crazy and not bad, just because you are a little bit different and don't fit in. Truly diverse society can thrive with everyone doing their best at what they are best. Example: Im very sensitive to sound and light, I have to wear earplugs in loud public places and sunglasses outside when it's not raining. My job is a lighting & video operator in the live events industry and my task: to deliver shows of varying intensity from mild to "burn through the retina of your eyes"(my speciality, go figure), so maybe your specialness can be your speciality too. You'we got this!

[@AeonZhang]

✨👍✨ 💫✨🌟❤️🌟✨💫

[@cottonclouds]

i cried a lot watching this video. i began suspecting i might have adhd and maybe autism last year after i really struggled while preparing for my final high school exams. i've been trying to get help and make people around me understand but it's really difficult because executive dysfunction keeps me tied to my bed a lot of the time and anxious to follow through with things. it's very healing to see that there are other autistic and neurodiverse people, especially older ones, who were able to overcome these struggles. this video made me feel like maybe there is a light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel. thank you for publishing!

[@binabi]

I love everything about this video. The idea of showing up how autistic japonese people lived and live in their country is so necessary and important. Especially because Japan has more strict rules and societal norms of behaviour than western countries, so it seems worst for neurodivergent people. And also the fact that most of the people you interviewed were women is great because people, when they hear or read "autistic" tend to think in a white boy, and that contributes to higher sub diagnosed women and people of other ethnicities/races. Your video helps to break these steryotypes and bring awareness that women and adults need that visibility and support too. I would also like to highlight the importance of Yui's testimony on domestic violence and harassment. She is such a strong woman and need to know that it's not her fault if she couldn't talk about it. All of these people are inspiring for breaking through their barriers and offering help to their community. And it's kinda out of context, but I found Ikechan so beautiful I was like :0 everytime she appeared. Anyways, I was not gonna comment on this because my english vocabulary it's still very bad and limited, but I felt the need since I didn't see any comment on these things. Thank you very much for this video. I truly appreciate your work.

[@kirin6278]

Im a russian adult autist and adults in our country are categorically not diagnosed. at the age of 18, all autistic people diagnosed in childhood simply change the diagnosis to schizophrenia. i am very interested in japan and it was great to know that there are autistic adults like me there. in my country, I feel alone in my problem, as if there is no adult autism in russia and i invented everything. but the example of attention to neurodivergent adults in other countries offers hope. thank you.

[@sunnyday_lemonbars]

there are autistic people everywhere; you aren't alone. your country feels shame towards its disabled population and wants to hide you all.

[@phant0m811]

Is that really true ? How can the Russian psychology system be that outdated ? I hope you're doing okay over there. I really hope things get better soon

[@AeonZhang]

@kirin6278 ✨🫂🫂🫂✨

[@lenitaa7938]

I am shocked that Autistic people are diagnosed as Schizophrenic in adulthood! It makes no sense! The two are entirely different conditions!

[@T3RM1N4llyOffl1n3]

​@@phant0m811My Russian mom is a dentist. I was watching Hichki one day and she asked me why I was watching a woman that acts like a monkey (or something along those lines) and I told her she had tourrete syndrome and she asked me if it was that disease that makes people swear I also have tics lol

[@GPTMagana]

Working as an artist than in corporate jobs give autistics (especially in Japan) much creative freedom. I feel more acceptance being a digital creator and entrepreneurship; than being in the workforce. Even if autistics are able to bag a job; they can feel overwhelmed and burned out. Getting a job, following 'bosses' requests, and paying bills does not guarantee a thriving life for autistic individuals. I am getting frustrated with people close to me failing to understand my aspirations and what I want in life. I am currently a bus/rail fan and a street photographer. And I am feeling in a roller-coaster, but things can get better overtime with the right group of people who can respect for who I am.

[@ryuukakhadijah7766]

I really like miss Kalie the teacher. Her attitude is what we need more in the society, especially among teachers. Thank you so much for covering this topic ❤ They're dealing with a difficult life everyday 😢 yet they're still smiling We humans need to improve our compassion, instead of operating like robots and expects everything or everyone to be the same.

[@commentarytalk1446]

I'm not sure I agree because a lot of teachers only seem to speak within the context of THE CLASSROOM and being surrounded by FOUR WALLS. Imho, that context and class size often too large is extremely unnatural in the first place.

[@ryuukakhadijah7766]

@@commentarytalk1446 I don't know...Japanese are often being so-called perfectionist; must always be on time or earlier, don't stand out, everything must be neat, dress similarly like the others, women must put on make up, mistakes are taken hard, no excuses... But when it comes to compassion among humans, you guys always give excuses.

[@commentarytalk1446]

@@ryuukakhadijah7766 It is not easy to follow your gist. I would say that school is not necessarily the best environment for developing children in response.

[@ryuukakhadijah7766]

@@commentarytalk1446 Of course it's not easy, the community has been operating like robots most of the time for a long time. But humans are capable of change. Even just a little, it's important for humans to become more humane, especially nowadays. Every human life worth the same; we just have different roles in the society

[@essie23la]

That was a great video! I'm autistic and adhd myself and always thought "woah being autistic there sounds impossible" when hearing about how people communicate in Japan, so very interesting to hear people's stories. Plus I've been feeling really bad about it lately, you know only focusing on the downsides/where I struggle and feeling like a bad person who's never gonna be good enough etc etc, this video was just what I needed! Love all the things they were doing to help eachother and their children too, and it's incredibly uplifting to see how far they came.

[@dac_3]

I'm an Autistic American. So I can relate to this. Especially since I've visited Japan. It's very nice to see people who are just like me. Struggling with the same things I do.

[@KZesty]

This was very interesting! I felt sad hearing these interviewees describe bad experiences and abuse with a smile on their face. But sometimes it's the only way to cope

[@Pherond]

Wonderful stuff, coming from someone with autism! Sayaka’s story really hit home with me - I never naturally learned how to act and survive in any environment. It’s all been accessing databases and choosing which masks to wear in my head. I know mental health awareness in Japan doesn’t match to the West’s yet, but I’m holding out hope for my fellow kin!

[@Mawnt]

When I was a kid I had a hard time understanding when someone was joking or not. I also found it hard to say no to people. Now I have gotten diagnosed on autism spectrum and I think it has made me understand myself better. It was interesting to hear these persons thoughts. Thanks for making the video!

[@jackday4529]

Thank you Nobita-San for raising awareness of the challenges of people with ASD and neurodiversity in Japan.

[@stephengalvin]

Thank you very much. It is so cool seeing people from another culture having the same problems as us/me and coming up with their own solutions. The one thing they all seem to have in common is that they come across as really nice people. Once again, thank you.

[@commentarytalk1446]

An interesting observation: It might be highly relevant to wonder exactly why that may be so.

[@stephengalvin]

@@commentarytalk1446 Perhaps it is not they who need to change, but the society that cannot recognise their value which is wrong, was my thought. Again, it seems to me that 'fitting in' often means being untruthful, or participating in valueless activities from one's own point of view. It was good to see the positive approaches to dealing with the situation either way. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

[@Niipanda3]

I don't even have a mental disorder and these folks have been so inspiring to me. Everyone experiences suffering in different forms and it's wonderful to see people grow through that suffering. Thank you for this video!

[@teamojesusss]

I loved this video. I'm actually not autistic but I do have non-verbal dysfunctional syndrome and it caused me to have a lot of difficulty at school when it comes to subjects and sometimes socialization. I'm glad Japan is opening a lot in that aspect.

[@glowlydays]

This was sooo interesting, thanks. As an autistic American who's always liked Japanese "pop culture" stuff such as manga and music and games I have always wondered how people live in this "kuuki wo yomu" society with autism but could only imagine just how hard it was since there isn't a lot of content available on it. Maybe the hardships of those who were excluded from society and went on to share their hearts through artistic pursuits is exactly what ressonated with younger me and made me believe in a better future for everyone, and that there are ways out even in the strictest of the societies. Like "if they can do it then so can I right?" . What Sayaka says means a lot to me because it really ressonates ... because I also learned to express myself through art since I was bad with words, and when I had a stroke at 19 I binge-watched anime because it was a relatively harmless and quite simple language I was familiarized with and I could re-learn to mask properly through it. Then I started learning a bit of Japanese and it was great to learn that some people on the other side of the world "got" me even better than some who are physically close .. made me realize how different we all are. The autistic experience is universal after all. We are all thinking "so much effort to make it look effortless" some more, some less. By the way Mayuko made me cry I am glad she is successful and I hope to be able to visit Necco cafe if I go to Japan some day in the future. Alsoooo love Nino's looks and I think she sounds delightful hahah. Thanks a lot!!!

[@someone8689]

I'm glad that all these people got together in this video :) It's so important to see autistic adults, especially happily living ones, and hear about how the situation's getting better for them and creating opportunities for them. Though I want to add that though I do think the perspective of recognising positives is important, I've been seeing it somewhat head towards being like "they can be normal members of society" which I have a slight issue with particularly for people who need higher support, but I agree with the core idea behind it ("they still deserve respect"). Still an excellent video!

[@LimingLyn]

Another amazing topic. I'm thankful that my country (Canada) has support systems and help is accessible to everyone who needs it and wants it. Although it didn't happen overnight, at least it's better than what your subject matter shows. However, if I was born in Japan, my life would be totally different. My heart goes out to those who have to hide their condition or they'll be ostracized more. Great to see those with a diagnosis dreamed big and did some positives. In fact, they will fit in well in other countries due to the culture of acceptance, and everyone seemed to have a bit of adhd in their personality😊 Great job, thank you.

[@youngbounty1394]

I love this. I’m blessed to have been raised in a country that has many programs and support for those with Autism. I’m glad Japan is providing support for those with Autism and bringing awareness to it.

[@shrivak]

Thank you for making this video. I have an autistic friend, and given how I have adjusted to handle, I wonder how it would be doing such in Japan, a country I plan to live in. Especially as I'm set to go there as a JET teacher at first, I think it is important to know such things. This was a very compassionately made video. Thank you.

[@nicjansen230]

The problem while studying with autism, regardless of the country, in my opinion, is that a student needs to show they can do everything themselves at a basic level, or at least know how to communicate what they need. However, people with autism need help and often don't know what we need help with (as said in the video) I was fortunate to have the right kind of help at times where I needed it the most, so people were able to help me understand what I need and how to ask for it. Now I have a normal job without anyone knowing that I have autism, but I know how to ask for the small things I need. Most important thing for me in my job is that they don't expect me to do everything any more, so I can focus on what I'm good at and let other people do what they're good at. I wish we can teach our kids in school (before they suffer thoughout adulthood) what various challenges anyone of us can have and that there are organisations offering help. I know of far too many people how had to struggle and will struggle, not accepting advice from someone who means well, let alone accepting help

[@akichi403]

I saw this video and quickly clicked to watch it! Seeing the experience of people in other cultures being autistic is one of the most fascinating things for me as someone on the spectrum also. And, let's not lie Japan was always sort of a paradise for me as a kid, so hearing that I'd probably struggle so much as a kid would knock me right back down. Every country has autistic people and its amazing to give them voices through online platforms

[@MCraft-pt9nf]

Honestly, I couldn't imagine people from other cultures having ASD. This video opened my eyes that everyone with it has had similar experiences. I feel for the people who found out late. Until the mid-2000s many psychologists in the southern US didn't diagnose females with ASD even though it was clear I had it. I was 22 when I got the official diagnosis. I was having sensory meltdowns that I never grew out of that cost me close friendships and jobs. I thought I was crazy or had some personality disorder. I still run into people who say "you're too smart" or "you function too well for ASD", but it has gotten better as more older adults (like 40s, 50s, 60s) who were deemed "different" or "difficult" are finally receiving diagnoses too.

[@CraftyFoxe]

Your channel has become really really professional Nobita! It is interesting to learn about ASD in Japan

[@MayimHastings]

This is stunning. There is ASD in my family, and I've always tested high for it, but have not been properly diagnosed because I'm too afraid of doctors. Listening to all of these beautiful people made me feel somehow "normal". As in there are so many of us and we are normal - our normal. Just knowing im not alone in all of these experiences gives me such courage and hope. THANK YOU to everyone involved in this. It's life altering. Sending love from Atlanta

[@R0CK0Nbaby]

Hi Nobita, this is such a well-done video on this topic, all your interviewees were so inspiring, watching this really opened my mind and my heart. I'm so glad to have learned more from their perspectives and to learn how they took something everyone perceived to be negative and turned it into something that can only help society become better. This was incredibly inspiring, you are a really amazing storyteller! Fantastic work!

[@chillingeclipsed411]

This was so comforting to watch, thank you. I've recently come to terms with the fact I'm autistic/on the spectrum, I always knew I'm neurodivergent but I hadn't realized just how all these things I've struggled with, or 'habits' were actually all connected to undiagnosed autism. And watching this really made me feel connected and understood and not alone.♥

[@stevenkunkel7283]

hey Nobita!! I am the guy you interviewed me in Osaka. I have autism if you ever want to interview me again. Hope you have a great day. I live in Tokyo btw. Have a great day!!

[@Darth_Autisticus]

Hey as someone with autism I am curious about what other people did in their life. If you’re ever bored and want to talk to someone about anything please let me know. People are here for you if you’re ever feeling down.

[@kaz7234]

I have autism and my life time goal is to live and work in Japan. Thanks for the video!

[@marginaliia]

im proud of every person in this interview for having the courage of never giving up in all their lives, no matter how difficult. they are inspiring, and precious human beings ❤ 頑張って！

[@mothmanifest]

I’ve had autistic people tell me I’m not autistic, because on the surface I appear “normal”. My mom believes it but my dad does not. I think he feels like he is being attacked whenever I bring up my diagnosis. This is why I was diagnosed with ASD, BPD and Bipolar as an adult and nothing was caught early. Even though I struggled in school in every way. I was forced to join sports clubs by my parents where I would cry and embarrass them. I was always being punished for being bad at everything. But still to this day my father believes that I am “normal”.

[@gwenmloveskpopandmore]

Wow my mom wouldn’t even let me when I was little because she was afraid I’d get made fun of for having autism

[@gwenmloveskpopandmore]

Everyone’s parents are different I’m sorry u had to go through that

[@gwenmloveskpopandmore]

Why didn’t ur mom divorce ur dad?!

[@gwenmloveskpopandmore]

Btw are u Asian or Hispanic?

[@liz_violet]

omg, i nearly cried over the cafe idea! I kinda wanna visit, but i know language barriers will be annoying. and the little businesses made! as a Latin American girl with both adhd & asd, slowly finding the right fields of study for me to work took double the time, due to me basically fighting my brain to power through homework. i focused so hard on study, that i still had a family allowance until i was 22. and still don't have a car. and was so desperate for a job at all, that i went to retail. which requires a lot of socialization & deescalating. it took taking a paid internship under my school to figure out which hobbies can be used in professional settings. i might learn graphic design, even after i get my associates in writing. I got diagnosed at 15, when my parents were more concerned over me failing my english classes, which i was nearly a "gifted" kid in. but when i went to accelerated classes in middle school, i immediately failed due to the speed of classes & homework. I took nearly every creative arts class in my vicinity, and purposely picked an open ended major so I could go anywhere. i was lucky friends-wise, either we were all on the spectrum or were willing to roll with weirdness. but even then...we are way focused rn on surviving to physically meet up.

[@Jdjwjdjzbsjwbb]

動画をありがとうございました。大変勉強になりました。 この話題について話すのは確かに難しいのですが、障害による苦難に直面しながらも、それでも最善を尽くそうとする日本人のインサイトを見ることができ、とても興味深かったです。This is a very difficult topic to talk about but it was very interesting to see the insights of Japanese people dealing with hardships due to their disorder but still trying to make the best out of things and doing the best they can. Sending love from Belgium ❤

[@meteorcity]

Thank you so much for this video! I feel like it’s very uncommon to see this type of representation and I love seeing more autistic people from other societies!

[@daijay9084]

I loved that expression 'read the air'. As someone who has always struggled reading the air it makes so much sense. I've always been told that I am unreadable as well. My happy face is the same as my sad face. A while ago I moved home and I was asked was I happy in my new home or sad leaving the place I had lived all my life. Truthfully I answered I don't know because even I don't always know if I'm happy or sad.

[@second_second_]

Thank you so much for this. I always thought that Japan is easier to live for adult autistic people, but at the same time I also feel like it is not really true for some aspects (lived there for several years).. so your video helped a lot. Turns out Japan is probably easier to live for introverts and people with autism, but on certain extent, like you can go out & eat alone, everything have detailed manuals, room/house ads and job ads always put detailed info (at my country, for example job ads usually don't mention salary. room/house ads also usually don't contain floor plans). These kind of things are good for autistic people who need detailed manuals. Maybe the "you can't stand out in group", read the atmosphere, the open concept in a very tight distance in offices, fast-pace, live to work philosophy.. those produce some kind of anxiety and difficulties for neurodiverse people.

[@dingus_maximus]

I haven’t been diagnosed with autism but I’ve had some suspicions. In any case it’s insane to me how much I find myself relating to people on the opposite side of the planet, and even from different generations. I also noticed that many of the people in these videos smile while describing some of the hardest times of their lives.

[@SynxSP]

A Japanese tv show that actually shows very well the life of an autistic person is 結婚できない男 (He who can't marry). It is never explicitly said but it's pretty obvious the main character is on the spectrum. It is a comedy show so his tendencies are seen as funny, which in a way i think helps accepting those behaviors

[@grovermartin6874]

What a superb presentation of autism generally, and in Japan specifically! If I could hang this video on my wall to reflect on every day, I would. This video is an achievement and a gift. Thank you!

[@JALaflinOfficial]

Thank you so much for this! I relate to everyone interviewed. It's strangely comforting knowing that there are people like me on the other side of the world. It's great to hear people talking openly and honestly about this like this. It doesn't happen enough, even here in the US.

[@wannabe41]

This was very inspiring! To see so many people learn how to turn their challenges into something that can help others is wonderful to see. Especially in a society that encourages conformity. Thank you so much for this video!

[@__dia2a]

Thank you for the video!! It is very useful! Love from Bulgaria!♡♡

[@かっこん-o1m]

My son has ASD, diagnosed 7 years ago, he's 14 yo now. I think he's doing good in his school thanks to the teachers from special support class and daycares. They are nice and kind, very supportive. However I know that things will getting harder once you start to work...some of Japanese people think that "asking consideration/support is 甘え(being selfish, spoiled, counting on others too much)" reflectively, even though for the one who has disorder. I hope the society's mood going to be more easier for everyone.

[@shalinpather4198]

Hello from South Africa! As a person with high-functioning autism (diagnosed at four) I personally want to thank you for making such a detailed documentary about autism, especially in adults. My heart sinks to hear about the hardships these people faced (particularly not knowing about their condition) but I am also amazed and inspired seeing how resilient they are into turning their painful experiences into a force for good. Honestly, I could write an essay of 10 pages to respond to this video (agreeing and commenting on what the interviewees have to say) but that's too long, so I have two things to say. Firstly, since this channel covered which people to date (Gyaru and Hikikomori), autistic individuals definitely belong on that list. Just because they don't express themselves best, doesn't mean they don't feel anything. They will care the most, knowing how much they were hurt. Secondly, we're not disabled and don't need to be treated like it. We're not all the same, yes, but we're perfectly capable. One who's not good at Maths, for example, might make a brilliant artist. Society decided we were disabled because of a lack of understanding. I was written off by my peers as socially awkward and never given a chance, so my social skills suffered while my intellectual skills could thrive throughout my school years. I made a conscious effort to do better socially (and am better off for it), but not every autistic individual has this opportunity, due to a lack of awareness for their own condition, let alone other people's lack of awareness for it. It's not all other people's fault either for a lack of understanding, as we all learn from example (we don't show understanding towards people with autism and other conditions because we learnt to treat them that way). The only way that will change is with concerted and conscious efforts to build such an environment. Once again, love this channel. Thanks so much for your efforts!

[@rainways7586]

As an autistic person (not officially diagnosed but I have had multiple medical professionals including my autistic psychologist tell me they believe I’m autistic) when I went to Japan for a mouth it was a very mixed experience for me. I absolutely loved the small countryside towns they are spectacularly beautiful and I would love to live there one day, however when in the city environment particularly Tokyo I found it incredibly overwhelming and stressful. I also have extreme social anxiety and that made my experience quite difficult particularly on trains. When squished against a bunch of strangers on a crowded bus I felt extremely anxious and faint, luckily I was with my family who are aware of my needs and tried to make it as bearable as possible for me. My suggestion to anyone interested in going to Japan and is autistic, don’t let it hold you back, I can’t promise you it will all be incredible but for me it was definitely worth it and I plan to go back again (maybe skip Tokyo next time tho)

[@Sinc3r3ly]

I’ve always wanted to live in Japan for at least a few years and as an autistic person this really gives me a lot of insight into what it’s like being autistic in Japan

[@duetopersonalreasonsaaaaaa]

It's crazy how much I relate to them despite how different our cultures are. It's like these people looked at my brain's thoughts and said them out loud. I'm not big on hugs, but I wish I could give them a soft, fuzzy blanket and their favorite drink and tell them that they're not lazy or worthless and let them vent their emotions.

[@Man_of_Tears]

The lady who explains herself with Siri at her hand really impresses me, Godspeed to her 💪🏻

[@chinatosinthiti3076]

As a Thai who realized I'm autistic at age 34, this video rings a lot to me. Nothing helps an autistic person more than realizing their struggles are real, and an intensive search about strengths and challenges is very necessary and design their lives around that. My profile fits a lot in the "grey zone" as I do have some special skills but struggle with communication, managing sensory overwhelm, and organizing things in life. I've lost the ability to stay at a job been dismissed as lazy, distracted, and unmotivated a lot where internally I know it's not the case. I've been dismissed by professionals too. Nothing helps more than knowing my autistic self, accommodating my challenges first then bring the strengths out. You can't use much of your strength if the sensory environment is still killing you. Great job The Japan Reporter for making this documentary, interviews and questions are very compassionate and helpful, with a lot of adorable moments that I teared up. I do have a point to bring up though, I have not heard mentioning of sensory differences, and for me the lighting for Mr. Kazuki is way too bright for me.

[@MatarouPlayz]

As an autistic person, I’m deeply heartbroken for these people. I really hope for cultural reform in Japanese society for autistic people to be treated with equity and acceptance. I almost decided not to move to Japan, but I feel that I have a calling to help autistic people there. I really hope that when I’m there, I can bring positive awareness. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@ReporterTorizo]

I met someone at a tech event (right here in Tokyo) who had ADHD and ASD. She taught herself English and programming (C# no less!) and had transitioned into software from a non-technical field. It was really interesting speaking with her. I hope she's doing well.

[@ciinidoodle]

How did the topic come up during conversation? I plan on studying in japan and am unsure of how, and if, I should tell the people I meet about my ASD. I worry a lot about these future conversations and being perceived badly so I’m curious what your conversation was like, if you dont mind sharing?

[@ReporterTorizo]

@@ciinidoodle Her condition was such that it was immediately apparent at the start of the conversation. She told me right off the bat. I'm guessing that she learned to do this so she wouldn't come off as being rude. I have no idea if this is the right approach. It just seemed really brave to me.

[@lucretius8050]

There are quite a number of programmers who have characteristics of ASD, it is easier to find jobs as technical skillset is more important than social.

[@OkamiiRamii]

It was always a dream of mine to attempt to live in Japan, one day, with my family but my autistic daughter was always my number one concern! Thank you!

[@jazziechandra8231]

Excellent and uplifting film! This was a very necessary film. I have autism. Despite Japan being such a fantastic country, it does need to catch up a bit with Europe with regards to its acceptance and accommodation of those who are different

[@naranja2167]

めっっっっっちゃくちゃ分かるその気持ち。 子供3人いて、2人ASD、ADHDです。 私も生きづらさがずっとあったので私も発達障害あるのか？と思ってました。 子ども達の父親は完全なるADHDですが。 今は発達の問題ある子ども達が昔よりは理解があって、サポート受けやすい世の中になっていますよ😊ありがたいです🥺

[@gertjankoreman]

You have made a beautiful piece of work with this video, Nobita! And so necessary also. Not just in Japan, but for the whole world.

[@rubyredlotus]

Thank you for amplifying autistic voices! And for including so many women.

[@Emmpeace]

Watching this video makes me feel like, they are normal people just trying to go through life with their difficulties. Maybe our society has a 障害 towards people needing just a little bit of care. Thanks for making this video! This helps the "normal" people understand that we have flaws by not trying to understand others.

[@TurquoiseOrmZ8]

I personally don’t make a big deal of my autism, unfortunately with Real Life, my autistic condition does make a Big Deal when it comes to ”try” to adapt into Society. I know this struggle all too well when hearing their stories. Stay strong with all of you guys, even when life pushes you down.

[@RickNelsonMn]

This was a part of The Thought Spot video, I found this from their link. Everything resonates regarding struggles. The person who considered disability for living is what I think about a lot. I'm almost 62, overwhelmed. There are a lot of positive things, and it is nice. Best wishes.

[@reidleblanc3140]

Creating a database of responses and memorising them is extremely relatable. It’s so so hard for me to speak. I wish I could write all the time. Hearing the interviewer say “oh, that’s what it’s like?” almost made me cry because wow, it’s THAT foreign to you. It makes me think this life will be impossible

[@Kotifilosofi]

Doctor Tony Attwood, who has specialized in autism, and especially in autism on females, has given many great examples of how to face autism without the label of disability or mental disorder (because it's neither of those). - He says he always tells to his patients "today we have discovered your autism" as a trait of the personality, rather than saying that he's diagnosing you with autism (the disability point of view). - He describes autistic people as "someone who has found something more interesting in life than people", which feels so validating and accepting. Some people have great interest in people and socializing, other have some other interests in life. It's okay and it doesn't make you a bad person. Like, paying more attention to things other than people doesn't mean you _hated_ people. - Also, there's the false stereotype that autistic people are unempathic. However, Attwood says that autistic people are some of the most considerate and empathic people he has ever met - neurotypical people just fail to see their attempts to support others because it doesn't follow the unwritten rules of social norms. In fact, the new studies suggest, that autistic people are not just more sensitive than neurotypicals when it comes to the five senses, but also at sensing people's mood. They get easily influenced by the moods of the people around, and these emotions get amplified, while also being unable to recognize and progess emotions properly (alexithymia). As a result, socializing easily overwhelms autistic people, because it makes them feel so much, while not being able to differentiate what they're feeling or if it's their own feelings or someone else's. So, the notion that autistic people are unempathic is as wrong as anything can be. I wish we slowly get autism recognized as something more positive over being just a disorder. Because it truly is.

[@CrystalRose1111]

I agree. However some people on the spectrum do struggle with feeling emotions. I was always super emotional and empathetic until I experienced a great trauma at my last job. I was angry and generally numb for a few months after that.

[@Kotifilosofi]

@@CrystalRose1111 of course. People on the spectrum can get depressed and have their feelings supressed just like any other population. In fact, studies show that the autistic people are more prone to have a traumatic history than neurotypical people, due to being different from the majority, and as a result, lacking support and understanding. As a side note, not feeling emotions is a condition different from not being able to recognize/process your emotions, which is known as alexithymia.

[@costelinha1867]

I disagree on the "It's neither of those" As autism is most certainly a disabiliity. That doesn't mean it's a tragedy, or anything like that. There are also a few positives. But in the end of the day it's still a disability. Being unable to read social cues is a disability, being unable to understand sarcasm, and thus be extra vulnerable to manipulation is a disability. Being unable to focus on super important tasks while also hyperfocusing on more unimportant stuff just because it's a special interest of yours is a disability, struggling with sensory overloads everytime I go outside my house, or every time my dog starts barking, and feeling a lot of PAIN because of it, is a disability. We need to treat autism with acceptance, and we need to get rid of this negative stereotype that autism is an "End of the world" condition, that will destroy your life and make you an incapable person. But we also need to treat autism for what it is. And it is, a disability.

[@Kotifilosofi]

@@costelinha1867 autism can cause disabilities (inability to function) of many kinds, like you listed there. However, having a disability of some kind is not in the diagnostic criteria of autism. In the other words, autism can be the cause of disability. Professionals are starting to agree that rather than seeing autism (solely) from the perspective of disorder, it should be seen as the extreme end of certain set of personality traits. Just like autistic person might be disabled at reading social cues (all people with autism are not), some non-autistic people might be disabled at, lets say, paying attention to details. Somewhere in the line, there's no disability, then mild disability, and eventually severe disability. It's also worth noticing that the same person can be disabled in one environment but not another, in the other words, one environment suits better for one person, another environment for another. One person's weaknesses make ability worse in one environment, but the same person's talents make them succeed at another environment. When it comes to support and benefits, I absolutely agree that disabilities need to be recognized where they are, rather than trying to hide them.

[@user-gr7jo9qb3l]

As an autistic Korean adoptee, I'm so happy ND is being shown/more accepted globally. Growing up in the US , when racism was more accepted, I would do something autistic and Whites would think that my odd behavior was Asian, so they would say something racist. As I tried to make friends w Korean and Japanese students in Uni, I would do autistic things, and they thought it was American. I do appreciate not feeling obligated to speak/greet strangers in Japan/Korea. My fellow Asian and Asian-American autistics, we just need more opportunities to work fr home or on our own terms. The pandemic has really been a blessing for me bc now I can work 100% remote (all the social things I'm not good at are removed), neurotypicals are forced to communicate w me in a way that I understand, and I can manage/control how tasks are changed than if someone were looking over my shoulder and expecting me to exhaust myself more by hanging out after work/on breaks. I have met thriving autistics who work in science, tech (remotely of course), bee keepers, farmers, etc. We just need independent work, creating/focusing on our passions, not relationships. How would anything get completed, invented, revolutionized wo ND's? Society can't all be the same attention-whoring extroverts (jk, not really, sorry I'm not sorry).

[@ElanovaAutumn]

Really interesting, I am so pleased to see recognition in Japan of ASD and ADHD and the challenges these conditions pose for neurodiverse people with such diagnoses, and to see support growing for autistic people too. I am mum to a 20 year old autistic son in the UK - we have similar difficulties here with late diagnoses and poor awareness. Well done for making this great video - my son adores Japan, anime, manga, anime theme songs and vocaloids - and we have visited twice already 🌸💝 Well done reporting on this very important topic!

[@halesm]

Great work Nobita. I have ADHD and experience a lot of the same things. This was really enlightening

[@JasonPCochrane]

Wish I could press like more than once. So wonderful to see the broad spectrum presented all together like this.

[@MindfulnessArtCoaching]

Thank you so much for creating this film. Its really interesting to see how people in other countries cope with ADHD and Autism. I understand about what people were saying about feeling lonely because of their disability.

[@zairas.9122]

Great video, thank you so much! It’s so good to see that the people you interviewed are advocating for neurodiversity. Our brains aren’t weaknesses; we provide alterations to standardised knowledge.

[@Nezumiin]

The beginning where Sayaka talks about having a database of lines in manga is SO relatable. Oh my god, I always explain it like that but I've never heard anyone else do it too.