What's It like Not Looking Ethnically Japanese but Raised in Japan?

Hello! We discussed some very deep issues in Japan.
Hope you enjoy and please subscribe to my channel and give us a thumbs up!
Vlada's instagram
/ bubuchan10
Joshua's instagram
/ jj.jj.7
Part 2
• The Real Reason Why Pe...

[@DrReginaldFinleySr]

Nice channel. Nice interview. Vlada's posture and mannerisms are so Japanese. It's very cute.

[@krissy91390]

Thank youuu! As a foreigner raising my kids in Japan, I really appreciate these videos!❤ Thankfully my kids go to a Japanese private school. It’s not international, so it’s the same as public school, but it is way more laid back. I was helping a student with his assignment once, he was getting the right answer but he wasn’t following the example, and the teacher shocked me by saying “let him do it his own way.” I almost cried I was so happy a Japanese teacher in a Japanese school was letting the kids express themselves and learn in their own way! 🥹

[@commentarytalk1446]

Vlada was mesmerizing being Russian in looks but Japanese in manner. She really felt like a Japanese person which imho was to her credit. Similar to yourself but perhaps more pronounced even? I enjoyed the anecdotes shared. The question on one's real personality? It is what makes you feel like your authentic sense of self? It might be something you have to build as well in part or what values you have inside you that can be activated? I cannot be too critical of Japanese schools, because the Japanese turn out to be very civil and civic in behaviour and the children respectful to adults or teachers unlike the West where schools are in a terrible state, in contrast.

[@gabrielledennis4103]

Vlada is shy and laughs and has a high-pitched voice like Japanese female teenagers. You two are very interesting.

[@TheZenomeProject]

Here's my opinion: in an American's eyes like my own, if you were born and raised here in similar circumstances in the United States, you would be 100% American, no ifs, ands, or buts, because of birthright citizenship. Vlada, being born in Russia, would be more complicated, but the US government would likely also grant her citizenship if her family immigrated here legally. I understand that the Japanese view it differently as of now, and they have had a long history of struggling to deal with assimilating even Zainichi Koreans or Chinese into their country over the centuries, but by all accounts, both of you IMO deserve to be called Japanese and to be able to own Japanese passports.

[@Mwoods2272]

They can get naturalized Japanese citizenships just like the US, you can get American citizenship if you are from elsewhere and apply and pass certain tests.

[@ayszhang]

@@Mwoods2272 They can, definitely, because they both seem to have permanent residency in Japan, but doing so would mean they lose their other citizenships.

[@woljay9362]

@@ayszhang I guess you can say that’s the “sacrifice” for things you love/identify with. Personally if I was born and raised in Japan I would take JP citizenship, besides the JP passport is one of the strongest if not the strongest passport right now.

[@yo2trader539]

Anybody can become a Japanese citizen if they wish to naturalize. As long as you don't have criminal records, pay your taxes and social security, and not a threat to Japanese society.

[@kuico_ch9645]

Hmm.. Tbh, I feel like so called Zainichi Korean and Chinese are much more accepted and we live together quite peacefully compared to the US. Anyway it’s just my opinion.

[@jiayuyan1692]

Your manners make me forget you are from Europe. I grew up in a very traditional Chinese region, which is different from my parents', people there didn't speak mandarin and I hated local language and found it very hard to fit in and got bullied a lot. In high school I decided to speak local language and tried to dress like others. However, back in the province where I was born, I felt that I was also very different from these people. I really had difficulties when others asking me where I came from when I was younger and it's in the same country. Later I lived in Europe for three years and then realized that I don't need to worry about where I belong, but being brought up in different places is itself a special life mark. You are neither, you are just you, a mixed and complex human that is unique in the world :)

[@Kyasakoamy]

Even though I left Japanese education after elementary school, just from living and working in Japan I really feel what you said about not being able to express your authentic self and feeling like you're always 合わせてる. And at the same time I've also had multiple experiences of not realising how Japanese I was until being in a different country or around people who aren't Japanese. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to part 2!

[@TkyoSam]

So happy to see more of these style videos coming out on youtube. Definitely a perspective that not just foreigners but Japanese need to be exposed to as well.

[@joeyjoe7930]

Really interesting talk! I’m excited to see Part 2!!! 😊✨

[@trkimura]

These interviews are so fantastic! It really provides unique perspectives about living in Japan. Keep up the great work!💯

[@pikXpixelart]

You two had a very deep conversation that also managed to be fun! Great video.

[@orehadarekana]

One of your best interview for me ! こんな動画の感じをもっと出していいってこと。ありがとうございます！

[@joshuasjapanchannel]

Thank you 😊

[@ismaelkleber778]

First time in this channel, 0:22 seconds, I can tell they were raised in Japan already.

[@kennethbolton951]

Joshua may not look "Japanese" but if you watch his body language he is "very" Japanese and if you turned off the visual you would never know. Plus grinning as hard as possible, hand gestures, long intonation and using the "eh, eh , eh eh eh while he is nodding/short bowing agreement is all very Japanese. In America we use the Yeah, yeah, yeah when we want to get a word in. It is all as charming to us as it is alarming to the Japanese because for them it causes a lot of confusion, hearing and seeing him sounding like them but not looking like them.. Russians have their "Russian face" which is pull your head back, do the Spock raised eyebrow and make a : I know nothing, I see nothing, I hear what you are saying and wonder who you are reporting to face.

[@joshuasjapanchannel]

Thank you for your comment!

[@arturohull14161]

Exactly he has Japanese mannerisms .

[@416cyclestyle]

Loving the JJC…

[@tha1ne]

This is fascinating... both these people are white but their mannerisms are very Japanese. Of course, it's not surprising since both grew up in Japan but as a westerner this is fascinating to watch.

[@user-el1fx6lh7l]

I learn a lot

[@kilipaki87oritahiti]

People obviosuly extremly ignorant when it comes to ethnicity VS nationality! You can be Japanese by nationality without being ethnic Japanese. That's what being born/raised in a country, with passport and citizenship is speaking the language fluently! I'm not Norwegian by ethnity, but by nationality as I grew up in Norway, Norwegian is my 1st language, and I grew up in the culture, have Norwegian education, adresse, passport, citizenship etc. Yet the ones who says I'm not Norwegian are always foreigners who doesn't live here or are not Norwegian due to my ethnic apperance and skincolor not fitting their racist stereotype of what a Norwegian person should look like rooted in racist ideology...

[@icturner23]

When you introduced Vlada my first thought was that that must be a difficult name for Japanese people, but it’s understandable that she was given it in Russia. But that made me think about your and your sister’s names. (I don’t know your brother’s.) They’re not the worst for Japanese speakers, but not the best either. Why didn’t your parents give you consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel names that would be easily and consistently pronounced by both English and Japanese speakers?

[@junctionfilms6348]

It is easy to see the conservatism that exists in Japan, has come through and also conflicted with the background of being Russian ( or an English background ) where speaking your mind is valued and seen as respectful, that you should say what your feel. It would create an inner conflict and while 'multi-cultural' people, experiences, lives, are interesting and valuable, I think also the people go through many difficulties, especially at times with mental health. Im saying that as someone with Italian grandmother, born in north Africa - hence being born in an Arabian place. It is a great broad perspective in one ways - but in another, say moving to your native country, you can also be the oddball . . .

[@nikovirtanen]

The gestures these guys make during talk are definitely Japanese-cultured, indicating they are naturally raised in Japan.

[@ragnarvankarel6139]

Oh man, that's deep... I've Never thought that the japanese society had this "conformity issue" so radicated

[@user-uc1yx4kr3h]

かわいすぎる！

[@SandraMehmet]

Vlada is such a cutie !

[@nickolasharris8569]

いわゆる「tck」てやつですね。 また、ハーフ、外国生まれの日本人、帰国子女とかと比べ、ユニークな観点があって素晴らしいと思います。ユニークな価値観は日本の様な島国にとっては大きな貢献だと思います。

[@joshuasjapanchannel]

Thank you Nick!!

[@bluemoon1033]

I love you Japanese guys! ✨💫

[@user-pr3hx7hg5p]

ブラダ可愛い❤️💋

[@dannylin4403]

I am the first generation (naturalized) American and am married to an (white) American girl. My children were born in the US and only speak English. Yet, we still found people in school identifying my daughter as "Vietnamese". (I was born in Taiwan with Chinese ethnicity.) We are talking about the "Melting Pot". I don't want to call this the R word (racism). I would say human nature tends to have certain assumptions in life. When a rare (or less common) fact that doesn't fit in the assumptions, people are genuinely surprised.

[@taylor2533]

Is Vlada half Japanese or full Russian? To me, idk why but she looks like she could be half or has Japanese blood. I know her mom is Russian but I wonder where her dad is from.

[@ayszhang]

She looks full Russian to me. It's just the makeup/clothing that makes her look a bit Asian.

[@junya930]

You guys talk about individuality, but there is the idea that expressing 120% of one's personality outwardly is individuality, but there is also individuality that tries to blend in with the people and environment around it instead of asserting itself.

[@JoiskiMe]

I can just tell, you that not being able to be outspoken about your beliefs when your values differ from the majority is very common in collectivistic cultures. It's actually quite common here in Scandinavia 💀💀. Being outspoken and having the wrong beliefs can actually ruin your career. And every demand needs to be padded with a lot of face-saving diversion-politeness.

[@WastedBananas]

Wow I thought Scandinavian cultures were very individualistic and people are independent. surprised to hear that's how its like

[@Kilo_Mora]

Come to Puerto Rico, you will not be regarded as weirdo, we are all weirdos already 😅 super loud. I actually felt at home in Japan when I visited but certainly felt I was hiding myself at the beginning just to be respectful and considerate. I even grew my hair to cover a head tattoo, covered my tattoos in the train until I started traveling to the south and felt more comfortable being myself and still being respectful of japanese culture. I guess it is all perspective and slowly showing others that the norm should not define you.

[@HelenaRG71]

I am wondering if Japanese also thinks she is Russian like they think about OrientalPearl all the time. Or is the blonde hair/blue eyes combination making Japanese think of Russia?

[@Olli-Tech]

To see white Japanese is just so cool!

[@bluesky426]

IMO, ALL national (regardless of geographical boundaries) educational and government systems are based on “conformity”. It made it simple and straightforward for everyone to “get along” by living a standardized baseline. Unfortunately, such systems have bred social pressures for conformity; look at how peer pressure (bullying) and bigotry are prevalent among social majorities. Over and over, people literally fight against “different“ out misplaced fear of an “unknown”. It’s REALLY depressing to live as a minority among a world full of mindless drones. Sadly, history has not shown much change; conformist mindsets continue from generation to generation, and minorities still fight for freedom to be “different”. 😢

[@commentarytalk1446]

It's natural: If you have a Normal Distribution then there's the majority in the middle on either side and then there's only a few outliers. I think humans tend to fall out the same way in a society: Most end up conforming to the structure of society while a few outliers naturally don't or to much higher degree of difference.

[@gq2789]

日本の同調圧力とか服装の画一的指導とかは、明治期以降の富国強兵から始まってる気がしますね。 江戸期は歌舞伎者とかまだ自由な気風があって、今とは随分違う空気だったみたいです。 まあ日本はいまだにFAX使ったり、印鑑とか古くて時代に合わない制度・モノとかも使い続ける国ですから、そういう意味でも古臭い改新の苦手な国なんですよ。 あと教育者にとって生徒を型に嵌めることは管理しやすくしてるんだと思います。個人的には好きではありませんが。

[@akiram3427]

ですね。先日知ったんですが 「戸籍 (本籍地の) 謄本が存在する」国は、中国、台湾、日本だけ。 「夫婦別姓でない (結婚後、完全に旧苗字が消える)」国は、日本だけで、 国連からも改善命令が何度もあったらしいです。

[@ayszhang]

@@akiram3427 戸籍というのは元々中国から来た、漢字文化圏に広がったもの。韓国とかベトナムでもあった。ソ連の国では似たシステムがある。人を管理するようにできているのだ。

[@kalzafar]

私はモルディブ出身で、戸籍の習慣が非常にあり、結婚すると自分の苗字を残すことができます。

[@martthesling]

🙃🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@rayechel6378]

Yes, Bolivia is nice except poverty 😢

[@1010Ton]

学校の校風にもよるのでわ。小生の高校時代は蛮カラ学生もいて入学当時は上級生が親父に見えました。いじめなんか馬鹿らしいと思う気持ちです。英国にも何度も行きましたが無関心と関心のはざまで苦悩する人々もいることを知っています。

[@akisfriends]

さいたま系ロシア人もいいですよね😂

[@fullpeace4435]

ロシア系さいたま人じゃない？ まぁどっちでもいいか笑

[@paulwalther5237]

I wish your channel were around when I was learning Japanese. It took me a while to realize it but I had a mental block because I couldn't really picture white people speaking Japanese. Watching dubbed Japanese on Netflix helped some but a KZbin channel like this would have been even better. And of course if you just keep speaking Japanese eventually it feels natural but man it was slow and frustrating for me. (from the perspective of an adult learner).

[@joshuasjapanchannel]

You should meet my relatives then 😂😂 they all look Caucasian but speak Japanese

[@fufurabumbacka]

Vlada could play a bitch sensei in Assasination Clasroomu.

[@bokchoiman]

This is so cool....

[@chosuke819]

制服のスカートの長さで個性が変わる、だから個性を大事にする(ただのやんちゃなアネー)? そんなもんで個性をアピールしてるつもりかね! 校則も守れない人に個性を出せる人はいない。