TYPES OF FOREIGNERS ON JAPANESE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES

This is a tongue-in-cheek attempt at stereotyping based on personal observations.

With the influx of foreign students into Japan, university campuses are becoming more international.

Having studied at two different Japanese universities (national and private), I have met and interacted with various types of foreign students. After hanging around classrooms, university circles and dormitories long enough, certain ‘types’ or categories of foreign students have made their presence felt on the Japanese university campus scene. Here are some of these ‘types’ I noticed and would like to share my observations with all of you. (Disclaimer: I am not representing all foreign students on Japanese university campuses, but simply some of the categories that have been outstanding to me.)

Type 1: The Nihonjin-Wannabe

You will definitely see them around campus. These foreign students are here in Japan simply because they want to enact their alter ego selves of being a nihonjin (Japanese person). After ditching their non-Japanese identities and backgrounds, these students rush to sign up for all possible Japanese language classes they can possibly enrol in, join all kinds of student clubs involving Japanese culture such as the tea…