I’ve noticed that both Japan and Thailand have more Black-African and Asian mixed individuals compared to other Asian countries, likely due to their historical ties to the U.S, such as the U.S. military base in Japan after WWII and in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
However, their identities are completely different. For example, in Thailand, many half-Black individuals are often assumed to be fully Thai, and most people will initially speak to them in Thai until they learn about their mixed background. This is especially common with people who are half Thai and half African American.
Like these people who are half Thai half Black American.
Paitoon Pumrat (โรเบิร์ต สายควัน)
Rusameekae Fagerlund (รัศมีแข ฟ้าเกื้อล้น)
Samuel Cunningham (แซมมวล ป.คันนิ่งแฮม)
Meanwhile, in Japan, those who are half Black or African are usually assumed to be "foreigner" by the local Japanese people. Most locals will try to speak to them in English first, even if they were born and raised in Japan.
So yeah, why is that? Why can't they blend in with the local Japanese community like their Thai counterparts do?
by Mean_Read1429