What’s your experience like?

It’s strange how Japan opened its borders centuries ago, yet emotionally it can still feel closed. I don’t think it’s always intentional hatred—more like a cultural instinct to keep distance. As a foreigner, you’re often treated politely but not fully seen, like an object moving through their world rather than a person inside it. Emotions are shared within the circle, rarely with those outside. No matter how long you stay or how hard you try, you’re reminded that you’re an “alien,” not one of their own.