- By Shailvee Tiwari
- Fri, 07 Mar 2025 06:00 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Viral Video: In recent years, Japan has become a popular destination for skilled Indian professionals seeking opportunities in fields like IT, engineering, finance, and management. While the country offers a promising career landscape, adjusting to life there isn’t always easy. From cultural differences to language barriers, Indian expats often navigate various challenges as they settle into their new surroundings.
A viral video has recently shed light on the experiences of one such expat. In the clip, a Japanese vlogger asks an Indian man about his life in Japan. He first speaks about food-related struggles, explaining that many Indians don’t eat pork or beef, and some are strictly vegetarian. Since local food options don’t always cater to these preferences, many end up cooking their meals or sticking to simple vegetarian sushi like Kappa Maki (cucumber rolls).
However, food isn’t the only challenge. The man also shares instances where he has faced racism, recalling moments of discrimination, including a heated exchange with an elderly local and an unpleasant encounter with students on a train. His revelations have sparked conversations online, with many expats sharing their own experiences of cultural adjustment and prejudice in Japan.
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The viral video was shared on Instagram by the user 'riki_with_japan_mates' with the caption, "How is it living in Japan as an Indian?" Posted two days ago, the video has garnered 575k views. The interview sparked a buzz on social media, with many users resonating with the experiences and sharing their challenges of living as outsiders in Japan.
One user shared, "Had the same experience—got bumped hard on my shoulders at least three times and was even yelled at with a racist slur on the street." Another user responded, "Don't mind, brother. People like that exist everywhere." A third user expressed their frustration, writing, "Why should anyone, regardless of race, have to be prepared for racism? Isn't it everyone's responsibility to foster kindness and consideration? It's truly sickening. How can someone hate another person just because of their ethnicity? In my opinion, a victim should never be blamed in two scenarios—when facing racial abuse and when being cheated on. In both cases, the fault never lies with the victim."
A fourth user commented, "There's so much racism when you're dating as an Indian—it's insane. Not every Indian is a low-paid nighttime 7/11 worker. Most of those workers aren’t even Indian; they’re Bangladeshi. This is probably the worst racism I’ve experienced in any East Asian country. China and Korea were much better. Japan still views Indians as low-paid labor, when in reality, Indians are far from that." Another user added, "No matter where you go, racism exists—but so do good people. Every place you visit has its pros and cons."
