Finding diversity and inclusion

Breaking down barriers one post at a time

Stories of People

Tokyo as seen through the lens of foreigners. Snapshots of individuals who make up the gaijin community. Immigrant workers, trainees, expats, international students, visitors, Japanophiles and others.

Special Report

Photo exhibit at Social Innovation Forum 2018

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Visual Stories

Watch our interviews in a new video series.
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Watch the Interview

The story behind Tokyo Interlopers. Continue reading “Watch the Interview” →

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Scarecrow Village

February 15, 2019

“There’s this famous town in Japan that is known to have more scarecrows than people. 35 residents and hundreds of scarecrows. And they’re all made by this one little old lady, who’s like 65 years old and has lived there her whole life. Every scarecrow she makes is of a person who’s moved away fromContinue reading Scarecrow Village

Otherness

February 12, 2019February 12, 2019

“I don’t feel like I’ve had the kind of experience that everyone thinks you’ll have when you come to Japan or Tokyo. I think everyone imagines that I am going out and living this crazy life, dressing up in kimono or meeting loads of people. Actually, my seven years in Japan have been really isolated.Continue reading Otherness

Hāfu2Hāfu

February 7, 2019February 13, 2019

“I was born and raised in Belgium to a Japanese dad and a Belgian mom. My father, who was a karate teacher, passed away when I was 14. My first job was at a Japanese credit card company in Amsterdam, to prove to the world that I could work for a Japanese company. But becauseContinue reading Hāfu2Hāfu

Hope Lives

February 4, 2019

“The situation in Algeria is really bad. We have huge political and social problems, not to mention youth unemployment is sky high. For most people back home, going abroad is difficult. They’re even dying while attempting to cross the sea to Europe. The government limits the number of visas issued. Scholarships are scarce and goodContinue reading Hope Lives

Special Report

Photo exhibit at Social Innovation Forum 2018

Failing Forward

January 28, 2019

“I was let go from my customer support job and it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It motivated me to aim higher and land a sales position where my pay went up by leaps and bounds. I realized I was swimming in a small pond while a whole ocean was outContinue reading Failing Forward

Family Bonding Time

January 28, 2019January 28, 2019

“I left my job because I value my time with my family and I was looking for something that would help me run a business, to find my own meaning and purpose in life. I don’t come from a well-to-do family. My dad used to be a detective, a police officer, while my mom didContinue reading Family Bonding Time

Millennial Speaking Coach

January 26, 2019January 26, 2019

“I was never the kid who would grow up to be a public speaker because from 7 to 17 years old, I was a victim of serial bullying. I was fat, had low self-esteem, and my legs would shake whenever I saw beautiful girls, thus making me the obvious target of bullying in school. ItContinue reading Millennial Speaking Coach

Learning to be More Accepting

December 30, 2018

“Every country has its flaws and Japan is no exception. But sometimes small things add up. I’m half Japanese, half American and I’ve lived in Japan since I was 6 years old. Some people tell me I’m not Japanese enough and it bothers me, although I’ve learned not to let it get the better ofContinue reading Learning to be More Accepting

Samurai Spirit

December 20, 2018

“A few years back I fainted from overwork at my job here in Japan. So I told myself I can’t keep putting other people and work first. I need to give myself priority, too, and push back whenever possible. Right now I have a really good job that I love. I’m back on my feet.Continue reading Samurai Spirit

Postdoc

December 16, 2018January 29, 2019

“I’m from Israel and I came to Japan with my Japanese girlfriend, but then we broke up a year after we moved here. We were together for 13 years. We’re still friends though and I’ve moved onto a new relationship. Right now I’m doing my postdoctoral research in neuroscience. I study motor skills and myContinue reading Postdoc

Making the Most Out of Life

December 13, 2018

“I was born with a disability called inherited clubfoot. It’s a chromosomal abnormality in which a person’s feet are bent from birth. Imagine your feet pointing towards each other, rather than facing front. But I have never let it become a hindrance in my life. Growing up, kids used to make fun of me, IContinue reading Making the Most Out of Life

Where Do I Belong?

December 11, 2018December 11, 2018

“There is no distinct native culture for people who were born and have been brought up in an international environment. As an Indian who grew up in Dubai, I find it very hard to identify a place where I are from and where I wanna be. I think this is true for anyone who hasContinue reading Where Do I Belong?

Finding My Place

December 10, 2018December 10, 2018

“I grew up in Miyazaki. As a hafu (Half American, Half Japanese) growing up in rural Japan, I didn’t quite fit in. Despite having a strong economic base, people in Miyazaki tend to be more relaxed, and family bonds seem stronger than that in Tokyo; life is good! Though I liked it there, I knewContinue reading Finding My Place

Global Citizen

December 5, 2018December 18, 2018

“I identify myself as a global citizen. My identity is not bound by nationality just because my passport was issued in Indonesia and I’m a second-generation Chinese Indonesian. I have a friend with whom I share values with that go beyond perceived differences. She’s Russian-American. However, it’s hard to find people who are also cosmopolitan,Continue reading Global Citizen

Stick to Your Guns

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018

“I’m a bit of a control freak. But for someone who needs to plan everything, I just went with the flow when I came to Japan. I was considering two options after finishing university back home in Spain: unpaid internships that may lead to an actual position or go abroad and learn languages. I remember thinkingContinue reading Stick to Your Guns

Foster Family

November 18, 2018

“My parents wanted me to be a public lawyer back home in India to help people who can’t afford legal counsel. But I was kind of selfish and even fickle minded. I took the biggest risk of my life by dropping out of law school and leaving the family business just to be back inContinue reading Foster Family

Accepting My Incompleteness

October 31, 2018October 31, 2018

I hated being mixed race until a couple years ago. It was the bane of my existence. I thought everything about myself was chutohanpa, which means ‘incomplete’ in English. Based on experience, in the U.S., maybe 9 out of 10 people see me as full Asian and usually aren’t able to tell that I haveContinue reading Accepting My Incompleteness

Adversity to Victory

October 12, 2018October 12, 2018

“I came to Japan from Russia when I married my Japanese husband 17 years ago. I was just 21 then. Now we have two kids, but we’re divorced. Back then, I had no chance to be employed in a good company because I lived very far from the city. The only work available was beingContinue reading Adversity to Victory

Sclerotic and Antiquated

September 12, 2018

“The job-hunting process in Japan is so outdated. It’s especially hard for foreigners. There’s only a small window of time to do it, which usually starts in the second semester of your junior year. You have to follow a schedule, otherwise you fall off the radar of prospective employers. In my case, I was inContinue reading Sclerotic and Antiquated