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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Blanket Terms

March 13, 2019

“Being a Japanese-American woman in Japan, there are times when I feel like I’m constantly being underestimated, or my behavior is under a microscope. When I say or do things in a certain way, some people say, ‘That is so American’ or ‘You’re so gaijin’. But other times they say, ‘Oh so Japanese of you’.Continue reading Blanket Terms

Off Limits

March 9, 2019

“I came to Japan to sing on a Disney tour, met a guy the first week, married him three months later, then found out we were pregnant the next day. It was a big leap and I know it was a hasty decision, but I’m rewarded for it every day. Now I’m just learning howContinue reading Off Limits

80 Jours Japon

March 7, 2019March 7, 2019

“I was so burned out from work. The stress was too much to handle that my stomach would hurt and I wouldn’t be able to come to work. When I went to the hospital here in Japan and even in France, the results showed my body was fine. So it was just all in myContinue reading 80 Jours Japon

Empowering Women

March 5, 2019March 14, 2019

***日本語は下をご覧ください***“Even though my grandmother was illiterate, she understood the importance of education. She pushed my uncles and their kids to go to school, which wasn’t easy back then because it took an hour by bicycle, thanks to bad roads. While most women in India at that time weren’t outgoing and usually just stayed home, myContinue reading Empowering Women

Brain Drain

March 4, 2019

“When I arrived at graduate school in Japan, the first thing that greeted me were two cards on my desk saying, ‘Don’t kill yourself’ and ‘Don’t sexually harass people.’ Then I found out I didn’t actually have a scholarship. So that was a very stressful period. Good thing I was able to manage another scholarshipContinue reading Brain Drain

Forgotten Dreams

February 27, 2019February 27, 2019

“It was my dream to visit Osaka. I first heard about the city of my dreams from Japanese volunteers, who showed me pictures and shared Japanese culture with me so I fell in love with it. I applied to study at a Japanese university (although in a different region) and started doing some research onContinue reading Forgotten Dreams

Bootstrapping

February 25, 2019

“When I shared my idea to start a website and bring Indian rural art to Japan, most people laughed at me. They laughed because I didn’t have any skills in creating a website. Plus, it seemed too costly for me to do. Besides not having a professional network to help me get started, I alsoContinue reading Bootstrapping

Deaf Cafe Fingertalk

February 22, 2019March 14, 2019

***日本語は下をご覧ください***“When I told people I wanted to open a deaf café, the initial response I got was, ‘You wanna make what café? Deaf café? What is that?’ I told them it’s a café where all the waiters and waitresses, plus the baristas, are deaf. Someone asked, ‘How are we supposed to order then?’ I said,Continue reading Deaf Cafe Fingertalk

STEQQI

February 18, 2019March 1, 2019

***日本語訳は下をご覧ください*** “People think we’re a couple but we’re actually business partners. She’s from Vietnam, I’m from Thailand, and we met in university while I was a student and she was working in the admissions office of our campus. At first I was just helping out, making promotional videos for the university when it suddenly hitContinue reading STEQQI

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 20, 2019

***日本語訳は下をご覧ください*** “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 reallyContinue 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, 2019February 19, 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