Are Japanese People Rude? My Personal Experience as a Foreigner

Whenever we move to a new country, one of the first things we wonder is, “Are the people nice?” Especially as foreigners, we naturally ask ourselves how we will be treated.

Japan has a global reputation for politeness, and many people say that Japanese people are kind and respectful. But I believe that to truly understand this, you have to experience it firsthand.

After living in Japan for 11 months, I would say that, in general, yes, Japanese people are kind. However, that doesn’t mean every single person is nice—there are always exceptions, and like in any other country, some individuals can be rude, especially toward foreigners (gaijin).

Over time, I’ve come to realize that rude people exist everywhere, and it’s just a part of life. Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, once said that we should expect to encounter difficult people and learn to respond calmly instead of taking it personally. He also said that “the best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”

My Experience with a Rude Local

One morning, I was walking to school, lost in deep thought, when I almost bumped into a man riding a bicycle as I was about to cross the street. Maybe it was my fault since I wasn’t paying full attention. But what caught me off guard was that he started shouting at me.

That was my first-ever experience with a confrontational Japanese person. It surprised me because, in my observation, most Japanese people avoid direct confrontation. Of course, there are exceptions, but overall, I find that many locals prefer to keep things polite and avoid unnecessary conflict.

As a foreigner in Japan, I’ve learned that the best thing to do is be mindful, follow their rules, and respect their customs.

The Other Side: Kindness from Strangers

Whenever I encounter rude people, I try to focus on the good experiences I’ve had in Japan.

For example:

 • One time, a Japanese man walked me all the way to the monorail station in Chiba because he couldn’t speak English well. Instead of just pointing in a direction, he gestured for me to follow him and personally led the way.

 • A Japanese couple helped me use a self-checkout machine at a restaurant because the instructions were in Japanese, and I couldn’t figure it out.

 • A friend of mine had just arrived in Japan when she realized that her SIM card wasn’t working. She needed Wi-Fi but couldn’t find a place with free internet. A kind couple she met on the street offered to drive her to my apartment since she had my address.

These acts of kindness remind me that there are still good people in the world. Yes, we may have negative encounters from time to time, but that shouldn’t erase the many positive experiences we’ve had.

Final Thoughts

If I were to put it into numbers, I’d say 80% of my experiences with Japanese people have been positive, while about 20% have been negative.

The problem is, when we have one bad encounter, we tend to focus too much on it and forget all the good ones. But in reality, most people aren’t bad or rude—we just let the negative experiences overshadow the positive ones.

So, are Japanese people rude? Most of them aren’t. Just like in any country, there are kind people and rude people. The best thing to do is not let a few bad encounters define your overall experience.

What about you? Have you ever had a similar experience while traveling or living abroad? Let me know your thoughts!