If you scour the pages of the internet in search of information about Japan, you might come across a few things that focus on the country's beauty standards. If you didn't already know, I am Black, I present myself both in a feminine and masculine way, so I don't necessarily fit into a lot of the general beauty standards here. Many people in my position feel left behind by these standards. I wondered how I viewed myself after being here for a while and if these standards have affected me.
As a disclaimer, every country has its own set of beauty standards. In Japan, there are clear idealized looks for both women and men. Some of these beauty standards, such as having pale skin, being slim, and having big eyes, are well-known. Additionally, unblemished skin and the use of makeup (among both femme and masculine individuals), as well as a quiet and reserved personality, are also part of the list. You can read more about Japanese beauty standards from "The Japan Guy" here.
There is a trend of categorizing Japanese men's faces with condiments, as reported in this article. There are also face type categories for women, which I found on a Reddit thread here. None of these quizzes should be far-fetched to individuals outside of Japan who are involved in fashion and interested in dressing for their features. Coming from America, I have seen quite a few "What/who do you look like" quizzes all around the internet. Therefore, seeing how individuals in Japan categorize people and their features has been interesting.
Being aware of these beauty standards, I have observed how my Japanese friends incorporate them into their everyday looks and lifestyle. It's only natural, as they are part of the majority that is being targeted. Some of my male friends use makeup to give the illusion of unblemished skin, while some women I know have done the same and casually mentioned that they eat as little as possible to stay thin. During hotter months, many women, especially the more mature ones, wear long clothes to protect themselves from the sun. None of these things are inherently bad (except for starving yourself, please eat), but relying on them too much can become a self-esteem issue. At a bird's eye view, everyone appears homogenous, but upon closer inspection, there are Japan's indigenous people and individuals with mixed Japanese ancestry who live in the country. They undoubtedly face discrimination because they do not fit neatly into these standards and may also struggle with self-esteem issues.
For example, Japan's general rejection of tattoos affects the country's indigenous population directly, who utilize the art of tattooing as a part of their culture. Many ordinary Japanese people don't believe that they discriminate against other ethnic groups, but if you do a bit of research and observe the beauty standards that are currently present in Japan, you can easily see that this is not true. The act of banning tattoos suppresses minority cultural activities and self-expression in general. You can read more about this here. Depending on where you are in Japan, you may face minimal issues with your tattoos, but in other places, you should prepare to have to cover them or be refused service.
After reading the list of Japanese beauty standards, I realized early on in my years of researching Japan that I am the complete opposite of almost all the standards. I am about 5'6" with an average to fit build, but I also have much larger feet, which makes it hard to find cute shoes here. I would also like to point out that I have never found myself unattractive, but knowing of the Japanese beauty standards, I felt that maybe I would be in Japan. The beauty standards in Japan should no doubt have an affect me...
But despite the slightly different beauty standards in Japan and the fact that I don't fit into many of them, I remember that I am not part of the majority or even the ethnic minority that has grown up here. I am an immigrant from the outside, so I simply cannot conform to these standards. I don't even fit into the ones at home. I may happen to fit into only a few, but that's just by coincidence. Before coming to Japan to live, I reminded myself that I am not of Japanese descent and never will be. So, I never tried to fit into things that were not made with me in mind. Doing this has greatly helped me in terms of my mental health. That's not to say I didn't struggle with a few things about myself. That’s also not to say that I reject Japanese cultural norms - there’s a fine line between being respectful and being realistic about what you can do.
Living in Japan, the preferred body standards can take a toll on many. Clothes can be difficult to find for individuals who are taller or thicker than average. When I lived in my previous town, there were advertisements on stairs encouraging people to lose weight by taking the stairs and avoiding elevators. YouTube advertisements are some of the worst culprits, in my opinion, and are mainly targeted towards women. "Lose weight fast," "Become hairless here," "Avoid bald spots there," the advertisements poking at people's insecurities don't end. Of course, this isn't exclusive to Japan, and that goes without saying. However, it is still startling to see since it seems more in your face than back at home.
Things are changing slowly, but not at the pace many people want. With that in mind, there's no point in waiting for those changes to reach a level that satisfies you. You have to take action to stay afloat and try not to let beauty standards get to you and dictate your experience anywhere. When you are confident in yourself despite your differences, your confidence will transfer to other people. At that point, you are already contributing to the movement of body-positivity!
What do I do to get over my slumps? I take nice pictures of myself, pamper myself, turn to my favorite hobbies, or simply talk to my favorite people. Although many expect the opposite to happen among a majority that looks completely different, I have become more confident in myself while here in Japan despite these hurdles. I am able to fully show up as myself without many expectations as a Black individual. There is no standard of beauty here specifically for me, so I feel free to express myself however I want!
I have my own insecurities, but I think the main thing that contributes to people's magnetism, no matter where they are and what beauty standards are present, is confidence and how they deal with their own insecurities. You're going to go to many places where you feel like you won't be accepted, but in actuality, you may be fine. Being surrounded by great people has taken my mind completely off of beauty standards. In the process, many people have found me attractive. This isn't limited to physical looks but personality as well.
Moving to Japan has forced me to look at myself, especially physically. I have been forced to accept who I am in an entirely different culture, and I feel like I have no choice but to love myself. I have gained a lot more confidence in Japan. In my experience, I have received positive feedback because of the confidence that I exude. Yes, sometimes the students I taught used to ask why I was so dark-skinned. Yes, they would be confused as to why I colored in characters with brown colored pencils and thought it was scary. Yes, that made me feel a little bad. However, I remembered that they are simply children with a limited worldview, and I kept pushing forward. My presence in my past elementary school was to serve the purpose of cultural exchange. When I accepted my job in Japan, I accepted the responsibility of representing people who look like me. Many times, I was the first Black individual that people were actually able to talk to and form some type of relationship with. With a bit of education, challenging, and chatting with each other here, perceptions on both ends began to change.
I think it really does take a special type of person to uproot their life and move to an entirely different country that has a different set of expectations of you as an individual. I would like the Black individuals who are reading this to remember that. When I remember it, it definitely gives me a needed boost of confidence. We all decided to brave a different culture, learn a different language, and live in a country thousands of miles away from home. If that doesn't give you confidence in yourself, I am not sure what will.
Before moving to Japan as a Black individual, it's important to connect with people who will let you love yourself and accept you for who you are. With a strong support system, you will be able to step out anywhere with confidence. I also think it's important to observe how you already feel about yourself in your own country, first and foremost. Moving to a different country will not solve your internal issues with yourself. Sometimes, moving to a different country can exasperate those issues. Remember, you're great just the way you are and there are many people around you who love you for you!
