The Struggles of Standing Out in Japan

Kayla Beyer (Niigata)

Being anywhere in the world will present you with different standards of how a person’s image and body “should” and/or “shouldn’t” be. Japan is not immune to this and is, like much of the world, slightly influenced by Western beauty standards (1 & 2), standards the global majority do not fit. At least when it comes to presenting diversity within Japan’s media, these standards generally favor skinny, white, able-bodied people (3). Outside of that “diversity,” you’ll generally find a preference for thin, light-skinned people.

In the face of these standards that weigh all too heavily on many people, especially women (4), it is easy to get lost within the eyes of others. As any long-term foreign resident of Japan knows, it is very difficult to be “invisible” outside of a major city like Tokyo. If you present differently than the average Japanese person, then you will certainly be noticed for better or worse (5 & 6). This is something that had bothered me for quite some time after arriving in Japan some two and a half years ago. “Why is everyone glaring at me?” is a question that caused a lot of anxiety when facing the world alone; whether it was grocery shopping, taking public transportation, or just going to the convenience store across the street, I found myself looking down to avoid the eyes of passersby.

Mine is not a revolutionary experience—it is shared by many people living in Japan. You may have already heard the proverb,

Being different has not generally been encouraged, and at the very least, it’s bound to attract a lot of eyes. Even though many of those eyes are without malicious intent, feeling different or “othered” can have a negative impact on one’s well-being (7).

For the past few months, I’ve come to co-run a “Drink & Draw” monthly event with another JET Program participant in Niigata Prefecture. This event allows anyone within the community to practice their drawing and creativity skills, no matter the skill level. Even some members of a local design school have begun attending. I frequently model for this event, as do other participants. Believe it or not, I’ve not always been an outgoing person, nor the most confident in my image. But since moving to Japan, with its largely homogenous society (8 & 9), I have become even more hyperfocused on how I’m being perceived by others. Interestingly,

Practice makes perfect, right?

In the face of criticism, good and bad, with the weight of what standards I do/don’t fit, and in an environment where I am somewhat of an anomaly, I want to connect with my own image from a more neutral angle as well as encourage others to step outside of the box in becoming more comfortable within our skins. I hold the belief that, despite what societal standards insinuate, our personalities are multi-faceted and our bodies are not what make up our overall personality or value.

Thankfully, the ideas of how people “should” or “shouldn’t” look are beginning to change. This is thanks to models and celebrities such as Naomi Watanabe, a comedian gone fashion designer who produced the brand “Punyus” to combat sizeism in Japan (10); Naomi Osaka, half Haitian, half Japanese, and U.S. born tennis superstar who speaks openly and in support of Black Lives Matter (11) and self-care (12); and Ariana Miyamoto, born to an African American father and Japanese mother, who was crowned Miss Universe in 2015 despite criticisms of her “Japaneseness” largely due to her being biracial (13 & 14). These celebrities help normalize the fact and reality that humans come in various shapes, sizes, and colors— even within Japan.

Slowly but surely, we are seeing more diversity in media (15). Perhaps this will have an overall effect on standards and how the public reacts to those who present differently, or perhaps it won’t. Regardless, through events like “Drink & Draw,”

I also hope to introduce my community to many different people in a welcoming and fun manner.

Personally, since beginning “Drink & Draw,” I’ve had much less anxiety surrounding my appearance in public. Not as often do I find myself avoiding solo outings or errands due to the weight of glances and glares. Of course, like anyone else, I have good and bad days, but putting myself into the spotlight through my hobbies and passions has helped me to cope and form new bonds and confidence. I hope for “Drink & Draw” to continue to inspire and liberate anyone struggling with self-image and feeling out of place, and I otherwise want to encourage anyone living in Japan to find comfort and community in their own special interests.

Kayla Beyer is a third-year JET Program participant from northern Virginia, U.S.A. She is currently living in Nagaoka, Niigata and holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, reading, meditating, and playing ukulele. Along with co-hosting “Drink & Draw” once a month, she models for and collaborates with photographers in Niigata Prefecture. You can view some of those photos or contact her via Instagram @kayla_cbear.

1. https://bit.ly/3ojP0Pi

2. https://bit.ly/3F7LgXF

3. https://bit.ly/3kqc5yA

4. https://bit.ly/2YxQrk6

5. https://bit.ly/3qzh5EK

6. https://bit.ly/2YA79iZ

7. https://bit.ly/3ogF3SA

8. https://bit.ly/3Hdd3bl

9. https://bit.ly/3He8RI7

10. https://bit.ly/3krbe0y

11. https://bit.ly/31Rc28A

12. https://bit.ly/3qoN4aT

13. https://bit.ly/2YxRiBk

14. https://bit.ly/3C5zz27

15. https://bbc.in/3D8KHMI