this post was submitted on 01 Feb 2026
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I do not understand the positive comments in this thread, this is so fucking cringe. I live in Japan and this type of idiot makes things worse for all of us foreigners. Yes, take study of the language seriously. Yes, talk to people and engage in genuine conversations with them. But this recording and publicizing it does NOTHING to further your language skills or understanding of the culture - it's shameless self-aggrandizement at the cost of normal people trying to live their lives. Japan is not a people-zoo and Japanese people are not your personal PR platform, have some fucking respect.
I don't disagree with what you're saying in principle, but this old man was under no obligation to humor this kid. He's an adult who is fully capable of making his own decisions.
While yes, tourists going somewhere, filming aggressively, and treating foreign countries like a zoo is a problem, but there's so something to be said for cultural exchange, and Just letting people be themselves.
I think showing these people eating dinner in their home is way more grounded humanizing than the usual "I SHAT IN A JAPANESE FUTURE TOILET?!?! WOAH!!!" Kind of content that you see way more of.
Due to the concept of omotenasi, the Japanese do feel an obligation to humour guests. It's best not confidently speak on behalf of someone you don't know.
I might as well add that it's frowned upon here to record people without their permission, even in public spaces, and even more so to upload said recording to the internet.
I can understand how certain contexts would create pressure to comply with social standards - like agreeing to the conversation, and to be filmed.
However, inviting the kid to his house for a meal was totally his idea - there was no pressure to even ask that.