Here in Canada, it's rare to encounter Japanese people. Every time I see an Asian looking person, I wonder if they're Japanese, Chinese, etc but I can't really tell. I usually find out if I overhear them talking like on a bus or something.

Today I was downtown walking on the street when I noticed about 4 Asian guys walking close to me since it was a narrow street. I'm trying to figure out what their race is when 2 of them start talking in what sounds like Japanese. I tried to see if I could understand anything but I'm not that good yet.

After confirming that they're Japanese, I started to think if I should say something to them in Japanese. Something like: すみません。日本人ですか？ and see what they say. Then after their reply: 私は日本語を勉強しています。日本語で話してみたいです。 and see what they say again. Maybe add: カナダにはあまり日本人がありません。

I was too intimidated and didn't say anything. I don't even know if I would've understood their replies well enough to respond. Has anyone here approached a random Japanese person (not in Japan) to talk to them a bit for practice?

If you can get past feeling racist and offending people, you could always just walk up to a group of Asian people and ask them, "Excuse me, what type of Asian are you?" Politely, of course.

And if that doesn't seem bad enough, if they turn out to be anything other than Japanese, you can just make the comment, "Oh darn, it's too bad you aren't Japanese. Never mind." And walk away.

On a serious note, I haven't really approached anyone to speak with them in Japanese. For me, I think something like language exchange would be better in an environment that fits the context.

It's not my personality to randomly talk to people like that, but I've known others who have, and it never offends people to do so.

Keep in mind though, which people/living objects, use いる and いない instead of ある and ない

It depends on the situation. I dunno if I would approach a group of people as they're walking down the street (they might be in a rush to get somewhere) but there's nothing wrong with striking a conversation up on the bus or something. I've approached Japanese people on the bus, and vice versa. Usually the response is quite positive (only one person seemed like they wanted me to back off, which I did)
I got a haircut today and the stylist was Japanese. I asked her "もしかしたっら日本人ですか？" It worked out quite well - we spoke a mixture of English and Japanese after that.
Out of curiosity, what city in Canada do you live in? I'm Canadian too, and I see lots of Japanese people around. If you're in a big city like Toronto or Vancouver, there should be no problem finding people to talk to. Try posting an ad on Craigslist looking for a conversation partner, you should get responses from a few people.

danieldesu Wrote:It's not my personality to randomly talk to people like that, but I've known others who have, and it never offends people to do so.

ugh, please, don't. It definitely offends me when people assume I couldn't possibly be a native of the country I've lived in my entire life.

quark Wrote:Out of curiosity, what city in Canada do you live in? I'm Canadian too, and I see lots of Japanese people around. If you're in a big city like Toronto or Vancouver, there should be no problem finding people to talk to. Try posting an ad on Craigslist looking for a conversation partner, you should get responses from a few people.

There were def. some in Calgary, lots in Vancouver, but not a huge number in the Okanagan Valley ^_^

Don't know how things are in Canada, but where I'm from it's a bit of a no-no to talk to strangers at all, more so on the bus or the metro! Even asking for directions is a bit violent. I wouldn't like people coming to me to practise a langage, honestly, so I think you did well.

Whatever. I talk to strangers all the time just because they're Japanese. I would probably not bother 4 guys, because a group of guys doesn't know how to engage a stranger; they have to nominate a leader, and what if that's not who you look at first. But one or two people are usually cool, especially if they're around for a while. Tourists for less than two week are a bit freaked out if you talk to them because they're nervous, but then, Japanese are less afraid of stray bullets in Canada, hey?

edit: Also this is a learning experience: running through all the things you might say even if you don't end up saying them is decent language practice, taking stock of your repertoire.

tashippy Wrote:edit: Also this is a learning experience: running through all the things you might say even if you don't end up saying them is decent language practice, taking stock of your repertoire.

Haha, I've totally done this. Who needs the other guy when you can just imagine how the conversation might have gone?

Dustin_Calgary Wrote:

quark Wrote:Out of curiosity, what city in Canada do you live in? I'm Canadian too, and I see lots of Japanese people around. If you're in a big city like Toronto or Vancouver, there should be no problem finding people to talk to. Try posting an ad on Craigslist looking for a conversation partner, you should get responses from a few people.

There were def. some in Calgary, lots in Vancouver, but not a huge number in the Okanagan Valley ^_^

I guess it depends where in the Okanagan Valley you are. I went to Kelowna for 5 days last summer and got to speak some Japanese while I was there. Although I will agree there weren't as many Asian people there as there are in Vancouver or even Victoria.

Sauzer Wrote:

tashippy Wrote:edit: Also this is a learning experience: running through all the things you might say even if you don't end up saying them is decent language practice, taking stock of your repertoire.

Haha, I've totally done this. Who needs the other guy when you can just imagine how the conversation might have gone?

Yeah, and funny thing is when you do engage your planned canned phrase you rehearsed doesn't really work right. Always learning. I came across a couple who had just arrived in the city and they had walked in the opposite direction of the hotel and were on some dark noisy street corner. They couldn't have been happier someone started speaking Japanese to them. I also randomly talked to a guy once who looked lost and we ended up meeting for weekly language exchange for a couple months. I think it's better to break out of your shell than to play it safe; worst thing that could happen is someone tells you to piss off, and you move on.

I live in Toronto. I haven't seen many Japanese people around when I'm downtown. They're usually Chinese, Korean, etc.

quark Wrote:I guess it depends where in the Okanagan Valley you are. I went to Kelowna for 5 days last summer and got to speak some Japanese while I was there. Although I will agree there weren't as many Asian people there as there are in Vancouver or even Victoria.

That's funny, I live in Kelowna!

I know lots of chinese people here ( though a lot less than I ever saw in calgary or vancouver ) but it's pretty rare that I meet someone who is Japanese.

You must have gotten lucky! Also, my regular routine will be different than that of someone just visiting as well. :p

There is a bit of a joke around here that Kelowna is whitewashed with just old white people, one of the reasons the politics here tend to be on the socially conservative side.

You might want to start with English first. I think you'll get a better reaction that way.

By speaking Japanese to them, you're singling them out. It's not that cool to speak a different language to someone just because they don't look like you. They might be Canadian for all you know. And even if they are fresh-off-the-boat Japanese, there's a really good chance they didn't come all the way to Canada just for the chance to speak Japanese with random strangers.

Living in Japan, I get this a lot, when someone approaches me and launches into English. It's much nicer to start out in the language of the country, and then mention that you're a language student. And I hate to say it but, you know, aside from wanting to "talk with a white guy," what exactly did you have to say to me?

I get total strangers (Orientals) all the time asking me if I'm learning Chinese because they can see the books I'm working at the coffee shop or whatever. I always have to explain that no, I'm not learning Chinese, I'm learning Japanese which uses Chinese characters. E.g., I was sitting next to a Chinese couple working on my flashcards and I could tell they were noticing the kanji on them and then they asked me about them. But alas, being Chinese, I couldn't very well practice my Japanese on them.

There's a Japanese woman who runs the Laundromat I go to and she once noticed the book I was reading and said she was Japanese. Maybe I'll practice my Japanese on her next time.

anritsi Wrote:

danieldesu Wrote:It's not my personality to randomly talk to people like that, but I've known others who have, and it never offends people to do so.

ugh, please, don't. It definitely offends me when people assume I couldn't possibly be a native of the country I've lived in my entire life.

I get this all the time, but I tend to see it as amusing, and in a condescending way, to be honest. I think, "Hah! They're so uncultured that they've never even entertained the idea of an Asian person being a native citizen of this country" or "They're so desperate to meet 'authentic' Asian people or show off their language skills that that they won't even begin the conversation in English." Similarly, I've had random Chinese people approach me and begin speaking in Chinese. I also find this entertaining because I don't speak Chinese and they get quite embarrassed once reality hits them.

Anyway, I second JapaneseRuleof7's suggestion to start in English. That's the most polite, least risky way. Also, some of the posters seem to discourage approaching strangers, but I assume they come from Northern Europe or some place where approaching strangers is inappropriate. Yes, approaching strangers in some Asian countries is inappropriate too, but I would assume they would've stayed in Asia if they didn't want to be exposed to North American culture.

@OP
If you want to meet Japanese people, especially if you have trouble having a conversation, then I recommend joining some group or participating in some event related to Japan. It'll be much less intimidating. Good places to look include: spring festivals, zen temples, university campuses, language schools (you might even be able to volunteer for something), meetup.com, craigslist (I often see requests for Americans as guides for group of students visiting from Japan), and Japanese restaurants or Asian supermarkets (they sometimes have event bulletins, business cards, and local Japanese language newspapers on hand).

I understand that there are people who think all persons of Asian descent are from China, and depending on the neighborhood, will shout jibberish Mandarin impersonations or innocently inquire "where are you really from?". Vileru takes it all in stride without collecting microchips on his shoulder. But OP already said s/he listens to be sure they are speaking Japanese before jumping to conclusions or into conversations. I work in a touristy neighborhood, so if I see a lost person with katakana versions of street names (is this really helpful for them?) I don't worry so much about offending by not starting with English. They can probably see the stupid joy on my face at finding a momentary conversation partner. I guess the point is to let your language studies build bridges, not microaggressions.

Don't be scared to offend them,honestly, if I hadn't asked the Chinese people in my lectures (I've checked they are Chinese) what other languages they speak then I would never of guessed that one of them speaks Yiddish - truly I was taken a back- sometimes we talk in it.

All I can say is you can't beat my quantum mechanics lecturer, he asked in the room how many Chinese characters there was (I have no idea what this had to do with anything either), there was only one boy in that lecture who's great grandparents where from China but his mother and father are British Chinese and he himself was born in Yorkshire. You just think, dear I hope he didn't ask the poor boy but yes he did, the boy just laughed and said in a Yorkshire accent "I'm from just down the road mate,my name is Joseph :/ ". Best chums now. Still to this day, I think John how did you get away with that

poblequadrat Wrote:Don't know how things are in Canada, but where I'm from it's a bit of a no-no to talk to strangers at all, more so on the bus or the metro! Even asking for directions is a bit violent. I wouldn't like people coming to me to practise a langage, honestly, so I think you did well.

You seem to live in a really sad place. Must feel lonely there, where people around you are part of the scenery.

andikaze Wrote:You seem to live in a really sad place. Must feel lonely there, where people around you are part of the scenery.

+1

...and I'm from Norway, where asking for directions is not considered particularly offensive.

andikaze Wrote:You seem to live in a really sad place. Must feel lonely there, where people around you are part of the scenery.

Loneliness is the psychological state of craving human contact, not the desire to be left alone or contentment with being alone.

The attitude of constantly craving human contact, no matter how meaningless (and talking to strangers on the street, in a language you don't even speak, would be the pinnacle of meaningless interaction), and the perception that if you don't talk to strangers they are "part of the scenery", are far more sad and lonely than that of someone comfortable with spending time alone, without a drive to engage everyone at every turn.

anritsi Wrote:ugh, please, don't. It definitely offends me when people assume I couldn't possibly be a native of the country I've lived in my entire life.

No one would assume that.

I see that you also live in Toronto.
I used to do it all the time. I am guy and I would talk to Japanese girls. lol
Call it nanpa or whatever you want.

It is a great way to practice the language. Even if you only speak for a few minutes, that small interaction is enough to give you so much motivation to improve. I have made tons of Japanese friends this way.

But, if you really want some speaking pratice then there are other options. There are so many language exchange clubs to choose from here.

Stansfield123 Wrote:

anritsi Wrote:ugh, please, don't. It definitely offends me when people assume I couldn't possibly be a native of the country I've lived in my entire life.

No one would assume that.

I believe she refers to something similar to this video. (Although, this video was purposefully exaggerated)*.

This inference is usually a cultural bias (common in America, more-so with older generations). People usually mean well by it, and want to strike up a conversation (ie "Where are you from?"). The aim of this thread is a bit different because the users want to practice Japanese, not learn about people's culture (although, that could be part of the conversation).

*(irrelevant to the thread's topic, but still interesting)
WongFuProductions'
(Ted Talks) "Where is home?"

mr_hans_moleman Wrote:I see that you also live in Toronto.
I used to do it all the time. I am guy and I would talk to Japanese girls. lol
Call it nanpa or whatever you want.

It is a great way to practice the language. Even if you only speak for a few minutes, that small interaction is enough to give you so much motivation to improve. I have made tons of Japanese friends this way.

But, if you really want some speaking pratice then there are other options. There are so many language exchange clubs to choose from here.

What areas did you talk to people in?