Obesity in Japan...
 

I would love to travel to Tokyo, and in doing a little bit of research about where to go and what to see, I had more than one person tell me that obesity is seriously frowned upon in Japan.

I am an Obese woman and do not in anyway promote obesity. My weight issues are a life long battle that I am dealing with. The people I talked with mentioned that in Japan, overweight people are outright stared at and that obesity in general, much less a woman, is frowned upon.

I have never let my weight prevent me from traveling, but I have had times where the weight and people's reactions may had been a bummer to my day.

what is the climate in Japan, and namely Tokyo, towards those that are obese? Are we all seen as products of many stereotypes?

Thanks for your honesty in advance. :)

Well, I'm a US size 12 now, been larger and smaller while in Japan...trying for smaller all the time, as I also really struggle with weight issues. Compared to about 90% of the women around me, I am taller, larger boned and carry more fat than they do. There are some women I see that are more overweight. I go to a sports club, and have seen all kinds. Plenty of women have talked with me about weight, and never have I felt that they looked down on me or scorned me because I am heavier than they are...and in a few cases they have been heavier than I am.

I can say that foreigners in general attract more attention. Overweight people might attract more attention. But I can't say that I've ever been stared down or frowned at because of my weight, at least that I've ever noticed.

The thing that is different is the attitude about eating and weight in general. There is of course, the vanity thing and thin meaning beautiful. But more than that, people of all ages try to keep their weight under control for health reasons. Traditionally and today, proper eating involves eating until you are 7/8 full rather than stuffed. Portion sizes reflect this philosophy. There are many magazines and books devoted to how to cook/eat/serve a well balanced, delicious and attractive meal. Even the elementary school my daughter attends (public Japanese) sends home the lunch menu every month in advance...it is broken down into a listing of ingredients per day, calories, fat and protein. On the reverse side of this paper are cooking hints for mothers, meal ideas and so on.

I personally don't think you'd have any issues that differ from what you feel anywhere else anywhere in Japan just because of your weight...you will be noticed because you are not Japanese anyway. There are plenty of other obese foreigners in Tokyo. I saw today in rural Gokayama (great place) a busload of foreign tourists of which about 1/2 were very overweight...they looked to be enjoying themselves.

I can't tell you that you won't be stared at, because you will be. But you would be because you are a foreigner, regardless of your weight. Japanese people tend to be quite reserved and most would not comment or stare outright or frown at you any more than people in other countries. Of course, there are the exceptions, but they are not the norm.

I'm sorry I can't tell you exactly how you'll be received. I find myself sitting here thinking about how large someone would have to be to get a huge reaction from people...and I really can't say. Sumo wrestlers are huge and are quite idolized. I just don't know how you will feel and how you will interpret people looking at you...now I'm starting to ramble so I'll leave it at that.

I agree with Kim..you'll be stared at anyway.

I've been to Japan when I was a size 10, and again when a size 22, both within 4 years of each other (long story..)

Anyway, I think I was on the receiving end of about the same volume of looks. I also have rail thin friends living in Japan who tell me the staring bothers them also, but without making sweeping generalisations, I can't imagine ever having a Japanese person actually comment or do anything beyond surreptitiously look, and then quickly look away once they saw me see them looking.

In sharp contrast to China, where even in cosmpolitan Shanghai I got stared at, laughed at, pointed at, turned around and openly gaped at...!

I spent three weeks in Japan with a broken arm in a very large cast. Japanese people did not openly notice my cast. They seem to feel it is impolite to notice physical "problems". I could not get help with carrying or lifting, closing unless I asked for it and then people were very helpful. I doubt that the very polite Japanese people would make you uncomfortable. But...weight issues for women are very real there...I saw lots of ads for colonic treatments, etc. at the baths.

i am a large man and never experienced any stares other than the usual farang stares that you get in any country

> They seem to feel it is impolite to notice physical "problems".

It seems to me (I am Japanese)above comment by Elainee is correct. If the Chinese tend to stare, the Japanese is the other way. Initially they might look at you briefly and then rather look away.

I agree with the above. You will be stared at because you are a foreigner, not because of your weight.
Nobody will say anything, that would be impolite.
I was stared at openly several times because I'm a foreign woman.
Go and have fun, I think the Japanese are very tolerant of our differences.

Yes, you may "have times where the weight and people's reactions to it" will be a 'bummer to your day'. You will be noticed because you are a foreigner, yes, but also because you are obese.

This is least likely to happen in Tokyo because it is a huge cosmopolitan city. The Japanese that live and/or work there are relatively more familiar with experiencing foreigners. I believe that the same could be said for Osaka. And the same for Nagoya. My guess is that reactions to your obesity in those places might be similar to what you experience at home.

It is more likely to happen in Kyoto. More likely there than elsewhere, in fact.

There are impolite Japanese and rude Japanese. Yes they may make you uncomfortable. Yes they may say something. But it would most likely be more from naive curiosity than malice.

I didn't experience a farang stare in Thailand. It would be a <i>gaijin</i> stare that one would experience in Japan, of course.

Apparently, I am the only one who feels this way. I also believe that the the <u>possibility</u> of a negative experience is not enough reason to not go to Japan. I don't know about if obesity is &quot;seriously frowned upon&quot; in Japan, but I don't think so.

My point is that the Japanese people in general are very polite and very kind, but that can't be said about what an individual might do at any given moment. Being polite is the standard there, as it is in the USA, and I think the standard (or better) is followed far more often than not, just not always.

I encounter rude behavior sometimes. It's just as likely in Japan as anywhere else. People are people and not all of them are nice. There are certainly some people who just don't like foreigners...obese or not. But they are certainly not the norm.

Interesting topic...I have been to Japan once 10 years ago and at the time I weighed about 220 and I am 5'7&quot;. My husband is 6'6&quot; and at the time he weighed about 300 lbs. Having fought the weight battle all of my life I am always very self concious about someone paying attention to my weight. When we were out walking together most people were too polite to openly stare but I noticed if I looked over my shoulder they were doing the same thing, taking a peek when they didn't think it was noticeable. I am sure we stood out like a sore thumb, especially when we were in areas that don't see many tourists. It didn't really bother me and I was never treated with anything but extreme friendliness.
I will be leaving for Japan in about three weeks and once again I find myself at my top weight. The Japan part of the trip doesn't really bring up my weight issues, it is the stop off we are making both ways in Hawaii. There have been times in my life when instead of being thrilled to be in &quot;paradise&quot; I would have been filled with dread to think of wearing a swimsuit and summer clothes. I have finally made myself realize that life is too short to put off certain activities because I am not happy with my body.
I actually had a sort of epiphany thanks to Fodor's while looking at photos someone posted in a trip report about Kauai. There were several women of a certain age and body type who were in the ocean and riding in a convertible and having the time of their lives. I realized when I looked at them all I saw were lovely women having fun and enjoying each others company, not women who wouldn't fit in a size 10 or win a beauty contest.

If someone else has a problem, let it be their problem not yours! I always try to remember when I am in a position where I am meeting new people or just feeling awkward that the other person is not thinking about me but they are also worried about their own &quot;issues&quot;. If you love to travel, go to Japan and enjoy yourself, don't let your weight prevent you from a very wonderful experience. I will post here when I get back with any impressions I have.

Thank you so much! I am not sure of the people (not fodorites) who had fed me horror stories about how I would be treated in Japan...perhaps they were just being spiteful.

You are so right about life and travel while you can. I have not let my weight prevent me from traveling....though at times it has irked me a bit.

Please take plenty of pics! I would love to see Japan from a fellow fodorite's view! :)

Mary2Go, you've got a great attitude!

this is a very odd thread for me. the topic of being obese and in japan, so what??

while i'm not in my former flyweight fighting class(more like the high end of middleweight class,no snickering mwr and bob), i've never given my weight a second thought, especially as i am consuming my 22nd asa sushi in tsukiji. yummy!! ;-)

middleweight class, and being very obese are very different things. I think, again, it is a matter of personal experiences...if you have been harassed because of your weight (or ethnicity, etc.) it is much easier for you to wonder about visiting a new area. I wouldn't let discrimination stop me from visiting, but I would like to have an idea of what to expect.

kurano-
former flyweight fighting form. lol

I saw the hnl/gtg pics and thought i looked a little like Akebono :)

Aloha!

ilovetotravel, i reread your original post, and did not really appreciate your concerns about being stared at because of your weight, and how it made your day a bummer.

believe me, weight is an issue with me too, but apparently not as sensitive an issue with me as it is to you.

but you also said &quot;if someone else has a problem, let it be their problem not yours! I always try to remember when I am in a position where I am meeting new people or just feeling awkward that the other person is not thinking about me but they are also worried about their own &quot;issues&quot;. If you love to travel, go to Japan and enjoy yourself, don't let your weight prevent you from a very wonderful experience.&quot;

after reading the above comments, my post was really in support of your &quot;great attitude&quot; as mwr so apptly described. sorry if you misinterpreted by comments.

go and enjoy. :-)

ok, bob said i look like a well-fed thai, and now my hawaiian brother says i look like a little akebono.... what next?..don't answer that!! lol.

i only hope i can be even steven after i return from my trip eating my way around sea. lol.

k
put your glasses back on i said i look like akeb